“That doesn’t sound like him.”
Avery gave her head a gentle pat.
“You tend to recall the bad times with more alacrity.”
Lucky scrunched her face at this. She knew that Avery and Bonnie remembered a time when their father inhabited more states than either catatonic or explosive. Maybe they’d gotten a different version of their father, one less drunk and more present to be a parent, but that didn’t change the fact that by the time Lucky came along, he had pretty much given up. She thought about saying this, but it was pointless. If Avery needed to believe in him, that was her loss.
“Are you still mad at me?” she asked instead.
Avery shook her head.
“I was worried,” she said. “It came out wrong. I should have handled it better.”
“I’m sorry I scared you.”
Avery kept stroking her head.
“You did but…I get it. Or maybe I don’t and that’s the problem. God knows I’m in no place to judge.”
Lucky looked up at her and frowned.
“But you’re, like, perfect.”
Avery made a strangled noise that was not quite a laugh.
“You have no idea how far from perfect I am.”
Lucky looked up at her sister’s tired face. Momentarily, it occurred to her that there could be something going on with Avery that was bigger than their fight. She thought of what Chiti had said. Sometimes your sister is like a medieval fortress. But what could be happening? Avery never made mistakes, or at least she hadn’t for a long time. That was Lucky’s job in the family.
“Are you okay, Aves?” she asked. “With Chiti? And everything? You’d tell me if you weren’t good, right?”
Avery’s eyes shot to hers.
“Of course! Why? Did Chiti say something to you?”
Lucky was surprised by this, since Avery and Chiti had always seemed so unassailably in sync, but she tried not to show it.
“No,” she said carefully. “I was just checking. Being a good sister, you know.”
Avery shot her a relieved smile.
“You never have to worry about me,” she said. “That’s not your job.”
Lucky frowned.
“I will if you want me to.”
Avery shook her head.
“Just make sure you’re keeping yourself safe, please.” She reached over her head and gave a stiff stretch. “And I’m sorry we haven’t had the chance to spend much time together. It’s just a busy time of year for me.”
“When’s your slow time of year? I can come back then.”
Avery gave her a worn-out look.
“When I find out, I’ll tell you.”
Lucky rested her chin on Avery’s knee like a puppy and looked up at her.
“I’m gonna go to New York tomorrow,” she said.
Avery blinked.
“So soon?”
“I thought I’d say goodbye to the apartment. And I figure Bonnie could use some help there.”
“That’s nice of you,” said Avery doubtfully. “But I still think I can convince them to keep it.”
“Maybe,” said Lucky. “But Bonnie’s there now, and I think she needs me.”
If Lucky was hoping Avery would try to convince her to stay, she did not show her disappointment when Avery only nodded.
“What time’s your flight?”
“In the afternoon.”
“I could leave work early and drive you to the airport. How’s that sound?”
