“I’ve missed you so much,” Jeff said as he held her tight. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
They stepped back and smiled at each other. Jeff pulled out a chair and they both sat at the kitchen table. Kelly stood awkwardly by the island, not sure what she was supposed to do. Join them? Bolt? She settled on hovering.
“Tell me,” her dad said. “Why are you here?”
“I thought it was time for me to visit,” Olivia said with a brilliantly white smile. “Phoenix gets so hot in the summer and the real estate market pretty much dies. I had some vacation time, so here I am. I hope it’s okay.”
“Of course it is. Better than okay.”
Kelly reminded herself to smile when Olivia glanced at her. She was trying to remember the last time she’d seen her sister. Five years ago? Six? They rarely had any contact at all. The occasional birthday text or an awkward phone call, but that was it. Jeff and Olivia visited more regularly, but still not that often. Jeff had gone to Olivia’s college graduation. Kelly had been sick and stayed home.
“You’re selling real estate?” she asked.
“No, I work in marketing. I design the brochures and handle the advertising for the individual houses and the company. I’ve also recently started a staging business. I help people set up their homes so they’re more appealing to buyers. It’s fun.”
“That sounds great,” Jeff told her.
“I like it. It’s amazing what you can do when you rearrange furniture and add some accessories.” The bright smile returned. “I’ve been working a lot so I’m looking forward to taking a couple of months off.”
A couple of months? Kelly held in a groan, then reminded herself that Olivia was her sister. It would be nice for them to get to know each other again. They weren’t teenagers anymore. They were adults and would get along fine just like they had when they were little. Although the entire situation made no sense at all. Olivia had never liked being a small-town girl.
“This will be fun,” Jeff said. “My two girls under the same roof.”
“I know.” Olivia smiled again. “I can’t wait to get together with my friends. Everyone’s going to be so excited. I was texting with Ryan and—”
Kelly groaned. “You have got to be kidding me,” she said before she could stop herself. “You came back for your high school boyfriend?”
Her sister’s mouth formed a prim, straight line. “Of course not. You’re being ridiculous. I want to see all my friends. Ryan is just one of them.”
“Sure.”
Kelly wondered whose idea the visit had been—Olivia’s or Ryan’s. Last she’d heard Griffith’s younger brother was going hot and heavy with someone else.
Olivia stood and moved to the counter. “I mean it, Kelly. I’ve moved on. Started a career.” She picked up her sister’s hand and shook her head as she studied Kelly’s short, ragged nails. “Gotten a manicure. You’re the one still living with Dad.”
Kelly told herself to ignore the dig, but that didn’t stop heat from flaring on her cheeks.
“Girls,” Jeff said mildly. “I know you haven’t lived together in a while, but come on. We’re family.”
Kelly snatched back her hand and nodded. “Of course. It’s so nice to have Olivia back.”
Her sister winked at her. “I know. It’s great, isn’t it?” She turned to Jeff. “Daddy, do you mind if I stay here?”
“Of course not.” The man couldn’t have looked happier. “Your old room is just as you left it. Kelly will show you where the clean sheets and towels are. Stay as long as you’d like. I’m sorry I won’t be able to visit with you after dinner, but I have a gig tonight.”
Olivia laughed. “What does that mean?”
“I’m in a band.” He chuckled. “Okay, not a real band. I work with a music school that helps people learn to play instruments and then perform.”
“He’s the ringer,” Kelly added. “Dad and my friend Helen are the professional musicians who help. They perform in showcases every few weeks.”
“That’s fun.” Olivia wrinkled her nose. “I think I remember you playing guitar when I was little. It was nice.”
“Come with me. We can talk between sets.”
“Thanks, but I’m meeting friends later.”
“Next time, then.” Jeff hugged Olivia and Kelly. “My two girls back at home. Who would have thought?”
Yes, who, Kelly thought to herself. Certainly not her.
* * *
For reasons not clear to Griffith, the sign at the craft mall/community center had been changed. When he’d shown up for the book club, it had been called Petal Pushers. Now there was a new sign: The Dutch Bunch. He figured it was an homage to the tulips they grew in the area, but still. Kind of strange for the Pacific Northwest where Native American names gave visitors tongue-twisting trouble.
He always enjoyed listening to tourists trying to pronounce places like Snohomish, Issaquah or Cle Elum, or his personal favorite, Stillaguamish. Not that he knew anything about naming a craft mall.
He’d shown up for a musical showcase where local bands performed for friends and family. It was the audible equivalent to a train wreck—you really didn’t want to look and see anything bad, but it was impossible to turn away. In this case, there was the faint possibility of hearing something passably good, with the more likely outcome of wincing through the butchering of a perfectly good song. Or twenty.
Griffith wouldn’t normally bother coming. He had plenty to fill his time. But Leo’s son was playing tonight and Leo had asked Griffith to attend. Leo rarely asked for anything, plus he’d sounded so proud when he’d told Griffith about the showcase.
Apparently the band was going to perform a Beatles retrospective. Griffith hoped the Beatles who had already left the earth had reached a state of grace and forgiveness. If they chose to exact punishment for what was about to be done to their songs, there was no telling what could happen.
The room would hold a couple hundred people. There were about sixty there already. Leo and his family had claimed the entire front row of tables. Griffith waved at him, then settled in for what he would guess was going to be a very long evening.
The event was BYOB. He’d grabbed a six-pack of beer. As he found a seat at one of the tables, he wondered if he should have brought something stronger. Or more of it.
He’d just opened his first bottle when he saw Kelly walk in and look around. At first he thought she was looking for friends to sit with, but then he noticed she seemed tense and on edge. When she glanced in his direction, he waved her over.
Her look of relief was gratifying.
“What are you doing here?” she asked as she approached. “I didn’t think anyone came without being obligated. You know the music is going to be awful, right?”
He stood and held out a chair. “I do. Leo, my floor supervisor, has a kid playing. He asked me to come. What’s your excuse?”
“I couldn’t stay home.” With that she pulled a bottle of vodka out of her large tote bag. “They still serve sodas and stuff here, right?”
He eyed the full bottle, then pointed to the concession stand by the wall. “Sure. What do you want?”
“A large glass with ice. Tonic water if they have it, otherwise club soda and a lime.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks.”