Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

The creamer slipped from Helen’s fingers and fell, spilling cream on the Formica. They both reached for napkins.

“That was dumb,” Helen said with a lighthearted laugh. “I must be especially clumsy today. What did you say?”

Kelly poured in the last of the cream, then handed over the empty container. “My mother showed up last night. I was out with Griffith and when I got home, there she was, in the living room. I mean, come on. Seriously? It’s been thirteen years. I don’t get it.”

Helen swallowed. “Marilee is back? How does she look? How did Jeff, um, your dad take it? Was he happy? Shocked?”

“I think it’s pretty safe to say we’re all stunned. Who does that? Shows up like that with no warning? I’m beyond pissed. My dad’s not happy. Olivia’s been in touch with her some over the years, so she would know her the best.”

Helen poured herself a mug of coffee and took a sip. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Me, either. My dad wanted you to know. Honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t come over and tell you himself. As a way to escape her.”

“Escape? She’s staying at the house?” Helen’s voice was nearly a shriek. “Are you kidding me?”

Kelly rolled her eyes. “Beyond strange, right? We made up the guest room for her. She’s still all smiles and ‘I’m so perfect.’ I don’t want to hate her because that means I’m devoting too much energy to her. I want to not care. I need to find my Zen center.”

“You need to get her ass out of your house.”

Kelly frowned. “I don’t think that’s happening. Are you okay?”

Helen gave her a tight smile. “I’m fine. Why?”

“I don’t know. You seem upset.”

“You’re my friend. I’m Team Kelly all the way. I know you and your mom never got along. This is so terrible for you and Olivia. And your dad.”

Kelly nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. I didn’t sleep. I’m guessing no one did, except of course Marilee. I’m sure she slept like a baby.”

“She um, still looks good? I mean she was always very beautiful.”

Kelly thought about the elegant clothes, the way her mother carried herself. “She looks good, I guess. Not older, which is a little creepy. She looks like Olivia’s sister while I look like a troll.” She sighed. “Wow, I am tired. Listen to me rambling. What time is it?” She glanced at the clock. “I should let you get back to work. I know you have customers showing up in a few minutes.” She managed a smile. “I’m going to go home and face my mother, all the while chanting kill me now. Or her. Maybe killing her would be better. Not that I’d like prison.”

“Thanks for coming by,” Helen said. “We should talk later. And please let me know if I can help.”

“With the killing?” Kelly teased.

“Sure. I’m all in on that one.”

Helen’s response made her laugh. “Thank you for pretending to be bloodthirsty. Oddly enough, it makes me feel a whole lot better.”

*

Helen figured she had less than five minutes between the time Kelly left and the first customers arrived. There was plenty of work to be done and she should be running around, prepping. Instead, all she could do was stand behind the counter and wonder if she was going to throw up.

How was any of this fair? Did the universe really hate her that much? Was God sending her a message? How on earth was it possible that less than twelve hours after she and Jeff had actually found their way to each other his ex-wife showed up? And moved into his house? If someone tried to write that into a movie, they would be told it was implausible. Ridiculous, even. But here it was—happening to her.

She didn’t know what to do. Screaming seemed good. Crying. Later, there would be blintzes for sure, but how much good could sugar do in these circumstances? What she needed most was to see Jeff. To have him hold her and tell her none of this mattered. That he wasn’t interested in Marilee, no matter how beautiful or skinny she was. That their shared history was meaningless. That he wasn’t lying awake thinking about his gorgeous ex-wife in bed just a few feet down the hall.

Only Jeff hadn’t been the one to tell her. He’d sent Kelly and while she could sort of think that was thoughtful, part of her wondered if he was simply trying to escape having to face her.

At one minute to six, the first of several cars pulled into the parking lot. Helen hurried into her office, to check her face in the mirror hanging by the file cabinet. She was shocked to see tears on her cheeks. She quickly brushed them away, gave herself her best smile, then went back to the front of the café.

In her pocket, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and glanced at the text from Jeff. Sorry I couldn’t be there myself. I’ll be by as soon as I can to explain.

That was it. Not “I miss you” not “I want you.” Nothing on which to hang her battered and frightened heart.

*

Yet another day for Kelly to be grateful she didn’t have the kind of job that required her to make life-or-death decisions, she thought as she pulled in front of the house at five that afternoon. She hadn’t had to suit up and run into a burning house, or perform surgery or work some arm on the space station. No one’s life was affected by the fact that she’d spent the better part of eight hours checking on bulbs and hating her mother.

She stared at the house. There were hours yet until sunset, so no lights were on. She couldn’t see inside, but based on the rental car, her sister’s BMW and her father’s truck, she had a fair idea who she would find when she went inside.

Kelly thought briefly of bolting. She had gas in her truck and a zero balance on her emergency credit card. She could simply go. Drive any direction but west and be somewhere else. Okay, without her passport, best not to head north to Canada, although being arrested by the border police would be a great excuse to miss dinner. If only, she thought regretfully as she got out and walked up the front path. This was her father’s fault. He’d raised her to be responsible.

She braced herself, then opened the door.

“I’m home.”

“We’re in here, darling.”

The sound of her mother’s voice made her jaw clench. She consciously relaxed, set her bag on the table in the entryway and walked into the kitchen.

Olivia and Marilee sat at the kitchen island, a laptop between them. As Kelly approached, Olivia closed the computer and offered a slight smile.

“Dad’s in his study,” her sister said. “He’s paying bills or something.”

Marilee sighed dramatically. “He always did take life so seriously. I never understood why.”

“Someone has to,” Kelly pointed out. “Someone has to make sure there are things like food in the refrigerator and that the electric bill gets paid so we can have light and heat. Someone has to stay behind and clean up other people’s messes. Not everyone gets to walk through life, destroying everything as they go.”

Marilee’s eyes widened slightly, then she shook her head. “Kelly, sweetie, you need a man. I’m going to take a bath before dinner. What time do we eat?”