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Software up and running again with everything back under control, Charlotte sat behind her desk, working through the list of tasks. It wasn’t until her phone chimed a specific sound she let herself fully relax.

Lilah

Today 12:23PM

I need your help!

What seems to be the situation, Bug?

Charlotte’s favorite picture of the two of them together lit up the screen. Charlotte beaming at her pride and joy, arm wrapped snugly around her waist. Lilah herself sported her cap and gown from her college graduation, diploma raised high above her head in triumph.

“Bug?”

A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips any time she spoke to the youngest of the Carter-Davenports.

“It’s a travesty,” Lilah cried, tone vibrating with held back emotion.

“What’s happened?”

“It’s gone!”

“What is?”

“The proposal I spent the last two weeks of my life working on!” Lilah wailed. “Gone. Vanished. Lost in the depths of my laptop never to be found again.”

A thoughtful hum echoed in Charlotte’s throat, stifling the urge to laugh.

“Did you check recent?”

Mounting dread and panic marred Lilah’s usual bubbly tone.

“No. Listen, the document is open but all my work is gone! I’m toast.”

“Don’t lose heart. Just check your version history and revert back,” Charlotte encouraged, grinning despite her little sister’s impending breakdown.

“Okay. I really hate business. I just want you to know that. It’s so political and it’s all fake. People take credit for other people’s work. No one can make up their mind and there is always some crisis that could have been avoided. I’m not cutthroat enough for this!” Lilah whined before gasping and releasing a surprised squeak.

“It worked!”

Charlotte shook her head, settling back in her chair. On occasion, the twelve-year gap between them showed in unique ways. Charlotte always knew Lilah would hate business and tried to talk her out of it. But Lilah seemed determined to try and follow in Charlotte’s footsteps. Now, she worked in a field where she would never find enjoyment or purpose.

“Crisis averted.”

Not Lilah’s first crisis when it came to software, and Charlotte felt confident it wouldn’t be the last.

“You have no idea! It’s due by end of day.”

Lilah’s sigh of relief was telling.

“The engagement party is tomorrow.”

Charlotte hummed in acknowledgement, taking a long pull of ice water from her glass.

“Lizzie is wearing the dusty blue dress she got last weekend. Just so you know.”

“Oh...”

The outfit she planned for the day featured a similar dusty blue dress. They did that sometimes. Bought the same clothes or wore similar outfits without trying. For whatever reason, it never occurred to them to check with each other. It was Lilah that remembered.