Me: That’s fun! I can’t wait to see your new house. It looks beautiful.
Drew: I still have my apartment in Boston. Think I’ll keep it even though I’m not there anymore. You’re free to use it whenever. Most of the furniture is still there. I just took my personal stuff, my bed—that sort of thing.
Me: Thanks. I might take you up on that sometime.
Me: Have fun.
Drew: Be safe.
I reach for my tea when Mom’s name flashes across the screen.That was even faster than expected.
“Hey, Mom,” I say, sloshing the tea around my glass. The irony of doing something so childish while on the phone with Mrs. Manners is amusing.
“Hello, darling. How are you this afternoon?”
I glance around the diner and fight a chuckle. If she knew where I was and that I was alone, she’d lose her marbles. All of them.She might even borrow some of Dad’s and lose those, too.
Jessica Van doesn’t do small towns. She doesn’t frequent diners that have blue pleather booths, and there’s no way she’d be caught dead having lunch alone—in jeans, no less. If she knew her only daughter was doing such ordinary things, she’d be on a flight to Nashville to save me from myself and Sugar Creek … and the nonorganic sauce and full-fat cheese I’m about to consume.
“I’m great, thank you. Just having some lunch. What about you?” I ask.
“That sounds fun. Who are you dining with today?”
I look up and make eye contact with Lisa. “A new friend. You haven’t met her.”
“That’s lovely,” Mom says, her voice practiced and smooth. “The club put in new pickleball courts, and your father and I sponsored one of them. The dedication is this afternoon. Your father, of course, is in the office, so I’m heading over with Fern Wallace for the festivities.”
“Sounds like a grand time.” I make a face like I’ve bitten a lemon.That sounds like the worst way to spend the day.“I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself.”
“I’m sure I will, too.” Her heels clatter against the floor in the background. “I spoke with Andrew earlier today, and he mentioned that he’s free to join us this summer. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to have both of our children with us for another year.”
“He texted me a bit ago. I’m excited he’s coming, too.”
“Sometimes I wish we had more children. I just love the thought of having a house full of grandchildren and having the best time spoiling them all rotten.” She sighs wistfully.
I start to speak, but stop. The words on the tip of my tongue linger there most of the time, and each time I start to say them, tears gather in the corners of my eyes, and I hesitate.How do you bring up a sibling that you aren’t supposed to know about?
I’ve known since I was eleven years old that Drew and I had a sibling. We were goofing off in the attic when I found a trunk. At the bottom was a folder containing Anna Marie's birth certificate.Anna Marie. My twin sister. Behind it was a death certificate showing that she’d only lived for fifteen days.
For two weeks and one day, I had a sister. No one ever told me, and I’d like to know why. It feels like an unbearably important question that I can’t gather the courage to ask.
I shoved the documents back where I found them and never mentioned it to anyone, not even Drew.
But as I grew up and my parents placed considerably more expectations on me, I wondered if it was because of my sister.Is losing her what made them want to keep me in a bubble? Did I have to become everything they hoped and dreamed a daughter would be because I was their only shot?
I had to take ballet, play violin and piano, and know how to act impeccably in public. Excellence was the bare minimum for me. Perfection was expected. It was as if I were the twin who lived, so I had to prove I was worthy. That’s a lot for one person to carry.
If it had any impact on Drew, it made things easier. According to my parents, he’s never made a mistake. When he was wild and reckless, Mom found it endearing and laughed it off as aVan manthing. His imperfections are somehow deemed charismatic, and his run-ins with the police and refusal to attend college are simply him “sowing his oats.” So gross.
Also, so unfair.
“Hold please, darling,” Mom says. “I need to ensure Hugo is ready to drive me to the club.”
“Sure.”
My gaze lifts to the door as it opens, and three men enter the restaurant. Mom returns, saying something about Dad’s birthday, but her words are a blur.
I’ve never seen the first man before. Tall, boy-next-door vibe, with a freckled face. I recognize the second guy as Gray’s friend, Jasper. I met him on the ranch when I visited with Gianna. But the third man?That’s who catches my attention.
