AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We made it!” Alissa said as they pulled past a sign that said, Welcome to Blueberry Bay.
Pearl cheered and they drove through town to Alissa’s. Once they arrived, Dane helped them carry their bags inside.
“I have to get going, but I’m looking forward to seeing you guys later. Maybe for pizza,” Dane said.
“Yeah, likewise,” Caitlin said.
Dane gave Alissa a kiss goodbye and waved at Caitlin and Pearl as he left.
“Okay.” Alissa smiled, clapping her hands together. “Let’s get you two settled in.”
CHAPTER TWO
Alissa rarely had people over in her small apartment. Dane came by, of course, and sometimes her coworker, Josie Garner, but that was about it. So having her twin sister and her niece staying over was a new and exciting experience. The three of them were slightly squished, but it was far from unbearable. She’d missed her sister and hadn’t had the chance to spend much time with Pearl either. Now they had ample time.
Alissa just wished the circumstances for their visit weren’t so sad. Caitlin’s divorce was heartbreaking, and she had no idea how her sister looked relatively composed in the midst of it all. But Alissa saw the dark circles under Caitlin’s eyes, hastily covered with concealer. Hopefully Caitlin wasn’t going to hold it all in. She had broken down some of her barriers during her last visit, but she was still prone to trying to shoulder it all herself.
“Want more wine?” Alissa asked.
“Sure, that would be great.” Caitlin stacked a piece of cheese on top of a cracker and popped it into her mouth.
Alissa went into her kitchen and got a bottle of Chardonnay, Caitlin’s favorite, and returned with it and two glasses. Caitlin thanked her once she took her glass from Alissa.
“This is just what I needed,” Caitlin said with a sigh, taking a long sip. “I’m so wiped, but so wired. I wish I could pass out like Pearl did.”
Pearl had eaten dinner and promptly gone to bed once they got back to Alissa’s. She was sound asleep in the other room. Alissa hoped Caitlin would get some rest too. She needed it. Alissa sipped her own wine, hoping to tread carefully. Caitlin was still in a fragile state and she didn’t want to overwhelm her with all of the things she had to handle in the upcoming days and weeks. But Alissa could make her sister’s life easier, which was her plan.
“I’ve been scouting for houses for you and Pearl,” Alissa said. “There are a ton of cute ones out there that are just the right size. Great views, cute fenced in yards.”
“Really? I’m so glad to hear that.” Caitlin played with her necklace. “I was worried there wouldn’t be enough inventory to give us options.”
“Oh, yeah, there’s plenty,” Alissa said, pulling her legs up onto the couch. “The ones I’ve seen have great bones, so they’d be amazing to decorate together.”
Their tastes were different, but not so different that they clashed. Alissa’s eclectic style always added some warmth to Caitlin’s more restrained one.
“That does sound fun.” Caitlin gave her twin a gentle smile. “It’ll be nice to have full control over it. Make it however I want to.”
“Yeah, exactly.” Alissa put on a smile. “And the town is so small that we’ll be close to each other no matter what. That’ll be fun too.”
“It will be.” Caitlin stared down into her wine glass, swirling the drink inside of it. She seemed to notice that she was lost in her thoughts and pulled herself back to attention, putting on a brave face. “It’ll be a big adjustment but having a nice place to live will help. Thank you for being so welcoming. I don’t think we could have done it without you.”
“It’s no problem at all, seriously.” Alissa meant every word. She knew that if their places were reversed, Caitlin would have opened up her home to her in a heartbeat.
Before Caitlin visited Blueberry Bay for the first time last year, the two hadn’t been nearly as close. Caitlin’s worry for her sister tended to manifest as being overbearing, which chafed against Alissa’s ‘go with the flow’ ways. They’d opened up to each other a lot during that trip and after, but Alissa would have helped her out regardless before all of that.
Caitlin drained her glass, poured herself a little more, and took a few more crackers. Alissa let her gather her thoughts before speaking.
“The house thing is almost the least of my worries,” Caitlin finally said. “I don’t even know what I’m going to do for work.”
“You have a little time, don’t you?” Alissa asked. “With the money from the sale of the house?”
“I do. But the restaurant was my whole life. Both of our lives.” Caitlin sighed. “I know my skills are transferrable but the restaurant is what tore my marriage apart. I’m not sure how going back into the business would feel. Or if I even should.”
Caitlin’s voice wobbled, but she maintained her composure moments later.
Alissa reached across the couch and patted her sister’s leg. “It’s going to be all right. I know you’ll figure it out.”
Alissa swore that she would do anything she could to make sure Caitlin found happiness here, just as she had. She refused to let any chance to help her sister pass her by.
