Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

She glanced at him. “And the video?”

He sighed. “What is it about young women today? They don’t get it. Naked out of context is just naked. Miley’s far more sexy in the T-shirt and boots, but then I’m just some old guy. What do I know?”

Helen felt the restlessness fading as humor took its place. “And the sledgehammer?”

Jeff grimaced. “That was weird. Why lick it?” He held up his hand. “I get the symbolism, but come on.”

“Your parents said the same thing about your music. New music is one of the ways the generations separate from each other. It’s part of the growing process.”

“You’re making that up.”

“I’m not. I read it somewhere.”

“Always the smart one.” He settled next to her on the bench. “All right, Helen. Let’s see what we can do there.”

She began to play the opening chords of the song. Jeff’s shoulder brushed against hers and when he started singing, she felt the vibration of his voice all the way down to her toes.

The problem wasn’t her master bath or restlessness in her life. The problem was her. What was that old saying? It was time to put up or shut up. She was tired of wishing. Action was required and then she would know. If the results were a disaster, then she would take that road trip to Cleveland and along the way, she could figure out what was next.

*

Kelly rested her head, shoulders and arms on the counter of the café. “I’m a horrible person,” she said, realizing that confessing all hadn’t made her feel the least bit better. Usually telling Helen what was wrong had a cleansing effect, but not today. Maybe her sin was too great.

“I know what you’re going to say,” Kelly continued. “That I was only eighteen and it was my dad’s decision to make, which is true only he wouldn’t have thought of sending Olivia away if I hadn’t mentioned it. I’d even researched schools. I practically shoved her out the door. I’m a terrible sister and a worse person. You’re not going to want to be my friend anymore.”

“Dramatic much?”

Kelly raised her head. “You’re turning on me in my hour of pain?”

“Yes. Get over yourself. You’re feeling guilty but Olivia’s the one who was sent away. She’s the one who had to start over somewhere that wasn’t her home. You got to keep doing your thing here, only now you just had to worry about yourself.”

Kelly sat up. “Ouch.”

“I’m sorry to be blunt, but the facts are pretty much the facts. Let me be clear—I don’t judge you for what you did. You’re doing a great job of that all yourself. You’re my friend and I love you. If you really want to make this better, you have to admit what you did and ask for forgiveness. Wallowing isn’t going to make it go away.”

Harsh words that were, unfortunately, very true. Kelly had been wallowing for the past few days and she still felt like crap. Sometimes she was able to convince herself that it wasn’t her fault. That she’d just been the sister, making suggestions. The decision had been Jeff’s, and Olivia had been the one going at it with Ryan like they were rabbits. Pregnancy had just been one slip-up away. And then what?

But the rest of the time, she knew that she’d been far less than innocent. That she’d been terrified of what her sister might do and how that doing would impact Kelly’s life. She hadn’t been willing to take the risk and because of that fear, Olivia had been sent away.

She and Helen were alone in the café. It was nearly two thirty. All the customers and staff had left. Kelly had come seeking solace. Instead she was getting a well-deserved kick in the butt.

“Olivia’s been in touch with our mother,” Kelly said. “You’d think I would be jealous and want to know things, but I don’t. I’m glad she’s gone and I don’t ever want to see her again.”

“Based on what you’ve told me about her, I’m not surprised. Are you sorry Olivia came back?”

Kelly considered the question. “No,” she admitted. “I like her way more than I would have guessed.”

“So that’s good.”

Kelly looked at her friend. “Do you still love me?” she asked in a small voice.

“Yes. Double yes. You’re my best friend, Kelly. I think you’re amazing, but we all have flaws. You obviously think you screwed up with Olivia. She’s mad, you’re upset and the only way to fix it is to fix it. Talk to her. Tell her you’re sorry and see if the two of you can start over.”

“You’re so rational.”

“It’s easy to see what’s wrong with other people. It’s correcting our own lives that’s hard.”

Kelly straightened. She didn’t like what Helen had said, but she recognized the truth and wisdom of it.

“I have to talk to her,” she whispered. “I have to suck it up and apologize and take whatever happens.” She stretched her arms toward her friend. “Come with me and hold my hand.”

Helen laughed. “You have to do this all on your own. Otherwise it won’t count.”

“There are so many rules.” Kelly stood. “Okay, I’m going to do it. I’m strong and brave and she’s my sister. It’s all going to be fine.” She paused. “I’m so lying.”

“Yes, but you look good doing it.”

Helen hugged her. Kelly thanked her for her advice, then got in her truck and drove the short distance to the house. With luck Olivia wouldn’t be home and she could—

Kelly turned the corner and saw her sister’s BMW parked in the driveway. So much for a reprieve. She parked next to the car and gripped her keys in her hand.

She found her sister standing in the middle of the living room. The furniture had all been rearranged. Several pieces had been brought in from other rooms. Olivia adjusted an end table, then straightened.

“What do you think?”

Kelly’s first instinct was to protest. How dare Olivia change how the room had always been? Then she took a second and saw that the flow was better and the conversation area had gotten bigger, even though there were the same number of seats. Now you could talk to anyone without have to twist your head into an uncomfortable position.

“It’s so much better,” she admitted. “How did you know what to do?”

“I do staging. It’s a thing.”

“A good thing.”

Kelly dropped her bag onto an end table, then put her hands on the back of a wing chair. She looked at her sister and told herself to just say it. She owed Olivia that.

“I’m sorry,” she began. “I’m sorry for what happened and my part in it. I’m sorry I was uncomfortable with you and Ryan having sex. Not that I cared about the sex, it was that I thought you were going to get pregnant and it was just a matter of when. I shouldn’t have assumed you would or that I would get stuck, and I’m sorry I worried that you were just like Mom, and I’m even more sorry I thought about myself more than you. I shouldn’t have gone to Dad and suggested he send you to boarding school. I don’t think he would have thought of it himself. It’s all my fault and I was wrong.”

Olivia stared at her for a long time. Kelly had no idea what she was thinking.