Andrea took a deep breath and pulled open the door of Wired
Monk. She marched along the dim corridor into the humming
café, heels tapping a sharp rhythm, short chestnut curls bouncing,
determined to maintain control.
Earlier that morning, Debbie phoned imploring, “Andrea, I have to see you.”
“I don’t have time to waste rehashing twenty year old events.” Andrea paced as she spat the words.
“Please. It’s an emergency.”
“Is someone dying? Otherwise forget it.”
“Almost.” Debbie’s voice faltered.
“Is it Mom?” Panic brought Andrea to an abrupt halt.
“No. Meet me at eleven at Wired Monk.” Debbie hung
up. Andrea stood with furrowed brow and unfocused gaze, debating
whether to believe her. She despised Debbie’s perpetual
melodramatics.
Andrea was well acquainted with her younger sister’s
childhood mercurial moods and nasty habit of thieving her
possessions. Complaints to their parents only garnered
apathetic responses. Yet Andrea still wasn’t prepared for
Debbie’s ultimate betrayal.
Debbie met Paul during her second last year of high
school. Before long they were inseparable. Paul’s verdant
eyes radiated unwavering devotion for Andrea.
Paul often studied at Andrea’s home, joking with
Debbie and chatting with her parents. He encouraged Andrea to
ignore her sister’s pettiness and parents’ indifference.
Near the end of senior year Paul and Andrea began
bickering for trivial reasons. Andrea thought it was a phase;
it’d be better when they spent less time together after graduation.
Two weeks before final exams, Debbie sauntered into the kitchen and straddled a chair.
“Well, are we going to tell her?” Debbie
gazed at Paul, her expression a mixture of daring smugness.
“Tell me what? I’m cramming for
chem.” Andrea shuffled notes, searching for her vital
Periodic Table of Elements.
“It can wait until a better time.” Paul glared at Debbie.
“This is the perfect time. Paul and I are in love.” Debbie smirked.
Andrea’s head snapped up. Desperate for the
truth, she searched Paul’s eyes. She found it. Guilt
twisted his flushed features into an obscene caricature.
Andrea plowed through final exams earning a
university scholarship three hours away in Kelowna. Four years
later she obtained her degree to begin teaching boisterous seven
year-olds.
Her love life didn’t flourish however.
There’d been a few long term relationships, but nothing enduring.
Andrea returned home to Langley for rare visits
after Debbie and Paul married. Her parents, convinced Paul was
perfect for Debbie, were delighted with their son-in-law. The
sole time Andrea saw Debbie over the years was at their father’s
funeral. For her mother’s sake, she was civil.
Now Andrea was in Langley visiting friends. She had no idea how Debbie knew where she was.
Andrea scanned the cozy café to find Debbie seated
by the river stone fireplace. Debbie’s long silky
blond hair and creamy complexion belied the passing of
years. Cappuccino in hand, Andrea threaded through crowded
tables.
Andrea sat down aware Debbie’s right leg jigged with
nervousness under the glass table. They surveyed each other in
silence.
“Thank you for coming. Listen, I’m sorry for
how things happened with Paul and me. I was too young to
realize how cruel we were.” Debbie’s leg jogged
faster. Andrea listened stunned; Debbie never apologized.
“Paul has cancer. He’s been given three
months. He wants to see you.” The surrounding babble of
voices faded. Andrea, reeling from Debbie’s apology,
felt like she’d been slugged in the gut.
Andrea’s words earlier that morning haunted
her. “This is horrible news,” she paused for a steadying breath,
“but Paul departed from my life long ago. Resurrecting him isn’t
a good idea..” Andrea spoke with gentleness. Her
countless imagined retributions now seemed childish compared with
reality.
“It’ll make going easier if he has a chance to apologize.”
Andrea stared at the avocado toned wall, plastered
with local artists’ creations, opposite her. She puzzled
whether Debbie truly loved Paul. The sister who, once she
possessed what she coveted, lost interest in it. Had she
reformed? Or was this somehow one of her schemes…
“Paul should make peace with himself. I can’t absolve him.”
“Can you forgive me? I want to be sisters again.”
“We never were sisters, Debbie. We were
two incompatible people growing up in the same house.”
“I need your support.” Debbie’s walnut-hued eyes flooded.
“You want help losing Paul. What am I, the
expert? You’re asking the impossible.” Andrea wasn’t about
to grieve twice for the same man.
Debbie flinched. “I deserved
that. Please, can we leave the past behind?”
Debbie’s hand, chunky wedding rings sparkling, crept across the table
towards Andrea.
Andrea watched the hand approach as if a snake
slithered towards her. Her clasped hands tightened beneath
the table. “The past won’t magically disappear so we can enjoy
blissful sisterhood. There is no love. I won’t pretend it
exists.”
Debbie’s hand slid back to her mug.
“Well, no sugar coating there. Is there any way I can persuade
you to change your mind about visiting Paul?” Debbie gulped her
Hazelnut Latte dregs.
“No.” Andrea stood, gathering her purse and coat. “I wish the best for you and Paul.”
Back in her car, Andrea leaned her forehead against
the steering wheel. Why was there a hollowness in her
chest? A surprise sensation she should do more? She
had no duty towards Paul or her sister. They obliterated
that twenty years ago.
Andrea raised her head to glimpse Debbie striding
past. This moment would vanish in a heartbeat. In that
instant she resolved not to infuse bitter resentment with regret.
“Debbie, wait.” Andrea half-exited the
car with haste. “I’m willing to attempt friendship with
you, but no guarantees. And if Paul wants to send a card, I
promise to read it.”
Debbie halted, a hesitant smile emerged. “I’d
like that. Paul will like that.” Debbie waved
and sauntered on.
Andrea sat back suffused with both relief and
apprehension that she’d rue her decision. Time would reveal if
she and Debbie could become friends, but she’d be damned before she
introduced another special man to her.
