“And . . . we’re getting kegs,” Jules said. “Everyone likes beer so we’re rollin’ ’em in!”

“And wedding cake.”

She laughed. “Oh, wait until you see the wedding cake! Plus, we’re having pies. You can’t have barbeque without apple pies. I know you love pie, Evie.”

“I can’t believe the date is sneaking up on us like this,” I said.

“I know!” Jules said. Then she burst into tears. “I’m so happy to be marrying Mack. He is so thoughtful in bed. Last night he brought me a pink box and inside was a pink nightie with a motorcycle on the front. He also bought me black garters and black heels. He knows I love garters! He’s a huggy, sexy bear.”

“And he’s smart.” I was hoping we could talk about how Mack was out of bed. How was he out of bed, dear sister?

“Oh, I know! Mack is so smart at sex.”

Nope. We couldn’t.

“He knows when having sex twice in one night is all I can do. Hey! We’re thinking of getting tattoos of handcuffs on each shoulder, to say that we’re handcuffed to each other in marriage. Well”—she giggled—“in bed, too. One time I lost the key. Did I tell you that? I couldn’t find the key to the handcuffs! But he’s so strong. After an hour of searching he broke the bedpost. Then we had to buy a new bed!” She laughed again, then she burst into tears. “I can’t wait to marry Mack and become Mrs. Jules!”

I teared up, too. I can’t help it. Jules cries, I cry.

“You’re making me cry harder, Evie!”

I sniffled. I blinked hard. The tears ran.

“I’m so glad you’re my love-sister!”

“Me too! Me too!” I blew my nose, and we burst into another round of wet silliness.

* * *

I was watching a whale in the distance from our cozy beach at sunset when the car crash premonition came to me again. I grew cold, like a corpse, then sweaty. It was the same as always, mountain to my right, cliff to my left. Narrow road. Twists and turns. Orange poppies. The sun in my eyes.

The red car came from around the curve, straight at me, and at the last minute I turned the wheel to the left so she would hit my passenger side. I didn’t understand why I did that. Why did I turn my truck into her car? She slammed into my side, and the steering wheel was wrenched out of my hands. We seesawed on the cliff for a millisecond, as if to give us a last peek at life, and then we both went over the edge and down the cliff.