Emily Berrigan is a 23 year old transwoman, who hasn't seen her twin Jordan in six years. Not since she told her parents the truth about herself and they threw her out. Her older sister is getting married and wants Emily there - as a bridesmaid. Will sparks fly?
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In this chapter, Emily films her movie. Jared brings Jordan and her to Chicago to surprise Stef for her birthday. Emily sees Jordan in person for the first time in six years. Stef and Emily go bridesmaids' dress shopping. Oh, and guess who else is coming to dinner...
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Movie sets are a strange place, a hive of activity, the DP checking his lenses, playing with filters, grips moving equipment, setting up lights and mikes, with the director the conductor, moving people around. Off to the side sat Emily. At CalArts, they had told them that acting was waiting, waiting for your scene, waiting for the crew, just waiting. She had resolved to watch and learn, not just play with her phone, when it buzzed.

Jared. Jared? Why would he be texting her? He didn’t text, just said ‘hi’ when she was talking to Stef. She wondered what had happened and felt herself get nervous, which was the last thing she needed before she was getting on camera. He didn’t help it with the text.

‘Call me’

Call me? Call me? No one called anyone unless it was awful. Or they never saw their family and that was the only way. But Jared wasn’t family. Well, he was but he wasn’t. As she began spinning scenarios, each worse than the last...

“Places everyone,” the AD yelled. Emily got out of her chair and smoothed out her shorts, as much to distract herself from Jared's text. Call me? She found herself thinking the worst, something happened to Stef. If it was anything else, Stef would've called her. She looked up to find the grip with the mike staring at her. She took a breath and decided that she would just need to nail the scene on the first take.

In this scene, her character came home from cheerleading practice to find her mother passed out. She was wearing her hair in a ponytail and a t-shirt tied in a knot at her waist, and shorts. When she had done that in an earlier run through, the DP looked at her funny until she explained how it meant your shirt wouldn't ride up when you did moves. Which led to him giving her the creative nickname of “Cheer,” and ending every question to her with a chant of “Ready? OK?” and doing what he thought was a cheer move with his hands.

Emily got up and went to the end of the driveway of the house they rented and began walking up, a backpack slung over her shoulder. She began walking up, thinking about what her character would expect to find and she took a breath and stiffened her shoulders. Which led to:

“CUT!”

The director walked over to her. “Emily, what was that?”

“What was what?” He imitated her taking an exaggerated breath and stiffening her shoulders. “What? She knows what she’s going to find and she’s preparing herself.”

He looked at her. “No, she doesn’t. How does she know?”

Umm, she thought, her mom’s a fuckup. Of course, she knows what she’s going to find. “I just…”

“Don’t. You came home from a good practice. You got a 97 on your chem test. You’re in a great mood….”

She nodded, thinking that she could hold two competing thoughts in her head but, again, it was her first movie and he was the director. “Right.”

“OK, let’s do it again.”

Emily went back to the end of the driveway and began walking up the driveway, grinning and looking around, and waiting for the inevitable ‘CUT’ that inexplicably didn’t come in. She walked into the house and saw the actress playing her mother passed out, a tequila bottle next to her on the floor. She disgustedly hung her backpack on a hook and began picking up the empty fast food bags on the floor, channeling Stef’s disgust at their cousins.

From the couch, she heard a slurred, “hey Britnee.”

Emily sneered, “This place is a pigsty.”

A sneered, “Hi mom. How was your day?”

She walked over to the couch and picked up a half-eaten hamburger and the empty bottle. “I can guess. Did you even leave the house? The couch?”

The actress sat up slowly. “Don’t take that tone with me.”

Emily rolled her eyes, “Whatever,” and began cleaning up.

“Come on,” the actress said, switching her tone to needy, “don’t be that way. How was practice?”

As she walked to the kitchen, the camera following her, “It was fine. It was practice.”

“And your test?”

“Wow, you remembered. Let’s see if you can go two for two. What subject?”

“History?” The actress said with uncertainty.

“Chem. So close.”

“I knew you had a test,” she said apologetically. “Anyway….” Emily walked over and picked up a half full glass of liquid. “Hey!”

Emily walked to the kitchen and dumped it. “You’ve had enough.”

“That’s alcohol abuse,” the actress laughed. Emily walked back in, with a glass of water and Advil, and handed it to her wordlessly. “I’m still your mother.”

Emily gave her a silent look that hopefully said, ‘really? You couldn’t tell,’ followed by, “I got a 97. On my chem test.’

The actress got up and gave her a drunken hug. “Well, that’s great.”

Emily pulled back, “What do you want?”

“I’m proud of you. Can’t that be it?”

Emily smirked, “It could be. But it isn’t.” She felt the camera moving behind her.

The actress smiled, “Would you be willing to drive me…”

“No.”

Indignantly, “I didn’t even finish the question.”

Emily, cleaning up the coffee table so as to have something to do with her hands. “Liquor store? Dispensary? Bar? Which?”

The actress stage-slapped her across the face. “You arrogant, snotty little shit.”

“Go to hell!”

Another slap. “I don’t know who you think you are, you little bitch, but you’re part of this family, and there’s no escaping that. So, just turn around and take me…”

“Like hell I will,” which got another slap. “I can’t wait until June when I can leave this shit hole…”

The actress sneered, “The door works now.”

“CUT! Great. Let me watch this,” and he huddled with the DP.

Emily laughed. “Fuck. You got a little close there, don’t ya think?”

The actress, an older woman named Francesca, at least 35, looked at her. “Just drive me to the liquor store and we won’t have a problem,” then, “what kind of loser drinks tequila by herself?”

Emily smiled, “Seriously. I mean vodka, cheap bourbon, but tequila? I mean, were you going to make yourself a drunk-a-rita?”

They looked over at the director. Francesca smirked, “I’ve done like ten of these,” which made Emily grimace internally although she kept her face impassive, “and I always wonder if these guys know what they’re doing.”

“Have any of the directors ever become anything?” They started walking to the snack table. Calling it craft services was an overstatement.

Francesca picked up a cup and filled it with water from the cooler. “Some have done some episodic shit. Nothing major.”

Emily picked up an apple. It felt mushy and she put it back. “Here’s hoping.”

They finished shooting the scene and the director sent them to wait, while they blocked the next scene. Emily went to a corner, took out her phone and called Jared.

“Hey, Emmy,” he said, brightly.

“What's wrong?”

“Oh shit,” he laughed, “I'm so sorry.”

She was ready to strangle him. She took a breath and exhaled, “You can't do that. You know you gave me a heart attack,” she said, as she played with her ponytail.

“Sorry,” he laughed. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Yeah, well,” she laughed, “what’s up?”

“You know how Stef’s birthday is coming up…”

“I have no idea what she wants, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He laughed, “I’m not. I know what I want to get for her.”

“Which is?”

“You.”

Emily let go of her ponytail. “Huh? What?”

“I want to fly you in for Presidents Day weekend and surprise her.”

Emily paused. Stef was not one for surprises usually. She remembered a surprise party an ex threw her. Key word - ex. But she hadn’t seen her in over a year. “I can’t afford to do that,” she said, sadly.

Jared laughed, “That’s why I would fly you in. I have a ton of miles from work. It’s basically free. And I’ll put you up at a hotel.”

“That’s hella expensive. And you know Stef is not really big on surprises…”

“I think she’ll make an exception for this. It would mean a lot to her and me.”

Emily smiled. “It would be nice to finally meet you in person.”

“So you’ll do it?”

Emily sighed and smiled. “Assuming I can swing the vacation days. Yeah. I can do that.”

“Let’s make this a big surprise,” he laughed, “Don’t tell anyone. Not Jordan. No one.”

Emily tilted her head, not that he could see. “K, why?”

“I want this to be a big surprise for her and I don’t want anything leaking out. Please?”

“You know Jordy doesn’t talk, right?”

“I know but you know that if it gets out, she’ll be more pissed than if it doesn't…”

Emily couldn’t argue with the logic. “Fine.” She watched as one of the crew came towards her. “Gotta go. Looks like we’re filming again. Love you.”

—
LAX is the world’s seventh busiest airport. On its slowest day, it is a swarming mass of people from all over the world, each with no idea of how to work a ticket kiosk or how a line works. And it was President’s Week which meant miserable parents dragging whining kids, all of whom were ‘hungry’ or ‘thirsty’ or ‘bored.’ Emily remembered a trip to Florida, Jordan bouncing off the walls while they stood in an interminable line at O’Hare, and their mom threatening to ‘go back home and leave you there.’ At least it was Thursday so most parents wouldn’t pull their kids out of school. Instead, she was left with business travelers. At least they knew how TSA worked.

Emily went to print her boarding pass at the kiosk, when it said, ‘see gate agent.’ Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. She looked at the line and cursed. Why can’t it work right, she thought? Oh well, she sighed.

After fifteen minutes, she reached the counter and held out her phone. “I don’t know what happened but I tried to check in…”

The gate agent, not looking up, “You’ve been upgraded to business class.”

“Excuse me? Are you…”

The agent briefly looked up. “Emily Berrigan?”

“Yes.”

“Then, you’ve been upgraded. Aisle or window?”

“Ummm, window?” The agent smiled and handed her a printed pass like she was 80. On the other hand, seat 3C.

She boarded the flight, the big chair feeling like it was swallowing her. The flight attendant came over. “Would you like a drink, miss?”

“Water?” She was unsure of the etiquette, of what was included.

“We have other drinks,” she laughed, as she listed them. “No alcohol though until we’re airborne. And I see some ID.”

Emily smiled, “Orange juice is fine, thanks.”

A woman sat next to her. Mid 40s. Brown hair, about 15 pounds overweight, in a dark blue pantsuit. She put her bag on the seat, as she stowed her carryon. She sat down and took out papers, not making eye contact. Not that Emily cared, it beat getting hit on. The flight attendant came over and handed her orange juice, and took the woman’s order. Then, the woman went back to her papers. Emily drank her juice and looked out the window, at the planes and the workers on the tarmac, ears covered as they moved planes and luggage around, a sort of ballet.

After they took off, Emily felt butterflies in her stomach. Six years. Six years since she’d been home, six years since she had seen Chicago, seen Jordy. She was already on edge, not having told Jeannie and Rob that she was coming, having been sworn to secrecy by Jared. She hated having to lie to them when they asked what she was doing, but a promise was a promise. Not that Jeannie ever spoke to Stef except at family things, but still. And now here she was, no turning back. Not that she wanted to, wanting to surprise Stef and finally meet Jared. Then, she felt even more nervous. What if he was just being nice on the phone? What if, when he saw her, he was like all the rest of them? She didn’t want to believe he was, but she had seen enough people get thrown out or worse to not foreclose the possibility.

The plane landed and Emmy went to claim her luggage for the train ride into the city. She had looked it up, it was an hour but she remembered enough about here to know that a cab would cost so much more and wouldn’t get there faster. She walked down towards baggage claim, when Emily saw them. There, in a heavy wool coat and jeans, boots on their feet, holding a sign saying, ‘Berrigan,’ stood Jordan.

Emily began to cry and ran towards them, enveloping them in a hug and not letting go. “Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod. What are you doing here?”

“Jared wanted to surprise you too,” they grinned.

—--
Jordan looked at Emily, surprised to see her in jeans and a green puffer jacket. After all these years, they weren’t sure what they expected - skirt, dress, ball gown. They had seen enough women constantly smoothing skirts under them, making sure their legs were crossed, to know that only an idiot would fly cross-country like that. Even in jeans and a jacket, there was no mistaking it. This was their little sister, the way she always was and should have always been.

Emily's eyes were red as she smiled. “I can’t believe that you didn’t say anything.”

“I told him I wouldn’t.”

“I can’t believe you still didn’t tell me.” Even the way she spoke. Then, a big hug. “But I am soooo happy to see you,” and she kissed their cheek.

Jordan laughed, “That’s enough.”

She looked around, “Is Keek here? Where’s Keek? Please tell me that…”

Jordan rolled their eyes, “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ems. She’s at the hotel.”

“Why? I want to meet her finally.”

Jordan began walking to baggage claim, slowing down when they realized Em was running to catch up. “You will. She thought we needed some time alone, just you and me.”

Em smiled, “That was so nice of her, but she could have come.”

“I told her that,” they laughed, “I said that neither of us was that interesting. Then, she told me we’d have the whole weekend for all of us to hang out and we should find something to talk about.”

“You look really good. I like the haircut.” Jordan had it freshly buzzed before they left and ran their hand over it.

“Thanks. Mom…” Then they stopped themselves. ‘Mom’ was not a part of this weekend.

Emily held up her hand. “I can guess. And I don’t care. I like it. A lot. You look like you.”

Jordan smiled. “So do you.”

Emily grinned. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.” Then, “what’s going on with the movie?”

With that, Emily was off. They didn’t actually care all that much. Well, they sort of did, it was their sister and they wanted her to be a star, but, to be honest, they didn’t really understand grips and DPs and any of that. They just watched movies. But, they smiled, seeing how bubbly Emily was, the way that she upspoke and played with her hair and gestured. They remembered how excited she was when she got the lead in the play in middle school, how she wouldn’t stop talking about it until their cousins mocked her mercilessly and how she ran off, only to be told by mom and dad to stand up for herself. They felt their blood pressure rise.

“Jordy? Jordy?”

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Why?”

“You had the ‘I’m gonna kill someone’ look in your eye.”

Jordan felt themself turn red. “Sorry, I was just…”

For as close as they weren’t for a good part of their childhood, they shared a common language. ‘ I can read you like a book, Jordy.’ “Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter now. Now, it’s you and me and Stef and Jared and,” with a big smile, “Kira…” The last part sang.

“Shut up.”

“You really like her, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“You really, really like her.”

Jordan looked at her. “Yeah, I really do.”

Emily smiled, “Sorry. Then I’ll stop. You love her?”

Jordan felt mortified. “Uh huh.”

“Jordy loves Kira,” she sang. Jordy began wheeling the suitcase towards the parking lot, feeling eyes on them. She's my sister, they thought, not that it should matter regardless.

They got to the truck and Emily hopped in, butt first and then swinging her legs in, looking just like their mom. They remembered how she would yell at them whenever they went somewhere. (‘can you please do it the way I told you, Molly?) And how dad would roll his eyes when Em would do it. Em looked around. “I like it,” and she pulled down the visor to check herself in the mirror. “I really like it.”

“I didn't know if…”

She looked at them. “No one has a monopoly on pickups, Jor. I don't get PTSD from them.”

They pulled onto the highway and they watched as Em looked around. She sat there silently for fifteen minutes, just staring out the window as they headed east, looking at the billboards and industrial parks, not even sighing. Just staring. “You ok, Ems?”

“It's hella weird. Being here. Marissa told me it'd be weird but I was like no. But it is.”

“I get it.”

She started to speak, “We're heading the other way,” and her voice caught and she started to cry.

“Ems, it's gonna be okay.”

Still crying, “I promised myself…”

“Ems,” and they took their right hand off the wheel, and touched hers. “I know…”

She buried her face in her hands. “I swore and I did and now and this was a stupid fucking thing to do I know better…”. Jordan saw a service plaza ahead and pulled in. “Why…”

They turned off the engine and leaned over, pulling Emmy in. They remembered the night she told them and what happened after and they hugged her even tighter. They didn't speak, just let her bawl. They could feel her body wrack with each sob.

After ten minutes, she let go. “Thanks,” she said, with a small smile.

“Emmy.” They took in their sister, eyes rimmed red. They remembered the day in ninth grade when she came home bruised and how that day began the rest of their lives.

She didn't make eye contact, instead checking herself in the mirror. “I look like hell.”

“You look beautiful. Like you.”

“Thanks.”

They watched as she fixed her eyes, the gestures fluid and they realized that she'd been doing it for six years. Six years. Six years of missed birthdays and holidays and relationships and breakups. Six years of games and trophies and plays. Six years of life on a screen and they gripped the wheel tightly. She looked at them and smiled. “Nothing else matters, Jor.”

“I know,” they said, relaxing. “I…”

She looked at them, and flatly. “Nothing else matters.”

----

Stephanie took a deep breath to gather her thoughts before she killed Jared. Thursday night. It was bad enough to go out Friday after a long day but at least she could sleep in. Thursday was a weeknight. She had work in the morning and he was dragging her to dinner. Begging her to go. She turned to him. “I don't understand you. I'm tired. We have work…”

“I just heard good things about this place.”

“And so we had to go tonight? I swear, Jar…”

He held the door open and she walked in. He better not want appetizers, she thought, I will kill him if he orders one, as they walked through the dining room.

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to Jared. “You…” she grinned. Standing up from the table were Jordy, Kira...and Emmy. “What the actual…”

Emmy came over and gave her a big hug and started singing ‘Happy Birthday,’ finishing with a silly game show hostess move and ‘surprise!’

Jordan came over, grinning. “Happy birthday, Stef,” and they gave her a kiss.

Stef grinned and turned to Jared, “How? How did you pull this off?”

Jared looked at his nails and then blew on them, “I am good…”

“Why didn't…”

Jordan laughed, “See, Stef, the way surprises work is…”

She punched them on the arm. “Shut up,” she grinned. Then, turning to Kira, “Are they always like this?”

Kira, looking up at them, “Yes,” then, with a kiss, “happy birthday!”

“I totally wish I knew that you were coming. I would’ve taken tomorrow off,” and worked at home in the morning.

Emily, in her blue tunic dress and heels, trying to look sophisticated, “It’s fine. We can totally amuse ourselves.” Then, bouncing, “this is soooo cool. I’m sooo happy. Are you happy?”

Everyone at the table laughed and Stef said, “Yes,” then turning to Jared and kissing him, “thank you Jar. This was amazing.” Jared just smiled and looked at Kira.

The waitress brought a bottle of wine over (‘pre-ordered’) and poured glasses. “Happy Birthday, Stef,” Kira said, raising her glass, “and to everyone finally together.” They clinked glasses.

“So, how did you get your stuff into the apartment, Ems?” Emily looked confused. “I mean, your stuff. Did you check it with the coat check?”

“Ummm, I’m staying in a hotel.”

“No, you aren’t,” she said dismissively. “That’s ridiculous.”

Jordan laughed, “You didn’t invite us.”

Stef looked at them and before they could speak, Kira laughed, “So you want to sleep on your sister’s couch instead of all by ourselves in that king size bed…sorry, everyone.” Jordan turned red and mock-grumbled.

Emily looked at her. “It’s like right around the corner from you. Besides, you don’t want me on your couch all weekend. And you have to get up early tomorrow.”

“We’ll see.” She knew it was unfair but Stef slightly resented that Jared could afford to do this, that, unlike her, he didn’t have student loans. “Anyway,” and she grinned, “I am so happy that we’re all together even if,” and she looked at Jared, who grinned, “it’s a work night.”

“We won’t keep you out too late,” Kira laughed. “So, what’s going on at work?”

Stef sat at dinner, watching as Em and Kira laughed and talked about acting and graduating, Em touching Kira’s arm when she was making a point. How they giggled at some joke Jared told. She looked across at Jordan and shifted her eyes towards the two girls, and Jordan just shrugged and smiled back.

—
Dinner finished and everyone walked to the hotel, the two couples holding hands.

“Why are you smiling so much? You didn’t drink that much,” Jordan laughed, as they looked at Em.

“I’m just sooo happy to see you guys and to finally meet Jared and Kira.” Stef smiled, thinking of how Em said ‘the hormones have made me a lightweight.’

Jared laughed, “You don’t have to keep saying that.”

Ems looked at him. “Sorry, it’s just a big deal to me.”

He came over and touched her shoulder. “It’s cool. Sorry. It’s totally cool to finally meet you in person,” and Kira agreed.

Stef looked at them. “So what are you guys going to do tomorrow? You can go to Millennium Park or Michigan Avenue or there’s some cool stuff in…”

Jordan looked at her. “We’ve all from here, Stef. Remember?”

Before Stef could roll her eyes. Kira looked at them. “Don’t be an idiot, Jor. Sorry, Stef.”

Stef took her in, this little brown haired girl in her red dress. “Do you think I actually listen to them?”

Jordan, without missing a beat, “You say something?”

When they got to the hotel, they all kissed goodnight. She watched to see if Jared flinched when he kissed Emmy’s cheek. “See everyone tomorrow.”

They walked to their apartment. “You had a good time?”

Jared kissed her. “It was great.”

“You’re not just saying that?”

He stopped and turned her to him. “It was my idea, remember?”

“Still…”

“Yes, I had a great time. It was great to meet Em in person finally. She’s even better than I expected.”

“You’re not just saying that, right?”

Jared rolled his eyes. “No. She is great and so,” and he bounced around. “Are you sure the three of you are related?”

“Shut up,” she laughed. “I could say the same thing.” Except that Jamie and Jared were exactly alike, cynical and smart, with the same strange sense of humor.

“I love her. My family will love her. She’s like a human emoji or something.”

She looked at him. “You are so articulate.”

He laughed, “You have a better analogy?”

Stef paused. “That works. I’d call her California sunshine, but that works.”

Stef looked at her phone, the one she hadn’t taken out of her bag all night. Six texts, one from Arden checking on dinner, three from other friends, and then… “Fuck.”

“What?”

She held out her phone to him. He looked at it. “Oh shit.”

From her mother….’Are we still on for dinner Sunday? Let me know when and where.’

—
The hotel was a former office building, ten stories and narrow, with a lobby barely big enough to hold two small two-seat couches, a front desk and a small cubby with overpriced water and snacks.

Jordan and Kira sat on one couch, Jordan’s arm around her, people watching, blissfully invisible.

Suddenly, Jordan saw something and began laughing. They poked Kira, who tried unsuccessfully, through her own laughter, to get them to stop.

Emily indignantly said, “What?”

Before Jordan could say anything, Kira said, “Um Ems?” Emily stood before them in a skirt, tights, a sweater and boots. And a winter coat. In her hand was a hat.

“What?”

Jordan, laughing, “It's like 40 outside.”

Emily, even more irritated, “That's cold!”

Jordan smiled at his sister, always the first to want to go outside after a snowstorm. The one who their mom had to force into a winter coat. Who could spend all day ice fishing...so long as she didn't have to touch the fish. “You have been…” And they stopped themself, having long since decided that the past would stay there.

Emily looked at them and smiled, “Six years in LA, Jordy. Besides, the hormones have fucked up my body temperature.”

Kira smiled. “At least you layered. If you get warm, you can take something off. Anyway, so I found this cool place for breakfast nearby if you're hungry.”

Jordan held Kira’s hand as they walked, listening as Em and Kira picked up a conversation from last night. Something about some play and finding the center of a character or something. If they were honest, they didn't actually care about theater. They loved Kira and loved seeing her on stage but, if you quizzed them a week later, they might remember fifty percent. Still, they just walked, listening to the sound of the two women's voices melding together.

They walked past a construction site and Jordan stopped, peering through the window in the green wooden fence. “Same old Jordy,” Ems laughed.

“You two can keep talking about acting.” They watched an excavator dig a hole.

Kira stood next to them, peering through the hole. “That's a deep hole.”

Jordan smiled. “Based on the depth, this is going to be at least fifty stories. And, from the footprint, commercial not mixed use.”

Emily, from a distance, “You’ve gotten good at that.”

“Yeah,” and they moved to make space for Emily, who stayed back. “There's a certain size you need for a building this big regardless, y’know for structural reasons, but res are usually narrower because there's fewer units in the building.” They looked around. “Not sure it's right for the neighborhood.”

Emily, “You don't really get this in LA, because of earthquakes and stuff. Uncle Rob says that's fine by him. Easier to build out than up.”

Kira laughed, “Two construction experts in one family. Wow.”

Em’s face darkened slightly and then she smiled, “Just one.”

Jordan walked over and whispered in her ear and she looked at them, “I can be near a construction site, Jor. It's fine.”

“You sure? Kira didn't mean…”

“I know and it's fine and let's stop talking about it.” And she started walking towards the restaurant.

---
Ems waited at the bar for Stef, who had texted, ‘meet me at 7 so we can get some time just us :-) b4 every 1 else.’ She was grateful to be out of the cold, and resting her feet. Uncle Rob had played her that old song, ‘Nobody Walks in LA,’ which was weird and tinny, but nonetheless true.

She watched as everyone came in from work. She had wandered the Loop today, just looking in the windows and watching the people. Maybe she had been in LA too long but there was something jarring about men in suits and ties. In LA, you wore a suit one of three times - wedding, funeral or court. She watched as a man, hairline receding and 15 pounds around his middle too much, approached a woman. The woman looked him up and down and then turned away, the coldness of the gesture making her empathize until…

“Hi.”

She turned to face the man. Maybe 30, if she had to guess. Beady brown eyes. “Hi,” she said.

“Can I buy you a drink?” Really, she thought, that line? She held up her glass. “OK, that was cheesy. Let me try again.” Not waiting for encouragement. “I’m Charlie.”

“Hi,” and she made a show of turning to her wine. “I'm Emily. And I'm waiting for my family.”

He smiled, less charming than homicidal. “How about while you wait, we talk? You can do that.”

Emily nervously laughed as he moved forward, and she put her hand over the top of her glass. “Ummm.”

Now, in her space, “We’re just talking.” The bartender, a woman in her 30s, moved closer. “Can I get you a drink, sir,” the last word spat out. She looked at Emily, who gave a minute nod. Emily knew the drill. All those years in restaurants had taught her. You couldn’t tell him to move away, not without more. Instead, she poured the drink he ordered and hovered close by, watching him. When he moved closer to Emily, she moved nearby to wipe the bar. When he put his hand near Emily’s, she made a show of calling over a waitress to bring drinks to a couple leaving the bar. Eventually, the man took the hint and left, and Emily mouthed ‘thanks’ and tried to remember what she had in her wallet.

Ten minutes later, she saw Stef walk in. Stef came over and gave her a kiss, “Hey, Ems. How was your day?”

She smiled, “Good, good. Walked around.” She took in her older sister, her idol, in her black pantsuit, white shirt and boots. How she had dreamed of looking that put together. “You know.” Stef smiled. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to spend some time with my sister, before they all got here. I like this outfit.” Emily was wearing a green v neck sweater and a black skirt, with black tights and booties. “Very cute.”

Emily looked at her. “What’s up, Stef? I wanna spend time with you but we could do that tomorrow and this text was a little too much.”

Stef laughed, “That hurts, wow.”

Emily took a sip of her drink, swallowed (grateful that she never had an Adam’s Apple to speak of) and said, “Just tell me.” Stef took out her phone, scrolled and handed it to her. Emily shrugged. “So I’ll find something else to do. Me and Jordy and Kira. Or just me.”

Stef put her phone back in her purse. “I want you to come.”

Emily took a big drink. “Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think it’s a great idea.” The bartender came over and Stef ordered two vodka tonics, not asking whether Emily drank that or even wanted another before dinner.

“I do.”

“I don’t.” She looked at the vodka and moved the glass around, unwilling to drink without some food in her. “Besides, have you told her I’m here?”

Stef took a sip. “Not yet. I wouldn’t do that without asking you.”

Emily watched as a couple came in, twenties, his arm around her waist, while the woman stiffened. “Thanks for that.”

“Emmy…”

“Sorry, it’s just….”

“You know that you’ll have to at some point…”

“I was thinking at the wedding reception.”

“Emmy, no.”

“You really wanna celebrate your birthday with this? Really?”

Stef put her hand on the bar and leaned in. “We need to do this at some point. You’ll have Jordy and me there. You can do this.”

Can I, Emily wondered? Do I even want to? “You know what she said to me before.”

Stef sighed. “I…”

Emily looked at her. “It really hurt.”

Stef looked at her. “I thought you said you told her off…”

“I did,” and tears formed in her eyes, “but it doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt a lot. I know she wants nothing to do with me…”

Stef hugged her. “She will not do that. Not on my watch.”

From inside Stef’s shoulder, “You can’t stop her.”

“I’ll throw her out and never speak to her again.” She felt Stef stiffen.

She pulled back and wiped her eyes with the napkin on the bar. “Let me think about it.”

“Please?”

“This is a lot to process, Steffie.” She finished her wine.

—
Jordan, Emily and Kira were walking back from dinner to the hotel, Emily to get a change of clothes. She was dragging her feet, feeling the jet lag and the text combined. Her eyes were starting to droop. All she wanted was to lay down in bed and call Marissa to debrief, to get her opinion. But she wasn’t here for that. She was here for Stef, which meant throwing a change of clothes in a bag.

“I value your opinion,” Em said, pulling her coat around herself, while Jordan and Kira walked, coats open.

Jordan looked at her. “It’s gonna suck, no doubt.”

“So, I shouldn’t do it. That’s what I thought.”

Kira, “I dunno, Ems. It’s gonna suck no matter what. But, at least this way, it’s just the two of them and not the rest of them,” and she looked at Jordan, who gave a smile and a shrug, “and we’ll be there.”

“You guys shouldn’t have to get stuck in the middle of this,” Em said. She looked at Keek, at the way she looked at Jordy. All 5’4” of her, dark hair down below her shoulder blades, petite but with a chest. For someone who hated their mother, Jordy had a type. She made a note to ask her about her dress.

Jordan laughed, “I’d get stuck, no matter what. You really think Da..he would let me out?”

Emily, “You can call him ‘dad’ if you want. He’s your father,” which made Jordan wince and then sigh. “You don’t have to hate him on my account although,” and she laughed, “if you loved me, you would.”

Kira laughed and said, “Jordan doesn’t think much of their mother. That’s gotta be worth something.” She dropped Jordan’s hand and took Emily’s. “Em, I get how scary this is. I really do. But, you kinda have to do this.” She felt her fingers on her palm and smiled.

Em looked down. “You don’t get it. She told me what a piece of shit I was and dead named me and all that. And it hurt.”

Jordan, “Stef told me that you called her a crazy homeless bitch.”

Em, still looking down as Kira tightened her grip. “Still hurt.”

Jordan, “Em, I will kill them if they do anything.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean it.”

Emily, smiling, “I know.”

Kira, “Ems, we are here for you. And we will always be here for you.”

—
They walked towards the bridal boutique in Old Town, Emily oohing and aahing at the number of pedestrians, how people would talk about ‘how walkable’ a neighborhood in LA was and that meant maybe five or six blocks. “I love all these brownstones. They’re so cute.”

Stef laughed, “Cute and expensive.”

“Still, it’s so much fun here.”

Stef looked at her little sister, hair in a ponytail, in her jeans and sneakers, light makeup, swimming in the Harvard sweatshirt she stole from Jared this morning, looking maybe 19, maybe, the way she talked and gestured and how excited she was when she suggested looking at bridesmaids’ dresses. Stef had watched the grin come across her sister’s face and felt a pang of sadness, of regret. She remembered when Ems was eight, how she was just singing while she colored and how Grandpa Pete told her to stop ‘being so goddamned fruity,’ and how dad just stood there. How he stood there when Ems had to get stitches in the seventh grade because of what those boys in school did, the fight mom and dad had about what to do. How, for six years, there was a piece missing at every holiday.

Ems snapped her out of herself. “What’s wrong, Stef?”

“Nothing.”

Ems took a sip of coffee from the to-go cup in her hand, her lip . “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does.” Then, she grinned as she remembered dragging Jordan for the junior bridesmaid’s dress. How her mother paid her $50 to get her to take them for a fitting. And how she had to pay them $20 not to fight her. (‘you’re losing this fight, Molly. Whether to me or to mom. You may as well as make some money.’) She started laughing.

“What?” Em said.

Stef laughed. “I was remembering when I had to take Jor…”

“Ohmigosh, that was hilarious. We should totally tell Keek that story.”

She started to say something else and stopped herself, then touched her sister’s arm. “I told Arden I’d FaceTime her if we did it.”

“K. Of course.” Which led to a long discussion of how residency was killing Arden, how she barely had time to sleep and eat, much less shop (‘I trust you and Ems’). “What do Jamie and Brooke think?”

“You’ll ask Jamie tonight. We’re meeting them and Jar’s cousins for drinks.”

“Will they be OK with me?”

Stef stared at her. “Why wouldn’t they be?”

She watched her sister shrink into the sweatshirt. “I don’t want…”

Stef looked at her. “Jamie knows. And I’m pretty sure Nicki does too. Besides, they’re all super progressive and shit. Like Jamie has that ‘in this house we believe’ sign in her window.”

“I just…”

Stef gave her a serious look. “You are my sister. That’s it. Someone has a problem, they have the problem. Not you or me.”

“I just…”

“They love Jor, they love Keek, they’ll love you.”

“And Jared?”

She rolled her eyes and sighed theatrically. “The fact that he calls you ‘moji’ should be a clue, Emmy.” Jared had decided her nickname was ‘emoji,’ and was fruitlessly campaigning for everyone else to adopt it. “He still isn’t sure that we’re related.’

They walked into the boutique, the bell over the door tinkling. Stef watched as Emmy took everything in, eyes widening at the racks of silk and taffeta and sequins, at how her whole body relaxed, then her posture straightened. She looked at Em’s chest and made a note to ask how it got a half-size bigger overnight. She had been in these stores countless times and wasn't one of those brides besides, but then remembered the trip to the shop in DeKalb when she was a junior in high school, for Stacy’s wedding.

The saleswoman came over. “Hi, how can I help you today?”

Emmy all but bounced. “My sister is getting married and I'm in the wedding…”

The saleswoman smiled knowingly. “First time, huh?” Emmy blushed, which made it only more fun. “Do you go to Harvard?”

“Ohmigosh, no.”

“Did you apply there? Are you waiting to hear?”

Stef covered her mouth and laughed, then said, “She’s very superstitious about it,” which made Em roll her eyes.

“Ah, I understand, my niece was the same way,” then, “any thoughts?” Stef just grinned and pointed at Emmy, who had made a beeline to one dress.

“Ooh, I like this.” It was pale blue halter dress with a high neckline and tea length. Stef thought how Arden never liked going sleeveless (something to do with her mother) but decided she was maid of honor and so they could develop a work around if need be. Emily turned to Stef, “I’m gonna try this on. I mean, is that OK? It’s your wedding.”

Stef smiled, “Go for it, Emmy,” and she watched her little sister bounce off happily to the dressing room. Em came out in the dress and made a beeline for the three way mirror, turning this way and that, checking herself out. The saleswoman handed her a pair of heels, at least 3”, and she slid them on, and turned some more, the grin splitting her face open.

“I like this one,” Emily said.

The saleswoman winked at Stef, and said, “Emmy, right? The fun comes from trying on a bunch of different ones.”

Stef FaceTimed Arden, put her finger up to her lips and turned the camera to face Emmy. She muted it as Emmy came in and out in a variety of dresses, giggling with each one, rejecting a strapless dress after looking at her chest and grinning at a pale green dress with wide straps (‘I mean, obviously, it’s your choice’ halfheartedly offered after each one). She was in a floor length gown with a split, checking out her legs (‘does this make me look short?’), when Stef turned off the mute.

“Hey, Emmy,” said Arden, laughing. “Having fun?”

Emmy rushed over and grabbed the phone, grinning, “Ohmigosh, Arden, omigosh, omigosh,” then, looking at a grinning Stef, “how long has she been watching?”

Arden laughed, “Since the blue one with the sweetheart bodice. You look gorgeous, Emmy.” Another laugh and “do I get a vote?”

Emmy turned bright red. “Of course, of course, ohmigosh. Hang on. I’m gonna go change and then I want to talk to you…”

Stef excused herself and walked outside. Before she could speak, Arden said, “Oh my god, she is so cute.”

“Totally,” then, “I hate that it…”

Arden held up a hand to a screen. “Stop, Stef. It doesn’t matter. You know that…”

A sigh and, “I wanted her to have this, y’know. It just…”

Unspoken was tomorrow. “Stef, I know you. And I know what you want. But you can’t control that. Just enjoy the day.”

Emily came bouncing out of the store. “Hey, Arden.”

“Stef,” came the voice, “take the phone so I can see.” Stef walked back and Emmy posed, arms spread wide, to the confusion of two guys walking past. “Oh my god, the little girl from Ann Arbor is all grown up,” she teased.

“Stop,” Em laughed.

“You look amazing and congrats on the movie and commercials. Stef sent me the link. You did great.”

“Thank you thank you thank you. How’s residency?”

A laughed, “Sucks.”

“When can I see you? I mean, I can’t believe I haven’t seen you.” Arden lived in Culver City, doing her residency at UCLA.

Arden laughed, “I’ve been really busy but I definitely want to see you. I still can’t believe it…” And they talked about school and work, Stef watching as Em bubbled along. She smiled to herself at Arden who called Em ‘she’ that weekend, never slipping up again. Arden, who took the phone from Stef senior year when Em called, crying, and told her, ‘you are a special girl and one day the world will know that.’ Arden, who made sure that Stef never wavered in support (‘she needs you and you know that’).

Emily was looking in a store window, when Arden just said, “Stef.”

“I know,” and she watched a woman being dragged by a Bernese Mountain puppy across the street, through traffic. “I know. Anyway, I’ll call you later…”

—---------------------------
Kira leaned up against the headboard, flicking through the TV. They were in the room, hanging out for an hour before dinner and drinks. “There is nothing on,” eventually stopping on a home improvement show, her mother’s favorite, laughing to herself at her father’s, ‘for all the money she spends on magazines on houses, we could buy an actual house.’

“Don't pick that backsplash,” Jordan said to the TV, “once it's installed, you're gonna regret it.” Kira looked at them. “What? That's too much for behind that sink. They should choose the second one.”

They sat watching the show for a while in silence, Jordan's arm around her while she snuggled in. Jordan kept looking around, squirming slightly. “Everything ok, pook?”

“Yeah.”

“What's bothering you?”

“Nothing,” then, “this is a mistake, isn't it?”

“This what?”

“Em…”

“She will be fine. Stef says…”

“I'm just…she seems so…and…”

Kira looked at them, “She's great.”

“You really think so?”

“Yeah. I told you that. I love her.”

“I just feel like this is going to go really bad.”

Kira looked at them. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Yeah, maybe. But what's the other choice?”

Jordan looked at the ceiling. “I…just… I'm just worried.”

“Your mom won't do anything.”

Still staring at the ceiling, “You really believe that?”

Kira, looking up as well, “Not with me and Jared there. She won't embarrass herself like that. Not in front of other people.”

“You're not other people…”

She smiled, “To her, we are. I've been watching her and listening. She's afraid of being embarrassed in public. Especially in front of people she thinks have money.”

Jordan looked at her. “That's harsh. You're judging her?”

“No. And neither is Jared. But she thinks we are. You really think I judge them, care about any of that?”

Jordan, looking at the wall, “No…sorry. I mean your dad judged me,” then regretted their words immediately.

Kira turned their head to face them. “That's not about money. That's about me. You could be rich and he still would've done that.”

“I didn't mean anything… I'm just worried…for Emmy.”

Kira kissed them. “It has to happen sometime.”
—-
Emily stood in Stef’s bedroom, looking at herself in the mirror, at the black skirt and cinnamon sweater she had taken on and off three times. She sighed, “I don’t know why I’m nervous. They should be nervous, not me. Why am I nervous? I’m not.” The beads of sweat on her forehead belied her claim.

Kira sat on the bed. “You shouldn’t be. You look amazing.”

Emily smiled, “Thanks, Keek.” She looked at herself in the full length mirror and smiled. “I can do this.”

Stef came over behind her, and looked at her in the mirror. In the reflection, Stef’s two extra inches loomed disproportionately. She put her hand on her shoulder. “You can. I know you can.”

“Jordan and I know you can,” Kira said. Over the past three days, Emily had come to love her even more, not just the way that she clearly loved Jordan but her calmness and kindness, the way that she slid into ‘we.’ “You have the four of us.”

Emily looked at herself. She had learned how, had taught herself how, to be happy, to know that she deserved it as much as anyone, which made the overwhelming cloud of dread that much scarier, more pernicious. Everyone could tell you that you were strong and powerful but everyone wasn’t you. She took a deep breath and told herself that nothing mattered. She had celebrated Stef’s actual birthday with her - not them, her. No matter what happened, they couldn’t take that away from her. “I know,” she all but whispered.

Stef moved her from the mirror and looked at her. “Emily, we are here. We will always be here. I’m not trying to pick sides…”

“I don’t want you to…”

“But if I have to, I will pick you. I’m serious.”

“I wouldn’t make you….”

Stef smiled, “You couldn’t make me, Emmy,” which made Kira laugh, “but you wouldn’t have to.”

Kira coughed, “Can I say something?”

Em looked at Stef, then said, “K, sure,” with a slightly rising inflection.

Kira smiled, “She won’t do anything. Don’t take this the wrong way but I told Jor, she’d never make a scene in front of me and Jared. She doesn’t want to be embarrassed, especially ‘cuz she thinks we’re judging her. That’s her biggest fear.”

Em looked at her and Stef laughed, “What?”

Kira said, “I saw it at Thanksgiving. She wants to feel superior to them,” her in-laws, “and she figures they make scenes all the time and that’s like her biggest fear, especially in front of me and Jared, that she’ll be seen as them. I mean we’re not judging her or anything but that’s what it’s about and stuff.”

Stef whistled, “That’s cold, Keek.”

Kira turned red, “I didn’t mean it badly.”

Stef, “It’s hilarious though,” and she paused, “and pretty on point.”

Em looked at them, “I hope you’re right.”

Kira paused, “I’m pretty sure. Just treat this like an exercise. Whenever my aunt and uncle are over, I pretend it’s a play or something.”

Em smiled. “Me too. I just have to remember that they’re not them, they’re just them. Right?”

—-
The three women left the room. “I was gonna send in a search party,” Jared laughed. “You OK, Moji?”

Emily smiled at the nickname he kept trying to get everyone to adopt, his sister having told him last night, ‘just stop, this isn’t mom and dad with a dog, no one is listening,’ “I’m good,” maybe.

He kissed her cheek. “Whatever happens, we’re here.”

Jordan smiled from the couch, “I’m a free agent, for sale to the highest bidder.”

Emily looked at them. “Shut up. Like I’d want you.” Six years of not seeing each other in person had easily fallen away.

“Make it worth my while.”

Before Emily could speak, Kira piped in, “I can make it worth your while. Or definitely not worth your while.”

Jordan smiled, “I’ll keep that in mind,” and then looked at Emily.

Emily looked around, “What?”

Jordan looked at her. “What what?”

“You were looking at me,” and she almost ran back in and changed.

Jordan looked at Kira, who glared at them. “I wasn’t looking at you. I was just looking.”

“At me,” and she sat at the kitchen counter.

“I was just looking.” Stef was now glaring at them. “Seriously. You look good. Really. I mean it.”

“Really?” Jared handed her a bottle of water and she took a sip.

“Yeah, really. You look like you,” then laughing.

Stef glared and snapped, “Now what?”

“I started thinking about Johnny Harper,” which made Stef laugh and Emily turn red.

“Who’s that?” Jared asked.

Jordan looked at Stef, who said, “The guy we met when we went to my parents after we got engaged? Remember?” Jared grinned.

Kira laughed, “You have to tell me.”

“No they don’t,” Emily mumbled.

“Ems had this huge crush on him,” Jordan laughed. “Even I noticed.”

Stef grinned at Emily, then, “Kinda hard not to notice. She used to surreptitiously - barely - watch him mow our lawn with his shirt off.”

Emily was now purple. “I’m leaving,” she whimpered.

“It’s funny, Em,” Kira laughed. “Everyone had those crushes. I spent like all summer at the pool when I was 14 watching this lifeguard Paige,” and then, tapping Jordan on the head, “but I was waiting for you.” Which was greeted with a vomiting noise.

Jared stood by, smiling quietly. “This doesn’t bother you, does it?” Emily asked.

Jared laughed. “Why would it bother me?”

“I dunno…”

“Moji,” which got a groan from the room, “I don’t care if you had a crush. I mean, I saw him and he’s a little obvious for my taste…seriously though, no. Why would you think it would?”

“I just…”

“Em,” and he smiled again, “you’re Stef’s little sister. That’s it.”

She looked at him, “If it’s weird…”

He smiled, “It isn’t. Promise.”

She kissed his cheek, “Thanks, Jar.”

—
The buzzer rang. Jordan took a deep breath and exhaled. Stef straightened her shoulders. Jared and Kira looked at each other, and Emily stood up and straightened her skirt.

Two minutes later, the doorbell rang. “Happy birthday, Ste…” her mother said happily, then stopped. Emily stood mute. “Stephanie,” she snapped, then noticed everyone else. Then, she smiled. “Kira, Jordan, what a nice surprise.”

Jordan looked at her. “Jared brought us all here as a surprise for Stef’s birthday. Put us in a hotel and everything.”

Laura turned to Jared, “Well, that was very generous of you,” she said brightly, through gritted teeth. Emily still didn’t speak and Jared said, “Where’s Doug?”

Laura smiled tightly, “Oh, he’s parking the car. He’ll be up soon.”

Stef smiled brightly. “Would you like a drink, mom? Or do you want to wait until dad’s here, so we can toast to us all being together again?”

This was met with a glare and silence. “I assume you two drove?”

Kira smiled, “The other day.”

“I’d ask why you didn’t tell me you were in town, but I can guess.” She still hadn’t made eye contact with Emily. “Have you been enjoying yourselves?”

Stef smiled, “We went out with Jared’s family yesterday. They all loved Emily.”

“Dinner or just drinks?”

“Drinks,” Stef smirked. “The five of us went to dinner at the…”

“Where’s your father?” Laura interrupted. “He’ll make himself crazy looking for a spot and then make me crazy all night.”

The buzzer rang again and two minutes later, Doug walked in. “Happy birthday, sweetie.” He looked over her shoulder and stopped. “Holy shi…”

“Doug, that’s enough. This isn’t a job site. I’m sure Kira,” who smiled, “doesn’t want to hear it.”

His eyes darted from Emily to his wife and back several times. Then, he looked at Jordan and Kira and then Stef, who just smiled. Jared held up his hands in confusion. “Jesus…it’s…”

Stef smiled, “Isn’t it though?”

“So, how about that drink now? Champagne?”

Stef looked at Jared, who looked at the bottom shelf, “This should still be good. I got it at Christmas from a client.” Emily retreated to the bedroom door, where she stood against the frame. He took out seven glasses.

“There’s only six of us,” Laura said sweetly.

“For god’s sake, ma,” Jordan grumbled, to a ‘stay out of this, champ,’ from their father.

Jared looked at Stef, who mouthed ‘seven’ like a curse, and poured seven glasses. He handed one to everyone, getting a beseeching ‘please don’t’ look from his future father-in-law and an eyebrow from Kira. Jared held up his glass, “Happy birthday to the love of my life.”

“The Bears?” Jordan joked.

Doug smiled, “Never love anything that will always break your heart,” and he went to take a sip.

Stef interjected, “Hold on. And to all of us being together.”

Laura looked surprised. “We saw each other at Thanksgiving. I know it wasn’t ideal,” and she looked at Jordan and Doug, “but it was only a few months ago.” Emily took a big sip and shook her head.

“Mom, you can pretend all you want,” Stef said, “but enough’s enough. Say something.”

She smiled and looked at Emily, “And you are?”

Emily momentarily looked like she was punched, then held her butterfly necklace and took a deep breath. You, she decided, are someone seeing a school bully for the first time since graduation. She stuck out her hand, “Emily Berrigan,” which got a glare. “And you are?” The air left the room.

“Enough,” Stef snapped. “This is my birthday.”

“I guess I got the surprise,” her mother smiled. “Christopher.”

Kira and Jared looked down, as Jordan said, “Emily. Her name is Emily. She told you that. Stef told you that.”

“I am aware of the name he uses. You’ll excuse me if it takes me a while to,” and she stripped Emily bare with a glance, “adjust.”

Stef opened her mouth and Emily held up her hand. “Emily. My name is Emily. It has been Emily for the past six years. I changed it legally.”

From by the window, where he was staring out, Doug said, “Rob told me, but damn…”

“I know,” Stef said, “kinda amazing, huh?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about and don’t care to,” Laura said. A look came over her face and she turned to Kira, “So your last semester. That’s exciting.”

Kira smiled, “It’s scary. I’ve been interviewing places. I have an interview at the Center for Performing Arts in two weeks.”

“That's terrific. Production or finance?”

Kira smiled, “Production, I guess. A lot of what they bring in is touring companies so there's not a ton of acting but it's a chance to get to know people I think.” Then, she smiled, “I'm hoping Em can introduce me to people too, since she's actually working.”

Laura's face fell impassive, “It's good to have a network of people. Apparently, that's what Doug’s brother Rob did and it seems to be working mostly.” Emily looked over at her father, who made no eye contact. “And Jared, what's new? How's work?”

“It's busy. I'm headed to London for a meeting in two weeks.”

Kira smiled, “I assume you've been before, right?”

Jared gave a sly grin, “A few. Twice for business, and then twice with the fam. Stef’s going to come next time if they let her out of her cell,” and he walked over and put his arm around her waist.

Doug looked at the room, then walked over, looking at Emily for a second. He picked up a piece of cracker and cheese from a plate and chewed. “Hey, champ, how's work?”

Jordan looked at him. “Good. The conduits are totally in and we’ve started on some interior stuff. Assuming no issues, Q2 2025.”

“They start discussing what happens next?”

“They put me on a new project, I guess.” They took a piece of meat from the plate and wondered when charcuterie became a common term.

“You guess or you know?”

Jordan looked at Stef, then Em. “We've been through this, dad. I'm on salary, not contract. They will move me to a different project but it's a year off.”

“A year comes fast, faster than you think. Be ready.”

Stef came over. “They're ready. Right, champ?”

Jordan rolled their eyes, “Shut up.”

Doug laughed, “Give me the courtesy of making fun of me behind my back, not to my face.”

Stef said, “Em, tell us about the movie.”

She had told them about the movie at dinner Thursday, but smiled. “Right, k. Anyway, it's about this single mom with her three kids, and we see the older daughter repeating her mother's mistakes with guys and stuff.”

Laura got up from the couch and pointedly walked to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator, “do you have any wine open?”

“Emmy,” and Laura winced, “was talking.”

“Hmmm. The champagne isn't agreeing with me. Is anyone else having that problem?”

Em shook her head, started to retreat into the bedroom but took three steps out. “Anyway, I play the middle daughter. Cheerleader, straight A student, real overachiever.”

Stef walked over and took Em’s hand. “I don't know how she prepared for it.” Doug gave a small laugh.

Emily gripped her hand, “I know, right? I mean, I had to use my imagination for this one.”

Stef looked at her mom. “I sent Em all of my old cheer stuff. That's why I took it that time. So she could get in character.”

Em saw her mother's nostrils flare and the veins on her neck pulse, and she continued, “Anyway, it's really interesting and it's a great way to learn screen acting…”

From the window, her father spoke, “Do you make money at it?”

Emily was shocked that he said anything, “Not much. It's an indie but if it makes a festival and gets picked up by a distributor, it can lead to bigger things. Jennifer Lawrence did a small movie, Winter’s Bone, and won an Oscar two years later.”

“Huh,” and he turned back.

“I mean, it's not likely…”

Stef looked at her, “You never know.”

“Have you made any progress on finding a place yet?” Em watched as the level of the wine glass went higher as Laura poured.

“We looked at the botanic garden yesterday,” Stef said.

“Are you sure you want outdoors?”

“It's not totally outdoors. You have it in the glassed-in arboretum. It's really nice, we went there for a work thing.”

“What did you think, Jared?”

Jared took a sip of his champagne. “It's nice.”

Laura laughed, “That's all?”

“Moji and Stef did most of the talking. I stood there.”

Doug laughed, “You're finally listening. You have no opinions. She has enough for the two of you.”

“Daaaad,” Stef laughed.

Laura looked confused, “Is Moji a friend of yours? A planner? I've never heard of her.”

Jordan looked up. “Moji is Ems, Emily. Jared says she's like a human emoji, all happy, and keeps trying,” and they looked at Jared, “and failing to get us to call her that.”

“You don't mind, do you Moji?”

Emily walked over to him and touched his arm, glancing at Laura. “It's cool. I like that you gave me a nickname.”

The acid poured out. “Isn't that nice? Christopher is the human emoji.”

Emily walked over, “My name is Emily.”

She looked her up and down. “Oh. It doesn't matter. You're Moji, apparently.”

Everyone watched as the two women eyed each other, twins separated by 30 years and 2,000 miles. Each stood with her right foot slightly back, waiting for the other to speak. Emily smiled then shrugged then picked up a piece of salami and put it on a cracker. “How's work?”

“Are you talking to me?” Her mother asked.

“Yes. We haven't seen each other in six years. I figured I'd start with something easy.”

“It's fine.”

“Are you still working for Mr. Harris?”

“Yes.”

“That's great. He was always really nice. Say hi for me.”

Laura went to say something, then stopped, looking around the room. “I'm sure he'll appreciate that.”

“Emily works for a law firm too,” Jordan said.

“Good for him,” her mother said, to a hissed ‘mom’ from Stephanie, which got, “what did I say that warranted that?”

“Do you want to see what we were thinking of for dresses, mom?”

She formed an N with her mouth, then said, “ohh, we don't want to waste everyone's time with that…”

Her husband said, “Since when?” Jared, Jordan and Kira laughed.

“Another time. When is the dinner reservation again?”

Stef looked at her phone, “Half an hour.”

“Why don't we get a head start?”

Jared looked at her, “it's like a ten minute walk.”

“Maybe they'll seat us early.”

Emily looked at her father, who looked away. Fine, she thought. I haven't seen you for six years, I didn't want to see you again. Jordan looked at her and shook their head. Kira just mouthed, ‘sorry.’

—
Ten minutes later, they left. As they were leaving the apartment, Doug pulled Stephanie back and mouthed, ‘why?’ ‘What,’ she silently mouthed with a smile. His reproachful glare was met with, ‘Jared flew them in as a surprise.’

“I'm going to use the facilities,” he announced. “All of you go ahead. I'll meet you.”

Stef looked at him, then said, “You don't know where it is. I'll come with you.” Jared looked at her and then gave a quick nod.

Everyone left, Emily looking alternately angry and worried as she put on her jacket and picked up her purse to her mother's disgust. The door clicked shut and they stood in a minute of absolute silence. “What the hell were you thinking, Stephanie?”

“I told you, I didn't know they were coming. Jared decided to surprise me.”

He looked at her and jammed his hands in his pockets, “But you knew we were. When did they all show up?”

“Thursday.”

“Your mom confirmed Friday.”

Stef looked up. “I think it was earlier.”

“It was Friday. Her text interrupted a meeting with your grandfather, who made sure to tell me that you should've come to us.”

“Sorry,” then, “you were going to have to see her sometime. Would you rather it have been the wedding?”

He glared at her, “You sandbagged me.”

“I didn't sandbag anyone. I didn't realize I had to clear guest lists with you or anyone else.”

“Stephanie, come off it. This is not a guest list.”

“Either way, it's not her decision who comes or doesn't. Or yours, for that matter.”

He looked at her. “I know you think I'm an idiot…”

In a deliberately patronizing voice, the one that defused every argument since she was 13, “No, I don't.”

Maybe not every argument. “Stef.”

“Sorry. I knew that if I said something, she wouldn't come and it's not like Emmy,” and he grimaced slightly, “lives here.”

“I,” he said sharply, “would've liked some warning.”

She smiled, “Which you would've done what with?”

He sighed, “I don't know, but this is going to be a shit storm bigger than Thanksgiving.”

“You really think she'll make a scene? In public?”

He paused in thought. “I really don’t want to find out.”

“I'm sorry, daddy. You know I try and stop her…”

“Stef, I don't need you to stop her… usually, but come on. This is beyond…”

“I told you. She's really great and really happy and I know you don't like…”

He held up his hand. “Stef, don't try to change the subject. We need to catch up with them but this is not over, not by a long shot. I'm extremely pissed, no, I'm disappointed with you. This is not ok.”

She looked down. “I don't mean to hurt you, you know that.”

He zipped up his jacket and held the door open for her.
—