Between Sisters

Joe mentally prepares for his visit with Diana throughout the workday. Just as he’s packing up, Ali appears at the shop. She talks nonstop and follows him into his apartment, asking about Diana’s photos. After she leaves, he gets ready and walks over to Diana’s parents’ house. When Henry opens the door, he greets Joe warmly, thrilled that he’s home.

Meg and Elizabeth spend the night drinking and talking. Meg opens up about Claire’s wedding, her week with Ali, and her feelings for Joe. Elizabeth insists that Meg contact Joe. She says they’ll have a spa day tomorrow and spend it formulating a plan. Then Meg will drive Elizabeth to the airport and head to Hayden to see Joe. Meg isn’t sure but appreciates Elizabeth’s support.

Claire attends all of Bobby’s meetings and auditions with him. During the callback session, she feels groggy, and her head hurts. When her hand starts to tingle, she dismisses herself to the hotel. Bobby insists on escorting her back and tucking her in; he wants the producers to understand his priorities.

Claire feels a little better the next morning. She’s also happy because Bobby got a contract. He promises to work with the studio to plan around their family schedule.

After Meg’s spa trip with Elizabeth, she returns to the office. Distracted by thoughts of Joe, she has her assistant find the number for Smitty’s Garage. She calls Joe, apologizes for leaving unexpectedly, and suggests they have dinner at his house tomorrow night. Afterward, a frantic Claire calls Meg. She’s at the airport but doesn’t remember getting there. She has a headache and tingles and keeps forgetting where she is and what she’s doing. Meg helps her call a taxi. Then she races to pick her up. She insists on going to the ER despite Claire’s protests.

The sisters wait a long time at the ER. When the doctor finally sees Claire, he dismisses her symptoms as stress reactions. Meg gets upset and demands to see a more experienced doctor. They’re at the hospital for several more hours. Claire gets several tests. Finally, the doctor meets with the sisters and informs Claire that she has an inoperable “mass in [her] brain” (323). Frantic and furious, Meg insists that there must be something they can do. She tells Claire they’re going to get other opinions because all that matters is saving her life.

Outside the hospital, Claire feels fuzzy and strange. She can’t believe this is happening to her. Meg assures her that she’ll help her get the help she needs. She insists they’ll go to the best doctors as soon as possible and find someone who will operate. In the car, Claire makes Meg promise she won’t abandon her. Meg swears to stay by her side, especially because Claire doesn’t want to tell Sam, Ali, or Bobby what’s going on until they know more.

Joe feels positive after reuniting with Diana’s parents. He thought they’d be furious, but they welcomed him back. On his way to the barber shop, he thinks about Meg. Although Meg’s the opposite of Diana, he believes they can have a future together. After the haircut, Joe borrows Smitty’s barbecue and starts preparing for his date with Meg. He cleans up and starts cooking. He feels hopeful as he meticulously goes about his preparations. While waiting, he even packs up some of Diana’s photos. However, Meg doesn’t show up. Hours pass, and Joe goes to bed alone.

Meg and Claire spend nine days researching doctors. They do so under the guise of a sister spa trip. Despite their efforts, no one will operate. Most doctors recommend that Claire start radiation as soon as possible; if it shrinks the tumor, someone might operate. They return to Seattle and make arrangements with doctors at Swedish Hospital. Claire will start radiation tomorrow.

Back in the car, Meg and Claire discuss what Claire will tell her family. She wants to tell Ali and Sam but doesn’t want to tell Bobby. Meg insists Bobby deserves the chance to support her, but Claire is terrified of ruining his budding musical career. The sisters arrive at Claire’s. Meg agrees to pick her up later so she can talk to her family alone.

Meg drives to Joe’s and explains that she missed their date because her sister was diagnosed with cancer. She bursts into tears, and he hugs her. Inside, Joe holds Meg while she continues crying. He can’t believe he’s found himself back here. He doesn’t think he can deal with more medical and hospital stress. However, he tells Meg that the neurosurgeon at Swedish Hospital is a good doctor he knows from school. Meg is surprised but appreciates his help. After Meg leaves, Joe stares at Diana’s picture and feels her judging him. He tells her he can’t help Meg.

Back at Claire’s, Meg talks to Sam about what happened years prior. He apologizes for being so hard on Meg. He didn’t even know he had a daughter with Eliana until Meg called him. Eliana had disappeared on a shoot, leaving Meg and Claire alone. Desperate, Meg tracked down Sam’s number and drove up to Hayden. Sam let her and Claire stay, but Meg began acting out. Sam was overwhelmed and gave her an ultimatum: start behaving or leave. Meg left. In the present, Sam apologizes to Meg for all she and Claire have endured because of Eliana. Claire joins the conversation, assuring Sam and Meg that her decision not to tell Bobby is unrelated to Mama’s mistakes. Then Ali comes in and gives Claire her blanket. Claire will be spending the next month in Seattle with Meg. She has four weeks of radiation, and it’s too much to travel back and forth. Claire hugs Ali through tears.