Home with My Sisters by Mary Carter Page A

wrists?” Faith snapped. Oh, she shouldn’t have said that. This wasn’t Stephen’s fault. He was actually handling all of this much better than she was. Be nice, Faith .
    â€œHe said he wasn’t really going to do any serious damage to himself.”
    â€œAnd you believe that?”
    â€œI want to,” Stephen said.
    â€œIt was a cry for help.”
    â€œAnd he’s getting help.”
    â€œMental illness runs in both of our families.”
    â€œMy family?” Stephen asked.
    â€œYour mother.” All of Josh’s traits both physical and emotional mirrored Stephen and his side of the family. Except for his eyes. He had her father’s piercing eyes. He’s an old soul, people used to say after looking into her father’s eyes. Josh was an old soul too. And he was hers to protect.
    â€œAre you sure Josh is better off with the crazies in your family rather than mine?” Stephen asked.
    â€œNot sure whatsoever,” Faith said.
    â€œSo why do this? You never want to spend Christmas with your sisters—”
    â€œDon’t put words in my mouth.”
    â€œHope is always making an effort and you’re always rejecting her.”
    â€œWait. Are you trying to get me to stay, or are you trying to get me to go?”
    Stephen sighed. “I don’t know,” he said. Seals barked in the distance. Josh and Brittany began running back to them.
    â€œNo matter what,” Stephen said, “this year just isn’t going to feel like Christmas.”
    Faith was sorry to realize that for once, she wholeheartedly agreed.
    * * *
    Hope and Austin were only half an hour from Leavenworth when Faith’s name lit up the screen of her smartphone. “She’s coming,” Hope said with a grin. Austin turned down the radio as Hope answered.
    â€œHi, Faith.”
    â€œYou do know that Christmas is still three weeks away.”
    â€œYour point is?”
    â€œWhy are you headed there so early?” Faith sounded annoyed. Probably because none of this was her idea and Faith thought she should be the one spearheading everything.
    â€œI’m on break and Austin generously offered me a ride.” Austin gave a smile and a nod at this. Hope wondered if Faith could hear her smiling through the phone. Her sisters were coming! She was off this early in the season thanks to her Whine and Cheese event, but if she mentioned anything about her work with dogs Faith would roll her eyes. And even though they weren’t video chatting, Hope would still be able to feel that eye roll through the phone. Faith was even less of a dog person than Michael. Hope glanced at the hound. A long piece of drool dangled from his jowl. Hope wiped it off with her sleeve. The dog thanked her by licking her chin. She gently pushed his big face away. Faith was not going to be happy to see the lovable beast. The thought made Hope smile even wider.
    â€œAustin said there’s room for all of us at the house—kids, husbands, boyfriends.” And dogs . “I guess our grandmother’s late husband was loaded.” She wondered the minute it was out of her mouth if Austin would think she was being callous, but if he did, he didn’t let it show.
    â€œJoy will be overwhelmed.”
    â€œThat’s not what I meant.” Hope really didn’t want to discuss Joy’s motives for visiting with Austin listening.
    â€œI remembered meeting her a second time,” Faith said.
    â€œI don’t even remember the first time,” Hope sulked. Austin glanced over. Hope looked away.
    â€œShe lived in a trailer. Dad went out to buy her cigarettes and we waited for him. She insisted on getting a picture of us before we left.”
    â€œHow come I don’t remember that?”
    â€œYou were only four. We didn’t stay long.”
    â€œWas Mom there?”
    â€œNo, just us.”
    â€œI don’t remember.”
    â€œJust as