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Cassie’s heart drummed against her chest as she stood in the Savannah Airport baggage claim area, wondering if she would spot her sister before Laura spotted her. Her palms were sweating, and she felt dizzy as mobs of people shuffled back and forth, grabbing their bags and hugging their loved ones. Their collective body heat made the air heavy and oppressive. The noise was almost enough to drown out her thoughts.
How long had it been since she’d last seen her sister? Three or four years? Longer? She had returned to Savannah for a few days in the spring to visit her old friends. She hadn’t even stayed with Cassie. But they’d met up for an awkward dinner. It was nice, but superficial.
This time felt different.
Laura was visiting her. She was returning to Savannah to be with her. The plan was to spend a long weekend catching up, getting reacquainted, and visiting some of their favorite spots in town. Then, they’d pack their bags and head to Charlotte to talk to their parents as a unit. It was time to change the relationship among all four of them, and it would start tonight with her sister.
Cassie caught a flash of red amidst a sea of blondes and brunettes. Laura’s hair had always been brighter than Cassie’s auburn locks, which made it easier to spot her in a crowd. When Cassie turned, she caught sight of her sister, who was making a beeline for the conveyor belt. It gave Cassie a moment to catch her breath.
For all her fears, Laura hadn’t changed much in the last few years, not physically. She was a little shorter than Cassie, but more athletic. Tonight, she wore leggings and a long shirt with a pair of flats. A backpack hung off one shoulder, and as she leaned forward to grab her bag, her soft curls fell in front of her face.
Once Laura snatched her suitcase and set it on the ground, pulling up the handle so she could lug it behind her, she scanned the crowd and found Cassie’s gaze. For a moment, the two stared at each other in shock, and then broke out in twin smiles.
Cassie waited until Laura pushed her way through the crowd, still nervous about what the next few days would entail. Once Laura was in front of her, she felt her arms reach out and pull Laura into a hug so tight her sister squeaked in surprise.
“Watch the ribs,” Laura said. “I kinda need those.”
“Oops.” Cassie pulled back and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “How was your flight?”
“Not too bad.” Laura shrugged and started making her way toward the door. “It’s not that bad of a flight. I just hate sitting next to gross dudes who don’t know how to refrain from manspreading.”
Cassie cringed. “Ew. Have you eaten?”
“Yeah, they fed us on the plane. Surprisingly, not terrible.”
Cassie drooped a little. She’d hoped to take her sister out tonight. The sooner they got back to her house, the sooner they’d have one-on-one sister time, and Cassie wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet. What would they talk about? What if they got into a fight? What if they got along great and she ended up regretting not reaching out sooner?
Maybe her therapist was right about the true meaning of her dream.
Cassie spent the entire walk to long-term parking thinking about what she should say to her own sister, and by the time they’d reached her car, she hadn’t said a single word. She popped the trunk and helped Laura lift her bag into the back.
“Damn, did you pack a bunch of bricks?”
Laura’s laugh was a welcome sound. “Fifty pounds exactly. I was so scared it would go over. But I needed to make sure I had enough clothes, just in case.”
“Just in case what? The apocalypse?”
Laura’s smile faded. “Just in case I needed to stay longer than a week.”
Cassie slammed the trunk and looked at her sister across the top of her car. A streetlight was out nearby and the darkness engulfed them, but she could still make out the sheepish look on her sister’s face.
“Why would you need to stay longer?”
“In case Mom or Dad need me.” Laura waited for Cassie to unlock the car doors and opened the passenger door, but stopped short of getting in. “Or in case you need me?”
Cassie slid behind the wheel and waited for Laura to shut the door before giving an incredulous look. “Why would I need you?”
“You know, just in case. I don’t know Cass, I’m just trying to be helpful.”
“I’ve been doing fine for years, Laura.” Cassie barely contained the anger in her voice. She hated when people treated her like she had FRAGILE stamped on her forehead. “And maybe Mom and Dad will want my help.
I live closer.”
“It’s not a competition.” Laura rolled her eyes and snapped her seatbelt into place. “I’m just trying to be helpful.”
Cassie took a moment before she responded. She knew she was being defensive. Unreasonable. “I know. And I know I have a long way to go to make everything up to them—”
