When she pours herself wine, her hand shakes. She takes a large gulp and then squeezes her eyes shut. I reach my hand to touch her arm.

I love them both. I won’t take sides. I wonder if they’ll ever work their way back to each other.

“So. She’s never going to get beyond this.”

“Never’s a long time.”

“She made this all my fault. When I didn’t do anything.” Rosie swallows more wine. “And I miss her.” She inhales, shaking her head. “The her I thought she was, anyway.”

Allie enters the kitchen, holding the phone high. “Everyone have a chance?” She waves the phone back and forth. A chorus of yes’s answers her.

There seems to be too much happening at once, but I have to talk with Alice, so I take the phone.

“I miss you,” she says. “It doesn’t seem like the real holiday season without the party.”

“At least you’ll have the cookies. You can fly them back with you.”

“Yeah. This bicoastal shit is tough. My life parceled out in two different cities, two different houses, two different sets of friends. Well, one set of friends. When I’m here, it’s just Larry and me. We hoped it would be an oasis. These weekends twice a month together.”

“Right now I’d love time with nothing to do but play with Jim.”

“This weekend the laptop got the play.” Usually Alice puts on an optimistic front, ignoring or denying the stress of commuting between two cities, two time zones, two houses. Then she adds, “He had so much work I was lucky to get him away to watch TV. I might as well have stayed in Ann Arbor. Except at least we’re together. And this crush in his job will slow by Wednesday. Next weekend should be all us. Normal.” She chuckles. “Whatever our normal is. Maybe it’s this craziness.” She’s quiet for a minute and I hear her inhale. “How’s Sky?”

“I thought you were her.”

“Sorry. Call me tomorrow, okay? Anytime. Middle of the night included. Promise?”

“I’ll let you know.”

I shut the phone and automatically check to see if I’ve missed any calls. I haven’t. I consider using this break to call Sky but decide not to intrude. It’s six now in California. She must know. Maybe her obstetrician had to deliver a baby and she and Troy are nervously picking at their dinners. I have to be patient, I remind myself. My worst, absolutely worst virtue.

Just then I hear laughter and turn toward it. Jeannie, Sissy, and Charlene are chortling together in front of the refrigerator. Jeannie says something and Sissy’s merry laugh answers back.