“How was the date?”

Nicole looked up as she entered the cemetery. Her older sister, Andrea, stood at the grave that she came to visit, her husband, Matthew, standing beside her, his arm wrapped in hers and pulled close to him. There was no one else in the vicinity.

“I told you not to get involved in my love life,” answered Nicole, not very graciously. “I made the decision to take a break from dating. I decide when I start again.”

Andrea made a show of rolling her eyes as the younger woman approached the grave. “You said that two years ago!” she pointed out. “Timmy was a jerk and the others you’ve dated since… well, they weren’t exactly bright. I get it: you want someone who gets you. I guarantee Samantha is just the woman for you!”

Nicole frowned and folded her arms across her not-so-big chest. “I’m sorry to say that you’re wrong. Only thing she did there was talk all about herself – how she met this famous person, that famous person –”

“Well, she does do a lot of charity work.”

Nicole snorted. “Bet it’s all just for show.”

Andrea frowned in irritation. “Look, she’s my best friend – my only close friend. You better take those words back.”

“Well then, newsflash: I make bad dating choices; you make bad friendship choices.”

Nicole could tell that this made her sister furious.

But, all Andrea said was, in a calm ice-cold voice, “I hope you didn’t blow that date.”

Nicole sighed. “I would know if I were listening,” she muttered.

“So, what did you do?”

“Nothing. Look, I don’t think she’s into me, okay? In fact, I think she’s into guys.”

Andrea looked taken aback now, maybe even a little confused. “Come again?”

“She’s straight, Andrea.”

“Is that so?” The older woman didn’t sound convinced.

Nicole didn’t care. She came there to see and talk to her mother and that was what she was going to do. She knelt in front of the grave and bowed her head in silent prayer. She wasn’t particularly religious, but she loved her mother when she was still alive. Every time she came to the cemetery, she hoped her mother would be listening to her.

Ten minutes later, her face tear-stained, Nicole stood up. She felt an arm around her shoulder and she relaxed into it.

No matter how much they fought, Andrea would always love her unconditionally.

Having almost zero social life of her own, she was glad of this.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “She… When

we were leaving, she said she’d text me later and fix… fix another date. Maybe

I’ll try harder then.”

Andrea kissed the top of her head. “I know you will.”

Part 2

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