Her Sister's Shoes(2)

“You’ll have to find someone else.” Jackie busied herself with gathering up tile and concrete samples that were scattered across the wine-tasting table. “The boys are busy getting ready to leave for camp on Saturday.”

“Today is only Wednesday,” Sam said. “Since when does it take a teenager two days to pack?”

“They’re not just packing, Samantha. They’ve made plans with friends.”

“Ask them anyway. I’m sure they’ll want to help. They already talked to me about working at the market when they get home from camp.”

“They’ll be busy with football practice when they get home from camp.” Jackie flung her bag over her shoulder. “This may come as a surprise to you, but I have higher aspirations for my boys than running a seafood market.”

Even if that smelly seafood market provided you all the luxuries you felt entitled to when we were growing up, Sam thought. “I’m not talking about a full-time career, Jackie. The boys just want to earn some money while they have a little fun.”

“They will have plenty of fun at camp, and they’ll get paid this year, as junior counselors.”

“Why do you send them off to camp, anyway, when we live ten minutes from the beach?” Sam asked.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but having them tucked away in the mountains keeps them out of trouble.”

“And out of your hair,” Sam mumbled.

Jackie’s face turned red. “Don’t you have enough to worry about with your own son without worrying about mine?”

Sam’s eyes narrowed and her back stiffened. She was preparing for battle with her older sister when Faith intervened. “Curtis can help. With stocking the showroom. He’s looking for work.”

“I take that to mean the job at the brick plant didn’t work out,” Jackie said.

Faith picked at a hangnail. “Turns out they hired too many people. Since Curtis was the last one hired, he was the first one they fired.”

“He’ll find something else soon, I’m sure. In the meantime, I can definitely put him to work around here. At least for the next couple of days,” Sam said, thinking how Curtis’s physical strength made up for his lack of brainpower. “I’ll work out the details with him when I see him at the party tonight.”

“Speaking of the party, I’ve gotta run.” Jackie positioned her oversized sunglasses on her face, the dark frames in contrast to her pale unblemished skin. “Can one of you pick up Mom?”

“Since when does Mom need a driver?” Sam asked.

“Since she’s been acting so forgetful lately,” Jackie said. “Surely you’ve noticed.”

“Of course she’s forgetful,” Sam said. “She’s eighty-two years old.”

Jackie slid her sunglasses down and peered at Sam over the top of her bug-eyed lenses. “She’s not just forgetful. She’s downright demented. I can hardly have a conversation with her anymore. She asks the same questions over and over again.” Jackie turned toward Faith. “You know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

Faith shook her head, her eyes wide with concern. “I haven’t seen much of Mama since we started the renovations.”

“Well …” Jackie repositioned her sunglasses on her nose. “I’ve invited some important people to my party. I don’t want Mom embarrassing herself.”

Sam glanced at the ship’s clock above the door. “Okay, look. It’s already five o’clock. Clearly this is something we need to talk about later.”

“I agree,” Jackie said. “Let’s just get through tonight first.”

Sam turned to Faith. “I might be running a few minutes late by the time I pick Jamie up from physical therapy and help him get changed. If you can bring Mom to the party, I’ll take her home.”

“I can do that,” Faith said.

“Perfect.” Jackie leaned over and kissed Faith’s cheek, then Sam’s. “In case I forget to tell you both later, Happy Birthday.”



Sam locked the front door and stepped back, admiring the new logo painted in seaweed green across both windows, the interlocking S’s announcing that Captain Sweeney’s Seafood Market was open for business.

Sweeney’s was located at the T-intersection of Main Street and Creekside Drive. Sam’s parents had chosen well when they leased the corner property in 1959. Creekside had always been a thoroughfare to South Carolina’s most popular beaches, but Main Street had only recently become the home for many outdoor cafes and novelty boutiques.