Page 30 of Endlessly Yours
One-word answers, though, were all I was going to get out of her.
Instead of belaying the point, I pressed her contact information and called.
“I said I was fine,” Cameron snapped.
I closed my eyes and prayed for patience. “Cameron, tone. And I know you’re okay, but I also wanted to talk to Alice.”
“Fine,” Cameron grumbled.
I sighed, knowing I was going to have to work on her attitude. I just had no idea where to start. Brooks had helped for an instant, and Cameron had at least apologized for talking back to me in the way she had, but every time that I tried to discipline her, I saw my sister’s face.
And felt the emptiness that was losing my twin.
Tears pricked my eyes as I followed my friends towards the main Wilder building for our evening in, as Alice came on the line.
“Hi, Aunt Rory. I am about to play with Faith. We have a book stamper.”
I smiled softly. “The one for the edges? What color are you choosing?”
“Pink, of course. And roses. I’m really excited. Do you think we can paint some of your books? The ones that you drew for?”
“We can make that happen. You have fun tonight with Cameron and the others, and tomorrow when you get back, we can look through some of the books I have drawings in.” At least the ones that were safe for work, I thought to myself. “What do you say?”
“I love it! And maybe you can help me figure out how to draw a flower of my own?”
“I can do that, baby,” I whispered, my heart swelling.
Because Alice was trying. She was so lost, so scared, and just wanted to be with everybody at all times.
And I had no idea what the hell I was doing with either one of them.
“I have to go now. I love you,” Alice whispered.
“I love you too,” I said, a single tear sliding down my cheek.
I swallowed hard as the phone clicked off, knowing Cameron wasn’t going to even try to get back on.
I was failing both of them in subtle ways, but I was at least trying.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
“Faith says they’re having fun,” Ava said softly as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder.
“Yeah, Alice says so too.”
“Nothing from Cameron?” Aurora asked, her voice low.
I shook my head. “No. But at least she answered her phone?”
“Yes, there is that,” Aurora said gently as she squeezed my hand.
“You know what? I could really use a drink. Just lean into this whole girls’ night thing,” I said after a moment.
“Good thing we happen to have drinks here,” Maddie said as the Wilder woman came forward and gestured towards the large array of wine, cheeses, and fine foods on the table.
“We have snacks, a few wines I want you to try out, and then, pottery.”
“It’s just painting tonight,” Aurora added. “I figured we could at least try to work out glazes and paints for the kiln before we invest in pottery wheels or even slabs,” she said with a laugh.
