I waited.
“Not for being heartbroken. I’m still pretty committed to that part.”
A tiny, watery smile. Then she looked down at the robe.
“I’m sorry I made you prove your boundary made sense before I’d respect it. You shouldn’t have had to.”
“Thank you,” I said, and I meant it more than I could say.
“I’m not ready to move out tomorrow.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
So we sat down at the kitchen table and gave “temporary” a real shape. Kayla would keep applying for jobs. Once she had a paycheck, she’d chip in something small. We’d go through the room listings together and pick a move-out date that was realistic, not rushed.
“And no more tests,” I added.
Andrew walked in right then, arms full of grocery bags.
“That should honestly be a house rule.”
Kayla pointed at him. “Nobody asked you.”
“He’s allowed to speak in his own kitchen,” I said.
Andrew set the bags on the counter. “Thank you, Amanda.”
Kayla rolled her eyes, but there was no bite in it anymore.
Then Andrew turned to me, and his voice went quieter.
“And next time something affects both of us, I won’t hide behind ‘she’s your sister.’ I’ll stand next to you.”
“Good,” I said. It came out thicker than I intended.
Kayla groaned. “Are you two seriously going to get emotionally healthy right in front of me?”
“Probably,” Andrew said. “Feel free to move out if it’s too much.”
She threw a dish towel at his head.
The next morning, I heard the shower running before seven. Andrew was at the table with his coffee when footsteps came down the stairs.
He glanced at me.
I glanced back.
Kayla walked in wearing the ancient blue robe from our linen closet — faded ducks marching across the pockets, one sleeve noticeably shorter than the other.
She went straight to the coffee maker.
Andrew said nothing.
Neither did I.
She reached for the bag of beans Andrew orders online — then stopped, her hand hovering.
“Is it okay if I use these?”
Andrew looked at her over the rim of his mug.
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Thanks.”
That was all.
No big announcement. No dramatic apology. Just a small, ordinary question she’d never thought she needed to ask before.
Then she opened the high cabinet.
The filters were on the top shelf.
She stretched up on her toes.
Missed.
Andrew started to rise from his chair.
Kayla pointed at him without even turning around.
“Sit.”
