The Sister Effect


 
 
 
 Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women’s lives—family, friendship and romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations,” and readers seem to agree—forty million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live.
 Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s passionate about animal welfare, especially that of the ragdoll cat and adorable poodle who think of her as Mom.
 Visit Susan online at www.susanmallery.com.
 
 
 Select Praise for Susan Mallery
 “A book begging to be read on the beach, with the sun warming the sand and salt in the air: pure escapism.”
 —Kirkus Reviews on The Boardwalk Bookshop
 “This engaging character study is sure to please her many fans as well as readers of similar authors such as Nancy Thayer and Debbie Macomber.”
 —Library Journal on The Stepsisters
 “Heartfelt, funny, and utterly charming all the way through!”
 —Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author, on Daughters of the Bride
 “Mallery’s authentic characters and their refreshing summer escapades are sure to resonate. The emphasis on the power of friendship and the joy of new romance make this sparkling novel a sure hit with women’s fiction fans.”
 —Publishers Weekly on The Friendship List
 “Mallery is an expert at writing about strong women, their friendships, and their romances.”
 —Booklist on The Vineyard at Painted Moon
 “Mallery’s latest novel is a breath of fresh air.”
 —Library Journal on The Summer of Sunshine & Margot, starred review
 “Mallery brings her signature humor and style to this moving story of strong women who help each other deal with realistic challenges, a tale as appealing as the fiction of Debbie Macomber and Anne Tyler.”
 —Booklist on California Girls
 “Mallery blends friend-and-family relationships with contemporary romance, making this an excellent summer read for fans of both genres.”
 —Booklist on Secrets of the Tulip Sisters
 
 
 The Sister Effect
 Susan Mallery
 
 
 
 To Sarah...for Ellis
 
 
 Contents
 Chapter One
 Chapter Two
 Chapter Three
 Chapter Four
 Chapter Five
 Chapter Six
 Chapter Seven
 Chapter Eight
 Chapter Nine
 Chapter Ten
 Chapter Eleven
 Chapter Twelve
 Chapter Thirteen
 Chapter Fourteen
 Chapter Fifteen
 Chapter Sixteen
 Chapter Seventeen
 Chapter Eighteen
 Chapter Nineteen
 Chapter Twenty
 Chapter Twenty-One
 Chapter Twenty-Two
 Chapter Twenty-Three
 Chapter Twenty-Four
 Chapter Twenty-Five
 Chapter Twenty-Six
 Chapter Twenty-Seven
 Chapter Twenty-Eight
 Chapter Twenty-Nine
 Reader Discussion Guide
 Questions for Discussion
 Cinnamon Custard Yum-Yum
 
 
 One
 Finley McGowan loved her niece, Aubrey, with all her heart, but there was no avoiding the truth—Aubrey had not been born with tap dance talent. While the other eight-year-olds moved in perfect rhythm, Aubrey was just a half beat behind. Every time. Like a sharp, staccato echo as the song “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic played over the dance studio’s sound system.
 Finley felt a few of the moms glance at her, as if gauging her reaction to Aubrey’s performance, but Finley only smiled and nodded along, filled with a fierce pride that Aubrey danced with enthusiasm and joy. If tap was going to be her life, then the rhythm thing would matter more, but Aubrey was still a kid and trying new things. So she wasn’t great at dance, or archery, or swimming—she was a sweet girl who had a big heart and a positive outlook on life. That was enough of a win for Finley. She could survive the jarring half-beat echo until her niece moved on to another activity.
 The song ended and the adults gathered for the monthly update performance clapped. Aubrey rushed toward her aunt, arms outstretched for a big hug. Finley caught her and pulled her close.
 “Excellent performance,” she said, smoothing the top of her head. “You weren’t nervous.”
 “I know. I don’t get scared anymore. I really liked the song and the routine was fun to learn. Thank you for helping me practice.”
 “Anytime.”
 When Aubrey had first wanted to study tap, Finley had gone online to find instructions to build a small, homemade tap floor. They’d put it out in the garage and hooked up a Bluetooth speaker. Every afternoon, before dinner, Finley had played “Counting Stars” and called out the steps so Aubrey could memorize her routine. Next week the dance students would get a new routine and new song, and the process would start all over again. Finley really hoped the new music wouldn’t be annoying—given that she was going to have to listen to it three or four hundred times over the next few weeks.
 They walked to the cubbies, where Aubrey pulled a sweatshirt over her leotard, then traded tap shoes for rain boots. April in the Pacific Northwest meant gray, wet skies and cool temperatures. Finley made sure her niece had her backpack from school, then waved goodbye to the instructor before ushering Aubrey to her Subaru.
 While her niece settled in the passenger-side back seat, Finley put the backpack within arm’s reach. Inevitably, despite the short drive home, Aubrey would remember something she had to share and would go scrambling for it. Finley didn’t want a repeat of the time her niece had unfastened her seat belt and gone shimmying into the cargo area to dig out her perfect spelling test. Going sixty miles an hour down the freeway with an eight-year-old as a potential projectile had aged Finley twenty years.
 “We got our history project,” Aubrey announced as Finley started the car. “We’re going to be working in teams to make a diorama of a local Native American tribe. There’s four of us in our group.” She paused dramatically. “Including Zoe!”
 “Zoe red hair or Zoe black hair?”
 Aubrey laughed. “Zoe black hair. If it had been Zoe red hair, my life would have been ruined forever.”
 “Over a diorama? Shouldn’t your life be ruined over running out of ice cream or a rip in your favorite jacket?”
 “Dioramas are