Joyce was surprised when she received a call from Heather on Thursday morning asking her to come to her mother’s house for tea. If Barbara had called, she likely would have said no, but she was curious about Heather’s choice to get involved in their disagreement. It wasn’t like Heather to meddle in things that didn’t concern her, which made her believe her fight with Barbara must have affected her niece in some way. She’d never seen her mother and her godmother fight seriously, after all.
Driving to Barbara’s house now, Joyce felt strong enough to face anyone, including her judgmental sister. Amanda had spent the night on Tuesday and Wednesday, and she was beyond happy. Their budding relationship was proving to be tender, loving, and easy. So easy now that Joyce had let go of her insecurities, realizing that she’d been the main obstacle to her own happiness. Yes, sometimes she still wondered what she was doing with a woman young enough to be her daughter, but when she did, she shook her head and reminded herself she was doing what she needed to do to make Joyce Allen happy. At last. She was no longer spending time and energy being a version of herself that could please her sister, her wife, or her circle of friends. She was being her true self, the Joyce Allen she’d almost forgotten. The fact that she made Amanda happy too was a welcome bonus and evidence to her that they were meant to be together.
Joyce parked her car in front of Barbara’s house, looked at it, and cringed. She’d always hated her sister’s house. Extravagantly large and aseptic, it completely lacked personality and could have belonged to any rich owner. Nothing in the cold stone exterior walls or in the generic landscaping gave any clue about the house’s owners. The interior wouldn’t help a stranger solve the puzzle either. Not even one family portrait could be found in it. Barbara rarely invited her sister there, preferring her surprise visits to Joyce’s instead, and Joyce liked it that way.
She walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. Heather opened the door and invited her in before they shared a warm hug. “You look great, Aunt Joyce. Being in love suits you.”
“Thank you. I feel great. Although I’m a little curious about this meeting.”
“I know you must be, and you know I usually mind my own business, but I couldn’t stand by and do nothing here. You’ve always been in my life. I’ve learned as much from you as I’ve learned from my parents. And I still need you.”
“Oh, Heather, I hope you know that I will always be in your life. Even if your mother can never accept my relationship with Amanda and we can’t get past this, I will always be there for you.”
“I know, but I need you in my mother’s life too.”
Joyce raised her eyebrows to show her puzzlement. She didn’t understand what Heather was saying.
“You might not know this, but you’re kind of like a natural circuit breaker for my mother.”
Joyce started to laugh. “What?”
“You keep her from going too far. Just by your presence. It’s hard to explain but all I know is that even as a kid I could see that my mom was calmer when she was around you. Funny, easygoing. My mom’s at her best when she’s with you, and I’m afraid what not having you in her life might do to her. She’s been wound up so tight since you started dating Amanda no one can talk to her.”
“I understand, but I can’t sacrifice my own happiness for her sake anymore. She’s doing this to herself.”
“I know. And I think she’s starting to realize it too.”
“Hm. Somehow I doubt that. How?”
“Are you two going to stay by the door talking about me all day?” Barbara asked as she approached them. “My lovely daughter spent the night trying to make me see the light. That’s how. Now if you’ll join me on the back porch for tea, we can chat a little more about what a bitch I am. Maybe once you’ve both emptied your bag I’ll be allowed to go to sleep.”
Barbara turned around to lead the way to the back of the house. Heather rolled her eyes and Joyce giggled at her niece’s expression and whispered, “Well, this will be fun.” Then they both followed Barbara.
Once on the porch, they sat in white rattan chairs and Heather poured tea. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have a bag to empty. I said all I had to say,” Joyce started, not sure what Barbara and Heather expected of her.
“Oh, that was just Mom playing the victim. Wasn’t it, Mom? She’s the one who has something to say to you,” Heather replied with a stern look toward her mother.
Barbara sighed heavily. “I hadn’t realized I was already at the age when the parent becomes the child. When did I become so old, sis?”
“Will you quit creating diversion? There’s no age to act like a child and that’s exactly what you’re doing,” Heather added with exasperation.
“All right, all right. Geez, I was just trying to be humorous. What’s wrong with that?”
“She didn’t come here to hear your bad jokes, Mom.”
“Actually I’m not quite sure what I’m doing here yet,” Joyce interjected, putting an end to the banter between mother and daughter.
“Fine, I’ll get straight to it,” Barbara started. She sat stiffly in her chair and took a deep breath. “I can’t let you shut me out of your life, Joy. I need my baby sister too much. I don’t like you dating a woman Heather’s age, and I can’t promise I’ll ever like it, but if it means I can keep my relationship with you, I can promise never to comment about it again.” Barbara looked at Heather, who jerked her head as if to indicate there was more to say. “Oh, and I can promise to be polite to Amanda.” Barbara looked to Heather again, who smiled at her with pride.
“Are you saying all of this because Heather asked you?” Joyce couldn’t help probing.
Barbara turned back to her and shook her head. “No. Heather did insist. A lot. But you know me well enough to know it wouldn’t have changed anything in the end if I didn’t think she’s right. I can’t lose you. I’m used to my baby sister seeing things my way, but I can’t stop seeing you simply because you don’t agree with me for the first time in your life. So what do you say?”
“Well, I really do wish you could see how good Amanda is for me, but I guess what you’re offering is a beginning.”
“So we’re still sisters?”
Joyce chuckled, “Of course, silly. You’ll always be my big sister. I have one condition, though.”
“Okay,” Barbara said with apprehension. “What is it?”
“Next time you stop by and I don’t answer the front door, don’t come in the house, even if the door is unlocked. Can you add that to your promises?”
They both laughed and Heather looked at them with perplexity. “You have my word,” Barbara said through laughter mixed with tears.