Have Sister Will Travel

By Jennifer Von Essen

Claire Reynolds is completely content to spend her summer in her pajamas, stuffing her face and sulking on her couch. After all, her husband did just leave her for a younger woman. But Claire's sister, Dr. Meg Campbell, has another plan in mind. Meg sister-naps Claire and they begin a summer on a remote island off the coast of Georgia. When the plans get derailed Claire will have to get creative to make sure this vacation doesn't take them both down.

What Claire needed was a break from the beige suburban housewife routine. But tensions rise and feelings run wild in this fast-paced, romantic comedy where love may not mean a happy ending, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jan 1, 1900
• ISBN: 9781098324704

Book preview

Have Sister Will Travel

Jennifer Von Essen

ISBN (eBook Edition): 978-1-09832-470-4

© 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

To Sisters.

To Ana and Ellie, my two beautiful daughters. I feel lucky everyday to be your mom and a so happy that you are the best of friends. Always take care of one another, trust each other, and show your support even when you don’t agree.

And to my own sister, Michelle, you are truly an inspiration. I love you. We have been through so much together and no matter how far away you are or how long we go between visits, I know I can always count on you.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 1

The windshield wipers fell in and out of sync with the slow rhythm of the song on the radio as Meg focused on the road that led to her sister’s cookie-cutter suburban neighborhood. The rain suddenly picked up in intensity, like a warning of the challenge that lay ahead. Meg pressed tentatively on the gas ready to get the most difficult part of her day over with but knowing that the reunion would be nothing if not tense.

Her sister, Claire was younger by a couple of years but had always been the one who had it together, at least according to their mother. Claire was married and had a beautiful 13-year-old daughter named Emmy. But that had all come crashing down around her when Claire’s husband, Bill decided to start a relationship with another mom from the PTA. Now Meg was determined to be the one to break the freeze-out that had developed slowly over time between the two sisters.

Meg turned the corner onto her sister’s street the picket fence, three-sided brick prison ironically called Dovetail Lane, seemed to go on forever spitting out the same image over and over as far as the eye could see. Her body tensed as she pulled into Claire’s driveway remembering the last time they had seen each other. She put the car into park and sat staring up at the pretentious two-story through the rain.

A couple of deep breaths, Meg narrated as she put in a new CD for musical inspiration. And some Cindy Lauper. Girls Just Want to Have Fun began to blare in the car and Meg instantly flashed back to her and her sister dancing around the living room as kids wearing their mother’s costume jewelry and discarded dresses.

Meg shut off the car and stepped out into the rain which had slowed to a drizzle, pausing on the doorstep unsure whether to ring the bell or just walk in. She decided on a happy medium and knocked while attempting to twist the knob, which didn’t budge. She waited another minute before reaching over and pushing the button that she knew would chime some obnoxious tune in the immaculate pine-scented foyer beyond the door. After a few moments, she heard fumbling, and the door clumsily blew open.

The Claire that stood in front of her was nothing like the perfectly quaffed suburban mom she remembered.

You wearing that? Meg asked as she brushed past her sister who stood stunned in the doorway.

Claire slammed the door shut her jaw clenched tightly in frustration as she watched her sister survey the mess downstairs.

What are you doing here Meg? It’s seven o’clock in the morning!

Meg continued to nervously flit around the living space picking at items that littered the usually immaculate house.

I told you I was going to be here early. You never know how long it will take us to get through security at the airport, especially with you looking like that.

Meg looked Claire up and down taking in the food stains on her Art Institute of Chicago t-shirt, the robe that hung crookedly across her shoulders, the sweatpants, and fuzzy socks. Meg couldn’t remember ever seeing her sister in baggy sweats before. Her hair hung limply around her face except for this one matted area that seemed to be tangled up around her left ear.

And I told you I wasn’t going on your stupid trip, Claire replied yanking the robe closed over the ensemble and tying the belt tightly across her middle. She pushed past Meg dragging her feet as she shuffled into the kitchen pulling a mug from the cabinet and beginning to make her morning cup of coffee.

Meg took another couple of deep breaths, realizing that the piney fresh scent she associated with her sister’s house was a thing of the past. She pushed the strange odor from her mind with a renewed determination to get her sister out of the house.

Look, Claire, I got special permission from the head of my department to bring you along on our annual research trip. A lot of arrangements had to be made for you to come. Meg paused waiting for some response from her sister who remained completely focused on her task. The tickets are nonrefundable! The anger began to seep into Meg’s tone as she raised her voice to get through.

CLAIRE! Meg yelled, causing Claire to turn away from the counter and face her. Dark circles hung under Claire’s puffy red eyes. Meg walked over until she stood right in front of her sister and used the sternest professor voice she could muster to lay down the law. You are going on the trip if I have to drug you and drag your unconscious body all the way to Sommerset Island. She pried the mug from Claire’s death grip and took a step back.

Now, I’ll make us some coffee. Meg pasted on her most enthusiastic smile and walked over to the counter to pick up where Claire had left off. After a few seconds, she heard Claire’s shuffle sliding towards the front stairs. She didn’t let her shoulders relax until she heard the unmistakable click of Claire’s bedroom door shutting behind her. This is going to be a very long week, Meg grumbled to herself.

She flipped on the coffee pot and started to rummage through the cabinets for something edible. She finally settled on toast and pulled some jam from the fridge to add to the tray to carry up for her sister. She added some cream and sugar to the steaming mugs of coffee and set them on the tray as well. Slowly she picked her way through the stacks of items left lining the stairs from the bottom step to the top. Claire paused at the door and rested the tray on one knee as she pushed it open to step in.

Anger immediately overtook all rational thought when she spotted Claire curled up in the king-sized bed with her pillow over her head. Meg slammed the tray down onto the dresser causing coffee to splash out of the mugs onto the laundry piled everywhere.

OH NO, YOU DID NOT! Meg yelled climbing over the bed ripping back the covers and began to push at Claire repeatedly until she fell off the bed and onto the floor on the other side. Claire’s head popped up from the floor, and she returned the evil glare that Meg was shooting at her.

What the hell Meg? The anger evaporated, and her eyes began to fill with tears which quickly spilled over and ran down her cheeks. She swiped at them ineffectively trying to stop the flow but couldn’t keep up. I can’t… Claire croaked the sobbing now taking over completely she fell back into a heap on the floor.

Meg couldn’t understand what Claire was mumbling between sobs and gasps for air. She definitely caught Bill’s name and Emmy’s and of course mom. Every good meltdown either of them ever had could somehow be linked back to their mother. Meg stepped around the piles of clothing and slumped down on the floor next to her sister. She pulled Claire up by her arms into a sitting position.

I know that Bill cheated on you. He’s a slimy bastard who I would gladly castrate for you and for the sake of all the women in the world. But you can’t just spend the entire summer lying here in all of this filth feeling sorry for yourself. I won’t let you! She pulled Claire into an awkward hug and patted her on the back like their mother had done when they were kids. I’m your big sister, and I love you too much to let you destroy yourself like this. She pulled away and looked her in the eyes again. Death by garbage is no way to go.

Meg pulled her sister close before releasing her. Now, you need to go get in the shower because I am not spending the entire trip sitting next to you smelling like BO and old pizza.

They held onto one another for balance as they pulled themselves up from the floor. Claire rubbed the last of the tears from her face using the sleeve of her robe and then pulled it off and tossed it onto the bed. She headed for the bathroom but turned back at the last minute looking over at Meg who was already picking through the mess in the room. She started to say something, to thank her, or tell her how much she hated it when she was right. She certainly wasn’t going to admit it but Claire was happy to see her sister.

Instead, she slipped silently into the bathroom and closed the door behind her hoping the warm water could wash away some of the sadness that seemed to be holding her in place, unable to let go of the life that she thought was hers but had, in truth, only been a myth.

Claire showered quickly just focusing on getting cleaned up. If she left her sister alone for too long she may decide to pack for her and who knows what she would end up having to wear during this hostage situation of a vacation. She pulled on a pair of jean shorts and an old t-shirt and then found semi-clean socks and her sneakers buried under a towel on the floor of the bathroom. She left her hair wet, after all the rain outside would ruin it even if she took the time to blow dry it. She stepped out of the bathroom feeling a bit better only to find her sister sitting in the corner with her arms and legs crossed and a scowl on her face. Meg stood up stick straight and pointed to the row of boxes neatly stacked under the window.

What is that? she said in a clipped tone.

Claire knew why her sister was frustrated but didn’t want to get into another argument. Those are Bill’s things, Claire said matter of factly and began to pull items from around the room that she wanted to take along on the trip.

Meg walked over to the nearest stack and began to read aloud from the neatly printed label tacked onto the top box. Brown leather shoes we got on vacation in Italy, brown leather belt Emmy got you for Father’s Day, paisley tie I got you for our 15th wedding anniversary, green shirt that brings out the hazel in your eyes.

Claire didn’t pause what she was doing but she could feel Meg’s gaze on her back as she pulled items from the top drawer of her dresser. Maybe if she kept packing her sister would just move on to another subject.

Claire! Meg barked causing Claire to jump and forcing her to stop what she was doing and focus on her sister.

What the hell is this? Meg asked again making it clear Claire wasn’t going to get out of explaining.

Claire took a deep breath and cleared her throat. Bill was supposed to come by last week and pick those up but he has been very busy and simply hasn’t had a chance yet. Claire once again turned her attention to shoving things in her suitcase, but she could still feel her sister’s eyes on her.

Well then, Meg added in a clipped tone. I should help you get these things downstairs for him.

Claire’s eyes shot up at the sound of her sister opening the bedroom window and popping out the screen. She made a clumsy attempt to get over to Meg but tripped on a pile of discarded shoes falling face-first into the dirty laundry. She lay on the floor helplessly, too exhausted to do anything to stop it, as she watched Meg open box after box and pour the contents out of the second-story window and onto the front lawn.

Meg opened the last box and paused as she peered down into it. Slowly she pulled a small oil painting from the box. This is one of yours! It was a fact but Meg made it sound more like an accusation.

But I painted it for Bill, Claire responded pulling herself up from the floor and pulling the painting out of her sister’s hands. She placed it back into the last remaining box and turned towards the closet hoping to get the final few items out of harm’s way. Meg reached over her shoulder and plucked the canvas from the box.

Meg.. Claire started to protest but Meg interrupted her.

No, Meg shook her head vehemently no way no how. He simply can’t have it, Claire. There isn’t one single painting of yours hanging anywhere in this house anymore. The entire place is covered in taupe and beige dotted with generic art from Pottery Barn. She looked down at the painting in her hands. He won’t appreciate it. So he can’t have it. Meg’s stubborn streak could be a real pain in Claire’s behind but she did appreciate the sentiment.

Ok. Claire conceded. You can hang that one in your office at the University. Claire dumped the half-empty box in the closet and pulled a few items off hangers, tossing them into the suitcase and zipping it up. Let’s get out of here, Claire said tossing a bag to Meg and pulled the suitcase off the bed.

Claire locked the house behind her and walked over to Meg’s car. The rain and had stopped and the sun began to peek through the clouds. A neighbor drove slowly by, staring out the window as the sisters added Claire’s things to the trunk of Meg’s car. Claire waved politely back as they gaped at the scene in her yard.

Meg snickered to herself and pulled out her cell phone to take a couple of quick snapshots of the mess. Oh, what I wouldn’t pay to see Bill pull up and take this all in, Meg said pointing up to the boxers and socks that hung limply from the tree branches. Her internal giggle turned into a full-on belly laugh as she surveyed the mess. From the shoes and shirts in the bushes to the toiletries littering the front walk, Meg could not stop laughing.

You are the evil cohort of Satan himself aren’t you? Claire asked as her sister continued to chuckle sadistically. Meg winked back at her changing her laugh into a perfect imitation of the wicked witch.

Claire rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile just a little bit. She slipped into the passenger seat of the car trying not to make direct eye contact with the trashed front yard. She was tempted to text Bill and let him know about the mess so he could come by and clean it up before the HOA rep did their weekly drive-by checks. But decided that it was his mess and he could clean it up and pay the fine for the disaster in their yard if it stayed there long enough.

Meg jumped into the car and started it up. Cindy Lauper picked up right where she had left off and the sisters fell into a companionable silence as the pulled away from the house. Meg glanced over every few seconds to reassure herself that her sister was all right. Claire sat slumped in her seat staring blindly out the windshield but the corners of her mouth turned up as the familiar song brought back happy memories.

Getting her sister to laugh was just one goal on a long list of things Meg hoped to accomplish on this trip but the slight smile on her sister’s face was enough to justify all of the changes she had made to her plans. For Meg, this was a trip back to her favorite place in the world. She had fallen head over heels in love with Sommerset Island when she first visited, and she couldn’t wait to share this magical island with her sister.

Chapter 2

The airport was crowded and noisy and full of people coming and going, transfixed on their destinations. The ride had been quiet and the discomfort between the sisters grew every minute the silence continued. Claire didn’t know what to make of her sister’s superhero-like entrance earlier that day. Should she be angry or grateful? Should she pinch her sister in the arm, like she had done when they were kids, or throw her arms around her and beg her for forgiveness? They moved methodically through the crowd and came to a stop in front of their gate. It would be another hour before the flight would begin boarding.

We should have brought some of your magazines from the massive collection you had in your living room, Meg said hoping to open the door for conversation,

So, Claire began tentatively. What is the place you are taking me to? I have never heard of it before and there was very little information about it on the internet.

Meg’s grin turned completely sadistic, but she wasn’t giving her sister any more information than was completely necessary.

Wouldn’t you like to know? Meg threw back teasingly. Claire felt the nerves bubbling up in her stomach. She had been clinging to her depression, stuck in the same place for...my gosh, how long had it been? She didn’t like stepping out of her comfort zone and into an unknown situation, especially when her sister was in charge, but anything was better than where she had been since Bill left. Still, the pit of nerves in her stomach wasn’t letting up and her sister’s smug expression wasn’t reassuring her at all.

I can’t believe you convinced me to leave Emmy and go traipsing off to some unheard-of island to do who knows what. Guilt mingled with fear began to bubble up in Claire’s mind and pushed her anxiety up another notch.

Meg turned to her sister and studied her closely. She knew that Claire’s daughter Emmy wasn’t speaking to either Claire or Bill after their separation became public knowledge. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before responding.

Claire, Emmy just needs a little time. She will be fine staying with Mom for a few weeks. Mom has a pool and a guest room and lots of time on her hands. Let her spoil Emmy a little and when Emmy starts to feel thoroughly suffocated by her grandmother she will beg to come home.

"I think I need a