“Sure, why not?”
Out of all the emotions that I can see in her eyes, I like the tender ones the best. There is some anger there, but I think she’s just being defensive. Protective. I can help with that.
“The idea just came to me, but it does make sense. If we head out early, we can make it back just after lunch.”
“Ohh, lunch,” Landry sighs as she walks into the room again. “Why am I already thinking about lunch?”
Clarissa stares at me meaningfully. I squeeze her shoulder.
“Landry, are you up for an adventure?”
“Is it skydiving?” she asks immediately. “Because I had a dream about skydiving.”
“Are you crazy?” Clarissa blurts out.
“Have you ever heard of Sunny Regales?” I just smile.
She purses her lips thoughtfully. “Yeah. Isn’t she that old movie star? Why do you ask? Did she die or something?”
“Definitely not. But she has invited you to visit. She needs some help packing up some mementos, and Clarissa mentioned that you need a job.”
“Oh, totally!” she answers brightly. “That sounds amazing! When?”
Clarissa sighs through her nose, then glances at me, then back to Landry. She seems to be weighing the proposition in her mind. Finally, I can see she has made a decision.
“How about now?” she suggests. “You’re already packed, right? Zip up your bag and let’s hit the road.”
“Seriously? This is amazing!”
Landry looks at each of us, excited and surprised. Even behind the bruises, it is easy to see the excitable young woman pulsing with life and optimism. Unlike her sister, she is obviously open and trusting.
Too trusting.
Sipping thoughtfully, Clarissa regards me with caution over the rim of her coffee. I realize that I’m being stubborn, just planting myself in her life and refusing to be brushed away. But what else can I do? How else would anyone get to her?
“It does sound like a good idea,” she admits grudgingly.
“I know it is,” I grin.
She rolls her eyes dramatically and to my surprise she doesn’t immediately dash from the room. Instead she crosses the checkered linoleum and leans her hip against the counter next to me, looking up at me. She doesn’t even pull away when I brush the messy tendrils of hair back from her forehead.
Closing her eyes, she stands up on her toes and kisses me, startling me. I catch her in my arms and draw her close, savoring this moment of raw connection.
Landry chats almost nonstop in the back seat as we drive up to Lake Geneva. It’s really an experience. I never had brothers and sisters, but Clarissa acts like it’s totally normal to have a nineteen-year-old do a stream-of-consciousness presentation for two hours straight.
When we pull up to the front of the cottage, Landry finally quiets, whistling low between her teeth.
“This is exactly what I expected,” she near-whispers. “I need to Instagram this.”
“No Instagram!” Clarissa automatically barks. Then she softens her tone and twists around in her seat, reaching out for Landry’s hand.
“Please?” she starts again in a softer tone. “Right now, nobody knows where you are. It’s safe up here, you know? Just for a little while.”
“Oh. Ronnie,” Landry nods, understanding.
“Yeah, sweetie,” Clarissa agrees gently.
Sunny swoops through the entryway, wearing what looks like a wedding dress with a three-foot lace train. Her silver hair is done up on one side, but loose on the other. She waves frantically at me as I pull the parking brake.