Hello Beautiful

by Ann Napolitano

Rose had tried to build a solid life, but Charlie had wandered away with, or kicked over, every stone she laid down.

The last time Julia—intrigued by the focused expression on Cecelia’s face—asked her sister what she was thinking about, Cecelia had said, “Purple.”

Emeline read the emotional tenor of every room and wanted everyone to feel comfortable and content at all times.

Sylvie was the sister Julia was closest to, and she was also the only person who stymied Julia, who left her at a loss for words.

Emeline had asked a few years earlier in response to this comment. She’d spoken with all of her little-girl sweetness; it was commonly agreed that she was the gentlest and most earnest of the four girls.

William proposed when they were juniors.

Julia appreciated the elegance of her plans: engaged this summer, graduation and wedding next summer, and then William would enter a PhD program.

She said she had something in the oven and it was nice they were getting married, but she had to go now. The entire call was finished in less than ten minutes.

Sylvie August 1981–June 1982