"OK, OK, meet and greet time is over," Zara said, breaking in. Her voice abruptly serious. "Come on Richard, we need to go give Lindsay her birthday gift.""Let's give it to her later," I said. Zara glared at me so hard, I felt my bones begin to crack."What is it with the names in your family, anyway?" Kara asked, oblivious to the implied violence in front of her. "Zara, Richard, Lilly. And what's your older sister's name again?""Bianca," I said, "My parents are huge classic rock fans.""Bianca Joe, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Bob Richard, Lilly Stone." My sister ticked the names off her fingers like it was rote."No Stevie, huh?" Nita said, clearly making a joke.Both Zara and I eyed each other. There had been a Brown, but Mom had lost him in the last trimester. It occurred to me that was truly when my family's troubles had begun. One long, slow, downhill slope from there. I'd never realized it went that far back, but there it was."I'm going to get a drink," Zara announced. She
Last Updated : 2025-10-07 Read more