Chapter 7 — Not the Way You Were Raised

Her eyes stayed on Nicole. “Your mother was afraid Nicole had found out that she isn’t truly your sister — not in the way you were both raised to believe.”
“That makes no sense.” My voice came out sharper than I meant. “I remember Mom bringing Nicole home. Dad took pictures.”

Pearl finally turned to face me. “Do you remember the day itself? Or do you remember hearing the story repeated for years?”

I opened my mouth, and stopped. I had been four. My memories were photographs, and captions, and Mom’s voice, and a picture of me holding a bundled baby on our couch. None of it proved what I’d always thought it proved.

Pearl said Mom had written to her a few weeks earlier — told her to come to the funeral, but to approach me only if Nicole came near the coffin.

Mom had believed that if Nicole kept her distance, the secret could stay buried with her.

Chapter 8 — Recognition

Before Pearl could explain more, Nicole turned from the coffin, saw us whispering, and walked over, wiping her cheeks with both hands.