home.
I pulled away from Elise and took Henley into the back of the bakery.
“Ember, look who’s here,” I said.
Ember looked at Henley and smiled. “There’s my helper. What are you in the mood for today?”
“Chocolate chip cookies!” Henley yelled.
“Oh, those are my favorite,” Ember said. “Are you sure you don’t want to make some oatmeal raisin cookies instead?”
“Those are for old people,” Henley said.
“Henley, don’t say that,” Elise chided her.
Henley looked back at her mother. She was the spitting image of Elise when she was younger.
The chin, lips, nose, and blue eyes…
And then Henley rolled her eyes slowly.
Just like Elise used to do to me.
I was two years older than Elise, and that eye roll was a daily part of our relationship growing up when she would get in my way and I’d tell her to leave me alone.
“Come on, Henley,” Ember said. “Let’s get you your apron and get baking.”
“Thank you, Ember,” Elise called out.
Ember gave a nod.
Elise grabbed my arm again. “Tell me why Liam was here.”
“Will you relax?” I asked. “He was talking about Miranda. They’re getting married.”
“They’ve been engaged for ten years.”
“Not even close. Stop it.”
“People who are engaged that long really have no intention of getting married.”
“And if that’s the case, it’s not my business,” I said. “They’re my friends.”
“No, they’re not,” Elise said. “Miranda pretends to be your friend. And Liam used to be your friend. The whole thing is weird if you ask me.”
“You know, sometimes your brutal honesty isn’t needed,” I said.
“Yes, it is.”
I walked from the back to behind the register.
I got Elise a coffee.
“What’s going on in your life?” I asked.
She took the coffee. “Nothing. Henley was begging to come here.”
“You and Dan okay?”
“No. We’re getting divorced. He’s been fucking his secretary for a year.”
“What?” I asked.
“I’m kidding,” Elise said. “Jeez. I can’t just come say hey to you?”
“I was just asking.”
I walked Elise to the table where Liam and I had been sitting.
When she sat across from me, she looked around. “I still can’t believe you’ve kept this place open.”
“Me either,” I said.
“Any idea what you’re going to do with it?”
“I don’t know. Run it?”
“You know what I mean,” she said.
“I have no idea, Elise. I jumped in headfirst and I’m figuring it out the best I can.”
“My crazy sister,” she said.
“You’re crazier than me,” I said.
“I think I can agree to that. When you’re married and have a kid, you lose your mind for sure.”
“You’ve been crazy since before that,” I said.
“Bitch,” Elise whispered.
I laughed.
“Well, look at this… the sisters of trouble…”
I turned my head and felt like groaning in disgust.
“Hey, Jeff,” Elise said. “What are you doing here?”
“Best coffee around,” he said. “Can’t miss it.”
“How many times have you been in here?” I asked.
“Not enough,” he said. He looked around. “Great place here. I can definitely help turn it all around. The business and the building.”
Jeff winked and knocked his knuckles on the table.
He went to get in line and I looked at Elise.
“I did not set that up,” she said. “I swear on my life.”
“Elise…”
“On Henley’s life,” she said.
“So you’re telling me that your husband’s douchebag best friend who claims he’s in love with me just shows up randomly when you’re here?”
“Yes,” Elise said. “And Jeff isn’t that bad.”
“I can’t stand him,” I said. “And you and Dan keep putting the bug in his ear that maybe something could happen between us.”
“Well, why not?” Elise asked. “He works with Dan. He’s smart. He’s funny. He can help with this place. For real, Emily.”
I sighed. “No. It’ll never happen. I want nothing to do with that guy.”
“So you just want to struggle to keep this place afloat, then have nobody?”
“Wow, you are just cutting into me today,” I said.
“I’m your sister. I love you. I’m never going to stop cutting into you. I’m sorry about what happened with Jon. You knew that was never going to work. I told you that from the second I met him.”
“And I can tell you right now that Jeff is not the guy for me,” I said.
“Then who is?” Elise asked.
I didn’t answer the question.
Partly because I told myself I had no answer.
But partly because I really did have an answer.
Chapter Seven
Liam
“Should we have a cigarette or go inside?” Jackson asked me.
“We don’t smoke,” I said.
“Exactly,” he said.
He reached for the door.
I looked around and shook my head.
I knew Miranda was stuck at the office.
Just like always.
It was a tough situation to be in. The more she did now the less