Authors: Sandi Perry
The
old
Allison
would
have
argued
that
Alex's
mother
knew
exactly
how
something
would
sound
when
she
said
it,
but
she
found
herself
nodding
in
agreement.
"I
was
having
some
wine.
Would
you
care
for
some?"
"I
would
love
a
glass,
thank
you."
Both
women
sat
down
at
the
edge
of
the
couch.
After
a
few
sips
Annabelle
spoke
up.
"When
Alex
called
us
to
tell
us
what
had
happened
to
you,
we
were
shocked.
It
must
have
been
scary
and
awful.
How
are
you
doing?"
"I'm
fine,
thanks
for
asking."
Annabelle
twirled
her
glass
in
her
palm,
"I
was
the
one
who
picked
up
the
phone.
His
voice
was
shaking
so
much
he
could
hardly
get
the
words
out.
It
seemed
like
he
needed
to
really
talk
to
someone
right
at
that
moment."
She
looked
at
Allison,
"I've
never
known
my
brother
to
be
that
way.
He's
Mr.
Calm,
Cool
and
Collected.
He
doesn't
even
sweat
when
he
exercises.
I
don't
know
if
the
two
of
you
spoke,
afterward..."
"We
did,"
Allison
jumped
in.
Her
newfound
manners
would
only
let
Annabelle
poke
around
so
far.
She
was
not
about
to
let
Annabelle
catch
a
'big
one'
on
her
fishing
expedition.
She
got
up
to
signal
the
end
of
the
conversation.
"I
have
a
very
busy
day
tomorrow;
I
appreciate
that
you
came
by
to
check
on
my
welfare."
Annabelle
got
up
reluctantly,
"I
know
we
could
have
been
more
welcoming
when
you
came
down
a
few
months
ago."
Allison
waved
at
her
with
her
hand.
"Don't
think
about
it.
The
whole
circumstance
was
odd.
I
should
be
the
one
apologizing,
crashing
your
family
celebration
like
that.
I
don't
know
what
I
could've
been
thinking.
It
was
kind
of
you
to
come
over
and
check
on
me,"
she
said
once
again.
They
stood
at
the
door
awkwardly
because
Annabelle
showed
no
signs
of
leaving,
and
Allison
didn't
know
how
she
could
graciously
throw
her
out.
It
felt
oddly
like
a
standoff
to
her,
and
she
decided
to
say
what
they
had
both
been
skirting.
"Look,
Annabelle,
a
lot
of
things
were
said
when
emotions
were
flying
high
and
a
lot
of
it
was
the
adrenaline
speaking.
If
you've
come
to
make
amends
because
you
think
I'm
the
new
woman
in
Alex's
life,
don't
worry—I'm
not.
At
least
not
in
the
way
you
might
be
thinking.
I
won't
be
joining
the
family
at
your
barbecues
and
parties.
And
I
doubt
I'll
be
providing
your
parents
with
any
tow-headed
grandchildren
to
carry
on
the
family
name.
I
know
you're
all
anxious
to
see
Alex
move
on
and
you
might
have
gotten
the
mistaken
impression
that
I'm
the
one
he'll
be
moving
on
with.
Sorry,
but
it
isn't
me."
Annabelle
looked
shocked.
Allison
didn't
know
if
it
was
what
she
said,
or
the
way
she
had
said
it,
but
none
of
that
mattered
because
there
was
no
way
she
was
going
to
be
manipulated
by
Alex's
family.
Nice
only
went
so
far.
"I'm
sorry
if
I
was
out
of
line.
You're
right
of
course,
the
heat
of
the
moment
was
what
it
must
have
been,"
Annabelle
said.
"Well,
then.
Good
night."
The
small
group
of
intimate
friends
and
family
were
gathered
at
the
gravesite
the
next
day.
The
sun
shone
high
in
the
sky
and
the
birds
chirped
merrily.
The
Rabbi
said
a
few
brief
words,
and
they
all
repeated
the
words
of
the
psalms
after
him.
Allison's
father
was
buried
near
his
younger
brother,
Joey,
and
in
some
measure,
Allison
felt
relieved
that
he
had
someone
to
be
with
him
so
he
was
not
alone.
She
turned
to
Emily
and
gave
her
a
hug,
"Thanks
for
coming
Em.
I
could
not
have
gotten
through
these
past
few
months
without
you."
She
turned
toward
Kenyon,
"Ken,
you've
been
my
rock."
"Of
course,
darling.
I'd
do
anything
for
you."
She
nodded
at
Bradley
and
Uncle
Martin,
hugged
her
mother
and
Aunt
Carol
and
Jeremy.
Then
she
turned
to
Alex.
"Could
you
give
me
a
few
minutes?
There's
something
I
need
to
say
to
them,"
she
gestured
at
the
ground,
"before
we
head
back
to
the
city."