Chapter 2

I opened the message thread.

"Kev, stop fighting with Darlene. I can only come over one day a month. Let her be with you the other twenty-nine days for me."

Kevin's reply had come three minutes ago.

"But I only want you with me... Being good to her makes me feel like I'm betraying you."

"Be good. Listen to me."

My fingertips were ice cold as I dragged numbly up through the messages.

Hundreds of pages of them.

All of it love, poured out to Georgina.

"It got colder today. Is it cold in that world of yours?"

"Passed a flower shop and saw jasmine, your favorite. Too bad I can't give them to you."

He wrote her thousand-word love letters.

He stayed up all night when he missed her, sending voice messages just to tell her he loved her.

All of this, he had once given me too, holding nothing back.

That was why I'd fallen apart the way I did a year ago when he first asked for the divorce.

But now he had handed all that love to someone else, down to the last piece.

More desperately than he ever had for me.

I was about to close the app when I saw a familiar profile photo in the feed.

My mother, and Abigail Delgado.

But nothing had come through to my own messages.

I closed my eyes and forced back the tears that wanted to fall.

So they'd both blocked me.

I opened my mother's newest post.

In the photo, Georgina sat with her head bowed, drinking soup.

The caption: "Heaven has mercy. My sweet daughter can finally come home and share a meal with me."

And Abigail's post.

A selfie of her and Georgina, heads pressed together.

The caption: "The best big sister. Even across worlds, I'll always be by your side."

Kevin had liked it and commented below: "She's got no appetite today. Cheer her up for me."

I stared at the words.

Something in my head blew wide open.

It was the first time I'd looked, really looked, at Georgina's face.

Her eyes and brows did carry something of my mother in those old photos of her youth.

So.

She really was the sister from another world.

Then what about the me in that other world?

Was I doing all right?

And why did she keep crossing over into this one, again and again, to take everything I had?

"What are you looking at, so caught up in it?"

Kevin came out carrying the barbecue ribs.

When he saw the screen glowing in my hand, the smile froze on his face.

But he only stalled for a second.

Then he untied his apron, easy and unbothered.

"You saw," he said, his tone cool and mild.

"Yes," I answered, my throat dry.

"Then I won't hide it from you anymore."

Kevin set a rib in my bowl.

"Gina doesn't have long in this world. I don't want to put any weight on her."

"She's always felt like she's the one who wrecked our marriage. She feels guilty about it. So, Darlene, cooperate a little."

I stared at the rib in my bowl, its glaze red and shining, while my stomach turned over.

"And if I don't?"

Kevin set down his chopsticks. He was still smiling, but the words came out cruel.

"You don't have a choice."

"Your mother and Abby are both on Gina's side. If you make a scene, you're the only one who loses."

"Darlene, you can't survive without us. Isn't that right?"

Once, that was true. It wouldn't be anymore.

I looked at him.

Less than half an hour later, the doorbell rang.

My mother and Abigail rushed in, clearly summoned by Kevin's message.

They were tense, guarded, and underneath it a careful, coaxing eagerness.

As if I were a bomb that might go off any second.

My mother came straight to me and took my hands.

"Dar, Kev told you everything, didn't he? Don't hold it against Gina."

"She's had such a hard time in that world. There was an accident in the family, and she dropped out and worked to hold the whole household together, all on her own. She barely made it through alive."

"We just feel for her. Can't we share a little of our love with her?"

Abigail leaned in too, her voice edged with blame.

"Darlene, don't be so selfish. Gina only comes one day a month. What is there for you to put up with? You've already had more than enough as it is!"