Soon the two girls were seated in the dining room, Anna drinking a second Nespresso while Kimmie picked at a chocolate croissant, waiting for the housekeeper to bring her a hot chocolate. As soon as Kimmie sat down, Anna had leaned forward and told her in a hushed tone what she had seen only seconds before Kimmie arrived. Not knowing how close the two sisters were, she chose her words carefully. “They were so busy kissing I don’t think they saw me,” she said. “Thank god!” she added with a small chuckle.

“So they made up?” Kimmie asked.

“Seems that way,” Anna replied.

“Because of you.” Kimmie had intended her words to be a compliment, but upon hearing them, she worried her tone sounded more like an accusation.

“Not really,” Anna demurred. “She loves him, like, really loves him. She told me so last night. And I told Lolly only she had the power to decide Steven’s fate.”

“How so?” Kimmie asked, surprised at being taken into this older girl’s confidence in such an intimate way. “I mean, you think she should stay with him? I know he’s your brother but…” She trailed off, remembering all that her sister had texted her. She shuddered with revulsion.

“I think Steven’s behavior was repulsive and reprehensible. I don’t want to be so cavalier as to say ‘boys will be boys,’ but I told your sister the only way they could stay together is if she could truly forgive him. Otherwise it would never work.”

“I’m not sure I could do it,” Kimmie said. “In fact, I know I couldn’t. It seems impossible to forgive my boyfriend for cheating on me like that. Not that I’ve ever had one.”

“So you’ve never had a boyfriend?” Anna inquired very gently.

“Does that matter?” Kimmie’s voice rose defensively.

“Of course not. I was just curious because I’ve had a boyfriend for so long that it’s hard to remember what my opinions were when I didn’t. Though I’m pretty sure I would have said the same thing as you.”

“So having a boyfriend gives you different opinions?” Kimmie asked, now intrigued.

“Not exactly. I know it sounds like I’m making excuses for their thoughtless stupidity, but I’m not. I’m just saying boys and girls couldn’t be more different in their wants and behaviors. And when you throw in raging hormones and mix it up with emotions, it’s a wonder we don’t all go mad.” As Anna heard her own words out loud, she wondered if she was expressing her thoughts for Kimmie’s benefit or for her own. From the first moment she had opened her eyes that morning, Anna had been thinking about Vronsky. This wouldn’t have concerned her, if it weren’t for the fact that he had been the last thing she had thought about before falling asleep as well.