“Last I checked,” Bette said in even tones, “I’ve been in the same place for years. I don’t disappear. I make it a habit not to disappoint people, not to abandon them. You should try it sometimes, it’s-”

“The same thing, over and over-”

“-so I don’t really see what you have to be angry with me about.”

“It was nice,” Kit spat, “the way you kept Melvin from me, like you were protecting him.”

They both fell silent. I don’t think either of them realized I was there.

Bette looked perplexed. “Kit,” she said. “Kit, please. You haven’t spoken to Daddy in how long? Did you really want him to see you like that?”

I was sort of stunned by the compassion in her tone. I glanced quickly at Kit to see if she was just as stunned and I was stunned again to discover that Kit obviously didn’t hear it. She didn’t see what I saw.

“Maybe not,” she cried. “But it’s not your place to decide-”

‘Kit,’ I wanted to cry. ‘Kit, she wasn’t protecting your father. She was protecting you, in her own fucked up way. Can’t you see that?’

“Not my place?” Bette wondered. “Who’s then, yours? When it comes to Daddy, Kit, you don’t exactly have a place.”

I gawked at her. So did Kit, I’m sure.

“Bette,” I said.

Kit seemed to finally remember I was there and put a hand out to stop me. She looked defeated. “Listen, baby sis. I’m gonna try and get my ***** together with or without your support. I just wanted to… wrap things up.”

Bette wouldn’t look at her. “Good luck.”

I wasn’t sure if Kit could see just how much Bette meant the words. She shrugged and turned.

“You want me to drive you somewhere?” I asked her.

“Nah, I’ll walk.”

I watched her walk down the driveway and turn onto the sidewalk, disappearing past the hedges. Bette’s neighborhood was quiet, too early for people to be awake.

I looked at Bette. “You-”

I stopped. She didn’t look happy with me.

Wasn’t the first time. I tried again. “You could’ve made it easier on her.”

Bette shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she said coldly. “I didn’t realize this was any of your business.”

“Don’t pull that *****,” I said, annoyed. “It’s my business because I care about you and I know you care about your sister, you’re just-”

“If you cared about me, you wouldn’t take my sister’s side.”

“Bette, it’s not about sides, come on.”

“It’s not about sides,” she agreed sarcastically, “except you’re taking her side. You don’t know how I feel, so you can’t possibly pass judgment over-”

“I don’t know how you feel because you hardly ever tell me!” I cried. “I mean-*****. Why are you so terrified of people finding out that you have actual human emotions, Bette? No one’s ever expected you to be perfect. There’s no reason for you have all these unrealistic expectations of-”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She didn’t look angry. She looked solid, emotionless.

I exhaled. My mouth felt dry. “No, maybe not.”

Bette stared at me. I stared back. I wasn’t going to apologize for caring about her. ***** that. She could apologize to me. I wanted an apology. She owed me about fifty-billion of them.

“Happy birthday,” she muttered before going inside and slamming the door.