All She Ever Wanted by Rosalind Noonan

about creating an archive of her baby’s birth mementoes. The knit skullcap from the hospital, a copy of her birth certificate, her footprint and baby booties—these souvenirs would be arranged in the box and decorated with bows that had been saved from Chelsea’s baby shower.
    Of course, the box was still empty. Gathering dust.
    Emma wiped it off and set it on the kitchen table. She was going to take it home, along with the knickknacks and the footprint they’d made with pink paint last week. When she returned next week, she would give it to Chelsea all assembled. Maybe that would help cheer up her sister.
    In the kitchen she noticed the calendar hanging on the cork board. There were two notations under today’s date: the appointment with Dr. Volmer and “date night.”
    Earlier in the week Chelsea had mentioned her plans to have dinner with Leo, their first date in weeks. She had asked Emma to babysit, but Emma and Jake had plans: dinner with one of the partners at Jake’s firm. She checked the wall clock.
    It would be good for Chelsea to get out. And after Chelsea’s episode this afternoon, Emma would feel better knowing Leo would be by her side throughout the evening.
    â€œHey, sleepyhead. Are you still on for your date with Leo tonight?”
    â€œWhat?” Slowly, Chelsea’s eyes slid open. “Is it Friday?”
    â€œIt is. Do you want to start getting ready? I’ll listen for Annabelle if you want to take a shower.”
    Dazed, Chelsea sat up on the couch, pushed off the fleece throw blanket, and raked her hair back. “I forgot about the date. I’m not really in the mood. The black holes are back.”
    â€œWell, maybe this will help.” Emma took a pink pill from the new container and handed it to her sister. “I got your prescription filled while you were napping.”
    Chelsea stared off into the distance. “Thanks. I need a shower.”
    Emma knew that a shower was one of Chelsea’s only relaxations. “Indulge yourself.”
    â€œOkay.” Chelsea rose, letting the blanket drop onto the floor.
    Watching her head upstairs without picking it up or straightening the pillows on the couch, Emma found it hard to measure just how far Chelsea’s life had wavered off course.
    Later, as she styled her sister’s long auburn hair with a blow dryer, Emma told her about the appointment with Dr. Chin. “The soonest I could get was a week from Wednesday.”
    In the mirror, she saw Chelsea’s glum expression, the strain of her lips as she mulled it over.
    â€œIs that date okay for you? You didn’t have anything on your calendar.”
    â€œI guess,” Chelsea said, staring down at the floor. “But by that time I’ll be all cured from my little pink pills.”
    â€œThat would be nice, but I’m trying to be realistic. I know you get sick of hearing me be your cheerleader, but these bad times will pass. This is temporary. Dr. Chin is going to help you, and you’re going to start feeling better soon. You’ll be your old self again, ripping down walls and building window seats. You’ll start to enjoy being a mother. And in six months, my baby will be here, and the cousins can grow together and bond like siblings.”
    She brushed Chelsea’s hair away from her eyes. “They’ll be close like us. Two nuts stuck together like peanut brittle.” It was an old family expression coined by their uncle John one summer vacation when Chelsea and Emma had spent endless hours together on the lake.
    Chelsea nodded, still a million miles away.
    â€œAnd then I’m going to need your help. You’re going to be the one with the experience, while I’ll just be learning how to be a mother. You’ll help me out, right?”
    But Chelsea didn’t answer. She just kept staring at the floor, her blue eyes icy and vacant.

Chapter 6
    O ne hand on the steering wheel, Leo Green