“That’s not what I said.” Nola's voice was soft. “You’re still playing psychological games with me, picking up where you left off. I will not fall into this trap. That is not what I need from a sister.” She looked into Jenna's eyes. That old defiance was still there, not their mother’s hooded, sleepy gaze. “You’ve hurt me. Whether you want to admit it or not, I did an awful lot for you when there was no one else in the world. I loved you then very much. It did not make up for all your deprivations, but it has defined my life.” She thought of giving up Eddie, of her searches among runaway communities, her European debut postponed for more than two years, of the ever-present worry, like an underlying chronic illness. “I made sacrifices, possibly more than many parents would do. For years, I carried the double burden of both our orphanhood. Your pain consumed me, too, while I struggled to crawl out of the hole of my own life. Even today I am still living our past. If you’ve come here to punish me for everything else that was missing in your life, I will not make myself available. If you’ve come here to share the good things we can offer each other, then I’m here for you. But you must be here for me too.”

For a long stretch, all Nola could hear was their breathing and the muted sounds of the party downstairs. She noticed that Jenna did not get up and leave. A quiver traversed her sister’s chin. Then Jenna began to weep quietly. “I’ve been through so much therapy and I’m finally learning to form relationships. I don’t know how to do it, how to start—”

Nola inhaled deeply, fighting the tears springing to her eyes.

Suddenly, Jenna's face crumbled. She fell onto Nola's arms. “I missed you so much.”

Leslie had stocked the upstairs kitchenette with baby formula, and Nola went to fetch a bottle. Even though Lulu had been drinking diluted fresh milk, her diapers showed signs that the frequent diet changes disagreed with her.

Nola smiled to herself. Below, a party was going on, and here she was checking a baby’s stools and loving it.

“How did your talk with Jenna go?” Leslie asked.

“We’re going to a play together next week. It will be nice to see the theater through her eyes.” Nola looked around. “How about it if we set up the nursery in Wade's study? It’s the closest and it’s sunny all afternoon.”

“I’ll have the dark paneling removed and the room redecorated in pastels.”

“Only pink,” Nola said.

“Pink?”