I sit on Laura’s bed Tuesday evening as she packs for her trip. Tom is taking one of his Skype calls downstairs, and the kids are at school. We’re discussing Tom.

“I can’t believe he agreed to it,” I say. “I really thought he’d refuse.”

“He tried to, but I managed to talk him around.”

“I was all for keeping an eye on him before, but now it’s so awkward. When I walked in this morning, he gave me such a look!”

“Oh, don’t worry about him. You know TJ—he’s always got a chip on his shoulder about something.”

“I keep replaying the night over and over in my head, trying to figure out where it started to go wrong. Honestly, the whole thing was a bust from start to finish.”

Laura throws me a sympathetic smile. “Don’t beat yourself up about it. He’s not the most approachable guy these days. He gets so defensive.”

“Tell me about it! He bit my head off when I mentioned your parents.”

“Yeah. It’s a touchy subject.”

“I don’t get it.”

Laura puts down the blouse she’s folding. She’s kneeling on her bedroom floor next to an open suitcase, wearing leggings and an oversized sweater. She tilts her head to one side in thought, then turns to me. “Dad wanted TJ—sorry, Tom—to follow in his footsteps and become a doctor.”

“So?”

“That’s not what Tom wanted. I mean, I’ll be the first to admit that they were hard on him. He didn’t get the best grades at school, and it was constantly, ‘You’ll never get to medical school like that!’, ‘a B in English? Do you want to work in fast food forever?’” She raises her eyebrows. “They were hard on him. They had plans for him that Tom didn’t want to go along with. Over the years, the tension rose and rose, until Tom obviously had enough and disappeared to New York. He thought he was proving everyone wrong by making it big out there. Look at me, making billions even though I didn’t get the grades. I think he thought that making his fortune would be enough to make my parents give up nagging him—to be proud instead.”

“It didn’t work out like that?”

“Of course not. Mom and Dad weren’t impressed at all. Mom was absolutely wounded that her only son left the state, and Dad felt like he’d been betrayed. He’d always wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. It caused a rift in the family for years. Then Dad died suddenly, and Tom felt so guilty that he made even more of an effort to stay away. Then Mom’s mind started slipping, and he wasn’t there for that either. I think it got to the point where he’d drifted so far away, he didn’t feel like there was any way back. That’s why I’ve made such an effort to keep reaching out to him. I always wanted him to come back.”

“Plenty of kids don’t want to go along with their parents’ plans. Not all of them turn out like Tom.”

“You mean, like an arrogant jerk?”

“It’s like if he doesn’t namedrop or hint at his money in every other word, people are going to forget.”

“I think he spent so long being told he didn’t measure up, that now he throws it out there so nobody can say he’s not good enough. Look at me, I’ve got money.”

“My mother wanted me to pop out fourteen grandchildren, not start a business.” I chuckle. “Sometimes our parents don’t get to choose which direction we take.”

“All of Tom’s attitude comes back to the pressure on him growing up. He wanted to prove that he could be a success in his own right, choosing his own path. He did that, I guess, but he also cut off everyone who cared about him by being so desperate to prove a point. Mom never forgave him for leaving and not being there when Dad died. Now Tom always has this chip on his shoulder, like all this judgment is coming from me. Really, it’s him who feels guilty.”

“I wish he had an off switch for his ego.”

“He’s got a good heart—really.”

“I thought so. The person I was talking to online seemed so genuine and sincere. He was a great conversationalist and so funny. In real life, Tom’s not like that. He’s superficial and self-centered.”

Laura shakes her head. “It’s all an act. He’s a good person deep down.” She folds another item and adds it to her case. “You know, I remember him before our parents started to come down on him so hard before we moved to Maine. He was the sweetest kid around. I was so protective of him. I don’t remember when it flipped, and I stopped feeling like his big sister. One day, Tom was a big shot instead of my baby brother, and that was that. I like to think that one day he’ll stop feeling like he’s got something to prove, and then he’ll stop acting like such a jerk and go back to being TJ.”

She pulls her hand around the case, zipping it shut, then stands it on its base. She smiles. “All ready for another big adventure.”

I smile. “I’ll make sure the kids survive. Don’t worry.”

“Thanks, Zoe.” Laura pulls me into a hug, then steps back. “I know things are weird with you and Tom right now, but I appreciate you stepping in. Who knows? Maybe playing sitters for a while will help you two get back on track.”

“I don’t know that there’s a track to get back on. It all ended before it really began.”

“There was something between you before you met. If you can get over first impressions, maybe you’ll find that spark is still there.”

I turn to her with a smile. “Anyone would think you were rooting for Tom and me to be a thing.”

Laura laughs. “Maybe I kind of am. It must be the romantic in me. I see an egotistical, isolated man, and a warm but lonely woman, and I think maybe there’s something right in putting them together. You could be good for each other.”

“I thought you told me he was trouble.”

She sighs. “I did, and he is. Still, wouldn’t it be nice if it all fit together? Tom would get down off his high horse and finally come back into our lives. And you’d be not just my friend, but my sister!”

“I don’t need to marry Tom to be your sister, Laura. You’re still part of my family.”

Laura grins. “That’s sweet. See how kind you are? It’s that warmth that might just melt the ice king himself.”

“Thaw him until we reach that secret heart of gold?”

“You got it. Trust me, it’s there.”

“We’ll see. I’ll try and keep the peace until you get back.”

“Please do. I want you with us for Christmas this year. It’s not right for you to be alone.”

“You know it doesn’t bother me.”

“Don’t be silly. Christmas is a time of year when you should be with the people you love. And if you and Tom are staring daggers at each other, it’ll make for an uncomfortable Christmas dinner.”

I laugh. “I promise that if we haven’t made amends by then, I’ll keep myself out of the picture.”

“I don’t think it’ll come to that.”

“How long is the drive on Thursday?”

“A little over three hours.”

“Ouch. It’s forecast to be cold. Make sure you drive safe in case it’s icy.”

She smiles. “I’ve been doing this for years, Zoe. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“What time will you set off?”

“After I’ve taken the kids to school. Then you and Tom are on your own.”

“Okay. What’s the rule with Megan and Justin?”

“Megan knows the rules. In case she tries to pull the wool over your eyes, it’s no sleepovers and home by ten. Please don’t let her walk home alone. If Justin or his parents can’t drive her, could one of you pick her up? I know that she wouldn’t think twice about wandering home alone in the dark.”

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Thanks.”

“And Jack? Any special instructions?”

“Not really. Make sure he brushes his teeth, I guess, and keep an eye on him with his candy. He likes to hide it under his pillow, which makes a huge, sticky mess. Don’t give him too much, either. He won’t sleep for days.”

“Got it.”

Laura smiles warmly at me. “Thanks again, Zoe. I really do appreciate it.”

“Anytime.”