something for everyone”—Cristina knocked on the wooden table—“which is my good luck. But I think that’s why Paul and I click so well. We each have our own separate spaces that don’t cross over.”
“Having too much in common is worse than not having enough. Believe me, I see that in my job every day. It gives you both middle ground, some of which you share, and some of which you keep to yourselves. It’s actually quite crucial for a long-term relationship.” Britt’s lashy eyes fluttered. “But I still don’t understand how Paul influenced this Creepers line.”
“Creepies,” Cristina corrected. “Evil Church Creepies . Most of all, it was the house, and that old church right across the street. I took one look at those places and—bam—the whole thing came to me.”
Britt still looked confused. “Then how do you owe your latest ideas to him?”
“It was several months ago, when he decided to buy the house. This was before the refurbishment started; we couldn’t even go in ’cos it failed the city safety codes. But he told me what he wanted to do and drove me out here just to see the outside of the place. It doesn’t make sense, really, but that’s when all the new ideas came into my head. Don’t know why, they just did. It wouldn’t have happened if Paul hadn’t urged me to move here with him.”
“All things happen for a reason.”
Cristina spun on her work seat. “And when I was thinking about what the lead-off figure should be—”
“That’s when you decided to use that annoying dream of yours to your advantage.”
“Exactly,” Cristina agreed. It was fascinating how Britt could read her so accurately.
“You created a positive out of a negative. And we both did, in a lot of ways. That’s what led me to the psychology curriculum and a career as a social services counselor.”
The side note didn’t bother Cristina now. She knew what Britt was talking about: the Goldfarbs and the foster house. Cristina sighed. “Yeah, I guess we’re both pretty lucky.”
“You can say that again.” She put a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “And we must never forget it.”
Cristina wiped a tear from her eye, hoping Britt wouldn’t see. A tear of joy, however, not one of despair. When you go through what we went through…the bond lasts forever .
Cristina only half-paid attention to the dimensional notes on her main computer. But what am I REALLY thinking about? She wasn’t sure.
The Goldfarbs? All THAT crap?
“The best way to test the therapeutic gauge,” Britt offered, “is simply by self-examining your own sex life.”
Cristina wasn’t sure if the comment was loaded. Wasthis just a chat? Or something more, one of her older sister’s ways of checking up on her?
“And since we’re on that subject,” Britt continued.
“
We?
”
“—how’s yours lately?”
Yep. Checking up again . “If you want to know that truth, very recently it’s been great.”
“Really?” Britt seemed surprised.
“I think it’s all part of that evolvement thing you were talking about,” Cristina said. “I’ve changed more in the past few days than I think I’ve ever changed.”
“Not changed. Evolved. There’s a difference.”
Cristina smiled, but deeper thoughts made her feel something akin to lewd. “Changed, evolved, what ever. But all for the best.”
“Sex, too, huh?”
Cristina felt a blush coming on. “Especially that. I was a…dirty girl last night. And it was great.”
“Not just great but healthy,” Britt added. Now she was looking absently out the back window again, down into the sun-lit alley. “It’s just more proof of our wellness . Reversal of the ‘sexual nadir,’ is how we say it in shrinkspeak. Things are great with me and Jess, too. He’s a little selfish sometimes but—” She tossed a shoulder and laughed. “That’s what vibrators are for. Sometimes I think my rabbits are better than men—”
“Britt!”
“Oh, don’t give me that.
“Having too much in common is worse than not having enough. Believe me, I see that in my job every day. It gives you both middle ground, some of which you share, and some of which you keep to yourselves. It’s actually quite crucial for a long-term relationship.” Britt’s lashy eyes fluttered. “But I still don’t understand how Paul influenced this Creepers line.”
“Creepies,” Cristina corrected. “Evil Church Creepies . Most of all, it was the house, and that old church right across the street. I took one look at those places and—bam—the whole thing came to me.”
Britt still looked confused. “Then how do you owe your latest ideas to him?”
“It was several months ago, when he decided to buy the house. This was before the refurbishment started; we couldn’t even go in ’cos it failed the city safety codes. But he told me what he wanted to do and drove me out here just to see the outside of the place. It doesn’t make sense, really, but that’s when all the new ideas came into my head. Don’t know why, they just did. It wouldn’t have happened if Paul hadn’t urged me to move here with him.”
“All things happen for a reason.”
Cristina spun on her work seat. “And when I was thinking about what the lead-off figure should be—”
“That’s when you decided to use that annoying dream of yours to your advantage.”
“Exactly,” Cristina agreed. It was fascinating how Britt could read her so accurately.
“You created a positive out of a negative. And we both did, in a lot of ways. That’s what led me to the psychology curriculum and a career as a social services counselor.”
The side note didn’t bother Cristina now. She knew what Britt was talking about: the Goldfarbs and the foster house. Cristina sighed. “Yeah, I guess we’re both pretty lucky.”
“You can say that again.” She put a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “And we must never forget it.”
Cristina wiped a tear from her eye, hoping Britt wouldn’t see. A tear of joy, however, not one of despair. When you go through what we went through…the bond lasts forever .
Cristina only half-paid attention to the dimensional notes on her main computer. But what am I REALLY thinking about? She wasn’t sure.
The Goldfarbs? All THAT crap?
“The best way to test the therapeutic gauge,” Britt offered, “is simply by self-examining your own sex life.”
Cristina wasn’t sure if the comment was loaded. Wasthis just a chat? Or something more, one of her older sister’s ways of checking up on her?
“And since we’re on that subject,” Britt continued.
“
We?
”
“—how’s yours lately?”
Yep. Checking up again . “If you want to know that truth, very recently it’s been great.”
“Really?” Britt seemed surprised.
“I think it’s all part of that evolvement thing you were talking about,” Cristina said. “I’ve changed more in the past few days than I think I’ve ever changed.”
“Not changed. Evolved. There’s a difference.”
Cristina smiled, but deeper thoughts made her feel something akin to lewd. “Changed, evolved, what ever. But all for the best.”
“Sex, too, huh?”
Cristina felt a blush coming on. “Especially that. I was a…dirty girl last night. And it was great.”
“Not just great but healthy,” Britt added. Now she was looking absently out the back window again, down into the sun-lit alley. “It’s just more proof of our wellness . Reversal of the ‘sexual nadir,’ is how we say it in shrinkspeak. Things are great with me and Jess, too. He’s a little selfish sometimes but—” She tossed a shoulder and laughed. “That’s what vibrators are for. Sometimes I think my rabbits are better than men—”
“Britt!”
“Oh, don’t give me that.
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