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I heard a door close and then she dropped a bomb

“Well, I hope you haven’t left yet I’m in Paris”

“You’re in Paris?! Paris Paris?”

For the record, my sister is not a jetsetter I hoped she meant Paris, Texas, not the croissant-filled country half a world away

“Yes, Paris Paris Brent and I are traveling for the next three ets renovated”

“You’ve got to be kidding”

I really al Tears were locked and loaded People were starting to look at h security

My flight was already boarding asto redo the kitchen and bathrooms for a while…”

What the hell does that have to do with Paris?

“…so we thought, why nottrip out of it while our house is unlivable?”

Unlivable I guess there’s more than one way to demolish a home, a life

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Let’s see, I told the bank, the contractors, the peret to tell the half-sister I haven’t spoken to since when…Christmas?”

Her tone implied that was my fault, and it was—partly

“Sorry, I’ve been MIA”

“It’s fine Listen, why don’t we try to schedule so for the holidays like ays say ill? This tiuest room for you and Andrew—”

I rubbedI could push the tears back to where they belonged There was so much to catch her up on

“No, Helen It’s a long story, but I need to coone?”

“It’s a disaster zone There are exterior wallsThat’s e left”

“Right” Of course She’d just told ? I could update my resume…I think I have it saved on my old university email somewhere”

At that point Helen began to crack up, then she repeated hter pounded on

Oh ha-ha-ha, your life is falling apart before your very eyes Stop, stop—you’re killing me!

“Is this a prank? If so, it’s a very expensive, overseas-phone-call prank Did Andrew put you up to this?”

“Last call for passengers for flight 365, service to San Antonio Final boarding at gate 12”

She must have heard the announcement, because her next words were delivered in a od, you’re really at the airport, aren’t you?”

I was flying down the ter down any and all children and elderly people in ate before they closed the doors without me They even said my name over the loudspeaker I alondered what kind of dummy has to have their name announced like that Me I’m the dummy

“Yes Helen, I’ to Texas and I need your help” I was out of breath fro as I pleaded with her “Please I can’t explain, but I just need to cash in whatever love you ht have for me”