Page 44

The cabbie drove like he was in a road rage with another automobile.He sped around cars, buses, and pedestrians in crosswalks.Every time he slammed on the brakes, Charlie held on to the seat in front of her to avoid being thrown into one of her sisters’ laps.

“At least the taxi rides are crazy and dangerous no matter what borough you’re in,” Charlie whispered in Abby’s ear, who didn’t appear to find the comment funny.

When the cab pulled up to the William Vale Hotel, Morgan felt slightly dizzy and nauseated.While she paid the driver, Abby and Charlie got their luggage out of the trunk.

Their hotel room was small, with two double beds and not much else.The same argument the sisters had when they were kids—about who got their own bed and which two had to sleep together—started: “You hog the covers.”“Well,yousnore.”“Andyoutake up the whole bed.”

Since they would have the room for three nights, Morgan suggested that each of them should have a bed to herself for one of the nights.That perfect solution satisfied both Charlie and Abby.

When they had unpacked, Morgan fell back on the bed and relaxed into the comfy mattress.Charlie put her feet on an ottoman as she sat in a small club chair in the corner of the room.She read the news on her phone.

“Don’t get comfortable; I’m starving,” Abby said, putting on her coat and wrapping her scarf around her neck.Morgan and Charlie grabbed their coats and headed back to the hotel elevators.

“There’s a seafood restaurant down the street,” Morgan said.“I did some research before we got here, and it got a good rating on Yelp.”

Five minutes later, they approached a warehouse with a small sign that they would’ve completely missed if they hadn’t been looking for it.

“Wow, I’ve always wanted to go to Costco for dinner,” Charlie quipped.

“Me, too,” Abby said.“Will they have people in the aisles giving samples?”Abby and Charlie high five.

“Ha ha,” Morgan said.“It’s hard being the only hip sister among us.”

The inside of the restaurant was a complete contrast to the exterior of the building.The walls were lined with red velvet wallpaper, mini crystal chandeliers hung over the tables, and the servers dressed in black and wore white gloves.

“Still think we’re in Costco?”Morgan asked.

As soon as they were seated, Charlie and Abby ordered cocktails, and Morgan ordered a mocktail.The waiter was so quick to bring the drinks over that Morgan wondered if her sisters appeared to need a buzz.

“I want one of everything,” Charlie said as she read through the menu.

“I’m so hungry I could eat a small child,” Abby said.“Not one of mine, of course, but someone else’s that has more meat on their bones.”

“Order whatever you want.It’s on Mom, and I doubt she’ll complain,” Morgan said.

Charlie and Abby looked at each other and then at Morgan.

“That’s kind of morbid,” Abby said.

“But true.I took a stack of those hundred-dollar bills from her suitcase.I think she would’ve wanted us to enjoy ourselves while we were here,” Morgan said.

“Here’s to Mom,” Charlie said, lifting her cocktail glass.

“Thanks for the expensive fish, too, Mom,” Abby said, her eyes raised toward the sky.

“And thank you, Morgan, for stealing her money,” Charlie said.

The women clinked glasses.

Morgan took a sip of her drink.“Don’t let anyone tell you this is the same without the vodka,” she said, swallowing.

The sisters discussed what should be the first thing they do in the morning.Morgan didn’t divulge that she had no idea what their endgame would be in Brooklyn.The most important thing was to find out why their mother lied about living in New York.

The waiter brought over their meals.

“I can’t believe Mom would put us through this,” Abby said, taking a bite of her halibut.

“Most people who get to the point of suicide are in such a dark place they don’t think about what or who they’re leaving behind,” Charlie said.