Amber
Why not? Pippa doesn’t like sharing the bed?
Theo
Pippa’s not here.
Amber
Good. You need your sleep.
Theo
I never sleep.
Amber
Why not?
Theo
I don’t know. I just haven’t been able to for a while now.
Amber
Puddin’ would make an excellent bed companion.
Theo
Feel free to reclaim her.
She fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Amber raisedher hand to knock on Allie and Davis’s front door, but it swung open before she made contact.
“Hey, Aunt Amber. Come on in,” Sammy said, leading her into the foyer. “We’re hanging out in the living room until dinner’s ready.”
She followed him, noticing how much taller Sammy had grown in recent years. He was almost as tall as she was, reaching that stage of adolescence of long, gangly limbs that would one day grow into a tall, handsome, kind young man. Last year he had stopped playing baseball and took up guitar instead. It turned out the kid was a natural and was rarely without his pick and guitar now.
Geez. What was wrong with her today? She was never this sentimental. She swallowed the lump in her throat and pasted on a smile. Sunday dinner was no time to get teary. The aunts were all here, not to mention her mother. They were like sharks, searching out a hint of emotion and going for the kill.
Soon, Amber would be sharing about that almost-kiss she had shared with her boss and the confusing mix of emotions that had been swirling in her ever since.
But she didn’t want to think about Theo today. It was the weekend, and she already thought about him entirely too much during the week.
A cacophony of noise from the kitchen and living room greeted her, and Amber thought back briefly to how much life could change. When Allie was married to her first husband and living in New York City, she had lived in a luxury penthouse that felt like a silent, modern chrome museum whenever Amber came to visit.
The house Amber walked into now shared nothing in common. The Henderson home was warm and welcoming to all, including the people they had picked up along the way. Amber walked past the toys, stepping over Walter, their golden retriever, who was sleeping in the middle of it all as usual. She waved to Val and Holly.
She had dragged them along to Sunday dinners about a year ago. The Hart family had embraced the sisters and taken them under their wing immediately, despite Val’s death glares. The aunts could handle teenage angst and more.
“Hey, guys,” Amber said to the living room full of people. Claire, Davis’s daughter from his first marriage, had Savvie sitting on the couch with her feet on the coffee table and was painting her toenails. Ben and Sammy were sitting next to Holly on the couch, with Xbox controllers in their hands. Every time Sammy looked at Holly, red color flooded his cheeks, and Holly giggled.
“Pretty colors, Savvie. Did you pick those?”
“Wainbow,” Savvie said happily, wiggling her tiny foot.
“I see that. Very nice,” Amber leaned down to kiss Claire’s head. She gave Ben an affectionate noogie and smiled at Val.
