Then she looked at me.
“You told him to say that.”
Kayla had no quick answer.
I shook my head.
“I didn’t even know he was looking at rooms.”
Andrew glanced at me.
“I probably should’ve told you.”
“Yes.”
“I probably should’ve told you.”
“I thought staying out of it meant saying, ‘She’s your sister.'” He rubbed one thumb along the handle of his mug. “Really, I left you enforcing a boundary that affected both of us.”
I looked at him. I hadn’t expected that.
“I left you enforcing a boundary that affected both of us.”
Kayla gave a disbelieving laugh.
“Great. Marriage workshop complete. Can I go get dressed now?”
“Please,” I said.
She turned toward the stairs.
“And Kayla?”
She stopped.
“One of those rooms is open now. The woman showing it is free this afternoon.”
“One of those rooms is open now.”
Kayla swung around.
“You made me an appointment?”
“I found a listing,” Andrew answered.
I picked up his phone and looked at it.
A bright upstairs bedroom. Shared kitchen. Small backyard.
“I found a listing.”
Nothing luxurious.
Nothing awful.
Just a room.
I held the phone toward Kayla.
“We’re going to look at it.”
“I’m not moving there.”
“Then don’t. We’re still looking.”
She frowned.
“You can’t make me.”
“I’m not moving there.”
“You’re right.” I set the phone down. “But if you’re staying here while you figure out your next step, I need to see you taking one.”
Kayla stared at me.
Then she marched upstairs.
A door shut.
“You’re right.”
Andrew took a sip of coffee.
“Think that went well.”
I looked at him.
“Not one word.”
“Understood.”
***
Twenty minutes later, Kayla came downstairs in jeans and a sweatshirt.
She had also found the ugliest old robe in our linen closet and thrown it over one arm.
“Not one word.”
