Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

“You look fine.”

Olivia said the words automatically, even though she was thinking that the huge print on Eliza’s T-shirt totally overwhelmed her, and the shirt itself was way too big. The shoulder seam hung a couple of inches down her arm. But she was here to make friends, not give fashion advice.

“Thanks for suggesting this,” she said instead. “I’ve been looking forward to hanging out.”

“Me, too. How long have you been back in town?”

“A couple of weeks. I’m staying the summer.”

“Then you go back to... Is it Phoenix?”

“Yes, and to be honest, I’m not sure I’m going back. I don’t really like my job there.” Or her boss, and she didn’t want to talk about that, either. “What about you? When did you move home?”

“January. I graduated in June of last year, then took an internship before accepting a job here.”

“We’re the same age. How did you get through college and vet school so quickly?”

“I graduated high school early and got in to WSU. I always knew what I wanted to do. I spent my summers volunteering at the vet clinic where I work now.” She flashed a smile. “I think the vets there hired me out of self-defense. They were afraid I was simply going to camp out in the parking lot until they gave me a job.”

“They’re lucky to have you.”

“I’m really the lucky one,” Eliza told her. “It can be tough to get a job after graduation. My internship helped. When we graduate, we don’t really know anything. I mean there’s a lot of learning but very limited practical experience. One of the great things they have at WSU is a partnership with Seattle Humane. You get to spend time at the facility, working with the surgical team. It’s invaluable training.”

She pressed her lips together. “I’m babbling. I’m sorry. I guess I’m nervous.”

“To have dinner with me?”

“Yes. You’re, you know, Olivia Murphy.”

“Hardly notable.”

“It is to me. You were always so popular in high school. Look at what you’re doing now. You’ve been back less than a month and hey, you’re raising money to put a new roof on the craft mall. That’s impressive.”

“It’s not saving a life.”

“I couldn’t do it.”

“I couldn’t do what you do, either. How about if we agree to be impressed with each other and just have dinner?”

“I’d like that.” Eliza leaned forward. “The burgers here are still delicious. It was always one of my favorite places to come as a kid.”

“Mine, too.” Although her mother had always complained about the lack of choices and how everything was so provincial. Funny how now Olivia could see the charm of Tulpen Crossing. She’d grown up enough to realize her mother’s issues with the town had nothing to do with geography and everything to do with whatever demons she carried with her.

“Are your folks still here?” Olivia asked.

“Of course. They’ll never leave. My two sisters live only a couple of blocks from my parents and are popping out babies left and right. I can’t get a date. It frustrates my mom.” Eliza lowered her voice. “I’m the first member of my family to go to college. They don’t know what to make of me.”

“They’re proud.”

“I hope so. It’s hard being the baby of the family, you know? Plus, I’m small. I look like I’m twelve. I wish I were elegant, like you.”

Olivia laughed. “I’m not elegant.”

“You are. The way you dress. Your confidence.”

She thought of her lack of direction and how she’d come back for a guy she wasn’t even sure she liked. “That is mostly faked.”

“I don’t think so. When I meet with the pet owners, I never know how to talk to them. Half the time they don’t believe I’m really a vet or they want to see one of the other doctors.” Eliza pressed her lips together. “Would you mind giving me some advice about what to wear and maybe how to put on makeup? I never learned. I’d ask my sisters, but they’re more into glitter than what I’d be comfortable wearing to the office.”

Olivia thought about the fun she’d had buying clothes for her sister. In a way, the makeovers were a lot like staging a house. You started with the bare bones and fluffed.

“I’d love to help. I’m looking for a good hairstylist. When I find her, I’ll give you the name. The first thing you need is a great haircut. The rest will be easy.”

“You think?”

“I can have you looking like you’re fifteen in no time at all.”

Eliza laughed. “That would be great. Then we can aim for twenty.”

“Oh, don’t get too wild. Besides, in twenty years you’ll be thrilled to look younger.”

“I’ll hang on to that thought.”

*

“What is wrong?”

A fairly wordy question coming from Delja, Helen thought, doing her best to smile brightly. “Nothing, why?”

“No smiles.”

“I’m smiling right now.”

Delja rolled her eyes as if to say that no one was fooled. She crossed her arms over her ample chest and stared. The message was clear. She was in this for the long haul.

It was after two. The café was closed and Delja seemed in no hurry to move on. There was no way Helen was going to explain that she was beyond sad that she hadn’t seen Jeff in two days. Two! The man hadn’t been by or texted or anything. Whatever he was thinking, it couldn’t be good.

But that didn’t solve her current problem.

There was no way to explain about Jeff. Okay, technically there was, but she felt she’d had more than enough humiliation in her life for one week. She thought about what else she could say, then felt a flash of inspiration and tucked crossed fingers behind her back so the lie wouldn’t count.

“I’m having a lot of cramping with my period. It’s getting better, but I haven’t felt well.”

Delja studied her for a second. “Yes?”

“I’m fine otherwise. I’ll be better in a day or so.”

Because she would have to be. She couldn’t keep pretending to have her period indefinitely. She would give herself the night to mope and eat more ice cream and then she would move on. Jeff was great and yes she was desperately in love with him, but he obviously didn’t want anything to do with her romantically. That was his decision. A wrong decision, but still. His to make.

She would put the disappointment behind her. The good news was she’d been brave and yay her. If he was too stupid to see what a catch she was, then blah, blah, blah.

Delja hugged her. “Feel better.”

“I will. Have a good rest of your day.”