Page 1 of Someone Just Like You

Chapter One

Ishould have known something was up when my sister Nicole invited me to a random Tuesday night dinner with our other sister, Michelle, using Evite. Nicole had named the event “sibling dinner” as if we’d never shared a meal, and the occasion was too momentous to plan by simple email or text. Choosing the Dubliner pub in Hoboken, New Jersey, as the venue when two of the three Blum sisters resided and worked in Manhattan was another sign. Yet, despite these clues, I remained clueless.

I arrived at the rooftop bar the night of the dinner and immediately spotted my older sisters who, with long chocolate-brown hair and baby-blue eyes, could pass for my clones if it weren’t for the age difference of thirty-four and thirty-two years to my twenty-seven. They’d snagged a prime table, blocked from the blazing sun by a royal-blue Corona Extra umbrella. But they weren’t alone. Thrown by the unexpected appearance of our childhood neighbor Eddie Stark, I stopped short, causing the waiter walking behind me to spill part of a too-full cocktail down my back.

Before I had a chance to acknowledge the liquid dripping down my spine, Eddie vaulted off his chair and pulled me into a hug. “Good golly, martini-soaked Molly!”

Even as my mind spun with all the reasons why he could be here, I laughed and squeezed him back fiercely, inhaling his aftershave. It was a balance of Pretty Boy and Stern Brunch Daddy, which perfectly described Eddie.

“Good to see you!” I said, despite my concern that the circumstances for this “reunion” were ominous. Was his dad sick again? My uncertainty intensified at the delayed realization he was joined by his older sister, Alison. She also embraced me, but with a touch more restraint than her brother.

The Stark family had lived across the street from us growing up. More than three decades earlier, my mom and Laura Stark, with two little ones each, had become fast friends, and their bond only strengthened when, after a five-year break, they each had their third child in the same year. Back then, the households spent so much time together, it was sometimes hard to tell where the Blums ended and the Starks began. Both sets of parents still lived in the same houses, but the six offspring had all moved out years ago, most with their own spouses and children. Our dual-family reunions were now limited to special occasions, like milestone birthdays or the Passover seder we had three months ago. Which raised the question: what was happening here and why?

Nicole cocked her head and smiled indulgently. “It wouldn’t be a family dinner if Molly didn’t spill something.”

My mouth opened, poised to argue the accuracy of her statement. This wasn’t afamilydinner. But I let it go. “You know I like to make an entrance,” I said with a questioning look to Michelle, hoping my oldest sister would provide silent insight into the reason we were all here.

She mouthed, “No clue.”

“Sit. Sit,” Eddie said happily. “Unless you need to wipe down your dress or something.”

“It’s fine. Refreshing, if a tad sticky,” I joked.

“Jude should be here soon and we can get started,” Nicole said.

My face contorted into a grimace before I could stop myself. Jude was the youngest of the Stark trio and the bane of my existence growing up. He’d been absent the last several times the families had gotten together, either working or away with friends. Alas, my luck had run out. But I was less concerned about getting through an evening with Jude and more worried about the reason we were all gathered together in the first place. Surely Eddie wouldn’t be smiling so damn much if his dad, who’d recovered from a heart attack the year before, had taken a bad turn.

“He’s here!” Nicole waved in the direction of the stairs leading to the roof. “Jude!”

“Lower your voice,” Michelle hissed. “It’s a bar, not our private backyard party.” Ignoring her own command, she called out, “Jude! Here!”

I followed my sisters’ line of vision to where Jude was approaching our table. His wavy dark hair was, as usual, mussed up like he’d run his fingers through it moments before, and he had at least two days’ worth of stubble. The just-rolled-out-of-bed head was in direct contrast to his tailored uniform of black dress pants paired with a black vest over a white button-down shirt. He must have come straight from Hillstone restaurant, where he worked as a bartender.

Four sets of eyes (all but mine) crinkled with delight, and four sets of legs (all but mine) stood to greet him. Taking their cues from experience, my muscles immediately tightened. I rolled my shoulders back and subtly shook out the stress in an attempt to relax. We were all adults now. Reverting to old habits was a choice we didn’t have to make.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said. “I just got off my shift.” He hugged his own brother and sister and both of mine, then gave me a nod of acknowledgment. “Mole.”

I nodded back. “Rude.”So much for making the mature choice.I caught one side of Jude’s mouth quirking before I turned my attention to the happy hour drink specials on the menu. At twenty-seven, the name-calling was as natural as it had been at seven and seventeen. At least “Mole” (his oh-so-clever nickname for “Molly”) was better than Buck Tooth Blum, which lost its validity when my braces came off at thirteen. Then again, Jude certainly wasn’t privy to any skin markings under my clothes.

After a round of drinks had been ordered and delivered, Nicole clapped us to attention. “I’m sure you’re all wondering what we’re doing here.”

“Not all of us,” Eddie said, and the two exchanged a knowing glance.

My curiosity was piqued. This…whateverthiswas…appeared to be a team effort between the two middle children.

“As you know, this year marks a big anniversary for both sets of our parents. Thirty-five years for the Blums and forty for the Starks.” Nicole paused. “Can I get a woot-woot?”

Michelle wolf-whistled. “Parents getting itdone.”

Eddie covered Jude’s ears. “Not in front of the child. He still thinks Laura and Randygot it doneexactly three times.”

Jude wiggled out of his older brother’s hold. “Too late. I walked in on them getting it done at least one more time. Remember, Mole?”

I nearly choked on my drink at the unsightly memory of when we were about ten and exiled by our brothers and sisters for fighting, only to discover Laura on her knees in front of a naked Randy in the Starks’ finished basement. Thankfully, Jude’s mom blocked our view of anything other than his dad’s hairy chest. Seeing Randy’s twig and berries at such a young age might have scarred me for life. “I’d rather forget.” I shuddered.

Nicole clinked a knife against her wineglass. “Simmer down, siblings. Given the difficult year both families have had, Eddie and I thought it would be nice to do something special to honor these momentous marriage milestones.”

I assumed on our side she was referring to the death of our maternal grandfather earlier that year. “I’m all for it,” I said, sneaking a peek at the original invitation on my phone, where it was confirmed the guest list had included not only the Blum siblings but the Starks.Note to self: Read more carefully next time.

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