My Sister Kept Walking Around My Husband in Just a Towel and Called It a ‘Test’ – Then One Day, He Did Something That Made Her Turn Bright Red

After a minute, Kayla said, "I wasn't trying to take Andrew from you." She finally looked at me. "I just needed to know."

I reached for the door handle, then stopped.

Kayla watched me.

"It doesn't explain why my 'no' stopped mattering to you."

Her hand went still around the phone.

And this time, she didn't argue.

Inside, Kayla put the ugly robe back on the chair.

"I am sorry," she said.

I waited.

"Not for being heartbroken. I'm still pretty committed to that."

She looked at the robe.

"I'm sorry I decided you had to prove your boundary made sense before I'd respect it."

"Thank you," I said.

"I'm not asking you to."

We sat at the kitchen table and gave "temporary" an actual shape.

Kayla would keep applying for jobs. Once she had income, she'd contribute something small. We'd revisit the room listings together and choose a realistic move-out date.

"And no more tests," I warned.

Andrew walked in carrying groceries.

"That should probably be a universal rule."

Kayla pointed at him.

"He's allowed to speak in his own kitchen."

Andrew set the bags down.

"Thank you, Amanda."

Kayla rolled her eyes, but there was no fight behind it.

Then Andrew looked at me.

"And next time something affects both of us, I won't hide behind 'she's your sister.'"

Kayla groaned.

"Are you two going to become emotionally healthy right in front of me?"

"Probably," Andrew said. "You can move out if it's unbearable."

She threw a dish towel at him.

***

The next morning, I heard the shower before seven.

Andrew was drinking coffee when footsteps came down the stairs.

He glanced at me.

I glanced back.

Kayla entered wearing the ancient blue robe from our linen closet.

It had faded ducks across the pockets and one sleeve slightly shorter than the other.

She went straight to the coffee maker.

Andrew said nothing.

Neither did I.

Kayla reached toward the bag of coffee beans Andrew ordered online.

"Can I use these?"