Page 101 of Charlotte

Delly covered her mouth with one hand. Lottie sat beside her on the wall at last.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

A bird moved in the maple above them. Somewhere on Main Street, a wagon rattled past. The evening air smelled faintly of lake water, dust, and fresh-cut pine from the schoolhouse lot.

“Jeb said something to me,” Delly said at last.

Lottie turned her head.

Delly stared toward the church steps rather than at her. “About love holding too tightly. He said holding on can look like protection. Instead, it is fear in its Sunday coat.”

“That sounds like Mr. Simms.”

“Yes. It was inconveniently clear.”

“Did you tell him so?”

“Not in those words.”

“Delly,” Lottie laughed. It felt good to laugh for once.

“I am learning.” Her mouth pulled into a small, tired curve. “Slowly. Under protest.” Delly looked at her hands, at the plain ring there. “You are right. I care for him. Jeb. More than comfortable, or orderly. I do not yet know how to say all of it without feeling as if the floor has vanished beneath me.”

“That is how romance often feels.”

“That is a terrible recommendation.”

“It is a truthful one.”

Delly sighed. Then she looked at Lottie without calculation or warning already waiting behind her eyes.

“You have grown up while I was guarding the girl you used to be.”

Lottie’s chin trembled.

“I did not mean to smother you,” Delly said. “I meant to love you.”

“I know.”

“Those are not always the same thing.”

“No.”

The answer hurt them both.

Delly reached for her hand, and Lottie allowed it.

The familiar shape of her sister’s fingers nearly undid her. For five years, Delly’s hands had counted coins, mended seams, cooked meals, copied ledgers, and pushed Lottie gently behind her whenever life looked too sharp.

Lottie squeezed them hard. “I still need you,” she said. Delly’s breath caught as Lottie continued. “I do. I need you beside me. I need you behind me. I need you to tell me when I have forgotten sense entirely, because I will do that from time to time.”

“From time to time?”

“Do not ruin the moment.”

Delly gave a wet laugh.

Lottie leaned her shoulder against her sister’s. “I need you behind me, Delly. Not standing always in front.”