Page 68 of Hot and Bothered
“I was wondering when you sleepyheads would wake up,” she said. “I wanted cereal for breakfast but someone keeps it on the top shelf.” She gave Evan a pointed look.
“We’re never up this early,” Evan said. “We always sleep in because of our late shifts at the bar. You’re lucky we got up in time to see you off to school.”
“Nah, it’s fine, I’m just teasing.” Christie grinned. “If you were any later I would have made toast.”
Evan and his sister were so alike. Cheerful, easy-going, always ready to tease and laugh.
He got out the cereal for his sister and started making eggs for us. I took care of the toast — and didn’t burn it, either. I wasn’t too bad at kitchen stuff anymore.
I wondered what their mom was like. Was she the same? When would I get to meet her and find out in person?
“Having meals with other people is nice,” Christie said. “Like this, or like the pizza last night. It’s better than cramming a granola bar into my mouth before class or making a sandwich for dinner.”
“You should come over and have dinner with us more often,” I said.
Evan looked over at me in surprise, then gave me a soft smile.
“Or we could go over to your place,” I continued. “We could all have dinner together with your mom.”
Evan and Christie both went still. They shared an unreadable look, some important message passing between them that I couldn’t interpret. I was taken aback. I hadn’t thought my offer was all that unusual.
I wanted to backtrack, to tell them it was fine, we didn’t need to go over for dinner, Christie was more than welcome to continue coming over here.
But there was something in the way they looked at each other. A brief pain flashing across their features, something distressing, something disturbing. What was so wrong with us having dinner with their mom?
“I’ve got to get to class.” Christie stood from the table with her empty bowl and brought it to the sink. “Thanks for letting me crash.”
“Will you be back tonight?” I asked.
“Maybe,” she said. “Would you mind if I do?”
“Not at all,” I said. “It was really great getting to know you.”
Not the least because Christie’s talk with Evan had apparently convinced him to listen to my apology, and to apologize himself. I’d always be grateful to her for that, if nothing else.
Besides, it was heartening to see sibling interaction that was filled with love and affection. My interactions with my sister had always been strained at best. Maybe it should have made me feel jealous that Evan and Christie had such a good relationship. But it only made me feel happy for him. I was glad Evan had people who loved him in his life.
And now, even though he didn’t know it, I could be included as one of those people.
After Christie took off, Evan and I finished our breakfast and I helped him with the dishes. Not only could I make toast, I could also wash dishes now. Maybe Evan had been right last night when he said I’d come a long way.
After putting the last dry plate away, Evan took me in his arms and gave me a kiss.
“Thank you,” he said.
“For what?” I asked.
“For being so great about Christie,” he said. “I know having my little sister show up out of the blue was unexpected.”
“I really like your sister,” I told him. “She should come over any time she wants.” I pulled back and examined Evan, considering whether to bring up the question I’d been thinking ever since Christie had first walked through the front door. Evan seemed happy and at ease right now. I didn’t know if my question would spoil his good mood or not, but it had been weighing on me.
I decided to go for it.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me you had a sister?” I asked.
Evan paused. He didn’t answer right away. He seemed to be considering the question carefully.
“I never really noticed that I hadn’t,” he said eventually.
