“Why is your twenty-nine-year-old brother secretly carrying around a baby doll?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s a surprise.”
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
“No.”
She walked out of the room.
Actually, I didn’t tell her the truth. It really worried me. I didn’t know how being rejected at the photoshoot had affected him.
***
It was pouring that Saturday. Jamie had come for dinner, and by nine the storm was worse.
It really worried me.
I looked out the window.
“You’re not taking the bus home in this.”
“I’m okay.”
“Guest room.”
Claire didn’t argue. She just went very still.
At 2:13 a.m., a scream came through the baby monitor.
Jamie had come for dinner, and by nine the storm was worse.
I was out of bed before I was fully awake. Sophie never screamed like that.
Claire grabbed my arm.
Then the scream cut off.
