“Mom! Amanda!” she cried. “You’re here.” “We figured if you couldn’t come to us, we’d come to you,” Amanda announced. Libby stepped aside to allow her family in. She hugged both her mother and sister and then turned toward the children, who were regarding the adults curiously. “Kate, Marky, this is my mother Bessie and my sister Amanda.” The kids stood back shyly. Marky was first to speak. “Who’s older, Miss Libby? You or Amanda?” “Amanda is older than me,” she told him, and he moved closer to her and eyed Amanda suspiciously. “So you were mean to Miss Libby when you were kids, huh?” he said angrily. Amanda’s jaw dropped and she turned toward Libby with mock-accusing eyes. “What have you been telling this child?” Libby spread her hands, her features set in stunned disbelief. “I… I…” She turned to Marky. “Honey, I never told you my sister was mean to me.” “I know,” he readily agreed. “But she’s older.” He gave a shrug. “Older sisters are always mean to younger kids.”
