Shayna was everyone’s favorite. Was there room for Esti?

“H

ey Shimmy! You look so cute in your policeman pajamas.” Shayna leaned over Shimmy, admiring his pajama set.

The seven-year-old seemed confused, but he brightened when his big brothers Ari and Tzvi walked into the living room and dualed with him with air swords.

“It’s cowboys,” Esti explained to her sister-in-law as she settled next to her on the couch in her in-laws’ home.

“Oh, I get those two mixed up all the time.” Shayna giggled, watching the brothers play-fight.

Esti wanted to kick herself. Why did she feel the need to correct Shayna? Who cared if it was policemen or cowboys? Certainly not the boys, running in circles from the kitchen to the living room.

Just because she was annoyed Shayna was there tonight? She’d been looking forward to a quiet dinner at which they’d share their news with Tzvi’s parents. And then Tzvi had texted her, asking if she minded if Ari and Shayna were there. Of course she’d said they could come, but actually, yes, she minded.

Because somehow, Shayna managed to attract all attention, like a hypnotist. Esti had gotten used to it in the few months since Shayna married Ari, but tonight, she wasn’t in the mood. She thought about her parents’ reaction to her news; their excitement had nearly damaged the speaker on her phone, but they were still hundreds of miles away in Houston. Esti craved a hug, tears of joy, nachas shepped. She wanted the attention tonight. Now, they’d have to wait until Ari and Shayna left.

“How’s the bathroom makeover?” Esti asked Shayna, switching gears. Shayna had been revamping her apartment, blowing up Esti’s DM for ideas.

“Omigosh, my mom helped me pick out the blue towels, but now I think we want to go with green. So I have to go back to HomeGoods, but I have no clue what to do.”

“Do you me to come?” Esti asked, in an attempt to soften her earlier criticism. She hoped Shayna would say no. They’d gone shopping together during Shayna’s engagement, when Esti was excited about the prospect of a sister-in-law and potential close friend, and Esti had come home exhausted.

Shayna’s doe-eyes lit up. “That would be amazing! You have such good taste.”

Esti smiled. She did have a good eye. But with Shayna, she used it mostly to keep her sister-in-law in check.

She recalled that Baccarat butterfly Shayna picked up during one trip.

“I need this,” Shayna had proclaimed as the price tag slid off the wings of the crystal blue butterfly. “It’s just so homey, you know?”

“It’s also $200,” Esti had said, picking up the tag and flipping it. It wasn’t the first “homey” bauble Shayna had looked at.

“Oh wow, whoops.” Shayna carefully placed the butterfly back on the sleek wooden display case. “I’m sorry, I know I should be looking at prices, but I just love pretty things. Maybe you should just shop for me?”

Estil had rolled her eyes and just managed to refrain from humming “Never Take Kids to a Store.” Was she up to that again? Probably not in her state.

“Is everyone ready to come to the table?” Tzvi’s mother came into the room, holding an enamel Dutch oven with potholders.

“Mom, can I help you?” Esti jumped up and walked toward her mother-in-law.

“Me, too,” Shayna said, flashing a floodlight-strength smile, while she remained on the couch.