A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow - Laura Taylor Namey Page 0,70

closer to town just because of it. And our rating on that TripTell travel site has never been higher. The comments about the afternoon tea alone! What you do here matters—don’t forget that.”

“I won’t forget.”

“Good.” She cranes her neck. “And Flora, I’m so pleased Lila has gotten herself some help in here.”

Eyes like saucers, Flora only nods.

At the swing door, Cate says, “Tonight I’ll have Spence brew you some of his turmeric tea with coconut milk. Will knock you out cold.”

I’m back at the sink, then Flora’s at my side, her lips tightly curled together. “You can go. I’ll finish up,” I say.

“I… you took the fall for me. Why?” she says to the floor.

I transfer a glass mixing bowl to the drying rack. “What happens in this kitchen is my responsibility.”

“But—”

“Orion will be here soon to run.” I return to my washing. “I saved him one of the strawberry empanadas we made together. They’re one of his favorites and he’s going to love it.” One final direct glance at Flora. “So. Friday, then?”

“Um, okay. Friday.”

* * *

“What do you mean you told Andrés Christian Millan to chill and not contact you for a while? And how long is a while?”

“Ugh. Shit. Ugh.” I’m sure Pili can still see me just fine through her laptop FaceTime window as I plunge, face-first onto my bed. “I don’t know,” I say into the duvet. “I don’t know anything right now.”

“Lila.”

I drag my head sideways, still belly-down.

“But it’s Andrés,” she says. “The guy you cried over in the walk-in freezer! And now he’s having second thoughts?”

Yeah, it’s Andrés and the us that’s been such a mainstay of my life for years. Put our faces on a flag, wave it high over West Dade. Andrés Millan and Lila Reyes forever. But the second I find out Andrés might want to get back together or at least talk about it, I tell him not to call?

“You look different,” Pilar says softly. A wistful smile graces her face.

“Different how?” I drag out my forearm, pronate it. “Paler?” I grab a chunk of the hair we share. “Mira, no summer highlights like at home.”

“The sister I know would’ve called, texted, FaceTimed, hired sky writers to get Mami and Papi to get you the hell home early over this.”

“Yeah, so what else would she do? The Lila you know?” How has Pili really seen me all these years, not as family so much, but simply as a someone?

Pilar snickers a bit. “Let’s see, you’d probably speed over to the Gables. Kiss Andrés senseless. Make him call you his again.”

Make him. And she’s so right, about the girl she left at the airport. I stare at my sister, this part of me I love so very much. “Pili,” I say with a hitch, “it’s getting warmer here. But I’ve been wearing all the clothes you sent. I miss you.”

“I miss you more. I miss us.”

Her blade slips by all the knife skills I know, getting me good. She pulls me in, she pulls me home. Las Reyes, Lila and Pilar. Our plan of world pastry domination is as bright and alive as ever in my eyes, my heart. So easily, so effortlessly, this is my future as it’s always been.

“I can’t just run back to Andrés so quickly,” I say. My own heart matters too much. “I can’t rush this time. You don’t understand how broken I was.”

“Don’t I?” Four thousand miles of knowing shadows her face.

“Thank you.” My hand tips, conceding. “For making me come here.”

Pilar lets out a long, slow breath. “I was right. Different.”

24

I’m cooking big time. The work centers me. The chopping, and the simmer of onions with butter, milk, and flour for a béchamel sauce. I’m using nothing from cans today, peeling and steaming my own farmers’ market tomatoes for sauce, boiling bones and herbs for chicken stock.

My phone vibrates from my apron pocket. Not a text, an e-mail. The header makes my heart clench. Stefanie.

Dear Lila,

Yes. We should talk. I’ll call soon, promise.

Stef

Well, it’s something. But as steps forward go, it’s a tiptoe. Will our first face-to-face feel like walking on shards of glass or sitting in the middle of a burning-down room? Dozens of clichés flood but I have to remember: we can do this. We can find ourselves again, even if we have to start by leaning on all we used to be for years.

The backdoor creaks open then smacks shut. While it’s usually Orion, this afternoon, Jules and Flora slide