Three Sisters

The other women all looked at each other. Nina glanced at her. “Really? Because we weren’t sure. What with you being a doctor and all.”

“I still like lunch,” Andi said with a smile. “And company. I’d enjoy the chance to get to know all of you.”

“Then it’s a date,” Laura said firmly, reaching for a knife. “Tomorrow. I know Dr. H is taking you out today.” She cut the first piece of cake and slid it onto a plate. “God, I love it when my day starts with a really big sugar rush.”

By five minutes to nine, Andi had finished her slice of cake and a second cup of coffee. She was already on her way to a very nice caffeine-sugar buzz. Not exactly the breakfast she would recommend to her patients, but this was a special occasion.

Nina stuck her head in the office. “Carly and Gabby Williams are in exam room four. That’s the one you’ll mostly be using.”

Andi stood and smoothed the front of her white coat. “I’m ready,” she said, reaching for the chart.

Nina walked with her. “Gabby’s ten, in good health. She’s going to summer camp in a few weeks, and the camp requires a current physical.”

“Okay.” Andi stopped in front of the closed door and drew in a breath.

Nerves danced in formation while she told herself that she would be fine. Her patients were the best part of her day. She knocked once, then stepped into the examination room.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Dr. Andi Gordon.” She smiled at the mother and daughter. “Nice to meet you both.”

“Carly Williams,” the mother said.

“I’m Gabby.”

They were both blondes, with dark blue eyes and similar shapes to their faces.

Andi turned to the girl. “I’m going to guess you’re the mom?”

Gabby grinned. “I know you don’t think that.”

“Don’t I?”

Gabby shook her head. “You can’t. You’re a doctor and doctors are really smart.”

“I’ve heard that, too.” Andi sat on the stool. “So, I understand you’re going to camp.” She glanced at Carly. “This is about your daughter going, right? Not you.”

Carly laughed. “I would love to spend a month away from my life at camp. But I don’t think I fit the age requirement.”

Gabby giggled.

Andi leaned toward her. “So, tell me about this camp.”

“It’s gonna be great. It’s in the mountains and there’s horses, but the best part is I get to help write a real play and then we perform it and everything.”

“Wow. I want to go, too.”

“I’m very excited,” Gabby confessed.

“I’m getting that.” Andi pulled her stethoscope out of her pocket. “Do you ride horses?”

“I’m gonna learn.”

She started the exam, working slowly, making sure Gabby was still talking about camp rather than worrying about whether or not anything was going to hurt. When mother and daughter left the room, she made a few notes on the chart and then sighed. This was going to be a good day.

* * *

Monday night Deanna loaded the last two pictures onto the family’s Facebook page, then scanned her latest entry. It was an update on how the girls were doing in school. She was less concerned about spelling and grammar than tone. She didn’t want anyone reading the words to guess there was something wrong.

Keeping up the facade of “Gee, of course I’m fine. Why do you ask?” was exhausting. Or maybe it was the lack of sleep. She spent most nights lying awake in the large bed, wondering how everything had gotten so messed up and trying to figure out why she was the bad guy.

If she were like her mother, she would understand Madison’s resentment and Colin’s horrible accusations. But she wasn’t. Her house was clean, she prepared meals, gave them positive attention. No one found her drunk, unconscious in her own vomit. She’d never once raised a hand to her children, let alone beaten them. They didn’t flinch when she walked by.

But they didn’t adore her—not the way they adored their father. They didn’t run to her or light up when she walked into a room, and for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why not.

She tried telling herself it was because Colin was gone so much. He was less accessible than her. But she wasn’t sure she could believe that reasoning. So it had to be something else. If only she knew what.

She rubbed her temples, wishing her eyes didn’t burn so much.

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Deanna looked up and saw Colin walking into the study. They’d barely spoken since his verbal attack in the park on Friday, and she sure didn’t want to speak to him now. But there were logistics to be worked out.

“When will you be back?” she asked.

“Thursday.” He closed the study door behind him and walked toward the desk. “Have you thought about what we talked about last week?”

She stood so she could glare directly at him and not have to look up. “We didn’t talk. You told me everything I’m doing wrong and then you left. That’s not a conversation.”

He studied her. “You’re right. So let’s talk now.”

“I’ve spent my life taking care of you and the girls and all I get is accusations and bitterness.”

“You’re expecting gratitude?”

Of course. She’d been a damn good mother and an excellent wife. Not that any of them appreciated her. “I don’t want to be your punching bag.”

He raised his eyebrows. “That’s extreme.”

“What would you call it? You say those things, and then you turn my children from me.” Her throat tightened, but she refused to show weakness. “I don’t know what you want from me. I don’t have anything left to give.”

“Then we have a problem, because I do want more. I want to be a part of things.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.

“What does that mean?”

“That means you lighten up a little. There are dozens of rules for everything the girls or I do. You want to be in complete control of where we go, what we wear, what we eat.”

“I cook dinner and make lunch. That’s not control.” The unfairness stung. “I keep a calendar of activities so I know who has to be driven where. Why are you twisting everything I do?”

She wanted to tell him if he was so unhappy, he could leave. Only she wasn’t ready for that. To be left.