So where are those rules now, Vi?
Sensing a burning in her chest that was probably that last chunk of Brie she had devoured, Lacey tried to edge out the jealousy from her mind and just be happy for her sister. Vi was glowing in a way that even the most expensive makeup couldn’t replicate.
Just as a warm feeling crept into her heart, Lacey was struck by an image of Vi’s inevitable future—a seemingly effortless balance of family and work. Vi’d move to the suburbs, buy a newly renovated historic house on a sizable lot, and have two perfect children. She’d hire an au pair from France and Vi’s kids would speak two languages fluently by the time they were three-and-a-half.
It’s was Lacey’s dream… on steroids.
Meanwhile, poor Auntie Lacey would be crashing funerals, struggling to make a sale.
Broke.
And sexless.
Sexless? To hell with that.
***
“I can’t believe you’re leaving early.” Poised to take a sip, the vapor from Vi’s breath mixed with steam rising from the mulled wine in her two-handed grip.
Hot spiced wine on the front porch after Thanksgiving dinner had become a tradition for Lacey and Vi the past few years. It wasn’t just the comforting feel of warm wine touching their lips against the chill of early winter. It was an excuse to escape the guests and the suffocating small talk of post-dinner coffee. No one in their right minds would follow them outside in Chicago’s bitter November cold.
Ordinarily, Lacey looked forward to this quiet time alone with her sister. But not tonight.
“Real estate emergency,” Lacey offered evasively. “I’ll fly stand-by tomorrow morning.”
Vi’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “Emergency?”
Lacey shrank down in the chilly cushions on the wicker chair. She hated lying to her sister.
Vi shrugged at Lacey’s silence. “Well, okay.”
Taking a sip of wine, Lacey decided it safest to change the subject. “Good turkey, huh?”
“Dad said they tried a new caterer this year.”
Lacey tilted her head. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had a home-cooked turkey in my life.”
“Who’d want to? Everyone says they’re always dry.”
“One of my housemates is cooking Thanksgiving dinner back home. I’ll bet hers isn’t dry. She’s a great cook.” Thoughts of sanctuary in Annapolis had Lacey wishing she could call a cab for the airport right now.
“Handy having her in the house, I’ll bet.”
“Yeah. She makes homemade pizza every Scrabble night. The dough’s even from scratch.”
Vi’s face scrunched, and for a moment she looked surprisingly similar to the awkward twelve-year-old she once was. “Scrabble night?”
“Yeah.”
“You play Scrabble with your friends?”
Lacey met her sister’s disbelieving stare. “Yeah. So what?”
Vi tossed her shoulders up casually. “I just didn’t know people really did that.” She stared into the night sky, as though picturing it. “So you do this at parties or something?”
“No. Just every week. Our friends Mick and Jack come over and we just hang out on the back porch or have a fire in the fireplace and play games. Scrabble mostly. But sometimes Monopoly.”
Apparently bewildered, Vi cocked her head, gazing at Lacey. “Sounds like something people do on TV, you know? Like in a sitcom. Kind of—I don’t know—quaint.”
“Now you’re being insulting.”
“No, I’m not. It’s cute.”
Lacey heaved a sigh. “So. What do you do with your friends?”
Silent, Vi frowned, swirling the cooling wine in her mug. For a moment, Lacey didn’t think her sister would answer. Vi finally took a sip and shrugged. “Work.”
“I should get you and what’s-his-name a Scrabble game for Christmas.”
That made Vi laugh, almost too much. “There’s something I can’t imagine. Josh playing Scrabble.”
“Josh.” Lacey repeated. “Josh. Trying to remember that name, but seeing as today’s the first time you ever mentioned him, it might take a while. I can’t believe you never told me about him till now. And here you are. Engaged.”
Vi grinned. “You know me. I don’t even talk about a stock till I’m ready to buy.”
“How romantic.” Lacey tossed back the rest of her drink, hoping the alcohol would fortify her. “So what happened to the whole ‘work before love’ mantra?”
“What do you mean?
“You used to say that relationships took too much energy and time. Too much conflict with a career.”
“When did I say that?”