Then my older sister, Ellie, set down her fork, glanced at her husband, Henry, and cleared her throat the way she used to before school presentations.
« So, » she said, « Henry and I have been talking. We want to adopt. »
For a second, nobody moved.
« Henry and I have been talking. »
Our mom, Veronica, put a hand over her mouth. Dad squeezed Ellie’s wrist.
I just sat there blinking because my 40-year-old sister had spent the last decade telling anyone who’d listen that kids weren’t in the plan for them.
« Are you serious? » I finally asked.
« Completely, » Henry said, smiling that shy smile of his.
Continue on the next page:
