Leila’s stomach clenched as the plane touched down at RDU. It had been a smooth flight, free of turbulence, but storms raged inside her just the same. She had flown down two years earlier for her dad’s funeral and hadn’t been back since. She would have been fine extending that absence indefinitely had it not been for Maggie’s recent call. Leila had heard about their mom’s hip replacement the year before though the broken ankle weeks ago was new.
“She’s been falling lately,” Maggie said, her voice tripwire tight. “I think you should come.”
Left unsaid: you’re the oldest, and this shouldn’t be all on me.