Home with My Sisters (13 page)

The Garland Girls gasped in unison.

Harrison held his hands up. “I don't mean not here as in—
not here
—I meant—out. Like Christmas shopping. Or Kwanzaa shopping.” He winked at Joy.

Joy turned to their grandmother. “Is it really a rule, Granny? Or more like a guideline?” Faith pinched the bridge of her nose as if pained.

“Hard and fast rule,” Yvette said.

“Do you need anything?” Hope asked Yvette gently. She couldn't believe they'd just been ordered not to celebrate Christmas. Worse, her sisters seemed to have no problem with it. There was no way Hope was going to go along with it. But she certainly wasn't going to push it before Yvette's nap.

“I can manage,” Yvette said. She took a few steps along the hall to the right of the front door. She stopped for a moment and turned back around. “I'm glad you're all here,” she said. “Even you.” She pointed at Harrison. He beamed and gave her a thumbs-up. Joy pulled him in for a selfie.

“We're happy we're here too,” Hope called after Yvette.

“Can we go outside?” Josh said.

“Yes, pretty please?” Brittany said.

“Knock yourselves out,” Faith said. She began taking an inventory of the fridge as the kids made a beeline to the mudroom to don their coats and boots. Hope sat at the kitchen island. “No kale,” Faith said. “I knew it.”

Hope caught Joy's eye. Joy mouthed “Oh no!” then smacked her hands over her mouth and gave a muted laugh. Hope felt thrilled to be teamed up with Joy for once, instead of being on the receiving end of it.

Harrison looked at the three of them, one by one. “I think I'll have a walk around too.” He got up.

“I'll come with,” Joy said.

Harrison put his hand on her shoulder. “No,” he said. “Why don't you hang with your sisters?” Joy considered this, then shrugged and flopped down on the sofa.

Hope gave him an appreciative look. He was the only thing about Joy at the moment that gave her any hope. Brittany and Josh reappeared, all suited-up like Eskimos. Hope loved winter. The padding, the chill in the air, coming in after a winter's day to the warmth of a fire. They could all have such a good time here if only they would let themselves. Thank goodness for children. They were built to be happy.

“I have a dog with me,” Hope told Harrison and the kids. “You might run into him out there.”

“Of course you do,” Faith said.

“He's a gigantic bloodhound,” Hope added.

“Of course he is,” Faith said.

“He's friendly. Name is Mr. Jingles.” Hope ignored Faith and grinned at Brittany.

“Mr. Jingles,” Brittany said, grinning back.

“Try and bring him back with you if you find him,” Hope said.

“Got it,” Josh said.

“Are you sure he doesn't bite?” Harrison said. Hope went to her bag and retrieved treats and a leash.

“He's enthusiastic but harmless.” She handed the leash and treats to Brittany. She started to jump up and down.

“Can we bring him in the house?”

“No,” Faith said.

“Eventually,” Hope whispered in Brittany's ear. Brittany grinned. The three of them headed outside. Hope watched from the window.

“They're so grown up,” she said to Faith. “And so sweet.”

“Not always,” Faith said. “But they're mine and I love them.”

“Brittany said that Josh has been a bit moody lately,” Hope said.

“He's a teenager,” Faith snapped.

“I think he's very bright and sweet,” Hope said. She looked out the window and watched Brittany twirling in the yard. Then she fell backward and began to make a snow angel.
Yes,
Hope thought.
You go, girl
. Josh and Harrison headed for the woods. Hope focused her attention back inside and soon her eyes landed on a couple of large objects wedged between the refrigerator and the wall.

“The nutcrackers,” Hope said. She hopped off her stool and pulled them out one by one.

“I didn't want them in my car,” Faith said.

“Why stick them here?” Hope asked.

“I did it,” Joy said. “Wanted to see how long it would take you to find them.”

Hope patted their little heads. “I should put them back on the front porch,” she said.

“Looks like we'll be splitting this estate in two,” Joy announced.

“Excuse me?” Hope said.

Joy blinked, then thrust up her index finger. “Nutcrackers are a celebration of Christmas. I think that disqualifies you.”

Hope stared at her younger sister, tears welling in her eyes. “What in the world did I do to you?”

For a second Joy's lip quivered as she met Hope's eyes. She opened her mouth as if to finally tell her. Then her veil of steel slammed down again. “Nothing.”

Hope whirled on Faith. “Tell me!”

Faith threw up her arms. “I'm not getting involved.”

“Since when?”

Faith opened her purse and took out a pill bottle. She popped it open and downed one.

“What is that?” Hope said.

“Prescription Xanax,” Faith said.

“Can I have one?” Joy said.

“No,” Faith said.

“Can I have one?” Hope asked.

“No,” Faith said.

“Why would she say yes to you if she said no to me?” Joy demanded, turning on Hope.

“Because she knows I'm not going to try to sell them on craigslist,” Hope said. “How's that for a start?”

“Is this why you wanted us all together? So you could be nasty?” Joy sounded genuinely hurt.

“I was joking,” Hope said. “I knew Faith wasn't going to share. Since when does Faith share?”

“Hey,” Faith said. “If I had kale I'd be force-feeding both of you right now. It's obvious your bodies are toxic.”

“Do we have any alcohol?” Joy asked.

“Toxic, toxic, toxic,” Faith said as Joy began rummaging through the cabinets.

“Granny sure likes her whiskey,” Joy said, holding up a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue.

“Like Dad,” Faith said. The three of them stared at the bottle.

“I'll pick up some vodka in town,” Hope said. “I'll make us my famous candy cane martinis.”

“Kale smoothies is what we need,” Faith said.

Joy leaned on the kitchen island. “I'd kill for a joint.”

Hope ambushed Joy with a hug from behind. “I missed you two. I missed the Garland Girls.”

Joy groaned. “I hated when Mom called us that.”

“Dad called us that first,” Hope said. “And we loved it.”

“It's not fair. I never got to know him.” For once Joy didn't sound sarcastic. Faith came up from behind and put her arms around both of them.

“He was so thrilled when you were born,” Hope said. “I think you were his favorite.”

“Really?” Joy's voice was tinged with the sound of a deep ache.

“He barely even let Mom hold you when you were back from the hospital. It was like you were a part of his arms.”

“I can't breathe,” Joy said. Faith backed off, then Hope. They plopped into stools at the island. “Was I really his favorite?” Joy asked.

Faith nodded. “He said you completed the set.” She laughed and soon Joy and Hope joined in.

“God, he was funny,” Hope said.

“And fun,” Faith said.

“And devastatingly handsome,” Hope said.

“They did make such a beautiful couple,” Faith said.

“It seems like beautiful couples are always doomed,” Joy said. “Did they fight a lot?”

Faith snorted. “Do active volcanoes get a little hot?”

“We used to hide under the bed,” Hope said.

“Only when he'd been drinking,” Faith said. Joy stared at them wide-eyed.

“But it was mostly good,” Hope said quickly. Now that he was gone, she certainly didn't want to taint his memory.

“I can't believe he died all those years ago and we never knew,” Joy said.

“I can't believe he was coming for us,” Hope said. “Should we tell Mom?”

“It can wait,” Faith said. “Far be it for us to ruin Christmas in Cuba.”

Joy picked up a nutcracker and held it. “Mom told me not to believe a word that woman says.”

“She told me the same thing,” Hope said.

“Maybe he wasn't really coming to see us,” Joy said. She put the nutcracker down and picked up the other one. Then she smashed them together as if they were kissing.

“I wonder if he was drinking and driving?” Faith said.

“I was wondering the same thing,” Hope said. She didn't realize she'd started crying until she felt the tears dripping down her cheeks. Suddenly Faith was in front of her, enveloping Hope in a hug. Joy, nutcracker in each hand, wrapped her arms around Faith, who was still hanging on to Hope.

“Group hug,” Faith said. Then she abruptly pulled away. “Joy—are you showering?”

“Americans are so hung up on daily showers, and deodorant, and perfume. We're supposed to be natural.”

“Mission accomplished,” Faith said. “You smell like a caveman.”

Joy sniffed her armpits. She looked as if she were about to protest, then laughed. “I'm rank,” she said.

“There's deodorant in my pink bag by the door. Find a bathroom and stop communing with nature.”

“We need to talk,” Hope said. “We need to stand up to Yvette's rules. Starting with Christmas.”

“We'll talk when I can breathe,” Faith said, waving her hand as if to ward off a smell.

Joy rolled her eyes, then set the nutcrackers on the kitchen island, one lying on top of the other.

“No comingling in this house,” Hope said, separating the nutcrackers. Joy and Faith each let out a cackle. It warmed Hope from the inside. She laughed too. Soon the three of them were in hysterics. When they settled down, Joy bounded off to retrieve the deodorant. She found it and thrust it up like it was the Olympic torch. “I've missed you guys,” she said, looking at them for a second, then grabbed her bag and crossed over to the stairwell leading to the second floor. She pointed at them. “I get dibs on the room. Nobody interrupts my shower. No talking about me behind my back.”

“Don't worry,” Faith said. “If we do we'll be sure to repeat everything to your face.”

CHAPTER 14

Hope and Faith bundled up and headed outside. Joy seemed like she was going to spend hours in the shower, which Hope and Faith agreed was a very wise move. The air was crisp and cold, and smelled like snow. Although they couldn't see the others, laughter and voices rang out from the woods. A dog barked. Hope smiled, confident they had already met Mr. Jingles. Faith caught her smile and shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Not coming in the house,” she said under her breath.
So coming in the house,
Hope thought to herself. Sometimes it was a lot easier to win arguments when she kept them in her head.

They headed across the expansive lawn to the pond. As they walked, Hope tried to think of nonthreatening ways to bring up the topic of Stephen, but they were getting along nicely and she didn't want to ruin that. Instead, she opened her arms and twirled around just like she'd seen Brittany do a bit earlier.

“Look at this place,” she said. She took in all the tall pines. “Christmas tree, anyone?”

“Do you really think she's going to leave it to us?” Faith said.

“This is a Norman Rockwell Christmas here. Dad would have loved it. Are we seriously not going to celebrate Christmas?”

“Of course we're going to celebrate Christmas,” Faith said. “Otherwise my children will report me for abuse. Granny will warm up to it.”

Hope wasn't so sure about that. The one trait that they all had in common was stubbornness. “And if she doesn't?”

“We'll work on her.” They were just about to reach the pond when Faith pointed to the deck near the barn. “Is that a hot tub?”

“Sure is,” Hope said. Faith made a beeline toward it. Hope ran after her. By the time Hope reached the hot tub, Faith already had the cover off. She found the controls and fired it up. “It works!”

“Looks pretty clean too,” Hope said.

“We're definitely coming out here with cocktails,” Faith said.

“Candy cane martinis or kale smoothies?” Hope teased.

Faith swatted her. “Let's check out the pond.” They headed over. It looked so pristine, so inviting. Hope couldn't wait to go skating. There was a fence around it as well as benches on either side for sitting and putting on skates. Hope wished she could go back in time to when this property was open to the public during the Christmas season. If the Garland Girls adopted the house, they could bring back the tradition. That is, if they could keep Joy from selling it to the highest bidder. “Is Stephen coming for Christmas Day?” Hope kept her voice light and casual.

Faith looked away. “I don't know.”

“Everything okay with you two?”

“What does Mom say?” Faith leaned against the fence and poked at the edge of the pond with her toe.

“She thinks you're having trouble.”

“Is she posting it on Facebook?”

Hope laughed. “She only posts parrots and booze.”

Faith started laughing along with Hope. “Who knew she'd turn into Jimmy Buffett in her golden years.” Hope wondered what their mother was doing now. Sunbathing on a sailboat? Dancing with a rum and Coke in her hand? Smoking a Cuban cigar?

Hope gazed at the mountains. They were so solid, so comforting. This truly was God's country. “This business about Dad is going to break her heart.”

“She said not to tell her anything unless she asked.”

“Let's hope she doesn't ask.”

“God, they were so young,” Faith said. “Just kids.”

“Who shouldn't have had kids,” Hope said. It felt like a betrayal to say that, but it was so true. Maybe they would have held it together better if they'd been older.

Faith gave a little shrug. “We survived.”

Hope focused on a pine tree in the distance. She loved the stark green, the spikey needles, the crisp scent the trees infused into the air. “But he didn't.”

Faith crossed her arms. “He might not have been coming for us.”

Hope had never considered that. Why did she always believe everything everyone said? Had he been coming for them? “You think she lied?”

“I don't think she lied about the accident. But how are we supposed to know whether or not he was coming to see us? He died not far from here. He could have been going anywhere.”

“I guess we'll never know.” Hope sighed. She didn't want to think about it.

Faith kept going. “He was a fast driver. And often drinking. Remember?”

Hope nodded. “Mom always yelling at him to slow down.”

“Slow down, you're going to get us killed,” Faith mimicked.

They fell silent and looked out at the land. Faith pointed. “Is that a man hiding behind that tree?”

“Where?” Hope followed the trajectory of Faith's finger. Sure enough there was a man with a red cap and beard, early fifties, hiding behind a tree, watching them. “That must be Roger,” Hope said. “He's the caretaker. Austin thinks he might have some kind of brain damage. I guess he does that a lot.”

“Creepy.”

“I don't think so,” Hope said. “He gave me a pinecone and put my bags on the porch.”

“Maybe he's a good egg then.” Faith lifted her hand to Roger and waved. He stared for a minute, then slowly raised a gloved hand and waved back. Then he turned and trudged away. Faith tracked him for a moment. “Seems harmless,” she concluded.

“He lives in that cabin out back.”

“Should we go say hi?”

“I think we just did,” Hope said. “He seems a bit shy.”

“Granny is like you. Always taking in strays.”

“Why have you and Joy taken to calling her Granny?”

Faith laughed. “Because she looks like she'd hate it.”

Hope laughed too. God, it was good to be around her sisters when they were happy. She just had to make sure they all stayed happy. “We should go into town. There are a ton of cute shops.”

“How did she get the money for this place?” Faith wandered in the direction of the barn. Hope followed.

“Her late husband, Rupert. He owned a sledding and skating outfit in town. Visitors used to come here, too, to skate on the pond, sing Christmas carols, the works.” Faith stood at the doors to the barn. They were shut tight and padlocked. “I think all the skating equipment is still in there.”

Faith laughed. “You are a plethora of information.” She tugged on the padlock. “Wonder why all the security?”

“I think she's trying to keep the past under lock and key,” Hope said. Faith shrugged and walked toward the pond. Hope hurried after her. “We could start that up again, you know.”

“We?” Faith didn't turn around.

“Yes, the three of us. We could keep the house and start up the business again.” They stopped at the edge of the pond. Hope could just imagine the neighbors gathered to skate. Christmas was supposed to be the season of giving. Imagine, year after year, giving back by inviting their neighbors to enjoy such a magical place. Hope could definitely see herself stepping into a life like that. And no, it didn't hurt that a man like Austin lived next door, but that wasn't her only motivation.

“I live in San Francisco.” Faith looked at Hope, as if waiting for her to continue her pitch.

“I could manage the property,” Hope said. She'd been thinking about it a lot. She could do it. She could live here.

A little smile broke out on Faith's face. “Ah. So you want to keep the house to yourself.”

“Not at all. It's all of ours.”

“What about the dogs?”

Look at all this land. I could adopt a ton of dogs.
“I wasn't going to do that forever.”

“Could have fooled me.”

There she was again, subtly putting her down. Hope had had enough. “You really thought I was going to work at an animal shelter the rest of my life?”

“Yes,” Faith said.

“Well, you're wrong. I will always be involved in the welfare of animals, but that doesn't mean I don't have goals.”

“What are they?”

Shoot. She had no idea. Getting closer to her sisters. Didn't that count as a goal?
“I can see myself managing this place. Starting an outreach to the community.” She thought of Austin and his work with suicide prevention. Maybe at-risk kids could come to this place, like a retreat. Faith was fact-based, Hope wasn't going to start pitching at the daydreaming stage.

“Joy will never go for it.” Faith started walking toward the woods, and once again Hope followed. Faith was always leading the way, but Hope didn't mind. She wanted to be with her sister, and it didn't matter where they went as long as they were together.

“Joy could be persuaded,” Hope said.
As long as we present a united front.

Faith laughed. “Good luck with that.”

“She could sell coffee to the skaters.”

“We could build her a little coffee hut on the premises,” Faith said.

“Exactly.”

Faith stopped. Hope almost ran into her. “Where's your boyfriend?”

For a second, Austin flashed through Hope's mind. His smile. His stubble. Muscles buried in flannel. “Hawaii.”

“Are you kidding me? Without you?”

“He had a ticket for me too.”

“Why aren't you there?”

“Because I wanted to be here. With my sisters. His idea of Christmas lights is probably a string of colored bikinis on the beach. This is more my idea of where to spend Christmas.”

“How'd he take it?”

“Surprisingly well given that I broke up with him.”

Faith snuck her arm around Hope and started walking again. “I didn't like Michael.”

“You never met him.”

“I could hear it in your voice.”

“Hear what?”

“He wasn't treating you right.”

“He didn't like dogs.”

“Maybe I was too quick to judge.”

Hope slapped Faith lightly on the back. “Wait until you meet Mr. Jingles.”

“I do not want to meet Mr. Jingles.”

Just then, the little group emerged from the woods. Mr. Jingles was in the lead, pulling on the leash that was attached to poor Brittany.

“Speak of the devil,” Hope said. “Let go if he pulls too hard,” she yelled to Brittany. Josh and Harrison emerged next. Harrison waved.

“What do you think of the Black Stallion?” Faith whispered.

Hope shook her head at the reference. “He's cute. And very nice.”

“I agree. Joy seems happy. With him at least.”

Hope looked back at the log house, then lowered her voice. “Am I allowed to say that I like him better than I like her right now?”

“Absolutely.”

“She's going to want us to sell this place.”

“Probably for the best. It has to be worth a fortune.”

“We should keep it. I meant that.”

“Having money might be a better option.”

“You don't need money.”

Faith's eyes narrowed. “You don't know that.”

So she and Stephen were having trouble. Hope wished they were close enough to confide in each other. It was a really bad sign if you couldn't share secrets with your sisters. Then again, it wasn't something you could force. Hope didn't press Faith for any more details. “Granny said there were more rules. Wonder what they are.”

Faith was still watching Harrison. “Do you think it's an easier life these days for mixed-race couples?”

“Easier, yes. Easy? No,” Hope said. She wished it were easy. She wished people would confront their own racism.

Faith must have been thinking the same thing. “Do you think Granny Dearest was just talking about milk?” she asked.

“No,” Hope said. “I don't.”

“Me neither.” She sighed. “So our grandmother is a racist.”

“I think a lot of people harbor racist feelings and thoughts. But it's so taboo to admit that—even to ourselves. What if we could all just examine what we think, feel, and say—admit it—then dig deeper to the root of those beliefs. Honesty, self-scrutiny, and being open-minded. I think people who say they ‘don't see color' are lying and also quite insulting. Why not see color and like what you see? Honor other races and cultures.”

“Yeah,” Faith said. “Don't think Granny is going to tackle that in the time she has left.”

Hope shook her head. “Probably not.”

Just then Brittany let go of Mr. Jingles and he made a beeline to Hope and Faith. Faith started to scream.

“Calm down,” Hope said. “You'll excite him even more.” But Faith didn't, or couldn't, calm down and Mr. Jingles directed his kinetic energy straight for her. Before Hope could stop him, he lunged. Faith went down onto the grass with Mr. Jingles on top of her, excitedly barking. Soon he had a large paw planted on either side of her head and his big tongue was less than half an inch from her mouth. Hope practically had to lie on top of the dog to wrestle him off.

“We're selling,” she heard Faith say the minute the dog was away from her. “We're definitely selling.” Hope would have been depressed at her utterance but was soon distracted by the skies. It began to snow.