I stood leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping a mug of tea, while Sal stood on a wooden stool rooting in a floor-to-ceiling larder cupboard, home to row upon row of jars, packets, and bottles. I waited for a few comforting words of wisdom, but my sister continued her search in silence. “Sal, are you even listening to me?” I asked, frowning. I felt like I was talking to myself.
“There you are,” Sal said. She smiled a satisfied smile as she retrieved a box of baking powder and a bottle of red food colouring. She stepped back down to floor level. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. India’s been nagging me for these all morning and I promised to dig them out.”
“How is she? Still playing at being a scientist?”
My sister nodded in the direction of the hall. “What do you think?”
India appeared in the doorway wearing a head-to-toe paper forensic suit. Seeing the baking powder and food colouring, her eyes lit up behind her glassless black-framed spectacles. “Finally,” she said. Taking both items from her mother’s hands, she headed straight out into the garden.
“A thank-you would have been nice,” Sal called after her.
I looked at my sister, confused. “What’s all that about?”
“She’s conducting an experiment.”
“What kind of experiment?”
Sal shrugged. “Haven’t a clue.”
Unable to believe Sal’s indifference, I stared at my sister, agog. “Aren’t you worried?” For all Sal knew, her daughter could be about to blow up the place.
“Not particularly. There are no dangerous chemicals involved.”
I almost spat out my tea. “I should hope not.”
I stared out of the window into Sal’s garden. It was as stylish as the rest of her house. At the far end was a seating area, paved in rustic slate and with an ultra-modern firepit. A wide pathway followed the whole perimeter line, inside which sat a rectangular lawn. Concrete fenced beds and hardwood troughs, home to various ornamental grasses, palms, and bamboo, gave the garden an architectural feel. Unlike my wildflower oasis, Sal’s garden was clean and low maintenance. Exactly how she liked it.
Sal reached for her mug and joining me, we both watched on as India hauled a paddling pool out of the garage and placed it in the centre of the grass. “So, what are you going to do about Mum?” Sal asked.
“Hopefully, I won’t have to do anything. Not after talking to her.”
Sal looked at me, amused. “Really?”
“What?”
“Let’s just say you’re not the most direct of people. Unlike me, you tend to be a bit soft when it comes to putting your foot down.”
I scoffed. “I consider people’s feelings, you mean?”
My sister smiled. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“In this instance, I couldn’t have been any clearer about the kind of wedding we want. Which believe me, is nothing like the one Mum had in mind.”
Sal came over all pensive. “Don’t you think she has a point though?”
I jolted my head. This from a woman who didn’t believe in marriage.
“Assuming you’re only going to do this once, why wouldn’t you want to go all out? Don’t most brides want to be a princess for the day? The ones I’ve made cakes for seem to.”
“Would you?”
“If I was the marrying kind?” Sal thought for a moment. “Probably.”
I chuckled, realising there wasn’t anyprobablyabout it. Unlike me, my sister had no problem having all eyes on her. “In my view, most of it’s a waste of money,” I said. “The important thing is theI dopart. All the other stuff feels a bit extra.”
“And Leo?”
“What about him?”
