Page 22 of When Sparks Fly

I never thought to analyze that until now. Is that why my focus is family photography?

“We have time,” Randi says softly. “Liv and I can come over again on the weekend and give the rooms another once over.” She wraps an arm around me in a side hug before addressing her sister. “Bye, Steph. Drive safe.”

Stephanie drops her chin in a silent acknowledgment of departure. Her eyes flit to Liv for a split second, but that’s all the attention she gives. Despite what she said earlier, I know more than the situation with Alan led to this chasm between her and the rest of the family. A part of me longs to have the type of relationship where she would open up to me. That’s never been our way.

After Randi and Liv leave, I lock myself in my bedroom. I don’t trust myself to be around Stephanie or Alan anymore. I had planned to leave in the morning, but with everything finished earlier than anticipated, I could head home now.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I breathe deeply, preparing to pack when my copy of the will catches my attention.

Aside from the stipulation on the house, Nana requested to have her older Toyota sedan donated to charity. Her bank accounts are to be divided evenly between Liv and myself.

Nana was living on a fixed income for a while. I doubt there’s much money to speak of, nor do I care how much it is. I’d be just as happy not to have it and have her instead.

I set the document on the bedside table and flop back on the bed, busying myself with checking work emails from my phone.

Sprawled on my back when my phone rings, I nearly drop it onto my face. It lands in the quilt instead.

“Ooof.” I scramble to find it in the folds and answer out of breath. “Hey!”

“Uh…did I catch you at a bad time?” Leah’s voice is half-serious.

I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. “No, silly. I dropped my phone.”

“Right.” She drags out the vowel with an auditory grin. “What are you doing? How was your day? Are your parents still there?”

“Which question would you like me to answer first?” After pushing off the bed to stand, I tuck the phone between my shoulder and ear as I make the bed. “And you would think by now you would remember that asshole isn’t my dad.”

Leah’s laugh spills through the phone. “Touchy, touchy. Start with whatever put you in this stellar mood.”

A heavy sigh precedes my pacing. “I don’t even know where to start. The usual, I guess.”

“What are you doing right now?”

“Talking to you.” My steps halt and I give the wall aduhlook.

“Oh my goodness, you are in such a mood! I know you’re talking to me. Do you have plans tonight?”

“Yes. Iplanto keep myself in this room until Satan and the Devil have left this house, otherwise I may end up in jail, or just pack up and go home.”

She ignores my reference to illegal activities. “Come out with me. There’s an okay bar in town. We can have some drinks, dance, maybe find a tall, dark, and handsome cowboy…”

A cowboy is the last thing on my mind, a truth Leah is fully aware of, but the idea of having no pressure for a night is enticing. “It’s Sunday night.” My argument is lackluster.

“Sex happens every day of the week, sweetheart.” She doesn’t give me a chance to respond. “And who cares? I miss you.”

I ignore the initial comment. “Ok.”

“Ok?” Rustling against the phone hints at Leah bouncing excitedly.

“Don’t get carried away. A few drinks. Some dancing. No cowboys.” The last two words come out forcefully, like a parent setting a teenager’s curfew. She ignores it.

“Fine. We’ll see. Do you need to raid my closet?” A purring starts.

“I think we both know your style and mine are two different worlds. And are you purring?”

She breathes a laugh. “It’s Smokey,” she says, referencing her Siamese cat.

“Sure, it is. I’m sure I can wrangle something up here. If not, I’ll text you.”

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