He’d won his race, meaning his first World Cup globe was more or less a lock. “I did,” I said. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Oh man, it was turny as shit, I almost blew out after the first gate.” He rattled off a recount of the race. Normally, I’d be happy to hear every detail, but my mind was a blur. After a few minutes, he seemed to suddenly remember the circumstances.

“I’m sorry about your sis, Bomber,” he said. “It sucks. But she can probably have more kids though, right?”

“Yeah probably. I hope so.”

“Ah, Bomber, we gotta go. I love you, babe. I’ll see you soon.”

Penny sweetly insisted that I didn’t need to stay very long, and my coaches wanted me back in time for Innsbruck. But I stayed for a couple of days, curled up watching bad movies with my sister while my parents were at work. We didn’t talk about what had happened; we were just quiet together. One afternoon while Penny was sleeping on the sofa, the landline rang.

“Hello?” I said, picking up the old phone with its long cord that let my mom migrate from the kitchen to the living room while she was on it.

There was a distinct pause at the other end of the line.

“Sissy? Is that you?” The surprised voice was Emily’s, and the sound of it flooded me with warmth. “What are you doing at your parents’ house?”

“Em! Yes, it’s me. I’m home with Pen today, didn’t she tell you I was coming?” I wandered toward the living room, leaning up against the little archway that separated the two spaces. I gazed at my sister sleeping on the couch, Noodles curled in the crook of her legs. Penny already looked younger than me—with her baby face—and when she slept, additional years seemed to melt away.

“No!” Emily said. “I didn’t know Penny was over there. I was just calling to check on her. I only tried here because no one answered at her place. How is she?”

“She’s doing okay. I mean, she’s exhausted obviously. And the pain pills are making her a bit loopy, but that might be for the best. God, Em, it’s so good to hear your voice.” Between the jet lag, the multiple flights, and the stress, I wasn’t much less exhausted than my poor sister.

“You too! I miss you. You’re such a good sister to come all the way home from Europe. Aren’t you in the middle of your season?”