Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

“I need to find a place,” she announced.

“Kelly, no. This is your home and it’s plenty big for all of us.”

She laughed again. “I don’t think so, Dad. I’m going to be twenty-nine. Don’t you think it’s time I was on my own? Besides, you’re going to have a new bride in the house. You’re not going to want your grown daughters around.”

“Yes, well, Olivia’s moving out. She’s found a duplex she wants to buy. I’m loaning her the money and she’s paying me back. I want you to stay, but if you insist on your own place, I’ll make the same offer to you.”

“That’s very generous. Thanks.” She got up and headed for her room. “Go be with your soon-to-be fiancée. Oh and, Dad? Buy her a really big ring. After having to wait out Mom, she deserves the bling.”

“I will.”

Kelly walked to her sister’s open door and found Olivia at her desk.

“Can I interrupt?” Kelly asked.

Olivia turned in the chair. “Sure. Come on in. Did you hear Mom’s gone? Isn’t that the best?”

“It’s great.” Kelly settled on the bed. “It’s wonderful and I’m afraid to believe it.”

“Oh, she’s gone and she won’t be back. Trust me on that.”

“She took Ryan. Are you okay with that?”

Olivia’s smile took on an impish quality. “I would say it made the whole situation better.”

“So you’re not upset?”

“Not about Mom and Ryan.” She sighed. “I’ll admit he was part of the reason I came back, but once I was here, I never saw him. It’s as if he disappeared into the landscape. I don’t want him back.”

“Good. He was a bit of a jerk. Anyway, did Dad tell you about Helen?”

“That they’re in love? He did.” Olivia’s expression turned cautious. “I, um, think this means we have to move out.”

“I know. He said you found a place.”

“A duplex. It’s cute and the other side has great renters.” She bit her lower lip. “Did you want me to see if I can break the lease so you can move in?”

“Sweet offer, but no. I think it’s time for me to be on my own. I’ll rent a place for a while until I figure out my next step.”

“Or marry Griffith.” Her voice was teasing.

Kelly did her best not to react to the statement. “We’re not exactly talking marriage.” Or anything long-term. He’d been clear on that.

“But you’re in love with him.”

Kelly nearly fell off the bed. “How did you know?”

“Oh, please. I’m your sister. It wasn’t hard to figure out.” She tilted her head. “I take it from your reaction that he doesn’t know.”

“I doubt he has even a hint of a clue.”

“Men. They’re all idiots. When are you going to tell him?”

“What? I’m not. It wouldn’t go well. I’m going to keep things the way they are.”

Olivia didn’t say anything but the word chicken seemed to fill the room.

“He’s not that into me,” Kelly hedged. “He’s not looking to get married.”

“No one said anything about marriage. I’m talking love. If you love him, you should tell him. Not saying the words doesn’t take away their power or make you less. I think he’d want to know.”

Which all made perfect sense, Kelly thought, but what happened when he ran for the hills? She would be left devastated and alone. Of course loving him and not saying anything made her a coward, which wasn’t good. She’d vowed to be a better person—hadn’t she best get going on that?

*

Kelly wrestled with the Griffith problem for two days. On the third, she was tired of thinking about it and tired of wondering why everyone was emotionally strong but her. Determined to get things settled once and for all, she texted him and asked him to meet her at his house. With Ryan in Phoenix, they wouldn’t have to worry about being interrupted.

They arrived at the same time. He kissed her before they climbed up the porch stairs.

“How’s my best girl?” he asked.

“Still reeling from all that’s happened. Have you heard from Ryan?”

He held open the unlocked front door and followed her inside. “Not a word, which is fine by me.” He stood in the middle of the living room. “What’s up? Or did you lure me here to play escaped prisoner and the warden’s wife?”

Here it was. The moment of truth. She could avoid it by falling into bed with him and having amazing, wonderful sex for the next few hours, or she could grow a pair—so to speak—and be self-actualized.

The sex option was incredibly appealing, but she reminded herself she was here on a mission.

“I’m in love with you,” she said, her voice clear. “I don’t expect you to do anything with that information, I just wanted you to know.”

Griffith’s face was a caricature of stunned surprise. “What?”

“I’m in love with you,” she repeated. “I have been for a while. I don’t know exactly when it happened, but here we are. I know you don’t want me to change things, that you don’t want to be in love or any of that, although I have to tell you, your reasons are really dumb. I mean you won’t love anyone because you’re not good at it? What’s up with that?”

She pressed her lips together and told herself to stay on topic. “Anyway, I’m not going to be afraid or staid or anything else that I’ve been doing these past few years. I’m going to be my own person and that person is in love with you.”

She noticed it was getting easier to say. Maybe it was the repetition. Maybe it was the fact that he seemed unable to speak.

“I’m going to be living my life to the fullest, every day. I’d like that to be with you, but if not, I’ll keep moving forward.”

She paused, hoping he would say something, but when he didn’t, she wasn’t sure what to do. Yell? Leave? Tell him he was an idiot?

She went with the easiest. “You’re an idiot if you let me get away. I’m good for you and we’re good together. We fit and it’s fun and we have each other’s backs. That’s important. You get me and I get you.” She glared at him. “Are you going to say anything?”

He was still another second, before telling her, “Wait right here.” Then he turned and ran up the stairs.

What on earth? She still didn’t know what to do but decided to wait. She was scared and hopeful and determined to get this right, even if it meant walking away. She stood alone in the living room for several seconds, before he returned and held out his hand.

There was a brooch on his palm. A bouquet of flowers. The stems were silver tone and the flowers were different colors of glass. It was obviously old and not especially attractive.

“I found this at the craft mall,” he told her. “A few weeks ago. I was waiting for the right time to give it to you.”

“I don’t get it.”

“It’s a pin,” he said moving toward her. “Because you’re my girl.”