Janet

Our bathroom shenanigans lasted longer than I'd hoped, but I enjoyed reminiscing with Shawn. There were so many other stories we could've told, but at this pace I was definitely going to be late for lunch with my sisters. It had been almost a year since we'd seen each other. I knew it wasn't a good idea to bring Shawn, so we agreed to meet at her place for dinner later—just in case lunch ran long.

⸻

The Restaurant

The moment I walked inside, I was greeted by the smiling faces of my sisters. Rebbie couldn't get to me fast enough—she didn't even wait for me to reach the table. She never does. She always meets me halfway. Always.

She stopped in front of me, smiled, and opened her arms. I fell right into them. As far back as I can remember, she and Mother have always worn the same perfume. She smelled like home, and it nearly undid me. I shut my eyes tight, fighting back tears.

She pulled back and held my face in her hands.
"Hey, baby sis," she said, smiling. "Every time I see you, it blows my mind how beautiful you are."

"Hi," I replied, gazing at her with a silly grin. "I've missed you so much." I hugged her again.

"Well, if you'd call or come see me more often, you wouldn't have to miss me," she teased, swaying slightly.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she said. "My payback was bringing this one with me today." She tilted her head toward LaToya, who stood up and walked over.

"I heard that," LaToya said with a cheesy smile. "Hey, DJ." She gave me a side hug—the only person who ever called me that. Tugging lightly at my shirt, she frowned. "You're looking kinda skinny, girl. Are you not eating?"

"You know I eat," I said. "In fact, can we sit down and order? I'm starving."

The waiter brought menus, and I finally glanced around the room. "They don't get many customers here, do they?"

Rebbie laughed over her menu.
"I rented it out. I wanted us to enjoy ourselves without other people around."

I looked up. "Who's paying for that?"

Rebbie glanced at LaToya.

"Well," LaToya said sweetly, "I figured we could split the cost."

"Of course you did," I muttered, shaking my head as Rebbie laughed. The waiter returned and took our orders.

⸻

Lunch turned out to be exactly what I needed. With our schedules, it was hard to make this happen, but a year was far too long. I laughed, looking back and forth between them as they shared stories from our childhood.

Things quieted once the food arrived. I couldn't stop watching Rebbie. Every so often we'd catch each other's eyes and smile. She was who I wanted to be growing up—and the woman I still aspired to be.

Things had always been rocky with LaToya. She'd gone against our family dynamic more than once. Our family isn't perfect—we've never claimed to be—but Mother and Joseph had one simple rule: What goes on in our house stays in our house. LaToya never fully grasped that, and it strained her relationships with most of us.

She gave me a look.

"What is that look for?" I asked.

She finished her bite and wiped her mouth. "I need to talk to you about something."

Rebbie stiffened. "Toya, not today."

"No, Rebbie. I'm really concerned for my friend, and I need to address it."

I sat up straighter, irritation already bubbling. "What friend are you referring to?"

"Rene called me yesterday," she said. "He's not doing so good."

"Toya, I told you to drop this," Rebbie snapped. "Why do you always feel the need to stir up nonsense?"

"Janet stepping out on her husband is hardly nonsense, don't you agree?"

I felt heat rush to my face—anger and humiliation colliding. "Fuck you." I threw my napkin down, stood up, and stormed out.

Rebbie followed moments later.

"I don't need you coming out here with your judgment," I said sharply, digging through my purse. I pulled out a pack of Rene's cigarettes.

Rebbie slapped them out of my hand. "Are you kidding me? You don't even smoke."

"They're Rene's," I said. "I thought it might help."

"We'll find another outlet," she said firmly. "You know better than this. What would Mother think?" Her words made my chest tighten. "Janet, please tell me what's going on."

"Nothing," I lied.

We both turned as LaToya stepped outside.

"Goddamn it, Toya, will you just go away already?" I snapped.

I bent to pick up the cigarettes, but Rebbie slapped them from my hand again.

"Oh, can I have one?" LaToya asked casually, picking them up and lighting one.

"Oh, so she can but I can't?"

"You catch on fast," Rebbie said dryly. "Beauty and brains."

It didn't make me smile.

"Look, Janet," LaToya said, "all I'm saying is give the man a chance to explain himself."

"He's not the same man I fell in love with," I replied.

"Or maybe he just lost his way," Rebbie said gently. "Do you remember what Mother went through with Joseph? She loved him through it, and he's a better man today. I don't know what Rene's done, and I'm not telling you what to do—but at least consider hearing him out. We all make mistakes."

I nodded slowly. They weren't wrong.
"I don't know that we can come back from this," I admitted. "I don't even know if I want to fix it."

"Well, now's the time to figure that out," LaToya said, pointing toward the street.

My stomach dropped.

Rene was walking toward us, flowers in hand.

I'd been avoiding him since what happened at our house.

What the fuck was I going to do now...