Plus, Kerry had aced the FBI entrance exams and gotten into the academy, and today she was an FBI agent working in the Behavioral Analysis Unit.
May had recently been promoted to Tamarack County deputy, the first female deputy and the youngest ever county deputy, but she knew that her achievements were small-time compared to Kerry’s swathe of success.
May never felt good enough, or smart enough, or even good-looking enough when Kerry was around. May had always struggled to be taken seriously in comparison to her sister. She always felt small-time. Small-town and small-time, compared to her sister who had made it big. Nothing she did ever seemed to compare. Even solving the community’s recent serial killer case seemed like a minor accomplishment, since Kerry caught serial killers who were terrorizing entire cities or states.
She’d gotten used to it. She’d even managed to have a sense of humor about it, most times anyway. But right now, she had to get through the next few minutes. Because Kerry had told her there was news to come.
She pulled up in the pick-up zone where Kerry was waiting. She cut a sophisticated figure with her short blond hair, her wide blue eyes, her flawless skin, and her lean, athletic figure. She was wearing blue jeans and a taupe leather jacket, fabulous-looking ankle-length boots in soft brown leather, and expensive-looking sunglasses that accentuated her high cheekbones.
“Hi, sis,” she said, as she climbed into the car, stowing her carry-on in the back seat. “I’m so happy you could come and get me. I literally can’t believe this place. No rental cars available? I mean, really?”
“No problem,” May said, offering a smile that she hoped was warm and friendly. “It’s nice to see you. But why are you here?”
“I have some news!” Kerry grinned at her.
“What news?”
“I’m engaged!”
May nearly drove off the road as Kerry stuck her left hand in front of her, showing off a massive diamond ring which somehow, amid everything else she’d taken in about her sister, May hadn’t noticed.
May stared at the ring, feeling awestruck and also, for a moment, horribly jealous.
Everything in Kerry’s life kept going right! What May wouldn’t give to have a decent, steady boyfriend whom she loved and who loved her back!
But then her pang of jealousy was swept aside by genuine happiness for her sister.
“That’s amazing. Congratulations,” she said.
“It happened on our European getaway. We got back yesterday from a whirlwind weekend trip to Venice.” Kerry was beaming. “Brandon and I have been dating for a year. He’s one of the country’s top business lawyers. You know, he’s been all over the news recently for his work on the economic bailout. He is amazing and I’m so lucky to have him.”
“Wow,” May said. “I mean, wow. I’m so happy for you both. I know Mom and Dad will be thrilled too.”
“Well, of course. Mom was asking me last time I was here if I thought it was serious with him. But we’ve both been so busy that even something this important ended up taking a back seat. Anyway, this past weekend, we flew to Venice. It was supposed to be a quick vacation, but he proposed there. It was just unbelievably romantic, and a total surprise to me. On a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs!”
To Venice?
May dreamed of going to Venice. And Kerry had been! Not just been, but been and proposed to. May could never match that level of romance.
She’d been married for a few years at the age of twenty-one. Strangely enough, her ex was also a lawyer, though more of the ambulance-chaser type than the high flyer who’d fallen for Kerry.
It hadn’t worked out and here she was, divorced, with no new love on the horizon.
“Anyway,” Kerry said. “I know you’re probably very busy. Early summer in town must mean a lot of drunken students and the like for the police to manage. But I’m glad you were able to give me a ride here, and at least you know now!”
“I’m so thrilled for you,” May said, turning into her parents’ driveway and parking on the gravel. She decided not to tell Kerry about the murder case. Most likely, she wouldn’t listen anyway.
May climbed out. Alerted by the sound of her car, her father was already at the door.
“May, my angel! I always hear you from a mile away. Did you have a chance to get that exhaust pipe looked at? I think it might need some attention.”
And then Kerry climbed out and May watched, feeling small, as her father’s face lit up.
“Honey!” he called back into the house. “Kerry’s here!”
“Kerry?” May heard her mother’s cry from the kitchen.
A moment later, she rushed out.
“Kerry, my precious girl, I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, hugging her oldest child. “What an amazing surprise! You didn’t tell us you were coming!”
“Mom,” Kerry said, sounding pleased. “I have some big news to share.”
“What is it?” Her mother’s eyes were shining. Glancing at them, May saw how alike they were. Most definitely, Kerry had inherited more of her mother’s slim, blond, beautiful looks. And her perfectionist streak. No wonder she was the favorite daughter.
“I’m engaged!” Kerry lifted her left hand, the diamond sparkling in the rays of the midday sun.
“Oh, what happy news,” her mother said, and May saw tears in her eyes. “You must be on cloud nine. Brandon is such a wonderful man!”
“I sure am,” Kerry said. Her elation was obvious.
Her mother’s focus was stuck on her oldest daughter. Kerry glowed with delight and her mother was the perfect audience for it.
May felt a stab of envy.
Kerry was the golden child. Kerry was never going to have to struggle as hard as she did. She’d never have to feel like a failure.
“Girls, can you come in for a moment?” her father said. “I want to hear all about this.”
“May, it’s so good to see you,” her mother said, turning to her at last and looking slightly guilty at having forgotten all about her younger daughter. “Did you know about Kerry’s surprise?”
“Not a thing.” May smiled. It already felt forced.
“Is Brandon going to come out here as well?” Her mother turned back to Kerry.
“Yes. He’s just wrapping up a big case he’s working on. As soon as that’s done, he’s going to fly out. I’m waiting on his phone call to find out when it will be.”
“And how’s your work going? Do you have any interesting cases on the go?”
“Yes, we’ve just wrapped up a fascinating case. It’s a killer who struck at five-year intervals. I actually worked out his identity by going back into the archives and analyzing the behavior of everyone close to his victims.”
“How amazing! You know, we are also busy with a very disturbing case,” May tried, but she could see her parents didn’t even notice.
“Going back into the archives!” her mother echoed.
May sighed inwardly. How she wished the conversation would flow two ways, and that she could talk about her work, too, and contribute to the dialogue.
But Kerry’s news and Kerry’s work had eclipsed it. Her parents were too busy cooing over Kerry to pay any attention to her.
She looked at her watch.