Their mother looked old for the very first time. After a glance at Andrea, Hannah knew that their mother’s appearance had also disturbed her sister. Something was drastically wrong. “Hi, Mother. What’s up?” Hannah tried for a note of levity, but it didn’t work. She sounded flip and that’s not what she meant at all. “Sorry. That came out wrong.” “It doesn’t matter,” Delores said flatly, stepping aside so that they could enter. “Come on, girls. I have coffee set out in the living room.” Hannah took a deep breath for courage as Delores led the way. Most family discussions were held in the kitchen around the circular oak table. That’s where Delores told Andrea how much she could spend for her prom dress, and where they all sat around and discussed which college applications Hannah should fill out. The living room was only used for matters of gravity, like when Andrea announced that she wanted to marry Bill, and when Hannah had asked to stay in college for another year to get her master’s instead of coming back to teach English at Jordan High.
