***
Olivia bit the inside of her cheek and stared at her steaming cup of Earl Grey, forcing herself to stop looking out the front window of the Sunshine Café. It figured she’d manage to choose a table in the almost-empty café with a clear view of the opposite side of Main Street—and Ms.Abernathy’s School of Dance.
Against her will she glanced up to see Sunny stumble straight into Kingston’s arms. An ugly thread of jealousy wound around her heart, and it didn’t disappear after he and Sunny moved apart.
“I wonder what’s up with them?” Anita said, turning and following Olivia’s gaze. She’d sat down at Olivia’s table right after Kingston and Sunny left.
Olivia jerked her eyes from the window and looked at her tea again, as if it held all the answers to her confusion. This was the first time in months she’d spent an afternoon working in the café, telling Flo and RaeAnne that she was going to do some work outside the office. And that had been fine. She was missing Anita, and the two women had talked a bit when she arrived. Anita had said she would join her after she made a few phone calls in the office.
But then Kingston had shown up. She’d seen him the moment he walked into the café. It had been hard enough to pretend that she didn’t know he was there or that she’dheard every word of his conversation with Sunny. He seemed to have a lot of free time lately. So much for hisbusyschedule.
“Earth to Olivia.”
Her gaze jerked up. Anita sipped her glass of water—she was giving up caffeine during her pregnancy—and said, “Is everything okay?”
She nodded and glanced at the window again. Fortunately, Sunny and Kingston had disappeared, presumably to practice the tango during theirprivatelesson. She bit her cheek again, this time hard enough to wince.
“You don’t seem okay.”
She wasn’t, and she couldn’t tell her best friend that her brother was the reason why. Settling herself, she remembered her vow not to let him affect her. “I really am fine. I just have a lot of things on my mind with work and my class.” She waved her hand. “Never mind about me. How are you feeling? Is the baby kicking yet?”
Anita laughed and then launched into almost unbearable detail about her pregnancy so far, including the morning sickness. “Sorry,” she said, when Olivia finally put her fingertips over her mouth. “Guess I was a little too descriptive.”
“Hopefully all that will pass soon. I’d hate to think of you being sick the whole time.”
“Me too. But it will be worth it.” Anita glanced at the window again. “Do you think there might be something going on with Sunny and King?”
Olivia shoved down the sudden stab of jealousy attacking her heart. “She’s giving him a dance lesson. That’s her job.”
“I know. But you have to admit they look good together.”
No, I don’t.She nodded anyway, because confound it, Anita was right. With her honey-colored hair and willowy frame, Sunny looked like she’d stepped off the cover of a fairy-tale book. Even worse, she was sonice. And a talented dancer, and a good teacher. On paper, she was perfect for Kingston, who was basically a prince. Or pretended to be.
“I kind of hope there is a spark,” Anita said. “He’s been so focused on work for so long. I’m surprised he had time to come to the café, much less take another dance lesson. But Mom mentioned he was taking some vacation time, so I guess that’s why.”
Olivia squeezed her teacup so hard her knuckles hurt. “Seems he makes time for what he wants to.”
“Well, maybe if something happens with Sunny, he won’t work so hard. I know Mom would be over the moon if he ever found someone. I think she might be giving up hope. She’s determined for all of us to get married. ‘Two down, one more to go,’ she likes to say. I thought Kingston would be the first one of us to tie the knot.”
Olivia drained the tea. “Oh?” she said, holding back a sudden burst of curiosity.
Anita nodded. “I was in love with Tanner for so long, I’d given up on him.”
“He was quite clueless,” Olivia said.
“Even so, I could never imagine falling for anyone else. And Paisley was always so single-minded about law school. I couldn’t believe it when she said she and Ryan were getting married before she finished her degree. I always thoughtshe’d wait until she was established in her practice. That left Kingston. He dated around some, and you know how much he loves kids. I figured he’d be eager to get married and start a family after he finished med school.” She laughed. “Wow, I was wrong about everything.”
Cassidy, the café’s barista, came over to the table. “Do you mind if I take my break a little early, Anita?”
“Sure. We’re not busy, so take an extra five. If I need you, I’ll let you know.”
Cassidy nodded, pulling her phone out of her apron and texting as she walked into the back room.
Before Olivia and Anita could resume their conversation, however, the front door opened and three customers walked in. Anita stood. “It never fails. As soon as I say out loud that we’re slow, we get busy again. I’ve got to man the counter until Cassidy gets back. Will you still be here in twenty minutes or so?”
“Probably not. I need to get back to the library.” Olivia didn’t, but she wasn’t about to sit here at the table torturing herself.
“Okay.” Anita leaned over and hugged Olivia’s shoulders. “I’m so glad you came by. I miss you.”
