The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak Read Free Book Online Page B

think you should’ve asked me what I thought of the idea first?”
    Maisey took a sip of her tea. “I didn’t want to bother you with something so...trivial.”
    â€œMaisey’s going to my NA meetings with me,” Keith piped up. “That should make the ferry ride a bit more pleasant, wouldn’t you say?”
    â€œI’m grateful for anything that’ll keep you on track,” Josephine said. “Good Lord, what you’ve put me through!” She clicked her tongue. “Maybe she’ll spend a few hours at the flower shop with you every week, too, so you can finally grasp the art of arranging. She was the best arranger I had when she was in high school. But you only ever do one-tenth of what I need.”
    When the color drained from Keith’s face, Maisey flinched. He could’ve used some encouragement instead of yet another insult.
    â€œIt’s been so long since I worked at the flower shop, I’m sure he’d have to teach me a thing or two.” Maisey could tell her brother was offended by what their mother had said. She could feel his dark mood from where she sat. But at that point, the conversation took a less emotional turn, giving her hope that they’d weathered the worst of this meeting, and that she’d be able to cajole him out of his resentment after it was over.
    They talked about Josephine’s many cousins, who mostly lived in Charleston these days, and how they were coping with the death of Josephine’s half-brother on her mother’s side; he had been the patriarch of that part of the family. Then they discussed the renovation of the east wing, following which her mother mentioned that Maisey was too thin (of course!) and needed to have her hair trimmed (which she already knew). As the minutes passed, Maisey grew more convinced that the worst was behind her. Her mother had pointed out every flaw, touched on almost every sensitive subject. What could be left?
    But just as Maisey was beginning to feel less anxious, Josephine looked up with a hint of challenge in her eyes.
    â€œAnd what about little Ellie?” she asked, drawing her eyebrows together and lowering her voice as if she was trying to be gentle with the razor-sharp sword of her mouth.
    Apparently there was one subject left. But it was so sensitive Maisey hadn’t expected anyone to bring it up—not even her mother.
    â€œWhat about her?” Maisey held her teacup so tightly she thought it might shatter. “Ellie’s dead. I called you when it happened.”
    â€œYou said it was SIDS...”
    â€œIt was SIDS.”
    â€œThe doctors are convinced? They’ve confirmed it?”
    â€œI wouldn’t have told you so otherwise.”
    â€œBut...it’s hard to believe a perfectly healthy baby can go to sleep at night and...and not wake up in the morning with nothing occurring in between.”
    Maisey hated that she was beginning to tremble. “It happens. It happened to Ellie.”
    â€œI’d think there would’ve been some sign, that’s all.”
    Some sign she’d missed? As usual, her mother was trying to assign blame, make her feel responsible for every bad thing that had occurred in her life. “I have no idea what you’re getting at.”
    Josephine’s lips pursed. “It’s strange. That’s all,” she repeated.
    â€œWhy are we even discussing it?” Maisey asked.
    Hearing the rancor in her voice, Josephine bristled. “Well, if you want me to be frank, I’m merely letting you know that the way you handled the whole thing—keeping me out of her life—wasn’t right. I never even got to meet my grandchild!”
    Placing her cup on the tray in a very deliberate movement, Maisey came to her feet. “You’re not going to blame me for the fact that you never got to meet Ellie, Mother. We contacted you when she was born. You could’ve come then. Keith did. But