Chapter 12: Her Sister's Secret

Shannon came on Sunday morning, while Neil was at the gym.

She stood at my kitchen door in a long cardigan, with no makeup.

Her arms were crossed over her stomach.

"Can I come in?"

"You can."

She sat at the table where she had eaten a hundred dinners.

I made tea, because it was something to do, and set a cup in front of her.

She didn't touch it.

"Cody's with the neighbor," she said. "I didn't want him to hear."

"Hear what?"

Her eyes filled.

"You know," she said. "I know you know. You looked at those boots yesterday, and I could see it."

"Then say it."

She pressed her lips together.

"Neil and I..."

Her voice broke.

"It started at your Christmas party, the Christmas before last."

"At my Christmas party."

"It wasn't supposed to be anything. It was one night."

"It was eighteen months."

"Mags."

She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of the cardigan.

"I never meant to hurt you. I love you. You're my sister."

I waited.

"I'm pregnant," she said.

The kitchen clock ticked.

"Eleven weeks. It's his."

She looked up at me.

"He doesn't know yet. I wanted you to hear it first."

"Why?"

"Because you always understand."

She reached across the table for my hand.

"When Mom died, you understood. When Dad left, you understood. I need you to understand now."

I looked at her hand on mine.

It was a small hand with pink polish.

I moved mine away.

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