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Esme pointed at me. “Don’t screw this up. I’ve never seen you so happy.”
“Why does that sound like a threat?”
“Because it is. Love you. Byeeeee.”
I could feel Layana watching me as I set my phone down.
“Your sister….” she began.
“She’s a mess.”
“She’s fabulous.”
“I’m glad you like her.”
“How could I not?”
“You two could get into serious trouble together. I’ll have to watch out for that,” I said.
“How so?”
“She’s spontaneous, like you. She makes rash decisions.”
“Like me.” She raised a brow and crossed her arms.
No, they weren’t the same. The most dangerous parts of their personality were similar, but they were still very different people.
I tried to explain. “You’re…stronger than her. You choose the paths in life that don’t make sense to me, but you’ve considered them. You make them work for you. You’re resilient and wild, free from the pressure that makes other people choose paths they think they need to take. Esme doesn’t understand the impact of the choices she makes. She’s just a kid.”
“A kid?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You’re controlled chaos. She’s…” I didn’t know what exactly to say.
“Uncontrolled chaos?”
That did appear to be the obvious counterpoint. “Yes.”
“Maybe she doesn’t need to be controlled. Maybe she’s free from life’s shackles, enjoying riding the storm.”
“It’s impossible to get caught in the gale force and come out unscathed.”
Layana stared at me, likely wondering if I was talking about her instead of just my sister. That wasn’t my intention.
I needed her to understand the kind of person Esme was, which meant telling her everything, including the one secret I’d never told anyone before.
“You know my mother wasn’t around when Esme and I were children,” I said.
Layana nodded, her intense blue eyes piercing right through me. My chest felt heavy, like a vise was slowly tightening around my ribcage. I turned to the cabinet and retrieved two wine glasses.
“Based on the conversation we had at your oma’s house, I assumed you didn’t see her again after she dropped off Esme,” Layana said. “Is that right?”
“Yes. We had no idea where she went. Esme would ask Dad, but he’d always gently change the subject. For a time, I believed he might know, but he didn’t.”
“Did he tell you outright?”
