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I sigh. Orlie’s in the past in every way. That’s what I promised myself. And I’m not breaking a promise to myself.
Gillian welcomesme with open arms and a tight hug, rocking me back and forth. “Too tight!” I squeak when I finally run out of breath.
My sister pulls back and smiles. “I’ve missed you!”
You would think I was lost on a deserted island for years by that reception. “You cut your hair!” I say, touching the ends of her blonde waves.
Gillian flushes. “Just a trim.”
“Nothing ever gets past Kira,” Amy says, already taking a seat at one of the café tables where Gillian has set up a spread of coffee and various vegan baked goods.
“Welcome home, Kira!” Lola calls out from behind the counter.
“Thanks, Lola,” I reply with a wave to Gillian’s best friend, now sister-in-law.
“Come sit, come sit. I need you to try out our new recipe.”
The new recipe turns out to be vegan maple scones and they’redelicious.
“So, how was the trip?” Gillian asks.
I feel Amy glance at me from the corner of her eye.
“I heard you ended up there with a…shall we say old friend? One you may or may not have gotten pretty close to at Amy’s –”
“She doesn’t want to talk about it,” Amy intercedes for which I’m both grateful and disappointed.
Gillian’s eyes widen. Our younger sister isn’t usually so firm. The confusion is enough to send the conversation on a different trajectory.
“I’m still processing everything. I did a lot of good work up there but I just want to cool off before I head back to the office and think about work. You know? Anyway, how are things here?” I take a huge bite of scone so I can’t answer any question that might come my way.
Gillian glances around the bakery. “Well, now that the playground is finally done, after the grand opening on Halloween, Axel can focus on other projects. We’re talking about expanding.”
“Mm!” I say with a mouthful. I hadn’t realized the park was so close to being open for business. I’ll have to drive past later.
“Yes, exciting. A second location maybe down in Santa Monica or –”
“Axel is thinking Orange County would be good as far as property value goes,” Amy explains.
Gillian’s face immediately sours. “It’s too far.”
“Depending on traffic.”
I swallow the dry scone and quickly sip my water to get to my question. “Hasn’t that always been the goal? First Orange County then San Diego then –”
“To be clear, my goal was to survive owning a bakery and being a single mom,” Gillian laughs. “Now that Axel and I are married, there are certainly more options but…” She shrugs. “I’m more focused on family things.”
“Like what? Getting Dad married off?” I say.
Amy sticks her elbow in my ribs and I laugh.
“No, no. More likemyfamily.”
I take another sad bite of scone. Tastes less delicious by the moment and it’s not because it’s vegan.
Myfamily. Like Gillian has something to claim that doesn’t involve us. Or should I say, doesn’t involve me. All my sisters have a family that doesn’t involve me.
“She’s talking about babies, Kira,” Amy clarifies.
