Page 12 of Poinsettia Lane

“So,” She replies.

“What… what even happened?” Everly starts and stops again, unsure how or what to really ask her sister. “I mean, why did we stop talking? We used to be so close and then… after mom and dad died…” she trails off.

“I don’t know. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve asked myself that. I think about you all the time, Ev.”

“You do?” Everly straightens up at this, blinking a couple times in surprise. She didn’t expect that response, though she didn’t know what else to expect either. On some level, she thought it was entirely her fault, that she had done something wrong or pushed her sister away. “I think about you too. I have so many questions but I don’t even know where to start. I mean, why now?”

“I feel the same way. As for why now…” Addison trails off for a moment. “I guess it was a little impulsive, deciding to fly out here last minute, but I just broke up with my ex, like, a week ago. We’d been together a couple years and I didn’t want to be alone for the holidays. Besides that, I don’t know. I figured it was time. I just went for it, decided to come back for the gala and see if I can change things. I want to have my sister back and I know maybe it’s too late, maybe you don’t want me around, but—”

“No!” Everly says, voice louder than she intends. “I do want you around, I haven’t known how to bridge whatever this gap is between us, but I really, really want to.”

Addison’s shoulders loosen and she slumps forward, putting her arms on the table and picking her fork back up, then absently twirling it around on her plate. Her cheeks puff out with a relieved breath, like the cutest little chipmunk Everly has ever seen.

“I’m really glad you came back, Addison. I’m sorry about the breakup and yeah, it probably hasn’t been much of a better situation here. I know things have been weird and I’m awkward, but I want to fix things too.”

“Oh thank goodness. I wasn’t sure, I mean I thought maybe I was intruding? This is your home now, your town, your hotel, I didn’t want you to think I was trying to come back in and mess up everything you’ve done or something.”

That thought hadn’t crossed Everly’s mind once, and she shakes her head, upsetting the messy bun perched precariously on top of it, unable to even comprehend that her sister would think that.

“Addison, you’ve always been one of the most important people in my life. Even these last eight years when we haven’t been talking, I never stopped caring about you. I’ve hated not talking, not knowing how you are or what you’ve been up to. I didn’t know if I could reach out though or if that would be unwelcome. I thought I’d let you live your best life in San Diego and I figured you wanted to leave all of this small town nonsense behind you.”

“Never. I never wanted that. Honestly, not talking to you has sucked. I hated it.” Addison’s eyes start to tear up. “I miss you so much, Ev. It hurts.”

Everly isn’t a crier, but hearing and seeing the emotion in her sister, she can’t help it when her eyes start to fill too.

“It really has sucked,” she replies with a mix between a sniffle and a smile. “So let’s agree to not do that again. I don’t know if I can do another eight years without you.”

Addison nods, and tentatively gets up from her seat, holding out her arms. Everly jumps up and folds her sister into the fiercest hug she’s ever given. A hug to make up for eight years of missed hugs. A hug that holds all of their shared tragedy, sadness, heartache, grief and loss. A hug to encompass their newfound hope in each other. A hug full of love and belonging. They hold onto each other for what feels like an eternity, and also will never be long enough. Addison reluctantly pulls away first, wiping her eyes as she does so.

“Well, I’m glad we got that cleared up. Turns out we are both idiots,” she says with a watery laugh.

Everly chuckles with her, passing another piece of garlic bread and agreeing that yes, they are incredibly idiotic for staying away from each other for so long. They finish the rest of their meal with much easier chatter, and decide to take their drinks to the other room in front of the fireplace. Everly lights it up quickly enough; she likes the ease of a gas fireplace even if it doesn’t give off the pleasant crackle of a wood one.

“What if you stayed a little longer?” Everly blurts out, and then looks down at her drink questioningly, as though it has the answers to where that question came from and why she let it out.

Addison awkwardly looks down at her drink too, twisting it in circles before replying. “I’ll think about it, but… Well, I probably can’t. I have to get back for work.”

“Oh, right. Yeah, that makes sense that you’d go back after New Years.” Everly understands, though she can’t help but feel a little disappointed and rejected anyways.

“Maybe I can come back for another visit soon though?” Addison suggests.

“I’d like that,” Everly says, smiling back at her. This push and pull, trying to stumble their way back toward each other is exhausting.

“Soooooo,” her sister draws out the word, a hint of mischief twinkling in her eyes. Everly remembers that look; her sister was always getting into things and causing trouble when she was younger. Everly’s hackles go up, wary about where this is going.

“Anyone important in your life these days?” Addison asks. “Boyfriend?”

It takes Everly a second to realize how hot her face has gotten.

“Oh my gosh, there is!” Addison is absolutely gleeful. “Youhaveto tell me!”

“I mean, it’s not…” Everly trails off, no idea what to say.

“I bet he’s charming, to snag you. And hot.” Addison draws out the h and snaps the t at the end of hot like it personally offended her. “So, where’d you meet him?”

Everly isn’t entirely sure how to tell her sister that there’s nothing going on, and it’s just a random crush on someone she saw once. If possible, her blush gets even redder. She’s fairly certain a tomato has nothing on her at this point.

“Okay, well, I mean we only met once,” Everly says.

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