"Your sister? Maura what are you talking about? You don't have a sister. You're an only child."
"No, I'm not."
"Since when? Is this a newly discovered, sibling? An actual sibling, related by blood?"
"No."
"To which one?"
"All of the above."
"Then why do you always say that you're an only child? You don't want anyone to know that you have a sister?"
"I just forget, sometimes. If you say something enough, it starts sounding like the truth."
"Why would you say that you're an only child, if you're not?"
"It's complicated."
"Complicated, how?"
"I forget.""You forget? I've never known you to forget anything."
"She's a lot younger, than I am."
"How much younger?"
"Nearly seventeen years younger than I am. We didn't grow up together. It's not as if we're close."
"She's still your sister."
"Not really."
"What do you mean, not really?"
"She's adopted."
"So are you. That doesn't mean that she's not your sister."
"Jane she's almost a stranger to me."
"What I don't understand is why you've never said anything. Why do you always to claim to be an only child, especially, if you aren't?"
"Because..."
"Because?"
"Don't interrogate me."
"Can I meet her?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"She's only going to be in for the weekend."
"You said yourself, you're not close to her. So you shouldn't mind, if I interrupt your time with her."
"No."
"Why not?"
"You won't like her."
"You're just saying that."
"Jane, please."
"Is there something wrong with her? Is she a hellion? Is she a delinquent with tattoos, and piercings?"
"No."
"What's she like?"
"I don't know. I see her a couple times a year. I guess that she's like any one else her age."
"How old is she?"
"This weekend is her birthday."
"How old will she be?"
"Twenty one."
"She's turning twenty one, and she's choosing to come spend her birthday with you?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to take her out?"
"No."
"Why not? That's what you're supposed to do on your twenty first birthday."
"I don't think that my parents would appreciate that."
"So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
"Why does she want to see you on her birthday, instead of your parents?"
"My parents are overbearing."
"They're still her parents."
"Jane..."
"I'm going to meet her."
"No, you're not."
"Whatever."
Maura finds herself eating dinner at a fancy restaurant. She stares at the college aged girl, on the other side of the table. Between them are two plates, glasses, silverware, and an awkward silence. A waiter comes up to the table, and places another chair at their table.
"What's that for?" Maura looks at him.
"She said that you were expecting her."
Maura looks up, and finds Jane approaching them. Jane smiles devilishly. She stops at the table. She smiles smugly, for a minute, and then takes a seat.
Jane offers her hand, "Hi, I'm Jane."
"Jane, I'm Allison."
"Nice to meet you."
"Jane you should go."
"What are you drinking?" Jane questions Allison.
"Water," Allison replies.
"Water? It's your twenty first birthday. Your sister didn't offer to buy you a drink?"
"No."
"Allison, and I were just getting ready to leave," Maura insists.
Allison shoots her a look.
"No, we weren't," she disagrees.
"Allison."
"Why didn't you want me to meet her?" Jane questions.
"Yeah, Maura, why didn't you want her to meet me?"
"Allison!"
"Tell her Maura."
"Allison, please. Can you just eat dinner?"
"Whatever," Allison rolls her eyes, and grabs her fork.
"You know Maura, she looks like you."
"So I've been told," Maura grits her teeth.
"She looks as if she's actually your sister," Jane adds.
"Yes. I know," Maura clenches his jaws.
"We get that all the time," Allison replies.
Jane turns to Allison. "What is her problem? Why does she look so irritated?"
"She doesn't want me to be here."
"Why not?"
"She doesn't want anyone to know her secret."