“I told you I decided,” she says, her jawset.
“Decidedwhat?” I say, exasperated. “What’s the big rush all of a sudden?”
“It’s time to get this done. And if the dress is going to be ready in time for December—”
“You said you didn’t want a winter wedding!”
“Well, now I do! Why are you being so annoying about this? It’s a wedding dress. Stop trying to get in the way.”
“I’m not trying to get in the way! I’m trying to make sure you’re happy!”
She laughs grimly. “OK, Annie. Whatever you say.”
I reach for my mantra, but it is gone—blown away on a puff of air. I am not the bigger person. I am the littler person! Thelittlesister. And I have had enough. “Oh mygodcan you just cut it out with all the passive-aggression?” I practically spit at her. “What is your problem?”
“Myproblem?”
“Yes! Your problem,” I say, poking her in the chest, a move guaranteed to make her incandescent. “It’s like you came all the way out here to show me you’re still mad atme.”
“No, I didn’t!”
“Oh? Then why’d you bring Dan?”
She goes gimlet-eyed. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe becausehe’s about to be your brother-in-law and I thought you’d want to make up with him?”
“Why would I want to make up with Dan?” I screech back at her. “I hate Dan! I will never, ever forgive him for doing that to you and I willneverunderstand why you did.”
“Well, here’s a newsflash,” my sister rages. “Youdon’t need to understand it. It’s none of your fucking business! I’m finally getting my life back on track after all the humiliation you causedme.”
“ME?Dan cheated on you with Councilwoman Howard!”
“Threeyears ago! People make mistakes, Annie. Everything was moving so fast with the house and the wedding, and he freaked out.”
“Oh comeon.”
“No,youcome on. You think you’re so smart, but what the fuck do you know about relationships? Or about anything? You brought your boss to dinner!”
I’m thrown off balance. “He’s not just my boss,” I say lamely.
She throws her handsout.
“How wonderful for you! What a fairy tale. So when you fuck it up—and youwill,” she emphasizes, “all it means is that when you get dumped, you’ll also get fired. And you’re sitting here judgingmeabout my life? That’s really fucking priceless.”
“What life, Shannon? Who are you, besides Councilman Dan’s First Lady? Do you even want to marry him? Or is it easier to be his trophy wife than to face the truth that without this relationship you’re nothing but a huge blank?”
She takes a sharp inhale, shocked at what I’ve said.
“Do you know what?” Shannon is so mad she is shaking. “I really fucking hate you.”
A cold dread crawls up and over me. I feel how deeply she means it in the pit of my soul.
I’m distantly aware of a bell chiming. I feel, rather than hear, Shannon leave.
I turn to look at the sales assistant, who is nearby, wide-eyed and speechless.
“Sorry,” I whisper, clearing the catch in my throat. “I think we’re just going to leave the dress for now.”
I pick my coat up off the sofa, walk slowly to the door, and then flee.
