Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

There was no way to avoid it. She was going to have to tell her mother she was quitting.

There’s a conversation that’s going to go smoothly, she thought as she got out of her car and closed the door. In theory Marilee should be pleased. It wasn’t as if they’d been getting along. But having Olivia quit was very different—it was someone else making the decision and Marilee wasn’t going to like that at all.

Olivia eyed the house and wondered if she should just get it over with. Do it fast—like ripping off a bandage. Then she thought about all she had to get through in the next few days. The fund-raiser was Friday. Was it wrong to wait until that was over?

Before she could decide, a truck pulled up next to her car and Ryan got out. He was tall, handsome and when he smiled at her, all she felt was a strong need to escape...and maybe a little guilt.

She hadn’t seen Ryan in ages and she hadn’t much thought of him, either. She remembered that first night, when she’d dressed up and had done her best to entice him. Embarrassment heated her cheeks as she got out of the car. She’d been an idiot.

“Hey, babe,” he said as he walked toward her. He grabbed her around her waist and drew her close, then kissed her.

She pushed him away before stepping back. “What are you doing?” she snapped, glancing around, hoping no one had seen them. Guilt and annoyance merged—the former because of Sven and the latter because she wasn’t a girl who felt guilt over very many things and certainly not Ryan.

“I haven’t seen you. I thought we could get together.”

He moved toward her but she held him off with a glare. “And Autumn?”

“We’re done.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right.”

“I mean it, Olivia.” He actually looked stricken. “It’s your fault, too. I’ve been thinking about you all the time. Autumn figured it out and dumped me.” He reached for her and drew her close. “Come on. You know it was always good between us. Things have gotten in the way before, but now we’re both free. It could be like it was.” He leaned in to kiss her.

She ducked away and stared at him. “Like it was before?” she repeated. “You mean back in college when you only had time for me when it wasn’t baseball season?”

He flinched. “That’s low. You know I can’t play anymore. I’m stuck being just like everyone else. Don’t worry—I’ve got nothing but you.”

She thought maybe he meant that as a good thing, but it sure didn’t sound that way.

“So we’re going to start dating now?” she asked. “I want to make sure I understand how things are.”

He brightened. “Sure. We can start right now. Come home with me.” He winked. “I remember how you like it.”

“Uh-huh.” There was no way she was going anywhere with him. But why after all this time was he seeking her out? “What aren’t you telling me?”

He looked down, then back at her. “Nothing. It’s great. I quit that stupid job with Griffith. I’ve got some ideas about what to do next. I’m thinking I might start my own business. I’m good at a lot of things, you know. But Griffith doesn’t see that. He’s an asshole.”

Olivia translated the handful of sentences. If she had to guess she would say Ryan had been fired and was looking for work. While it was unlikely his brother would have thrown him out at the same time, he might have put a time limit on how long Ryan could mooch room and board. Ryan was looking for a meal ticket and he figured Olivia was a better bet than Autumn.

“Did you really break up with her or is that going to happen if I say yes?”

He shoved his hands in his front jeans pockets. “We’re done, I swear. She, ah, might be pregnant, but I think she’s lying about it. You know, to trap me.”

Olivia circled around to the driver side of her car. “Get away from me, Ryan. I wasn’t interested in you before and I’m sure not now. Go back to Autumn and make things work.”

“I don’t want to.” He took a step toward her. “Olivia, you’ve always been the one. You have to know that.”

She knew a lot of things and one of them was when to save herself.

The front door opened and Marilee stepped out. “Olivia? I thought I heard you drive up.” She spotted Ryan and smiled. “Oh, my. Who’s your friend?” She walked toward him, her hand extended. “I’m Marilee. I don’t believe we’ve met.” They shook hands.

“Ryan, Marilee. Marilee, Ryan. He’s Griffith’s younger brother. He used to be my boyfriend.”

Marilee looked him up and down. “I do like having a handsome young man around. Were you two on your way out?”

“Nope, he’s all yours.”

Marilee linked her arm through Ryan’s. “I was just about to make a pitcher of martinis. Would you like to join me?”

Ryan looked at Olivia. His expression turned smug. “Sure.” He paused, as if waiting for her to protest.

“You two kids have fun,” she called as she got in her car, then backed out of the driveway.

She drove around the corner before pulling over and texting her sister that she might want to avoid coming home for a couple of hours.

Ryan’s having martinis with Mom, if you can believe it.

Kelly’s response came immediately. I can’t. You okay?

Olivia thought about her ex-boyfriend. She had no idea why he’d been such a draw, then realized it hadn’t been him at all. Instead she’d wanted what he represented. Her past, possibilities, a sense of belonging. None of which she needed him for.

Never better, she texted back, then sent a message to Sven, asking him if he’d like a little company that evening.

Naked company?

She laughed out loud before replying, Absolutely.





30

Wednesday morning Helen was done hiding. She braced herself for the hell that would be her day and arrived at the café promptly at five. She greeted Delja, who hugged her harder than usual, then went about the work that was getting ready for customers.

Jeff arrived close to five thirty. She saw him pull in and told herself she was strong enough to get through whatever he had to say. She had to believe in herself because there was no one else to do it for her. Whatever they’d had together, it had ended when he’d slept with Marilee.

She watched him walk up to the front door, then step inside. As always, the sight of him made her melt. Anger and hurt could do a lot of things, but they couldn’t kill love. At least not in forty-eight hours. She accepted she was an idiot and a fool, but she wouldn’t be treated like either.

Jeff’s expression of concern softened to pleasure when he saw her. “You are here. When I didn’t get a text saying you were still sick, I hoped you would be. How are you feeling? I wanted to come by and check on you but you were adamant about being left alone.” He reached for her, but she stepped back.

“Don’t. I can’t...” She stopped and swallowed, not sure what she couldn’t do. Talk? Talk and not cry? She’d never been a screamer—in bed or in fights—and she wasn’t about to start now.