Home with My Sisters

by Mary Carter

  “We’ll take it,” Josh said. He stuck out his hand like a businessman shaking after a deal.

  “No tree, no cookies, no lights, no decorating, no singing?” Brittany said.

  “Correct,” Yvette said. “None of that nonsense, period.”

  “You can keep your money,” Brittany said. “I’d rather have Christmas.”

  Thatta girl, Hope thought.

  Faith un-pretzeled herself from the floor and turned to Josh and Brittany. “Why don’t you two go outside?”

  “I’ll take the money to not celebrate,” Josh said. He held out his hand.

  “Me too,” Joy said.

  Hope bit her lip to literally keep herself from turning to Joy and saying, Of course you will.

  “Nobody is taking money,” Faith said. “I will draw up a plan for Christmas that everyone can agree to.” Faith turned to Yvette. “You won’t have to lift a finger.”

  “No,” Yvette said. “No Christmas. End of story.”

  “I don’t want the money,” Brittany said. “I’ll take Christmas, please.”

  “Good luck getting Hope not to celebrate Christmas,” Faith said.

  There she was, singling Hope out, mocking her. As if there was something wrong with wanting to celebrate Christmas. Hope took the higher road and did not say a word.

  “What about Kwanzaa?” Joy said.

  “This isn’t happening,” Hope said.

  “A Christmas Story!” Harrison exclaimed. “With the leg lamp and the little dude that gets his tongue stuck on an icy pole. Have you seen that one, Mrs. G?”

  “Do this for me, and every single one of you will be set,” Yvette said. “You will never have to work another day in your life.”

  “Five hundred dollars would last our whole lives?” Brittany asked.

  “Not just five hundred,” Yvette said, pinching Brittany’s cheek. “This whole house and land. All yours. Well, your mom would own one-third of it. Sounding like a better deal now?”

  “Give up Christmas and we get this house?” Brittany said.

  “Deal,” Josh said. He stuck out his hand once more.

  “Leave my children out of this,” Faith said.

  “The whole house?” Brittany said. “The skating pond?”

  Joy’s head seemed to float above the crowd. “You’re leaving us this entire place?” Hope could almost see her eyes glowing.

  “Kwanzaa it is, baby,” Harrison said. They high-fived.

  “I intended to leave the estate to you three girls,” Yvette said. “Whosoever follows my rules. I’m hoping it will be all three of you.”

  “Whosoever,” Harrison repeated, drawing it out.

  “Christmas is out this year!” Joy said. “It’s too materialistic anyway.”

  “Says the girl who pretends to be homeless for spare change,” Hope said.

  “What?” Faith said.

  “What are the rest of the rules?” Josh asked.

  “You might want to get paper and pen,” Yvette said.

  Joy held up her smartphone. “Siri. What is paper and pen?”

  Yvette looked around wildly as Siri robotically explained what she found on the Web for paper and pen. “What’s happening?”

  “What do you mean, pretends to be homeless?” Faith said, yanking the phone out of Joy’s hands. Joy turned on Hope. She was practically snarling. “I should have known you wouldn’t keep your mouth shut. You love thinking the worst of me, don’t you?” Joy jabbed her finger at Hope. There it was again. The not-so-veiled hint that Hope had once done something terrible to Joy. What in the world was it?

  “Why don’t you just tell me what grudge you’re harboring against me so we can be done with this?” Hope said. She loved her baby sister, natural deodorant and all. But why did Joy have to be so mean?

  “And Mom says we fight a lot,” Brittany said to Josh. What an awful example they were setting. They should have waited until they were alone. Fighting in front of the kids and their dying grandmother. It was a good thing they weren’t going to celebrate Christmas, Santa was definitely going to skip them this year.

  “Somebody tell me what ‘pretends to be homeless’ means in very concrete terms or I’m going to scream.” Faith didn’t literally stomp her foot, but she might as well have. Hope and Faith stared at Joy.

  “It’s nobody’s business!” Joy grabbed her phone back from Faith.

  “I thought you weren’t ashamed of it,” Hope said.

  “I’m not.” Joy thrust her chin up, then furiously typed something into her phone. Great. Hope could only imagine all the tweets Joy was sending out about her. #mysisterssuck. It made her sad. And furious. Although maybe she should have kept her mouth shut about Joy pretending to be homeless. Nah, it would not have been humanly possible to keep that to herself.

  “We were funding creatively,” Harrison said.

  “Exactly,” Joy said. “Crowd sourcing.”

  “Crowd sourcing?” Hope said.

  “Like the Kickstarter,” Joy said. She narrowed her eyes. “Did you guys get the link?”

  “If you were legitimately crowd sourcing, then what’s the big deal if I tell Faith?”

  “Go ahead,” Joy said. Her left eye began to twitch.

  Hope turned to Faith. “She and Harrison were on the streets of Seattle with a group of homeless kids, holding up a sign that said, HUNGRY AND THIRSTY. Austin gave them a hundred dollars.”

  Joy shrugged. The twitch grew more pronounced.

  “How could you do something like that?” Faith said.

  “A hundred dollars?” Josh said. “Just for carrying a sign?”

  “Don’t get any ideas,” Faith said. She turned back to Joy. “You should be ashamed of yourself.” Hope felt a twinge of guilt for starting this in front of everyone. She hadn’t meant to. Sometimes things just flew out of her mouth.

  “I had no choice. I’m starting a business. It’s not like my rich older sister was willing to give me a loan.”

  “You shouldn’t be starting a business if you don’t have money,” Faith said.

  “That’s what I was doing. Raising capital,” Joy said.

  “I need to lie down,” Yvette said. “We’ll go over my rules later.”

  “I’m sorry if we upset you,” Hope said. “We really do love each other.” Faith stretched her arms behind her back, Joy buried herself in her phone.

  “My room is down here at the end of the hall. There are six bedrooms upstairs. I’ll let you take your pick. Joy, you will not be sharing a room with Harrison. There will be no comingling in my house while I’m here.”

  “What about when you’re not here?” Harrison said.

  The Garland Girls gasped in unison.

  Harrison held his hands up. “I don’t mean not here as in—not here—I meant—out. Like Christmas shopping. Or Kwanzaa shopping.” He winked at Joy.

  Joy turned to their grandmother. “Is it really a rule, Granny? Or more like a guideline?” Faith pinched the bridge of her nose as if pained.

  “Hard and fast rule,” Yvette said.

  “Do you need anything?” Hope asked Yvette gently. She couldn’t believe they’d just been ordered not to celebrate Christmas. Worse, her sisters seemed to have no problem with it. There was no way Hope was going to go along with it. But she certainly wasn’t going to push it before Yvette’s nap.

  “I can manage,” Yvette said. She took a few steps along the hall to the right of the front door. She stopped for a moment and turned back around. “I’m glad you’re all here,” she said. “Even you.” She pointed at Harrison. He beamed and gave her a thumbs-up. Joy pulled him in for a selfie.

  “We’re happy we’re here too,” Hope called after Yvette.

  “Can we go outside?” Josh said.

  “Yes, pretty please?” Brittany said.

  “Knock yourselves out,” Faith said. She began taking an inventory of the fridge as the kids made a beeline to the mudroom to don their coats and boots. Hope sat at the kitchen island.
“No kale,” Faith said. “I knew it.”

  Hope caught Joy’s eye. Joy mouthed “Oh no!” then smacked her hands over her mouth and gave a muted laugh. Hope felt thrilled to be teamed up with Joy for once, instead of being on the receiving end of it.

  Harrison looked at the three of them, one by one. “I think I’ll have a walk around too.” He got up.

  “I’ll come with,” Joy said.

  Harrison put his hand on her shoulder. “No,” he said. “Why don’t you hang with your sisters?” Joy considered this, then shrugged and flopped down on the sofa.

  Hope gave him an appreciative look. He was the only thing about Joy at the moment that gave her any hope. Brittany and Josh reappeared, all suited-up like Eskimos. Hope loved winter. The padding, the chill in the air, coming in after a winter’s day to the warmth of a fire. They could all have such a good time here if only they would let themselves. Thank goodness for children. They were built to be happy.

  “I have a dog with me,” Hope told Harrison and the kids. “You might run into him out there.”

  “Of course you do,” Faith said.

  “He’s a gigantic bloodhound,” Hope added.

  “Of course he is,” Faith said.

  “He’s friendly. Name is Mr. Jingles.” Hope ignored Faith and grinned at Brittany.

  “Mr. Jingles,” Brittany said, grinning back.

  “Try and bring him back with you if you find him,” Hope said.

  “Got it,” Josh said.

  “Are you sure he doesn’t bite?” Harrison said. Hope went to her bag and retrieved treats and a leash.

  “He’s enthusiastic but harmless.” She handed the leash and treats to Brittany. She started to jump up and down.

  “Can we bring him in the house?”

  “No,” Faith said.

  “Eventually,” Hope whispered in Brittany’s ear. Brittany grinned. The three of them headed outside. Hope watched from the window.

  “They’re so grown up,” she said to Faith. “And so sweet.”

  “Not always,” Faith said. “But they’re mine and I love them.”

  “Brittany said that Josh has been a bit moody lately,” Hope said.

  “He’s a teenager,” Faith snapped.

  “I think he’s very bright and sweet,” Hope said. She looked out the window and watched Brittany twirling in the yard. Then she fell backward and began to make a snow angel. Yes, Hope thought. You go, girl. Josh and Harrison headed for the woods. Hope focused her attention back inside and soon her eyes landed on a couple of large objects wedged between the refrigerator and the wall.

  “The nutcrackers,” Hope said. She hopped off her stool and pulled them out one by one.

  “I didn’t want them in my car,” Faith said.

  “Why stick them here?” Hope asked.

  “I did it,” Joy said. “Wanted to see how long it would take you to find them.”

  Hope patted their little heads. “I should put them back on the front porch,” she said.

  “Looks like we’ll be splitting this estate in two,” Joy announced.

  “Excuse me?” Hope said.

  Joy blinked, then thrust up her index finger. “Nutcrackers are a celebration of Christmas. I think that disqualifies you.”

  Hope stared at her younger sister, tears welling in her eyes. “What in the world did I do to you?”

  For a second Joy’s lip quivered as she met Hope’s eyes. She opened her mouth as if to finally tell her. Then her veil of steel slammed down again. “Nothing.”

  Hope whirled on Faith. “Tell me!”

  Faith threw up her arms. “I’m not getting involved.”

  “Since when?”

  Faith opened her purse and took out a pill bottle. She popped it open and downed one.

  “What is that?” Hope said.

  “Prescription Xanax,” Faith said.

  “Can I have one?” Joy said.

  “No,” Faith said.

  “Can I have one?” Hope asked.

  “No,” Faith said.

  “Why would she say yes to you if she said no to me?” Joy demanded, turning on Hope.

  “Because she knows I’m not going to try to sell them on craigslist,” Hope said. “How’s that for a start?”

  “Is this why you wanted us all together? So you could be nasty?” Joy sounded genuinely hurt.

  “I was joking,” Hope said. “I knew Faith wasn’t going to share. Since when does Faith share?”

  “Hey,” Faith said. “If I had kale I’d be force-feeding both of you right now. It’s obvious your bodies are toxic.”

  “Do we have any alcohol?” Joy asked.

  “Toxic, toxic, toxic,” Faith said as Joy began rummaging through the cabinets.

  “Granny sure likes her whiskey,” Joy said, holding up a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue.

  “Like Dad,” Faith said. The three of them stared at the bottle.

  “I’ll pick up some vodka in town,” Hope said. “I’ll make us my famous candy cane martinis.”

  “Kale smoothies is what we need,” Faith said.

  Joy leaned on the kitchen island. “I’d kill for a joint.”

  Hope ambushed Joy with a hug from behind. “I missed you two. I missed the Garland Girls.”

  Joy groaned. “I hated when Mom called us that.”

  “Dad called us that first,” Hope said. “And we loved it.”

  “It’s not fair. I never got to know him.” For once Joy didn’t sound sarcastic. Faith came up from behind and put her arms around both of them.

  “He was so thrilled when you were born,” Hope said. “I think you were his favorite.”

  “Really?” Joy’s voice was tinged with the sound of a deep ache.

  “He barely even let Mom hold you when you were back from the hospital. It was like you were a part of his arms.”

  “I can’t breathe,” Joy said. Faith backed off, then Hope. They plopped into stools at the island. “Was I really his favorite?” Joy asked.

  Faith nodded. “He said you completed the set.” She laughed and soon Joy and Hope joined in.

  “God, he was funny,” Hope said.

  “And fun,” Faith said.

  “And devastatingly handsome,” Hope said.

  “They did make such a beautiful couple,” Faith said.

  “It seems like beautiful couples are always doomed,” Joy said. “Did they fight a lot?”

  Faith snorted. “Do active volcanoes get a little hot?”

  “We used to hide under the bed,” Hope said.

  “Only when he’d been drinking,” Faith said. Joy stared at them wide-eyed.

  “But it was mostly good,” Hope said quickly. Now that he was gone, she certainly didn’t want to taint his memory.

  “I can’t believe he died all those years ago and we never knew,” Joy said.

  “I can’t believe he was coming for us,” Hope said. “Should we tell Mom?”

  “It can wait,” Faith said. “Far be it for us to ruin Christmas in Cuba.”

  Joy picked up a nutcracker and held it. “Mom told me not to believe a word that woman says.”

  “She told me the same thing,” Hope said.

  “Maybe he wasn’t really coming to see us,” Joy said. She put the nutcracker down and picked up the other one. Then she smashed them together as if they were kissing.

  “I wonder if he was drinking and driving?” Faith said.

  “I was wondering the same thing,” Hope said. She didn’t realize she’d started crying until she felt the tears dripping down her cheeks. Suddenly Faith was in front of her, enveloping Hope in a hug. Joy, nutcracker in each hand, wrapped her arms around Faith, who was still hanging on to Hope.

  “Group hug,” Faith said. Then she abruptly pulled away. “Joy—are you showering?”

  “Americans are so hung up on daily showers, and deodorant, and perfume. We’re supposed to be natural.”

  “Mission accomplished,” Faith said. “You smell like a caveman.”
>
  Joy sniffed her armpits. She looked as if she were about to protest, then laughed. “I’m rank,” she said.

  “There’s deodorant in my pink bag by the door. Find a bathroom and stop communing with nature.”

  “We need to talk,” Hope said. “We need to stand up to Yvette’s rules. Starting with Christmas.”

  “We’ll talk when I can breathe,” Faith said, waving her hand as if to ward off a smell.

  Joy rolled her eyes, then set the nutcrackers on the kitchen island, one lying on top of the other.

  “No comingling in this house,” Hope said, separating the nutcrackers. Joy and Faith each let out a cackle. It warmed Hope from the inside. She laughed too. Soon the three of them were in hysterics. When they settled down, Joy bounded off to retrieve the deodorant. She found it and thrust it up like it was the Olympic torch. “I’ve missed you guys,” she said, looking at them for a second, then grabbed her bag and crossed over to the stairwell leading to the second floor. She pointed at them. “I get dibs on the room. Nobody interrupts my shower. No talking about me behind my back.”

  “Don’t worry,” Faith said. “If we do we’ll be sure to repeat everything to your face.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Hope and Faith bundled up and headed outside. Joy seemed like she was going to spend hours in the shower, which Hope and Faith agreed was a very wise move. The air was crisp and cold, and smelled like snow. Although they couldn’t see the others, laughter and voices rang out from the woods. A dog barked. Hope smiled, confident they had already met Mr. Jingles. Faith caught her smile and shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Not coming in the house,” she said under her breath. So coming in the house, Hope thought to herself. Sometimes it was a lot easier to win arguments when she kept them in her head.

  They headed across the expansive lawn to the pond. As they walked, Hope tried to think of nonthreatening ways to bring up the topic of Stephen, but they were getting along nicely and she didn’t want to ruin that. Instead, she opened her arms and twirled around just like she’d seen Brittany do a bit earlier.

  “Look at this place,” she said. She took in all the tall pines. “Christmas tree, anyone?”

  “Do you really think she’s going to leave it to us?” Faith said.