Chapter 1-2
469 Words
Four days after I mailed the letter, I received a phone call.
“Alison?” I heard, “This is Rachel Fox, your…uh…step-sister.” There was a brief, warm chuckle.
“Hello, Rachel,” I said. “It’s nice of you to call.” I stopped there before I blurted, “Why didn’t you call before mother died?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you even existed until I read the obituary.”
“And I didn’t know you existed either, until the flowers were delivered and the funeral director affirmed that everything was paid for. Thank you.”
“I hope I didn’t step on any toes doing that.”
“Don’t worry.” I was trying to be agreeable. I wanted to say, “If it really mattered to you, you could have asked.”
“I’m sorry. I’m known for jumping in and just taking care of things, but I didn’t take into consideration that I wasn’t the only one to make these decisions.”
“It’s not a problem, Rachel. I’ll have to admit that the help was appreciated. Mother’s government insurance only paid for part of what I wanted for her.” I took a breath. “I have to ask. Are you really my half-sister, or did your father have you with someone else?”
There was a moment of silence.
“No. We have the same mother. My father never remarried.”
I wondered what had happened to make Mother leave her child. She had never been the kind of person I’d expect to do something like that.
Rachel spoke next. “Your stationary says Alison D. Burke, J.D. Are you a lawyer?”
“Yes, but I’m not in practice. I’m a Law Professor.”
“Really, where?”
“McGill. At the Institute for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism.”
“Wow. Then I guess you’re the brains in the family.”
“I doubt it.” I laughed. Maybe she wasn’t as self-centered as she might have been.
“Alison, I was considering going over to Montreal so I can meet you.”
“That would be very acceptable.” I hope I didn’t sound as acerbic as I was feeling.
“Good. Are you free this Friday?”
“Friday will be fine, but I teach until three. I have nothing planned that evening.”
“Wonderful. I’m not that familiar with Montreal. What’s a good hotel near you or McGill?”
“The Sofitel Montreal is the best in the city and it’s within walking distance of both the college and where I live.” Then I laughed as a thought flashed through my mind. “I was going to say that it’s rather expensive, but I don’t have to worry about that with you, do I?”
She laughed, too. “No, you don’t,” she said softly. “I have your e-mail address on your stationary, don’t I? I’ll let you know what my plans are.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” I said, just to have something to close the call.
“I am, too. See you on Friday.”
I clicked the phone to off as I took a deep breath. How did I feel about this woman? I had my times when I hated her guts, but still…she was the only relative I had left…and I’d never met her. After all, I’d heard about her, I was curious. Maybe I should reserve judgment until I met her in person. That would be the right thing to do. That’s what my mother had taught me.
Maybe she wasn’t so bad and I’d actually like her. Maybe when I met her, I could scratch her eyes out.
- Writer
