“It’s not that simple.”
“Are you sure? Are you sure you can’t just call him and sayConnor, I was an idiot, please will you give me a second chance?”
“It won’t work.”
“It will,” she says, sitting forward. She’s adamant. “I had dinner with you two. That guy is indeep.He’s probably sitting around moping, waiting for you to call.”
“I don’t know what about that story would make you think that.”
“It’s whatyou’redoing, isn’t it? That’s what people do when they’re in love, they just mope around all day.”
“That’s not—he isn’t…” I splutter through a denial. Shannon is oblivious to my inner turmoil.
“Annie, guys are like…really simple. Like, missing brain cells simple. Just text him.”
The appeal of what she’s offering is undeniable.
She hands me the spatula while she goes in search of more drinks. I flip the hot dogs, then place the buns on the grill totoast, then imagine Connor coming here, and hanging out on the deck, and bonding with my sister. I will even graciously allow Dan to be there, though I draw the line at adding him to the daydream.
I’ve just plated the hot dogs when Shannon returns with more drinks, dumping a selection of Ontario’s finest craft beers on the patio table, raided from the fridge in Dan’s man cave. I’m touched by the invitation implicit in this gesture; she wants me to stay.
We eat our hot dogs in companionable silence, watching the sun leave a trail of vivid pinks in its wake as it slowly inches out of view.
“While we’re on the topic of idiots…” She trails off, lets the words hang there. “I don’t hate you. I didn’t mean that.”
“Oh,” I say, surprised she went there. “Thanks. It…seemed like you did.”
“OK, in themomentI did,” she admits. “You really piss me off at times. But I didn’t mean it overall.”
“You didn’t talk to me for two years.”
“Yeah, well, you ruined my wedding,” she fires back.
“Fair,” I concede. “Very fair.”
The corners of her mouth twitch. That we’re joking about this feels like a good sign.
She hesitates. “You said something, earlier. About how if I ever want to be sisters again. You werealwaysmy sister, Annie. How else could I have been so mad at you?”
She reaches over and squeezes my hand, and I cling to her until tears are pooling in my eyes, and in hers. That’s the thing about sisters, I guess. The love and rage both get blasted at you with full force.
She squeezes one last time, then lets go. Runs two fingers under her lashes.
“So…we’re OK?” I clarify.
“We’re OK,” she agrees.
We sit quietly, both sipping our drinks. I want to ask her to put our truce in writing. I need it to be official.
“I feel like we need closure,” I tell her. “You know how in the olden days, when people had a disagreement, they fought a duel?”
Shannon is confused. “When?”
“Just like, olden times. Ages ago! That’s how they settled things. I think we need something like that. To clear the air.”
“If you want, I could punch you?” Shannon offers.
“What? No. Why did you have that on the tip of your tongue?”
