Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

They returned to the living room and started a rousing game of string with the kittens. It didn’t take long for the little guys to get tired out and head back to their mom. When the cat family was napping, Olivia and Eliza unwrapped sandwiches and chips.

“Is your sister going out with Griffith?” Eliza asked. “I heard a rumor.”

“She is. Why?”

“He’s dreamy.” Eliza grinned. “Not that he’s ever looked at me.”

“Should I be worried that with your new look, you’ll steal him away?”

“No. Kelly’s all competent and cool. I could never be like that. But it would be nice to get involved with someone.”

“No old boyfriend from college?”

Eliza flushed. “There was this one guy. Nelson. For a while I thought he liked me, but I guess not.”

“Are you still in touch with him?”

“We text every couple of days. Talk about what’s going on. He got a job at a practice in Seattle.”

Olivia opened her bag of chips. “That’s not far. Why don’t you suggest getting together? See what happens.”

“Wouldn’t he ask me if he were interested?”

“Is he shy?”

Eliza smiled. “Yes. Very.”

“Then go for it. I’m a big believer in going for it.” She almost added that Eliza shouldn’t put out on the first date, then reminded herself not everyone was her. Not that she and Sven were exactly dating. They were—

She frowned as she realized she had no idea what they were doing. It had pretty much been sex on demand until the last time she’d seen him. Then he’d just taken care of her. Something that rarely happened to her, which made it all the more special.

“Are you seeing Ryan?” Eliza asked, wrinkling her nose.

“There’s an expression. Is that face about me, him or there being an us?”

Eliza’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean anything by it. He’s very handsome.”

“And?”

“I don’t know. Baseball? Really? Once it didn’t work out, he didn’t have another plan. He still doesn’t have a plan.” She put her hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Ryan has a girlfriend. Autumn.”

“I don’t think I know her. Either way, you deserve someone special.”

“I’ve been hanging out with Sven,” she admitted.

Eliza sighed. “He’s amazing. So strong and quiet. Those blue eyes. My mom would call him a hunk, and I think I’d have to agree.”

“Okay, first Griffith and now Sven. Eliza, you have a slutty quality I knew nothing about. Go you.”

Eliza giggled. “It’s all in my head. You don’t have to worry about me acting out.”

“Too bad. I think you’d be fun acting out.” She took a bite of her sandwich and chewed. “Okay, we’ve socialized kittens, had a mini makeover, discussed your impressively wanton side. I think we should tackle some really important world issue. We seem to be in the zone.”

“How’s the fund-raiser coming? Are you getting lots of donations?”

“I am. Sven’s letting me borrow one of his barns and I’m filling it up. There’s so much there that I feel comforted. Even if no one comes to the fund-raiser, I can sell everything on eBay and make enough to replace the roof.” She leaned forward. “What I don’t have is a splashy finish. I have the bars in place for the silent auction, I have the tables for the dinner, the caterer, the tickets, an auctioneer. So we go through the various live auction items and then what? We’re indoors so fireworks are out. I feel like I need... I don’t know what.”

Dancers? A concert? Semaphore?

“What about a fashion show?” Eliza suggested. “Only show off what you’re selling at the craft mall.”

“It’s antiques and tulip crap.”

“So? Put the furniture on those flat dollies and wheel them across the stage. It will be unexpected and funny. Like a parade or something.”

“A furniture fashion show. I like it.”

Olivia raised her hand. Eliza slapped palms with her. Olivia grabbed Eliza’s hand and stared at her nails. “What is it about this town and manicures?”

Eliza shook her head. “I draw the line at eye makeup,” she said firmly. “No pun intended. I’m not getting a manicure.”

“Now you sound like my sister.”

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

*

Once again the temptation of throwing something crossed Helen’s mind, cleanup be damned. Enough time had passed from when she’d last seen Jeff that she’d cycled through eight or ten thousand emotions, most of them bad. She was angry, hurt, enraged, upset, broken, furious and the list went on. Worse, the moron hadn’t been showing up for breakfast. There’d been zero happy visits before her customers arrived, no flowers, no smiles.

As she served lunch to her customers, she told herself she should be the adult in the room. Text him and ask him to stop by. Or go to the farm and slash his tires. While the former was more mature, she was confident the latter would be more satisfying. She’d never considered herself a vindictive or violent person before but was beginning to find uncharted depths deep in her soul.

Shortly before two she saw his truck pull into the parking lot. Her stupid, girlie heart got all warm and mushy. The rest of her glared with the fire of a scorned woman.

She debated ducking out the back, but realized she wanted to confront him and make him if not suffer, then at least feel really, really bad about himself. Then she would run away.

She busied herself with cleaning tables, ignoring Jeff as he settled at the counter in his usual seat. She continued to ignore him for twenty more seconds, in part to show him what was what and also because she’d had the horrifying realization that he had a usual seat. If things ended badly, she was going to have to have the stool completely removed. Or at the very least, emotionally cleansed by a shaman. She didn’t know any shaman. Could you look for that sort of thing on Angie’s List?

She shook off the question, grabbed a menu and walked over to face Jeff. Despite bracing herself, she was unprepared for the power of his full-on smile.

“Helen.”

“Jeff.”

“How are things going? I’ve missed seeing you at breakfast.” He glanced around and lowered his voice. “You doing okay? Isaak called about us practicing today at three. Did he get in touch with you?”

She stared at him. That was it? That was all he was going to say? That he missed her and then they would return to their regularly scheduled lives?

She slapped down the menu she knew he didn’t need and said, “Excuse me,” before walking to the cash register and taking the money from her last customers.

A quick glance into the kitchen told her Delja was finishing up. Helen went in to see if she needed anything. Delja smiled at her.

“Good day,” she said.

“It was. Thanks for all your hard work.”

They hugged, then the cook walked out the back door. Helen locked it behind her before returning to the front of the store.

Jeff studied her. “Are you upset about something?”

“What? Me?” She pressed both hands to her chest. “What a question. Why would you ask? What do I have to be upset about?”