Folly Cove by Holly Robinson

stopped and the lights were on in the dining room, which meant the servers were clearing the last things away.
    â€œSorry,” Anne said. “The bar’s closed for the night.”
    The bridesmaid turned away with a mew of disappointment.
    â€œAnne, please, let’s go someplace quiet and talk,” Jake pleaded.
    â€œShe’s not going anywhere with you,” Sebastian said.
    Just then Laura stalked into the bar. When she was angry, Laura walked in a way that made floors shake and dishes shatter. Tonight her powerful stride was accentuated by knee-high riding boots pulled over jeans. Jake dropped Anne’s arm at the sight of his wife.
    Laura must have arrived home, realized he wasn’t there, and gone out again, pulling her boots on because they were always next to the door. Even so many years after not being allowed inside her sister’s house, Anne could picture the mudroom with its wooden cubicles, its neat rows of boots and sneakers.
    Laura clomped over to them. “Jake, what the hell? I thought you were coming home from the office for dinner. I was worried sick when I got back and didn’t see you.”
    â€œLaura.” Jake’s smile was brittle. “I did go home. You were out. I assumed you had book club or something, so I went to the gym and then stopped by here for a drink.”
    Liar,
Anne thought, but she was too afraid of Laura to say anything.
    â€œI took Kennedy to the mall for new sneakers,” Laura said. “Which you would have known if you’d read the note I left on the whiteboard in the kitchen, where we’re
always
supposed to leave family communications.” She turned to Anne. “So this is where you’ve been hiding out. Mom said you were back.”
    â€œI’m not hiding,” Anne said. “I’m only working here tonight because Mom had an emergency.”
    Laura rolled her eyes. “And you were the only one available to fill in?”
    â€œThat’s what Mom said.”
    â€œAnd now it’s closing time, so you’re looking for someone to take you home.” Laura looked from Jake to Sebastian. It took her a minute to recognize Sebastian—Anne could see the wheels turning before the confusion on her sister’s face cleared.
    â€œAh,” Laura said then, smiling. “Sebastian. It’s been a while. Last time I saw you, my sister was screwing you in a car. Back for more?”
    Sebastian didn’t flinch. “Hello, Laura.”
    â€œHello,” Laura said sweetly. “History repeats itself. You must be as drunk now as you were then.”
    â€œHis sister’s wedding was tonight,” Anne said. “He’s entitled to be drinking.” She nearly added,
because his sister’s wedding reminds him of his dead wife
, but caught herself.
    â€œOf course he’s entitled,” Laura said. “Aren’t we all? Maybe I’ll get trashed tonight and join the club.” She raked Anne up and down with her gaze. “So why are you here? What happened in Puerto Rico?”
    â€œHaven’t you talked to Mom?” Anne asked.
    â€œOf course. I see her every day,” Laura said pointedly.
    â€œThen you must know why I’m here.” Anne watched her sister’s face and felt a small shiver of satisfaction when Laura frowned, then quickly tried to make her expression blank. Her mother must not have told Laura anything about the baby. Good. Let her sister wonder what was going on.
    â€œLaura, let’s go home,” Jake interrupted. “You look tired.”
    There was a silence, then Laura said, “That’s wonderful to know. Thank you.”
    â€œRule number one: never tell a woman she looks tired,” Sebastian said. “They don’t like it.”
    Jake tried to slip an arm around Laura’s waist, but she shrugged away. Her sister was close enough that Anne could smell coffee on her breath, overlaid with mint toothpaste.