The Better Sister

Nicky lives in the house in Cleveland where she and her sister were raised. Chloe left home as early as possible, eager to distance herself from her father’s violence toward her mother and her mother’s apparent acceptance of the situation. After their parents died, Chloe gave Nicky her half of the house. Nicky makes a living by selling handmade jewelry on Etsy.

After Chloe fails to persuade her sister to remain in Cleveland, Nicky arrives at the Manhattan apartment accompanied by an unfamiliar man who helps with her bags. Chloe recalls Nicky’s many unsuitable boyfriends before she met Adam.

Nicky declines the hotel room Chloe has reserved for her, insisting she will stay on the Murphy bed in her sister’s office. Observing how large the room is, Nicky recalls how their father made her switch bedrooms with Chloe so that her sister could have a desk to work at. By that time, Nicky had dropped out of college.

Nicky started dating Adam when he was in his first year of law school. Chloe considered him a stabilizing force on Nicky’s wild personality, and Nicky devoted herself to supporting his career. When Adam took a job at the District Attorney’s office, Nicky expressed an intention to go back to college.