Skye's "sisterly concern" face looked very different than Rosalind's.
Batty had never bothered to think about the exact shape and defining aspects of Rosalind's face until now. Batty had never appreciated how Rosalind tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow and asked Batty with her eyes to tell her what was wrong and that no matter what the issue was, Rosalind could help fix it.
As for Skye's "sisterly concern" face, this was a world debut.
What killed Batty was how genuine Skye's face was. It wasn't the pained, slightly awkward face Skye put on when she knew something was wrong with Batty and no one else was around to fix it so Skye had to at least try. That face just looked like Skye was sucking on a lemon.
As Skye and Batty walked slowly up the road towards Moose Market, Skye's face was open and soft. Her mouth, usually drawn in a tight line of concentration, was relaxed and ever so slightly angled into a soft and inviting smile. Batty would never have guessed that Skye possessed an inviting smile.
And when Skye was concerned – truly and sincerely concerned – her eyes looked like deep wells of unassailable strength. Batty liked that. Those fierce eyes could protect her against any horrible feeling. Those eyes would come out fighting for her.
"You didn't waste your freshman year," Skye said.
That was another difference between Skye and Rosalind. Rosalind usually waited for Batty to voice her sadness, or Rosalind would ask gentle questions. Skye went straight to the crucial heart of the matter.
"You did loads of amazing stuff," Skye continued. "And we're all so proud of you, seriously. And I'm sure Wesley added a lot to your life. I bet he was great, while it lasted."
"You met Wesley," Batty said. "Don't you have an opinion on whether he was great or not?"
"I met him for two days six months ago," Skye said. "I've made enough snap judgments about people that ended up being so wrong that I've learned to get to know people a bit more these days before I start announcing my opinion."
"Like with Jeffrey?" Batty asked. "When you originally thought he was snobby and rich and horrible?"
"Exactly," Skye said with a smile.
To the right of the sisters, there was a slope that dropped sharply down to the shore. Batty peered at the rocks and shuddered. Jane had once fallen down that slope, and Batty still remembered the gore of Jane's bloody nose. That was a boy's fault as well.
The Penderwick women, as a whole, were not their best selves when boys entered the equation.
"You were smart," Batty said. "You didn't have a boyfriend in college, and you were top of your class and won all those research awards and had the best time."
"I did have a good time," Skye said. "And I definitely don't regret not having a boyfriend."
Batty nodded.
"But everyone is different," Skye said. "I didn't want a boyfriend. But if you want one, of course you should go for it. If you're ready to fall in love and all that."
They stopped outside Moose Market, and Batty tried to swallow her tears. She was too old to cry in public.
"But it hurts," Batty mumbled.
"Yeah, but it also is the most amazing thing ever, when you let someone in," Skye said. "Or so I've heard."
"You let Dusek in, didn't you?" Batty asked.
Skye peered up at the big wooden moose.
"Now that you ask, I don't think I ever did," Skye said. "So you're hurting now, but it only means that you had a special thing with Wesley. I'm not hurting, but that's just because I never actually got to experience an intense connection like you did."
Batty was shocked. She had thought Dusek and Skye were perfect for each other. Everyone had said so. Because Skye studied astrophysics, and Dusek studied the marine biology. And because...Now that she mulled it over, Batty couldn't think of a single other reason.
"So, the pain is a good thing," Skye said. "It means you let your heart soar to greater heights. Or whatever."
"Jesus, you wanna write that down for Jane," Batty said with a smile.
Skye lightly punched her shoulder, and they hopped up the steps and into the store.