My voice sounded strangely calm and hard. “I have to go home.”

Luke let out a disbelieving laugh. “Katie, what? Are you crazy? You have downhill in three days.”

It was Blair who came to my side, made me put down the handful of clothes I’d torn from the hotel dresser and sit.

“What’s going on? Are your parents okay? I thought you were with them this morning.”

“It’s Penny,” I said, and at that moment, a huge sob came up. “She’s gone into labor.”

Blair gasped, and Luke—never much for listening to the details of anyone else’s personal life, including mine—looked perplexed. He was agitated, thinking about his race, irritated by the intrusion.

“Well, the babies will still be there later, you have plenty of time to go meet them before Innsbruck.”

I looked at Luke aghast and Blair spoke for me. “It’s too early, Luke.”

“I have to go home,” I said, my eyes dancing back and forth between the two of them. I was looking for their approval. I was mad with worry, but the idea of missing the race felt surreal—the race was tight, between Sarah Sweeny, Kjersti Larsen, one of the Austrians, and me, and a scratch would easily put me out of the running for a World Cup globe—and I needed them to tell me I was doing the right thing, that I had to go home. I didn’t want to leave, but the need I felt to get to my sister’s side was primal. “My parents are booking flights right now.”

“Is Coach helping?” Blair asked. I nodded.

“Katie! You can’t leave, you have races!”

“Luke,” Blair said.

“Penny will understand. And your parents are going, what are you going to do anyway?! Come on, Katie, this is too important.”

Luke wasn’t wrong, just insensitive, and it wasn’t as though I didn’t know this about him. Luke was invincible and invulnerable. Luke pushed me to be my best, and usually, it was what I needed.

“Luke, a word,” Blair said, practically shoving his brother out into the wide, plush hallway. I carried on packing, and a few moments later, Luke came back through the door and pulled me into his arms.

“I’m so sorry, babe, I was being a dick, you know how I get during competition. I just don’t want you to miss your downhill, but there’s always next season.” He pulled back and kissed me, brushed a piece of hair that was stuck to my clammy cheek away from my face. “You do what you gotta do, okay?”

I wish I could say I didn’t feel I needed Luke’s permission to go home, but his blessing helped me walk out the door. We all thought I was doing the right thing.

“I can stay,” Blair said, “and help you and your folks get everything sorted out. Just say the word.”