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“Do you have a minute?” I don’t want to interrupt her at work or wherever she is.

“Yeah, I can take some time. It’s great to hear from you.”

I can hear the sincerity in her voice, and it eases some of the tension in my chest.

We’re not estranged, and we spoke about a month ago, but it’s been a few months since I saw her, and we don’t talk nearly as much as we used to.

“I think of you often,” I start with. “But today I was talking to this woman. She has an older brother who is very protective.”

Lydia makes an understanding humming noise. I grin.

“And the thing is, she’s also just this very…nurturing type. She truly wants everyone around her to be happy, feel safe, and feel loved. She had a younger sister who died of cancer.”

“Holy shit,” Lydia says. “That sucks.”

“Yeah. It really does. So it made her very…”

“Empathetic?” Lydia asks.

“That. But also… Just sweet as hell. She just puts everybody first. She literally wants to make the entire world happier and sunnier. Even if it means that she has to step back and take a seat. Especially with her brother. Making him happy and proud has kind of stifled her.”

Lydia is quiet, so I continue. “I started thinking about you and I’m really glad that didn’t happen. You never held back. You always did just what you wanted and needed to do. You didn’t worry about me.”

Now she laughs. “No, I definitely didn’t. And the fact that you’re cool with that means all that therapy has really worked. Good job, big bro.”

I chuckle. The therapy I went to definitely helped. “I just really love you and I am very proud of you and glad that you’re who you are. I know there were times that I tried to wrap you in bubble wrap and I would’ve happily kept you locked safely at home. And I know that caused us to fight and created tension. But I’m really glad you didn’t let me do that to you.”

She’s quiet for a moment and then says, “I’m glad I didn’t either. Thanks for saying that.”

“Of course.”

“But…” Lydia says.

“But?” I ask.

“It sounds to me like you think this woman is pretty great. It doesn’t sound like it’s made her a terrible person or anything.”

I frown. “She is definitely not a terrible person,” I say quickly. “I just…worry about her. I want her to realize how great she is. I want the whole world to realize how great she is. She’s just so willing to be quiet about it. To stay in the background.”

My sister makes another soft humming noise.

“What?”

“What is this woman’s name?” Lydia asks.

“Sutton.”

“It sounds to me like Sutton has a brand-new cheerleader who is going to make her feel very special and put her right in the center of his spotlight.”

I take a deep breath and blow it out. “I called to tell you how great you are.”

“Yes, and I appreciate that. But you’ve told me that before. And you’ve apologized for all of the times when you tried to make me into something else. We’ve worked through all of the mess when everything really culminated,” she says. “We’re past it, Law, I promise.”

I take a deep breath. I believe that we are, but I love hearing it. “So you know I love you and I’m proud of you and I trust you?” I ask. “That I am truly going to let you keep making your own decisions and not interfere unless you ask me for advice or help?”

All of this is stuff that we’ve talked about and that, again, I’ve worked through in therapy.

“Yes, for like the sixth time, all of that,” Lydia says. She laughs. “And I love and trust you too, Lawson. You know this thing where we’ve decided to give each other space because when I’m around, I make you crazy because I rebel and do risky things that make you worry, and when you’re around, you make me crazy because you’re overprotective and think you need to constantly help me with everything?”