“So?”
“So for one second, I was eight again.”
That took the anger out of Luke’s face.
Andrew continued.
“I knew what she was going to do. And I still stood there.”
No one spoke.
Finally Claire said, “Andrew?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for telling us.”
“I’m sorry.”
Luke sat back.
“You don’t owe us the apology.”
“I owe Ellie one.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll give her one whenever you think it’s appropriate.”
Claire looked at Luke.
He nodded.
Andrew hesitated.
“There’s something else.”
Luke frowned.
“What?”
“You need to talk to Kate.”
Luke went still.
Claire knew the name.
Kate Bennett.
Luke’s younger sister.
Thirty-four.
Living in Oregon.
She had not attended the birthday.
In fact, she had not attended any Bennett family gathering in almost three years.
According to Diane, Kate had become selfish after marrying a musician named Noah and moving west.
According to Luke, the situation was complicated.
According to Kate, almost nothing, because Claire had only spoken to her twice.
“What does Kate have to do with this?” Luke asked.
Andrew’s answer was quiet.
“More than you know.”
Luke stood.
“What does that mean?”
“Call her.”
“Andrew.”
“I promised her I wouldn’t tell her story for her.”
“What story?”
“Call her.”
The conversation ended five minutes later.
Luke did not immediately contact his sister.
For almost an hour, he walked around the house performing meaningless tasks.
He took the trash out.
Loaded dishes that were already clean.
Checked the locks twice.
Claire finally found him standing alone in Ellie’s playroom.
He held a small plastic dinosaur.
“Why haven’t you called?”
Luke turned it over in his hands.
“Because I think I know what she’s going to say.”
Claire waited.
“She didn’t leave because of Noah.”
“What?”
“That’s what Mom always implied.”
“You believed her?”
“Partly.”
Luke sat on the edge of a tiny chair.
“It started at Christmas three years ago. Kate and Mom had a huge fight. Kate left before dinner.”
“You told me it was about money.”
“That’s what Mom said.”
“Did you ask Kate?”
Luke looked ashamed.
“No.”
Claire stared at him.
“She’s your sister.”