On Tuesday, Ellie called in sick. With so much on her mind, she needed a day to sort through some things. Seeking clarity, she turned to the one person she trusted more than any other, someone who had been there for her through all the ups and downs.
“Ellie, what brings you by?” Amelia asked, greeting her at the front door.
“I was hoping we could talk. Is now a good time?”
“Yeah, come in. Just watch your step. I haven’t had a chance to clean yet.” Amelia showed Ellie to the living room, picking up toys and blankets as she went.
“Where’s Christopher?” Ellie asked, thinking the house was too quiet.
“Across the street, playing with a friend. And Sean is at work, which means I have the entire house to myself.” She put away the toys in the chest, then offered Ellie a seat.
“I could come back later.” Ellie sensed the timing of her visit was less than ideal.
“Nonsense. Stay. I could use some adult conversation. Besides, when’s the last time you and I had the opportunity to sit and talk in the middle of the afternoon?” Amelia eased toward the kitchen. “I was just about to put on a pot of tea. Would you like some?”
“Yes please.”
Amelia filled a pot with water and put it on the stove to boil.
While she waited, Ellie picked up one of the most recent photographs of Christopher, proudly displayed on the bookshelf. “He’s growing so fast.” She marveled at the changes since she’d last seen him.
“Tell me about it. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital.” Amelia joined Ellie in the living room. “So how are you, sis?”
Ellie returned the picture and found a seat. “You know me—busy as a bee.”
“Classes are going well, I presume.”
“Couldn’t be better. In fact, I received word last week that they’re considering making me dean of the department.”
“Ellie, that’s great. You really have made a name for yourself.”
The pot whistled, and Amelia went into the kitchen to prepare the tea. A minute later she returned. “There we are.” She handed a cup and saucer to Ellie. “Chamomile tea with honey and milk, just the way you like it.”
“Thank you.” Ellie stirred the tea, then set it on the table to cool. “I apologize for barging in on you like this, but there’s something rather important I wanted to ask you.”
Amelia eyed her sister over the rim of her cup. “Sounds ominous.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but I am curious about something. It has to do with the summer I spent with Aunt Clara. Do you remember?”
“How could I forget? That was the single worst summer of my life.”
“What are you talking about? You and Mother got along swimmingly. It was me she hated.”
“Hate is perhaps too strong a word. A general disdain is how I remember it.” She flashed a wry smile.
“You always were one with words.” Ellie took a sip of tea before continuing. “Regardless, Mother and I didn’t get along. That much is certain.”
A worried expression flitted across Amelia’s face. “So what’s your question?”
“It’s not so much a question as it is a general observation. Something about that summer has always bothered me.”
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
“If you’ll recall, Mother showed up at Clara’s three days early, claiming she had a surprise for me.”
“You spent the weekend in Nashville if memory serves.”
“Yes. I’ll never forget it. We shopped, ate at the finest restaurants, even caught a show. In fact, it was probably the only time I can remember us ever getting along. At the time, I thought it was strange, but she explained it away, saying that she had missed having me around and wanted to do something special before I returned to school. I had no reason to doubt her, but now…”
