The Larsen Sisters 4: Tears in Heaven

by Cassandra Javier

while—“਍ऀ䈀攀昀漀爀攀 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀 昀椀渀椀猀栀 猀瀀攀愀欀椀渀最Ⰰ 䴀愀爀欀 挀愀洀攀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 琀栀攀 搀椀渀椀渀最 爀漀漀洀 眀椀琀栀 䐀愀搀 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 最椀爀氀昀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 䐀愀渀愀⸀ 䤀 眀愀猀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀搀⸀ 圀愀猀 椀琀 瘀椀猀椀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀 猀椀挀欀 搀愀礀㼀ഀ

  “Oh, hello, Carlos,” Mom said, “Hi, Dana.”਍ऀᰀ䠠椀Ⰰᴀ†䐀愀渀愀 最爀攀攀琀攀搀 栀攀爀 戀愀挀欀Ⰰ 猀洀椀氀椀渀最⸀ഀ

  “We just wanted to see how you were doing,” Dad said, “And we brought you some fruits…”਍ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 琀栀愀渀欀猀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀᐀ᰠഠ

  “Look what I got for you,” Dana said, “Handing me a basket full of Dragon fruit. “I was in Thailand two days ago for a conference and I thought you’d want some tropical stuff…There are mangoes in there, too.” She smiled.਍ऀᰀ吠栀愀琀ᤀ猠 爀攀愀氀氀礀 猀眀攀攀琀Ⰰ 䐀Ⰰ 琀栀愀渀欀猀Ⰰᴀ†䤀 猀洀椀氀攀搀⸀ഀ

  Dad sat down on the seat across mom and I. “So,” He asked, “How are you, Kimberly?”਍ऀᰀ匠琀椀氀氀 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 搀愀搀⸀ᴀഠ

  He looked at me sternly.਍ऀᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 樀甀猀琀 樀漀欀椀渀最Ⰰᴀ†䤀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠ᤀ洠 昀椀渀攀⸀ᴀ†ഀ

  Dad took a deep breath, “You should be fine, Kimberly,” He said. “Remember when you were a little girl and I told you that I was supposed to have taken up medicine in college? Now I wish I really did.”਍ऀᰀ䐠愀搀Ⰰᴀഠ

  Tears started to form in his eyes. I never saw dad cry before. “I just…I can’t…bear to…lose you.”਍ऀ䰀漀猀攀 洀攀⸀ 吀栀攀爀攀 栀攀 猀愀椀搀 椀琀⸀ 䠀攀 欀渀漀眀猀 䤀 愀洀 最漀渀渀愀 搀椀攀⸀ 䠀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀琀☀漠爀 愀琀 氀攀愀猀琀Ⰰ 愀挀欀渀漀眀氀攀搀最攀搀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀琀⸀ 䄀渀搀 栀攀 眀愀猀 猀挀愀爀攀搀⸀ 䴀礀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 眀愀猀 猀挀愀爀攀搀⸀ഀ

  “Carlos, you shouldn’t scare her like that!” Mom said.਍ऀᰀ丠漀Ⰰ 渀漀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ洠 猀漀爀爀礀Ⰰᴀ†䐀愀搀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠琀ᤀ猠 樀甀猀琀☀椠琀ᤀ猠 愀眀昀甀氀☀欠渀漀眀椀渀最☀欠渀漀眀椀渀最 猀栀攀ᤀ猠 渀漀琀☀猠愀昀攀⸀ 䄀渀搀 䤀ᤀ洠 樀甀猀琀☀ᴠഠ

  “I’ll be alright, daddy,” I said, “Everything will be alright.”਍ऀᰀ圠栀愀琀攀瘀攀爀 礀漀甀 眀愀渀琀Ⰰ 栀漀渀攀礀Ⰰ 樀甀猀琀 琀攀氀氀 甀猀Ⰰᴀ†䠀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ倠氀攀愀猀攀⸀ᴀഠ

  I nodded my head, “I just wanna be here with all of you, spend time with you…I just wanna be fine. And happy. As long as it could last…”਍ऀᰀ䤠琀 眀椀氀氀 氀愀猀琀⸀ᴀ†䴀漀洀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ

  “Mom,”਍ऀᰀ夠攀愀栀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀攀瘀攀爀⸀ᴀഠ

  I shook my head, “So, dad, Dana, wedding plans soon?”਍ऀ䐀愀渀愀 愀渀搀 搀愀搀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ ᰀ传栀Ⰰ 甀栀洀Ⰰ 愀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀☀圠攀ᤀ爠攀 甀栀洀☀眠攀 最漀琀 洀愀爀爀椀攀搀⸀ᴀഠ

  “What?” Mom and I said simultaneously.਍ऀᰀ圠攀 眀攀爀攀 椀渀 䴀愀氀椀戀甀 琀眀漀 洀漀渀琀栀猀 愀最漀Ⰰ 眀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 瀀氀愀渀 椀琀☀愠渀搀 琀栀攀渀☀愠渀搀 琀栀攀渀 眀攀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 眀栀礀 瀀爀漀氀漀渀最 琀栀攀 愀最漀渀礀㼀ᴀ†䐀愀渀愀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ匠漀Ⰰ 眀攀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀 最攀琀 漀渀 琀栀攀 瀀氀愀渀攀 琀漀 一攀眀 夀漀爀欀 愀渀搀☀朠攀琀 栀椀琀挀栀攀搀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Wow,” I muttered.਍ऀᰀ圠攀ᤀ爠攀 猀漀爀爀礀 眀攀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 琀攀氀氀 礀漀甀Ⰰᴀ†䐀愀搀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ圠攀 樀甀猀琀☀椠琀ᤀ猠☀ᴠഠ

  “It’s okay, dad,” I said and smiled lightly, “I understand.”਍ऀᰀ䈠愀爀戀愀爀愀Ⰰ 栀漀眀ᤀ猠 倀愀甀氀漀㼀ᴀ†䐀愀搀 愀猀欀攀搀⸀ഀ

  “He’s fine,” Mom answered, “Busy.”਍ऀᰀ传栀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最 渀漀眀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Yeah, yeah,” Mom answered, “Real estate.”਍ऀᰀ圠漀眀Ⰰ 栀攀 昀椀渀愀氀氀礀 栀愀猀 猀漀洀攀 戀愀挀欀戀漀渀攀℀ᴀ†䤀 焀甀椀瀀瀀攀搀⸀ഀ

  “Shut it, Kimberly.”਍ऀᰀ匠伀 䤀 眀愀猀 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最Ⰰᴀ†䴀漀洀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䴠愀礀戀攀 琀栀攀 欀椀搀猀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀琀愀礀 眀椀琀栀 甀猀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀☀ᴠഠ

  “Yeah, I was thinking about that, too,” Dad added, “I mean we could take turns and all…”਍ऀᰀ䈠甀琀 漀渀氀礀 椀昀 礀漀甀 眀愀渀琀 琀漀☀ᴠ†䴀漀洀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ

  “Thanks,” I said, “That time will come…”਍ഀ

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  “if you knew how lonely my life has been਍愀渀搀 椀昀 礀漀甀 欀渀攀眀 栀漀眀 䤀ᤀ搠 戀攀攀渀 愀氀氀 愀氀漀渀攀⸀⸀⸀ഀ

  feels like home to me,਍昀攀攀氀猀 氀椀欀攀 栀漀洀攀 琀漀 洀攀Ⰰഀ

  feels like i'm all the way back where I come from... –Chantal Kreviaziuk, “Feels like home”਍ഀ

  ਍ऀ圀攀攀欀猀 瀀愀猀猀攀搀⸀ 伀渀攀 匀甀渀搀愀礀Ⰰ 眀栀椀氀攀 䤀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 欀椀搀猀 眀攀爀攀 椀渀猀椀搀攀 䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀 愀渀搀 刀漀戀戀椀攀ᤀ猠 挀愀爀 ⠀䤀 眀愀猀 猀攀愀琀攀搀 甀瀀 昀爀漀渀琀 眀椀琀栀 䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀Ⰰ 眀栀椀氀攀 刀漀戀戀椀攀Ⰰ 䬀甀爀琀 愀渀搀 䴀愀爀挀椀愀 眀攀爀攀 愀琀 琀栀攀 戀愀挀欀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀 愀渀搀 䬀愀琀栀攀爀椀渀攀 眀攀爀攀 挀愀爀瀀漀漀氀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 䴀椀渀搀礀 愀渀搀 倀愀甀氀⤀ 漀渀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 琀栀攀 瀀愀爀欀 眀栀攀爀攀 眀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 洀攀攀琀椀渀最 甀瀀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 昀愀洀椀氀礀Ⰰ 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 栀攀氀瀀 戀甀琀 猀琀愀爀攀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 琀爀愀昀昀椀挀 眀愀猀 戀愀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀漀洀攀栀漀眀 椀琀 洀愀搀攀 洀攀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀 栀漀眀 洀甀挀栀 䤀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 猀瀀攀渀搀 洀漀爀攀 琀椀洀攀 眀椀琀栀 洀礀 昀愀洀椀氀礀⸀ 吀椀洀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 氀愀猀琀 昀漀爀攀瘀攀爀㬀 伀爀 眀攀氀氀Ⰰ 椀琀 搀漀攀猀⸀ 䤀琀ᤀ猠 甀猀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀栀漀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠⸀ഀ

  I was looking outside when thoughts came to my head.਍ऀ圀栀礀 椀猀 椀琀 琀栀愀琀 眀栀攀渀 礀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 椀渀 愀 瘀攀栀椀挀氀攀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 最攀琀 猀漀 瀀攀渀猀椀瘀攀㼀 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 琀漀 洀礀猀攀氀昀⸀ 夀攀愀爀猀 愀最漀Ⰰ 戀愀挀欀 眀栀攀渀 眀攀 眀攀爀攀 欀椀搀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 琀栀椀猀 猀愀洀攀 挀愀爀 爀椀搀攀⸀ 䄀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 椀琀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀 攀瘀攀爀礀 礀攀愀爀᐀搠甀爀椀渀最 洀礀 戀椀爀琀栀搀愀礀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 䤀 愀氀猀漀 猀栀愀爀攀 眀椀琀栀 䴀椀渀搀礀⸀ 䈀甀琀 昀漀爀 猀漀洀攀 爀攀愀猀漀渀Ⰰ 䤀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀栀攀洀 琀漀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 琀栀�
��琀 椀琀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 洀礀 戀椀爀琀栀搀愀礀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 䴀椀渀搀礀ᤀ猠⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 瘀攀爀礀 栀愀爀搀 琀漀 搀漀㬀 䴀椀渀搀礀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 挀愀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 瀀愀爀琀椀攀猀Ⰰ 漀爀 挀攀氀攀戀爀愀琀椀漀渀猀⸀ 䜀椀瘀攀 栀攀爀 愀 瀀愀椀渀琀椀渀最 猀攀琀 愀渀搀 猀栀攀ᤀ猠 昀椀渀攀⸀ 䤀 栀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 眀愀渀琀攀搀 愀氀氀 琀栀椀渀最猀 最爀愀渀搀 愀渀搀 戀攀愀甀琀椀昀甀氀⸀ 䤀 眀愀渀琀攀搀 琀漀 昀攀攀氀 猀瀀攀挀椀愀氀⸀ഀ

  One time when I was sixteen and Mindy was eight, I had the grandest celebration. It was my first “grown-up” party…Well, okay, maybe not so, since the parents were there and all, but it was the first non-themed party, and I remember being overly eager to wear my Red Diane Von Furstenberg dress and Peep toe heels, only to find out that Caroline was wearing a red dress, too. She was 10, but she was already stealing the show. And Mindy, who never stole the show before, did, by showing everyone her paintings. I was furious, and mom was, too. Mom was never been fond of Mindy (and later, we figured out that it was because Mindy was her daughter by another man.) And then I started yelling, saying how she and Caroline made my