Free Home with My Sisters by Mary Carter

hands entwined and heads on each other’s shoulders. One girl lifted her head as Austin approached. From the car, Hope took in the platinum blond hair and blue eyes. It was Joy. She gasped. Was her baby sister actually sleeping on the streets?
    Hope’s first instinct was to barge over there. Her second instinct, honed by years of being stuck in the middle, was to duck. She slid as far down as she could go, praying no part of her was visible. She heard the truck door open and there was a long silence as Austin stood taking her in.
    â€œI have to ask,” he said at last.
    Hope made eye contact. “Are they still there?” she whispered.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThe kids you gave money to. The blond girl with the black boy. Are they still there?”
    Austin’s head popped up and he looked off into the distance. “Actually—they’re getting on bicycles.” He sounded surprised.
    â€œHow much did you give them?”
    â€œNone of your business.”
    â€œHow much?”
    â€œIt’s the holiday season,” Austin said. “A time for giving.” Hope shot up and looked down the street. Sure enough Joy and Harrison were pedaling away.
    â€œFollow them,” Hope said. She put on her seat belt.
    â€œWhat? No way.”
    â€œThat’s my sister.”
    â€œYou’re kidding me.”
    â€œNope, you just helped fund her coffee shop.”
    â€œThat’s not so bad.”
    â€œShe’s not homeless.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œBecause Faith would know. Follow them.” Oh yes, there was no way Faith would have kept this nugget to herself. She would have been the first to organize an intervention. Timed to coincide with the Seattle marathon perhaps. Austin was still standing outside. “Let’s go,” Hope said. “Follow them.”
    â€œDo you know how slow bicycles go?”
    â€œWe can keep circling, or pull over once in a while as if we’re checking directions.”
    â€œGuys don’t ask for directions.”
    â€œPlease.”
    Austin sighed and got in the truck. It didn’t take long for them to pull up behind Joy and Harrison. Pretty soon they were passing them and taking the hill down to Pike’s Market. Here the bikes could really fly. Austin hung back just enough to keep them in sight. The bikes swerved onto the sidewalk a few seconds later in front of a fancy condominium high-rise.
    Hope took in the doorman as Joy and Harrison locked their bikes up to a stand in front of the building. “They can’t live here, can they?” But sure enough Joy and Harrison were greeted by the doorman and enthusiastically ushered in. Hope noted how Joy had ditched her homeless sign.
    â€œI can’t believe your sister just swindled me.” Austin sounded slightly impressed.
    â€œI wonder if there’s even a coffee shop,” Hope said.
    â€œAt least she’s not on the streets,” Austin said.
    â€œAre you always so cheery?”
    â€œNo,” Austin said. Hope immediately regretted the question. A dark look settled over his face. She wished she could take it back.
    â€œWhat now?” Austin asked.
    â€œWe go in,” Hope said. “We’ve got her cornered.” But instead of making a move, Hope sat in the truck and pulled out the picture of them as little girls.
    â€œWe look so happy. Like we loved each other. Like sisters.”
    â€œJoy is kind of screaming her face off,” Austin pointed out.
    â€œOkay. But she eventually grew to love us.”
    â€œI’m sure she did,” Austin said softly. “Does.”
    â€œI don’t know what happened to us,” she said. “I barely remember us being these girls.”
    â€œBarely is a start.”
    â€œYou’re right. Let’s go.” Hope took a deep breath and got out of the truck.
    Unlike the smile he’d flashed Harrison and Joy, the doorman greeted them with an impassive face.