*
That same Sunday night, Kate watched from the couch while Brody put on his big Christmas jumper, grabbed a pint of cream for Liadan, and herded the dogs outside for their last walk of the day. She had just returned her attention to an email from Moira, their marketing agent, listing proposals and upcoming ads for Hammerworks, when her cell rang.
Surprised at such a late call, Kate checked the I.D. and saw it was Jane's number. She answered with, "Good evening, Janie, what's keeping you up?"
"Sorry about the time; I'm not ringing too late, am I?" Jane sounded timid; a tone Kate rarely heard from her little sister.
"Not quite yet; we just had afters, and Brody just took the dogs out for a quick dander."
"Alright, then," Jane said with a sigh. There was a short pause before she went on. "Kate, I need to chat with you about something - a serious something. God, I'll go mad if I can't talk this through with someone, and you're the only one I could think to turn to."
Kate smiled and got more comfortable on the couch. "I'm touched, Jane; that's as nice a compliment as I've had in a long while. But now, you say it's serious?" She thought to play it lightly before hearing Jane out, hoping it would be something simple. "Is it more serious than your music?"
"My dreams of a singing career are nothing compared to this."
Kate's concern was on the rise, but still hoped her sister was exaggerating. "Did you wreck your car or something?"
"No, I -"
"It's nothing to do with that young man, Donal, you were seeing, is it?"
"Jaysus, Kate, no; I'm done with that gobshite."
Taking a deep breath, Kate asked, "Are you in trouble, Janie?"
After another pause, Jane replied with a nervous voice, sounding small and confused. "I really don't know if I am or not, Katie. I know it's too late tonight, but can we meet up tomorrow sometime? Please?"
"Well, by the time you're out of classes, I'll be helping Brody's cousin move in to his place. I suppose it'd be alright if you came there."
Sounding a bit more animated, Jane said, "Em, I'd rather not. How about I come by in the morning? I plan on telling mam I caught a dose; I'll doubtless look it, so it'll be an easy sell. I rarely bunk off, but this can't wait. I'm already ruined with nerves, and I doubt I'll get a wink."
Kate knew that Jane was normally studious, especially about her leaving cert classes. She was proud of her little sister making such good marks, partly because Jane was one of the youngest in her classes. She wished she could see Jane's nimbus to gauge the true weight of her anxiety.
After a moment's contemplation, Kate said, "We have some things to do around the cottage before we go to pick up Simon later in the morning and get his possessions moved. You're welcome to come by any time before we leave, and I'm sure Brody will busy himself with outside chores if you ask. But if mam catches wind of this and eats the head off you, I won't cover with a lie."
"I'm not much bothered with that, either, but I won't knock you up 'til after she's off to work."
"Fair enough, then. I'll see you in the morning."
"Cheers, Kate. You might have a long day tomorrow with all you have planned, so sleep sound. Hopefully one of us will, anyway."
Kate distractedly set down her phone after Jane got off the line. Both her curiosity and concern vied for dominance about what Jane had to say. That her little sister was nonchalant about incurring their mam's wrath put concern in the lead.