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She shook her head.

“Do you—” Sophie’s question died out, but Alana had a feeling where it was going.

“No, or at least not like that.” Alana clicked her tongue to Henrietta, and the goat laid down by her feet as she brushed. “I will always care for that man, but not in the ways that he needs. We grew apart after high school. We never really talked about it, but I think we stayed together while Mom was sick because it made her happy to know at least one of her daughter’s husbands.”

Sophie wiped at her tears with her sleeves, watching Alana work.

When she finished, Alana stood and hung up her brush. “What about you, Bean? Anything I missed while I was gone?”

“You mean men?” Sophie choked.

“No, I mean goats,” she teased. “Of course I mean men.”

“Oh!” She blushed. “Well, now that you mention it⁠—”

“Oh my god.” Alana dragged her stool right next to Sophie’s. She crossed her legs, elbows on her knees, face in her hands. “Tell me everything.”

“Gah, there’s nothing to tell.” Sophie pulled her hair over her shoulder and nervously braided her golden strands. “I mean I like him and he knows that, but he’s—ah—a little older than me.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How much older?”

“Old enough for him to think it’s a bad idea.”

“Sophie!” She slapped her sister’s knee. “You dog!”

Sophie slapped Alana’s leg right back. “Stop that, nothing has happened!”

“But you want it to?”

The color of her cheeks deepened from strawberry pink to raspberry red. “Yeah, I do.”

“Would he be your first?”

She nodded. “Another reason why he says we can’t.”

“Well, that’s ridiculous.” Alana held her hands up. “You’re almost nineteen, a grown-ass woman! You can decide to sleep with whoever you want.”

“Sleep with him? I haven’t even kissed him yet.”

“Oh, sweet baby Sophie.” Alana reached out and squeezed her sister’s knees. “Do you know where kissing leads? Do we need to have the talk?”

Sophie shoved Alana’s arm. “You suck.”

Alana let out a cackle, startling a sleeping Henrietta by her feet. Sophie burst out in her bright, silver bells–like laughter, and Alana was convinced the chorus they made was the most magnificent sound she had ever heard.

When they settled into giggles, Sophie threw her arms around Alana’s shoulders. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Me too, Bean.”

“Are you staying? At least for a while?”

“For a while.” Alana sighed and released the hug. “I admit, I have no idea what comes next for me.”

“You should stay. Be home.”

“I-I don’t know.”

Sophie pouted. “Please?”