The Friends We Keep

The meeting ended and Hayley left without speaking to anyone. It was Thursday and for reasons she couldn’t begin to explain, she drove to Supper’s in the Bag. Maybe she needed a good dose of Morgan to set her world to rights.

The store wouldn’t open for another hour, but Morgan’s SUV was parked in front. Hayley parked next to it, then walked to the glass door and knocked. Morgan appeared a few seconds later and let her inside.

“What are you doing here?” her sister said by way of greeting.

“I thought I’d come by and say hi.”

“Can you talk while chopping because I’m running late.”

“Sure.”

“I don’t suppose you want your old job back?” Morgan asked.

“Not really.”

“I figured. My luck isn’t that good.”

Morgan locked the door behind her, then went back to the prep tables where she was distributing bags of vegetables into bowls. Hayley washed her hands, pulled on gloves, then joined her sister.

“How are things with Brent?”

Morgan wrinkled her nose. “Fine. He annoys me. He’s a man and I tell myself he can’t help it. The kids exhaust me. I need to get away.”

“You were just gone.”

“For three days.”

“How much time do you want to take off?”

“I don’t know. A year.”

Hayley glanced at her sister. “You’re an idiot.”

Morgan stared at her. “Don’t get on me. You’re the one who came here. I didn’t ask for this.”

She continued to rant, but Hayley wasn’t listening. She recognized the psychological trick. Deflect and attack. Possibly not in that order. But that was what her sister was doing. Switching the focus, ignoring the question. It was clever, if not very helpful. Because while they might end up not talking about Morgan, at the end of the day, her sister was still unhappy. Or at least complaining.

“Is the bitching a habit or are you really disgusted with your life?” she asked, interrupting the tirade.

“Excuse me?”

“I know you heard the question. There’s nothing wrong with your hearing.”

Morgan’s eyes widened. “What has gotten into you?”

“I’m tired of playing these games. You’re my family and I want us to be close, but I’m not putting up with your crap anymore. Be nice or we’re done.”

“You don’t get to say.”

“Yeah, I do. At least for my part of it.” Hayley breathed in a very calming sense of power. “Brent couldn’t be sweeter to you. Why don’t you appreciate him more?”

“I appreciate him,” Morgan muttered, turning her attention back to the vegetables. “Why do you have to make such a big deal out of all of this? You always do. It’s exhausting. Is this because of the surgery? Are you still on drugs?”

“And there you go again—sidestepping the question. You’ve always done that, haven’t you? Deflected the difficult conversations. Is that why you never fully grew up?”

Morgan pointed to the door. “Get out.”

Hayley shook her head. “No. You’re not the boss of me. We are going to have a conversation without you yelling or acting like a shrew. Just answer the question.”

“Which one?” Morgan’s voice was a scream. “Which goddamned question?”

“Are you happy with your husband and your kids?”

“Yes!”

The single word was sharp and loud, but Hayley heard the truth behind it. She smiled. “I’m glad. You’re lucky. You kind of have it all.”

Morgan’s mouth opened, then closed. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t. You love me. In your own twisted way.”

“You’re annoying.”

“So are you.”

Morgan picked up a bag of cut broccoli. “I don’t feel lucky. I feel like I’m constantly scrambling. I don’t have a second to myself. Do you know how much laundry I do in a week?”

“You should appreciate what you have.”

Her sister surprised her by nodding. “I know. I’m sorry. You’re still upset about the hysterectomy, aren’t you?”

Upset didn’t exactly describe what she was feeling, Hayley thought. But it was close enough for this conversation.

“Yes. Every day. I try not to think about it, but it’s always there.”

“Are you and Rob going to adopt?”

“I’m thinking about it. Adoption isn’t easy. Not if we want a baby. There are waiting lists.”

“What about Gabby’s stepdaughter? She’s pregnant. Is she giving her kid up for adoption?” Morgan paused. “Never mind. That would be too hard. They’re in the same neighborhood. You’d never feel like the baby was yours, would you? There would be too much connection.”

“That’s very insightful.”

“I’m not insightful.”

“No, you’re just selfish and bitchy.”

Morgan raised her eyebrows. “It beats being sanctimonious and smug.”

“I’m not smug.”

“You are. Constantly. In your perfect marriage with your perfect husband and friends. But I love you anyway.”

Something she couldn’t remember ever hearing from her sister before. “I love you, too.”

Morgan glared at her. “I’m not interested in being part of one of those ridiculous families that says they love each other all the time. Just so we’re clear.”

Hayley grinned. “No problem. As long as we both remember you said it first.”