That’s when I see her. Margot, standing a few feet behind Josh, her hand to her mouth. The piano music has stopped, the world has stopped spinning, because Margot has heard everything. #51 в контекст | | |
“It’s not true, is it? Please tell me it’s not true.” #52 в контекст | | |
I open and close my mouth. I don’t have to say anything, because she already knows. Margot who knows me so well. #53 в контекст | | |
“How could you?” she asks, and her voice trembles. The hurt in her eyes makes me want to die. I’ve never seen that look in her eyes before. #54 в контекст | | |
“Margot,” Josh begins, and she shakes her head and backs away. #55 в контекст | | |
“Get out,” she says, her voice breaking. Then she looks at me. “You’re my sister. You’re the person I trust more than anybody.” #56 в контекст | | |
“Gogo, wait—” But she’s already gone. I hear her feet run up the stairs. I hear her door shut and not slam. #57 в контекст | | |
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“I’m so sorry,” Josh says to me. Bleakly, he says, “This is all my fault.” He walks out the back door. #59 в контекст | | |
Peter moves to put his arms around me, but I stop him. “Can you just . . . can you just go?” #60 в контекст | | |
Hurt and surprise register on his face. “Sure, I can go,” he says, and he walks out of the kitchen. #61 в контекст | | |
I go to the bathroom off the side of the kitchen and sit on the toilet and cry. Someone knocks and I stop crying and call out, “Just a minute.” #62 в контекст | | |
Mrs. Shah’s cheery voice says, “Sorry, dear!” and I hear her heels clack away. #63 в контекст | | |
Then I get up and splash cold water on my face. My eyes are still red and puffy. I run water over a hand towel and I wet my face with it. My mom used to do this for me when I was sick. She’d put an ice-cold washcloth over my forehead and she’d switch it out with a fresh one when it wasn’t cold anymore. I wish my mom was here. #64 в контекст | | |
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When I step back into the party, Mr. Choi is sitting at the piano playing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and Ms. Rothschild has my dad cornered on the couch. She’s throwing back champagne, and he has a mildly startled look on his face. As soon he sees me, my dad jumps off the couch and over to me. “Oh, thank God,” he says. “Where’s Gogo? We haven’t done our number yet.” #66 в контекст | | |
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Daddy’s forehead creases. “Did she and Josh have a fight? I just saw him leave.” #70 в контекст | | |
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He pats me on the shoulder. “You’re a good sister, honey.” #72 в контекст | | |
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I go upstairs and Margot’s bedroom door is locked. I stand outside it and ask, “Can I come inside?” #74 в контекст | | |
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“Please, Margot. Please just let me explain. . . .” #76 в контекст | | |
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“I’m sorry. Margot, I’m so sorry. Please talk to me.” #78 в контекст | | |
I sit down outside my door and start to cry. My big sister knows how to hurt me best. Silence from her, being shut out by her, is the worst punishment she could conjure up. #79 в контекст | | |
