“I don’t remember that.”
“It was right after you and Becca were born. You were a baby and Becca was just a toddler.” Schatzi paused, her expressionsoftening as she remembered. “We sat out on this porch one evening, watching the sunset, and for the first time, she really opened up to me. She told me how hard it was trying to keep everything perfect for you girls, trying to be the perfect wife and mother. And I finally realized...she wasn’t judging me because she thought I was wrong—she was just scared. Scared that she’d lose control of her own life if she didn’t hold on so tightly.”
Maddie swallowed, her heart aching at the thought of her mother carrying that kind of burden. She had never seen that side of her before, the side that felt unsure or overwhelmed. But, boy, did Becca take after her.
Schatzi continued, her voice gentle. “That’s when I understood that no matter how different we were, we were still sisters. Family. We needed each other, even if we didn’t always get along. That night, we stopped trying to fix each other. We just accepted that we both had our own paths to walk.”
Maddie looked down at her hands, feeling a lump forming in her throat. “I never knew that about you and Mom.”
Schatzi smiled sadly. “We didn’t always talk about it, but it’s true. And that’s why I’m telling you now, Maddie—don’t let too much time pass with Becca. Don’t wait for some crisis to remind you of what’s important. She’s your sister. You don’t have to understand each other all the time, but you do need each other. Just being there is sometimes all that matters.”
Maddie felt a tear slip down her cheek and quickly wiped it away. Schatzi was right—she had been so caught up in her own grief and frustration that she had shut Becca out. And in doing so, she had only deepened the distance between them. Becca had her own struggles, just like their mother had, and Maddie had been too blind to see it.
“I feel like I’ve been so selfish,” Maddie whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ve been so focused on my own pain that I didn’t even think about what Becca might be going through.”
Schatzi reached across to the other chair, taking Maddie’s hand in her own. “Grief makes us selfish sometimes and that’s okay, as long as we recognize it. Don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault. But now that you know better, you can do better. You’ve still got time to make things right with Becca.”
“Yeah.” Maddie squeezed her aunt’s hand, the warmth of the contact comforting her. “I talked to her yesterday. Really talked to her for the first time in a long time. She told me about her marriage, how hard it’s been.”
Schatzi nodded knowingly. “See? She’s carrying her own burdens, just like you. You two might be more alike than you realize.”
“I thought that too.” Maddie smiled through her tears, feeling a strange sense of relief wash over her. For so long, she had seen Becca as this untouchable figure, someone who had it all together, while she herself had been falling apart. But maybe they weren’t so different after all. Maybe they were just two sisters, both trying to navigate the messiness of life in their own way.
“I think you’re right,” Maddie said softly. “I need to try harder. I don’t want to lose her.”
“You won’t,” Schatzi said firmly. “You’ve already taken the first step. The rest will come in time.”
Maddie wiped her eyes, feeling lighter than she had in months. She thought about Becca, about their shared childhood, about all the things that had pulled them apart and the things that bound them together. For the first time, she truly understood how important it was to keep those bonds intact.
“I’m going to call her again today,” Maddie said with quiet determination. “I want her to know I’m here for her.”
Schatzi smiled, the kind of smile that said she was proud, but not surprised. “Good. I think you’ll find that once you open that door, things will start to get better.”
Maddie nodded, a small, hopeful smile forming on her lips. She glanced out the window, the morning light casting a soft glow over the snow-covered mountains. The world outside looked still and peaceful, but Maddie knew now that life was never as simple as it seemed.
But that was okay. Because she wasn’t alone in it. Not anymore.
And as long as she had her sister, she never would be.
Chapter Eight
The snow had let up by the end of the week, leaving the mountains draped in a thick blanket of white. The air, crisp and biting, carried the unmistakable scent of woodsmoke, drifting from chimneys hidden among the trees.
Maddie stood by the front window, watching the last rays of sunlight dip below the snow-capped peaks. The world outside seemed frozen in time, the only sound the occasional creak of the house settling against the cold.
Behind her, Aunt Schatzi was moving about the kitchen, the clatter of pots and pans breaking the silence. The warmth from the fireplace made the air inside the house feel heavy, but comforting, like being wrapped in a well-worn quilt. Maddie leaned her forehead against the cold window, her breath fogging up the glass as she thought about the evening ahead.
“Maddie, dear,” Schatzi called from the kitchen, her voice a little more hurried than usual. Despite her shoulder bothering her, she’d insisted on doing her share of the chores. “Are you sure you’re up for this? It’s not too late to stay in.”
“I’m up for it.” Maddie said, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her voice. She turned to face her aunt, her fingers still gripping the window frame. Schatzi was fussing with anoversized casserole dish, her one good arm struggling to adjust the lid as she got it out of the dishwasher. Maddie had tried to help but Schatzi wasn’t having it, saying she was already doing too much.
“Let me.” Maddie crossed the room and gently pried it from her hands, setting it on the counter with a reassuring smile.
“Thanks.” Schatzi turned and got a quart of cider out of the fridge. “You’re sure about tonight?”
The idea of going to a gathering—a Christmas gathering, no less—still made her chest tighten. But it had been Schatzi’s idea, and Maddie didn’t want to disappoint her by saying no. “Yes. Besides, I think I need to get out of the house.”
Schatzi raised an eyebrow, her sharp eyes twinkling. “A little socializing will do you good, that’s for sure. It’s mostly just the ladies from around the area and a few of their husbands. They’re all good people. You’ll like them.”
