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“I need more time.”

I throw my head back and run my fingers anxiously through my hair. Bringing my head back down, I look at Emily.

“She asked last night, asked about Penny’s mom. And I had to deflect.” I shake my head as I remember the look on her face when I clammed up. “And yet she shared everything with me. Answered every question with pure honesty.” Tears are streaming down Emily’s face now, her cheeks are red, and her expression looks angry. “We can trust her, Emily. She’d never tell a soul.”

“It’s not your story to tell. It’s mine, and I’m not ready,” she says matter-of-factly, her eyes glazing over, which tells me she’s done with this conversation.

Anger bubbles up inside of me and threatens to boil over.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself before responding. “I know it’s your story, but Penny is my daughter. This affects me too!”

Emily doesn’t respond. She just looks down at her feet, tears dripping onto the kitchen floor.

“I’ll wait two weeks so you can get used to the idea. No longer.” I pause and step toward my sister, but she backs away from me. “I’ve never wanted this to come between us. Don’t let this come between us.”

“I have to go,” she says, still looking at her feet. “Tell Penny goodbye for me.”

“Em, wait.” She quickly paces back to the guest room to pack her overnight bag. She always spends the night after babysitting, so I’ve kept the guest room ready for her whenever she wants to use it.

I follow closely behind her. “Don’t leave like this, let’s talk this out.”

“I have nothing more to say,” she says, her voice flat.

She pulls her backpack onto her shoulder, then turns to walk out of the guestroom.

I grab her gently by the arm. “Don’t drive when you're upset. Please,” I beg.

Emily tugs free from my grasp and rushes from the room. She stops in the hallway just long enough to look back at me, her eyes displaying the hurt behind them.

Then she leaves.