Home with My Sisters (27 page)

* * *

Josh lay on his bed in his clothes. They had come looking for him, but they hadn't even cared that he didn't want to come back with them. He much preferred hanging out with Roger. They had fun. Roger had Coke and potato chips and ajar of coins he brought out to play blackjack. It was the most fun Josh had had since he'd been there. He would have slept much better on Roger's sofa. He didn't think Roger would have minded. Heck, maybe he could convince his mother to leave him here with Roger permanently. Especially if his dad didn't want him and Charlie was going to move in. It figured. The minute Josh was having fun his mother just had to step in and ruin it. His door creaked open. It was Brittany.

“What's wrong?” he asked.

“I can't sleep,” she said. “I'm too excited about Christmas. Aren't you?”

He smiled. He wished he could be more like her. It wasn't her fault she was so happy. “Come in.”

“Really?” Her voice perked up and she skipped into the room.

“You can sleep here tonight.”

“Will you tell me a story?”

“Sure,” Josh said. She snuggled under the covers. Josh looked outside at all the twinkling lights. He took a deep breath. “ ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house . . .' ”

* * *

Joy lay in bed wishing Harrison would join her. Except for two times, he'd been the one who insisted they follow Granny's rules. She could hear him snoring from his room across the hall. She smiled. He was enjoying himself. His mother was furious with him, though; she'd heard him talking to her on the phone the other day. She didn't want to spend Christmas without her boy. Joy couldn't blame her. Maybe they should go back to Seattle for Christmas. This was turning out to be a nightmare anyway.

She could hear Hope and Faith in Faith's room. What were they doing in there and why hadn't they invited her? She supposed they figured she was with Harrison. Still, it would have been nice to be asked. She always felt like the unwanted one. She didn't get to know their father. Faith left when she was young, and Hope had been absolutely brokenhearted. Joy always thought Hope loved Faith better, and that Faith must have loved Hope better—for why else take off before really getting to know Joy?

Now that she was older, she knew logically that it was just life. Faith had been pregnant and scared. Their father died. Hope, of course, was going to miss her older sister. But in her heart, Joy had carried a world of hurt. She wanted to be close to her sisters, repair the broken bits, she just didn't know how. She liked being around them, though. They were actually having fun some of the time. She wondered if Hope had been serious about the coffee truck idea. Grudgingly, Joy had to admit it was a pretty good one. They could take it everywhere. Especially downtown in the winter. This place was growing on her. They certainly had a lot of tourists at this time of year, and tourists loved coffee. They could have hot chocolate for the kids. Maybe Harrison could even bake his bread and pies. Some of those trucks were even big enough to sleep in. Oh, who was she kidding. A truck might be cheaper than a store, but that didn't mean they could afford it. The only way they would be able to afford anything was if they were allowed to sell this house.

Granny and her rules. Can't sell it until some old man dies? That was crazy. And crazy couldn't be legal, could it? And what had Josh been doing in that creepy cabin? What kind of man lets a teenage boy into his cabin at night? In this day and age?

Thank the Lord they found Josh quickly. She was surprised Faith wasn't harder on that old man. It wasn't right to have someone else's child over at your house for hours without telling anyone. Joy didn't know why everyone else was tiptoeing around the guy. Joy just thought he was weird. Were Hope and Faith really considering keeping him on after Granny passed? She'd noticed the office for a lawyer in town when she was there last. She was going to make an appointment. There was no way what Granny was asking them to do was legal. And then she was going to confront Roger. Tell him that everyone else might be fooled, but she knew he was putting on an act with all that brain-damaged stuff. Scamming a rich old lady about to die.

Joy crept into the hall. She could sneak into Harrison's bedroom, or she could join Faith and Hope. She stopped by Harrison's room and opened the door a crack. Loud snores snaked out into the hall. She smiled and shut the door. She headed for Hope's room. This time she didn't bother to knock or even open the door a crack. She pushed the door open and took a flying leap for the middle of the bed. Hope and Faith, who were sitting on the bed, squealed as Joy landed between them, laughing.

“So nice of you to drop by,” Hope said.

“We thought for sure you were busy,” Faith said, using air quotes.

“He's in his own bed, snoring,” Joy said. “And I'm wide awake.” She looked at her sisters. They looked all red-eyed and funny. “Are you two drunk?”

“No,” Hope said.

Faith just blinked rapidly.

“You both have red eyes,” Joy said. “Did you smoke a joint?”

“No,” Faith said.

“We were standing too close to the fire pit outside,” Hope said. “That smoke is killer.”

“I can't sleep,” Joy said. “Harrison is snoring loud enough to wake the whole house.”

“Do you want me to make you some warm milk?” Hope joked.

“Actually, yes, I do,” Joy said.

“Mom used to make that for you all the time,” Faith said.

“I know. Didn't she make it for you guys too?”

“Nope,” Hope said. “She didn't start doing that until you.”

“Because I was a terror about sleeping,” Joy said.

“She would spike it,” Faith said.

“Why do you think I always pretended I couldn't sleep?” Joy said with a wicked smile.

“I think I could use some warm milk too,” Faith said.

“Are you sure that's a good idea?” Hope said. Joy resisted rolling her eyes. Who made Hope the permanent hall monitor? Joy would have to sneak some extra alcohol into Hope's warm milk just to loosen her up a bit.

“Come on, bitches,” she said, throwing her arms around her sisters. “Got milk?”

* * *

It was nice being in the kitchen late at night with her sisters. They were talking in whispers just in case Yvette could actually hear them from down the hall. The milk was warming in the pan and Joy was making a big deal out of examining each coffee cup in the cupboard and putting herself in charge of who drank out of which one. She gave Faith a cup with a bulldozer on it, Hope one with an enormous turkey, and she drank out of the one that said, W
ORLD'S
B
EST
M
OTHER
. Probably just to stick it to Faith. Faith and Hope exchanged a look. Had Roger given Yvette the mug?

When the milk was hot, and Faith's and Joy's spiked with just a bit of rum, they sat at the kitchen island. Hope kept glancing at Faith, wondering if they should tell Joy about Roger. They'd decided to wait until they were a hundred percent sure. That was probably wise when it came to Joy. She was like a spring, always ready to bounce.

Roger. It was going to be impossible to call him that. First thing in the morning they were going to call Carla. Hope wasn't even sure their mother was really on her way here. She could have been reacting to Roger getting a piece of the inheritance, not Roger being Dad. But it was him. Hope knew it. She just didn't know if he knew it.

“What's up with you guys?” Joy said.

“It's about Roger,” Faith said. What was she doing? They'd just agreed not to tell Joy until their theory was irrefutable.

“Ugh,” Joy said. “I couldn't believe you didn't let him have it.”

“What?” Hope said.

“Who lets some strange kid in their cabin without checking in with the mom?” Joy said. “I don't care if he is brain-damaged. He has to know he can't do that.” Faith glanced at Hope. Joy's eyes narrowed as she caught the look. “What?”

“That's not what Faith was trying to say,” Hope said. A loud rap on the door startled her. Hot milk slopped out onto her arm.

“Oh my God,” Faith said. “Is someone at the front door?” The knock came again.

“What time is it?” Joy hissed.

“It's one a.m.,” Faith said.

“I suddenly wish that beast of a dog was in here with us,” Faith said.

“Maybe it's Mom,” Hope said.

“Mom?” Joy said. “Why would it be Mom?”

“There's no way she got here this fast,” Faith said.

“Mom's coming here?” Joy said. “What happened to Cuba?”

“She changed her mind,” Hope said.

Joy slid off the stool so she could literally stomp her foot. “Why am I always the last to know?” Hope resisted looking at Faith. Joy was going to kill them for keeping the secret about their dad. Another loud bang on the door interrupted Hope's thought.

The Garland Girls advanced to the door together. Hope flipped on the light to the mudroom. A woman could be seen standing on the porch. She was petite, with blond hair. Not Carla, although she could have introduced her head to a bottle of bleach.

“Oh no,” Faith said. “Not now.”

Joy and Hope exchanged a look as Faith hurried to the door, raced through the mudroom and had the front door thrown open in seconds flat. Hope and Joy followed and watched as Faith hugged the woman, then scolded her. She smiled broadly at Hope and Joy and they smiled back.

“What are you doing here?” Faith said. Her voice sounded intimate.

“I missed you,” she said.

“You should have called.”

“I did. Several times. And texted. Why are you ignoring me?”

Faith glanced behind her at Hope and Joy. “Can you give us some privacy?”

“I don't think so,” Hope surprised herself by saying.

“Not a chance,” Joy said.

“Great,” Faith muttered.

“These must be your sisters,” the woman said. She held out a dainty hand. “I'm Charlie.”

“Charlie,” Joy said, slowly, as if she were wine tasting, savoring the sights and smells.

“Charlie,” Hope said.

“I was going to tell you,” Faith said.

“Stayed in the closet, did you?” Charlie said. Her laugh was much bigger than she was. “Oops!” She winked at Hope and Joy. Hope had to hand it to Faith, she was cute.

“Guess who's coming to dinner?” Joy said.

CHAPTER 29

Yvette was up with the birds. Bright red cardinals and little brown sparrows, and if she was lucky Yvette could spot the occasional hawk gliding by the window. The house was quiet for a change. Hope was usually up messing about the kitchen, and Yvette was surprised to realize that she missed her. The girls hadn't quite taken to her, not that she expected them to, but they sure did bring Roger back to life. She fixed his breakfast, a hardboiled egg, warm oatmeal with apples, and a thermos of coffee, and then put on her boots and coat and headed for his cabin. She glanced at all the Christmas decorations. Roger had been putting up a little more every night, and now almost half the lawn surrounding the log house was filled with one moving creature or the other, all lit up and heartily embracing Christmas. She was even allowing herself to get into the Christmas spirit. When she was a child they didn't make a big fuss over Christmas, but oh, she loved it anyway. Their gifts were modest—Clementine oranges, a pair of shoes, or a hairbrush—something practical but new. And oh, how Yvette cherished her gifts. Nowadays kids were so spoiled. Brittany and Josh were an exception. What wonderful children. She felt closer to them than she did the girls, but Yvette had always had an easier time relating to children than adults. Brittany was so fresh-faced and agreeable. And she didn't mind Josh being a bit moody—he reminded her so of Thomas.

She approached Roger's door and knocked. He opened within seconds. “Good morning.”

He nodded and moved back. Yvette stepped inside and set his breakfast up at his card table. She saw ajar of coins and a deck of cards. She looked at him.

“Josh,” he said.

Yvette smiled. She felt tears coming to her eyes. Maybe she had been wrong about the extent of Roger's damages all these years. Maybe he understood and remembered a lot more than she once thought. She sat down with him. He noted his surprise by the raise of an eyebrow.

“Thomas,” she said, trying it out. Roger didn't move. His body stiffened. “Your girls are lovely.”

“Lovely,” he said.

“Your daughters,” Yvette pressed.

“My girls,” he said.

Oh God. He did know. Yvette trembled. She started to cry. After the accident he didn't speak at all. The doctor said his brain was permanently damaged. There was no way of knowing what he remembered. He wouldn't answer to Thomas. The only word he muttered was “Roger.” If she'd ask him to do something, he'd say, “Roger, Roger.” She eventually started calling him that. It was easier. This man was not her son. She still loved him, but he was not her son.

“I think you should tell them,” Yvette said. “Tell them your name is Thomas.”

Roger's head snapped up and he looked stricken. “Roger,” he said.

“They're still your girls,” she said. “They will love you.”

“No!” he said. He began to pace, smacking himself over and over on top of his head. “No, no, no, no.”

“Okay, okay.” Yvette hurried to her feet and waved her arms. “We won't tell, we won't tell.” She had to shout it and repeat it several times before he stopped. “Okay, okay,” she said. She took his arm and guided him back to the table. He sat, but his hands shook violently. She fetched his medicine from the cabinet and doled it out.

“Roger,” he said. “Roger.”

“I know,” Yvette said. “Roger.” Oh, the doctors they'd been to over the years. Even with all the advancements in medicine the brain was a strange and befuddling thing. Because he wasn't completely himself, but there was a flicker of Thomas inside him. The girls had turned that flicker into a flame. But he didn't want his girls to know. He knew enough to know that he wasn't himself. He didn't want them to know him like this. Or Carla. Yvette knew Roger still kept photos of Carla and the girls around the cabin. Bringing the girls here had been a risk that had paid off. She didn't know how Roger was going to react, and it was better than she could have ever suspected. She'd hoped he would come around enough to tell them.

She wasn't surprised they couldn't recognize him. He even walked different since the accident, and twenty years had aged him considerably. And they'd been so little. They still saw young, handsome, standing-up-straight, clean-shaven, laughing, wild Thomas. But Carla had certainly recognized him. Even on video camera. She didn't like the woman, but she had to grudgingly admit, she and her son had had quite the connection. Apparently they still did.

Despite that, Yvette didn't want that woman anywhere near him. Roger wasn't Thomas, couldn't be a husband again in any sense of the word, and Yvette hated to think of what heartbreak he might incur by seeing her again. But she hadn't been able to figure out a way to stop Carla from ever visiting. And yet Brittany said the foul woman was on her way here. She hoped it wasn't true. If it was, she had to stop her from seeing Roger. In order to do that, she'd have to tell the girls the truth. And if she did that, she'd be betraying Roger. His entire life had been ruined with one accident. He'd lost absolutely everything, how could she deny him the only thing he'd ever asked of her? If he wanted her to keep her mouth shut, she was going to keep her mouth shut.

“Go now,” he said. Yvette nodded and stood to leave. She never got insulted when he spoke his mind. That was one thing about his brain injury, it had removed all social filters. Roger told you exactly what he wanted when he wanted it. She normally kissed him on the head before leaving, but he was still upset. She simply nodded and left.

* * *

Hope was in the kitchen drinking coffee when she looked out and saw Yvette returning from the cabin. She brought Roger most of his meals. Correction, she brought
her son
most of his meals. She wondered where the name Roger had come from. She was dying to say something to her grandmother, but Faith had made her swear on her grave that she wouldn't confront anyone about this without her. Joy would be the first person they would tell. But now Faith was off with Charlie, and who knew when she'd be back. Hope was dying to say something to someone, anyone. Her mother still wasn't answering her phone. Hope had left several messages, and in the last one even hinted she knew why her mother was coming, but begged her not to do or say anything until she had talked to them first. Hope still didn't know what Roger did and did not understand, and Carla could be a hurricane. She certainly didn't want her barreling through and upsetting everyone.

Faith and Charlie had gone to a hotel downtown last night. Faith said she'd be back before the kids were awake, but so far no sign of her. Then again the kids were known to sleep in. Hope missed that about being a teenager.

She and Joy had actually bonded last night, staying up another hour in Hope's bed going over the bombshell.

“Did you ever think she was a lesbian?” Joy said.

“If anyone was going to go that way, I thought it would be you,” Hope admitted. “Just to be different.”

“I haven't ruled out bisexuality,” Joy said. “But I never once thought Faith was that cool.”

“She was always good at sports,” Hope said. Then giggled. It was so surreal, and besides women could be straight and good at sports. “Do you think Stephen knows Charlie is a woman?”

“Uh, yes,” Joy said. “Faith said he caught them on the living room sofa, remember?”

“Oh, right.”

“Imagine that moment.”

“I'd rather not.” Stephen might not have been her favorite brother-in-law, but he was her only one, and she certainly didn't wish him any pain. He might not have been the man Hope envisioned for Faith, but he was a good father. And regardless of whether Charlie was a woman or a man, Hope knew this really had to hurt. She could see why Faith had been trying to hide it. And they hadn't had any time at all to grill Faith or even get to know Charlie. Faith was dressed, packed, and out of there before Hope or Joy could get in a word.

Thank God for coffee. Life would be impossible to process without it. She laughed, remembering Joy's ambition. Maybe Hope had been too quick to judge the coffee shop idea. Her sisters were living their lives. Going for what they wanted. Hope actually felt a bit of excitement for Faith. It must be a relief to realize who you are, or be honest about who you are, no matter what stage of life you were in. But how could she and Joy not know? Then again they hadn't known Roger was their father either. Secrets. Families were filled with secrets. Hope was more than a little hurt Faith had hid something this huge from them. From now on, she wanted them to be the kind of sisters who told one another everything.

Like the fact that Roger is their father
. For a second Hope could relate with how betrayed Joy was going to feel. Maybe they should just pretend they were finding out about it along with Joy. Or should Hope tell Joy right away? No. Faith would kill her. God, three was such a horrible number sometimes. And there was too much going on at once. The revelation of Roger. Yvette dying. And Charlie showing up at the door last night.

It was still going to be difficult on the kids and Stephen. But Hope had liked Charlie straightaway. She wanted Faith to be happy. She needed to lighten up, that was for sure.

She heard heavy footsteps above and soon Josh was thunking down the stairs.

“Where's Mom?” he said before he'd even reached the first floor.

“She went into town,” Hope said.

“This early?”

“You know how people are around Christmas time,” Hope said. “They're full of surprises.” She hated herself the minute the lie was out of her mouth, but what choice did she have?

Josh squinted. “Are the shops even open this early?”

“It's nine-thirty, sleepyhead. I'm sure some of them are open.” Josh settled himself onto a counter stool. He looked outside. “Did you have fun with Roger last night?” Hope tried to keep her voice casual, but it wasn't easy. She wanted to know every single thing her father said and did.

Josh shrugged. “He knows how to play blackjack.” Hope laughed. Then bit her lip as tears came to her eyes. Josh narrowed his eyes and studied her. “Do you like Roger?”

“I do,” Hope said, hoping her voice wouldn't betray her secret grief. “I like him a lot. I look forward to getting to know him a whole lot better.”

They heard the front door opening and minutes later Yvette came in from removing her coat and boots.

“Ah, we have two awake I see,” Yvette said. “It's as if you're all sleep-deprived.”

“Mom is in town,” Josh said.

“In town?” Yvette said. “At this hour?”

“That's what I said,” Josh said.

“Christmas secrets,” Hope said. “My lips are sealed.” She only wished Charlie had come at another time. She didn't like waiting to confront her grandmother about their father. Faith told her they'd waited twenty-four years, she could wait another day, but it wasn't going to be easy. She had hoped to actually go with Yvette to deliver Roger's breakfast, but Yvette had beat her to it.

Joy and Harrison tripped down the steps next. Hope wondered if their grandmother was suspicious about the fact that they often came down at the exact same time, but she'd never voiced a complaint.

“I'll make us all breakfast,” Hope said. “Are you hungry, Yvette?”

“I'll just have some toast,” Yvette said. “You can make whatever you want for the rest of them.”

“Do you think Roger would want to join us?” Hope said. She heard her voice crack. She'd better watch it or she was going to tell everyone what she suspected. Faith would kill her. Then again, why did Faith have to call the shots? Hope was the one who recognized him first.

“No, he's already had his breakfast,” Yvette said.

“Do you have any idea how we could get him to come inside the house?” Hope asked.

“We could tell him we're playing blackjack,” Josh said.

“Why are you suddenly so obsessed with him?” Joy asked.

“I'm not,” Hope said. Joy was more astute than Hope gave her credit for.

“Gawd,” Joy said, dropping onto a counter stool and waiting for Harrison to do the same. “I'm so freaking tired.”

“That's because you and your sisters were up all night giggling like schoolgirls,” Harrison said.

“You were?” Josh said. “Mom too?”

“You're lucky you didn't hear them, little man. They were totally obnoxious. Your mom too.”

Joy gave Hope a look. “Where is our dear sister?” she said. Hope frowned. Joy knew perfectly well where Faith was. She just enjoyed stirring the pot.

“French toast, anyone?” Hope said. Joy loved French toast. Maybe if she had her mouth full she would keep it shut.

“Yum,” Joy said. “Should I go wake up Faith?”

“She's in town,” Josh said. “It's a secret.”

“You told him?” Joy said.

“Told me what?” Josh was on high alert.

“I told him Faith was up to some secret Christmas errands in town,” Hope said in a very measured voice. She was going to throttle Joy. This was exactly why they hadn't shared their suspicions about Roger with her.

“Right,” Joy said. “Top-secret Christmas activities.”

“This early?” Harrison said.

Finally, Brittany emerged and made her way downstairs.

“Hello, Princess,” Yvette called.

“I'm making French toast,” Hope said.

“I love French toast,” Brittany said.

“Do you have potatoes, Granny?” Harrison said.

“I do,” Yvette said.

“I'll make some of my famous hash browns,” Harrison said.