A round of laughter.
My phone pinged in my bag. I ignored it.
“It is a lucky man who can raise three beautiful daughters.”
Around the room, “Hear, hear.”
My dad beamed. “It is an even luckier man who can give them away.”
Laughter.
He stood to Amanda’s left and looked at her. She leaned up and kissed his cheek. Then he looked back at the crowd of guests, “Ladies and gentleman, it is my honor to present to you, the soon-to-be Mr.and Mrs.McCarron.”
A round of applause. And then Clay started talking.
I had done my duty. I’d shown up.
Quietly, I retreated towards the circular staircase in the foyer. Gripping the heavy ornate railing, I climbed the plush carpeted steps.
My room was at the end of the hall. I opened the door and stepped into what was now a tastefully decorated guest room. The curtains over the sliding glass doors were open. Dim lights flickered on the ceiling – landscape lights reflected by the pool. I sat down on the silk duvet covering the bed and stared out the window.
All I wanted to do was go back to Alaska. But I didn’t want to travel to Alaska, I wanted to be there already. At the same time, I no longer wanted to be there at all. It was no longer my hiding place.
I felt… weary.
A small voice said, “Elizabeth?”
I turned to see Amanda standing in the doorway.
“Can I come in?”
I looked back out the window. “Sure.”
Her footsteps were soft as she crossed the room. She sat a few feet away from me, closer to the end of the bed. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
I turned to face her. She looked worried. I inhaled and exhaled before saying, “I don’t want to be.”
She simply nodded.
I looked back out the window. “It was really hard for me.”
“I know it was.”
I laced my fingers together in my lap and stared down at them. “Was there something you wanted?”
I heard her sniffle. “I wish I hadn’t hurt you. I wish it had been different.”
“I don’t want to rehash this, Amanda.”
“I know you don’t. But I miss you so much. And I want to get back to being us again.”
I turned my body towards her. “I always looked up to you. I always wanted to be around you. You were the stars and the moon to me. You said some really awful things to me before I left.”
“I felt guilty.” She scooted closer.
I laughed. “Why did you bother sneaking around as long as you did? How did you think this was going to end? You’re my sister. Boyfriends are supposed to be off limits.” I sat up straight so I wouldn’t cry again.
Her voice rose. “I wasn’t being intentionally hurtful.”