When We Were Sisters by Emilie Richards Page A

including his best chance to be an artist people will remember. Now he’s getting a little of the recognition he deserves at last. He needs you to see that before he dies.”
    For a woman who had once refused to express herself, Robin had come a long way. “Do we have to do this over the phone?”
    â€œPlease reconsider.”
    â€œIt’s not just the trial. With you leaving I’m going to be out of the office more. I can’t afford ten days away, even over the holidays.”
    â€œYou’re blaming this on me?” She sounded incredulous.
    â€œNo, it’s just a fact. If you go, even if we hire Mary Poppins, I’ll still be away from my desk more than usual.” I thought about the conversation I’d just had. “And now it’s more crucial than ever for me to perform at top speed.”
    â€œ If I go?”
    â€œThe timing couldn’t be worse for me.”
    The line was silent a moment. “Let me ask, then. Are you saying that if I stay, you’ll take the time at Christmas, and we’ll fly to the Czech Republic to be with your family the way we planned?”
    I’ve had to make a lot of decisions I don’t like lately, and I’m not always happy with the man I’ve become. But one thing I’m not is a blackmailer.
    â€œI’m not saying that. I can’t go away no matter what. It’s true your leaving would have made going harder, but it’s the trial that makes it impossible.”
    â€œGlad to hear it. For the record, I wasn’t going to accept the blame and stay home.”
    â€œAre we done?”
    â€œNot quite. I’ve been waffling. I got the tentative filming schedule today. No matter how much I don’t want to, I’ll have to miss Pet’s big piano recital. And neither of the housekeepers I’m interviewing is interested in attending Nik’s soccer games.”
    â€œWelcome to the too-busy-at-work club.”
    â€œBut the difference between us ? I would never, under any circumstances, miss an occasion as important as the Christmas trip. This is one of the most memorable moments in the life of your family, and you’re not going to be there to share it.”
    â€œYou know what? You’re blowing the whole thing out of proportion because you never had a real family of your own or memorable moments.” The moment the words emerged, I wished I could crawl under the desk and bang my head. “Look, that sounds a lot worse than I meant it to. I just mean I had lots of memorable moments when I was growing up, and this is just one more.”
    â€œOh, I heard you. I was waffling a little, but now, you know what? I’m not. I have your permission to hire the housekeeper I like best?”
    â€œDo what you want.”
    â€œI’d suggest eating dinner before you come home because I’m not cooking tonight. I’m going to let the kids sit in on the interviews, and we can make our choice over dinner. See, I actually do have a family, and I’m going to make a memorable moment with them on my own. Without you. You have a nice evening.”
    She hung up and I stared out the window that had been my reward when I made partner the first time. How much bigger would the next one be?
    Would it be worth everything I would have to do to earn it?

9
    Robin
    Of the two women I interviewed for the second time, Elena Martinez was my favorite, and the hands-down favorite of Nik and Pet. I offered her the job, and she accepted.
    Elena is young and attractive, with curly dark hair that bounces over her cheeks and eyes the color of cocoa. She’s also the single mother of a four-year-old son, which might be a complicating factor, but Elena’s own mother lives near her apartment, and Elena says her mother will take Raoul if he’s too sick for day care.
    Her references are excellent, too excellent for a temporary job. It turns out that when this position ends, her plan is to move