3: 3
The next morning I woke early.
The living room curtains hadn't been drawn all the way, and a line of light slipped through the gap, landing right on the old crease down the middle of the folding cot.
I'd barely turned over all night.
The cot was too narrow. The slightest shift and the metal frame creaked. I was afraid of waking everyone, so I lay flat and stared at the ceiling.
A little after six, I folded the thin blanket and went to put the cot away.
I'd just bent down when the doorbell rang.
My mother poked her head out of the kitchen. "Your aunt, this early?"
She still had the spatula in her hand, and her first glance went to the folding cot beside me.
Her brow pinched.
Before I could get the cot closed, my aunt was already inside.
She came in carrying fruit, smiling. "Well, look at you, up so early."
The next second she saw the folding cot in the living room.
"Why is there still a cot set up in here?"
My mother came right out of the kitchen, wiping her hands.
"There were a lot of people last night. Just threw something together."
My aunt looked at me. "Milly slept out here last night?"
Before I could answer, my mother stepped in.
"She's used to living on her own out there. She's only back a night or two, she can sleep anywhere."
She said it while steering my aunt toward the table.
"The room was just sitting empty anyway, so her sister may as well be comfortable in it. She's been the sensible one since she was little. She doesn't fuss over things like this."
When Rain came out of the room, her hair still wasn't brushed.
She saw my aunt, then saw the cot beside me that hadn't been put away, and her face went red.
"Sis, did you not sleep well last night?"
I bent my head and worked the clasp on the folding cot.
"I'm fine."
Rain pressed her lips together and said quietly, "Maybe I should sleep in the living room tonight."
My mother frowned. "What are you saying, first thing in the morning?"
She cut a glance past Rain.
Adrian had come out from the hallway too, and hearing that, he stopped where he was, looking uncomfortable.
"Is it a bad time, me being here?"
"Not at all."
My mother smiled at once.
"It's your first time here, don't read into it. Her sister isn't back often, she really isn't particular about any of this."
Then she lowered her voice to me. "We're going to your uncle's for dinner today. Don't put that face on."
I looked up at her.
She dropped her voice further.
"Your sister's bringing someone home for the first time. Don't let people think this family can't get along."
The clasp in my hand snapped shut.
The cot finally folded down, leaning against the wall, showing a few stripes worn pale on the frame.
My phone buzzed again.
I opened it. It was the landlady.
"I'm listing it on the site this afternoon. If you want to renew, let me know this morning."
I looked at the message and didn't reply.
Seeing me with the phone in my hand, my mother's frown deepened.
"Did you hear me?"
I closed my hand around the phone.
"I heard you."
Only then did she ease off, taking that as a yes.
My aunt was peeling an orange at the table, and asked in passing, "So how did everyone sleep last night? Rain and Adrian in your sister's room?"
Rain started to answer, but my mother laughed first.
"Her sister's always doting on her. They're sisters, giving up a room for a night, what's the big deal."
She turned to look at me.
That look didn't wait for my answer. It just set the words down in front of me.
"There'll be a lot of people at your uncle's, and plenty of loose tongues."
She gathered the orange peel into a little pile, her voice still light.
"It's Adrian's first time going along. Don't give people something to laugh about."
"When we get to your uncle's, if anyone asks, you go along with what I said. Don't leave your sister with no way to save face."
I asked, "When did I ever say that?"
The smile on my mother's face thinned a little.
"Does something like this really need spelling out? You're the older sister. Isn't looking out for your sister the least you can do?"
Adrian, standing off to the side, finally couldn't hold it in. "So the room was originally the sister's?"
The living room went quiet.
My mother set the peeled orange on a plate, then nudged the plate toward me.
"You explain it to him yourself."
