“I think we all know I could have any man I want.”
“Except Roger,” Olivia muttered.
Kelly covered her laugh with a cough. Marilee glared at each of them in turn. When their server came over to take their order, Kelly had the thought that lunch with her mother wasn’t going to be so horrible, after all, and it was all thanks to Olivia.
* * *
Olivia’s good mood lasted all afternoon. Lunch with her mom and Kelly had turned out much better than she’d expected. For the first time since she’d come home, she felt that she and Kelly were a team.
Eliza had texted about getting together with a couple of women they’d both known in high school. Olivia’s first instinct had been to refuse the invitation. Back in high school, neither of the women had been someone she could trust, despite the fact that they’d hung out together. They’d been more frenemy than friendly and she’d heard they’d both dated Ryan within seconds of her leaving town.
Then she’d reminded herself that over a decade had passed, that she was looking to make a fresh start and girlfriends were a part of that. So she’d texted back happy emojis with her acceptance and had spent the afternoon figuring out what to wear to a casual happy hour reunion.
She’d settled on cropped pants and a tank top in bright orange with a crocheted loose off-the-shoulder sweater on top. Her makeup was light but pretty, her jewelry simple. She looked casually sophisticated. She’d passed on heels, thinking flats would make a quick getaway easier, if it came to that.
Krissie and Caitlyn had both been popular back in high school. They’d ruled the sophomore class like the queen bees they were. Not that Olivia could complain—she’d been right in the middle of mean-girl land with them.
She saw the three women sitting at a table. Actually she saw Eliza in her new haircut and barely registered the other two. Eliza rushed over to hug her.
“Do you love it?” her friend asked, her voice full of enthusiasm. “I wasn’t sure. My hair’s been long my whole life, but I love it so much. It’s easier and faster after my shower and I’ve been getting so many compliments.” She swung her head back and forth so her short, sassy bob moved. “Thank you for suggesting the style.”
“You look amazing. You were cute before and now you’re gorgeous.”
Eliza flushed. “You’re so nice to me. Thank you for that.” She glanced back at the table. “Um, Krissie and Caitlyn are really excited to see you. Be careful.”
There was no time to ask what Eliza meant before they were at the table and there were squeals and hugs all around.
“How are you?” Caitlyn asked enthusiastically. “Oh, my God! I can’t believe you’re back.”
“Here I am.” Olivia tried not to show her surprise at the changes in Caitlyn. The woman was still blonde but at least forty pounds heavier. Krissie’s big change was her obvious pregnancy. Olivia smiled at her. “Congratulations.”
“Oh, thanks. This is my second.” She rested her hand on her belly. “I swear, Derek has so much testosterone in his system, he only has to look at me and I get pregnant.”
“I have two kids, too,” Caitlyn added, as they all sat down. “Olivia Murphy. I can’t believe you’re really here.”
A server came over. Krissie ordered cranberry juice with club soda, Eliza and Olivia each asked for a glass of white wine while Caitlyn got a vodka martini, straight up.
Krissie leaned forward. “Tell us everything about what you’ve been up to.” She grabbed Olivia’s left hand. “No ring, I see. Still having trouble getting your man?” She giggled. “Let’s see, Derek and I married a year after high school. You remember Derek, don’t you? He was one of the football captains. Just the most handsome guy. So masculine. He’s an EMT.” She wrinkled her nose. “That means he’s gone twenty-four hours at a time, which is hard with a little one and a baby on the way, but I manage. Caitlyn helps me.”
“We live close,” Caitlyn added. “Like sisters.”
Olivia was still stuck back on the comment about her being unable to get her man. Had Krissie really said that? Was she imagining the insult?
“My Justin and I bought the Burnett gas station a few years back,” Caitlyn continued. “It’s doing so incredibly well. Justin negotiated them down on the price and now we’re just swimming in money.” She smiled. “Do you have a job, Olivia?” She covered her mouth with her fingers. “Oops. Sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. Of course you’re doing something, aren’t you?” She looked at Krissie.
“Running the fund-raiser,” Krissie said brightly. “We’re all so excited. We’ve bought tickets.” She leaned close. “I hear it’s going to be fancy.”
“I think you’ll enjoy the meal,” Olivia murmured, not sure what she was supposed to think. Had these women been like this back in high school or was this show just for her? “The caterer has won awards. There are a lot of great auction items and it’s all for a good cause.”
“I sure hope you can make enough to pay for expenses. The town can’t afford to cover your mistakes.”
Olivia met her gaze. “I have it handled.”
Krissie cleared her throat. “Caitlyn, she’ll do fine. Oh, remember that time back in high school when we—” She paused. “Oh, wait. That was after you were sent away. We’re so sorry that happened. We missed you desperately. Have you seen Ryan since you’ve been back? You know he’s dating Autumn, right? She’s a sweet girl. Not the brightest bulb, but a lot of men aren’t that into women with brains. Are you seeing anyone?”
Olivia was saved from answering by the return of their server. Drinks were passed around and a toast offered.
“To old friends,” Krissie said with a smile. “They’re just the best.”
* * *
“I’m sorry,” Eliza said for the fourth time as they walked to the car. “I’m so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.”
“It was my idea that we get together.” Eliza sounded miserable. “I was never that close to the two of them but I don’t remember them being like this before. So hateful.”
“I’m not surprised at the behavior, I just can’t figure out why it’s directed at me.”
Eliza stopped walking and stared at her. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No. They’re both married and have kids. Their husbands are successful. By nearly every standard, they have way more than me. You’d think they could afford to be generous. But I guess outgrowing the bitch gene isn’t easy.”
Eliza shook her head. “You really don’t get it, do you? They don’t have it all, Olivia. The only reason Justin married Caitlyn is because she got pregnant. He cheats on her all the time and they could only afford the gas station because of some unexpected inheritance. He’s not a great negotiator—the Burnetts felt sorry for them. As for Krissie, she once told me she always dreamed of moving away and having a glamorous career, only she wasn’t willing to even try to go to college, so she’s stuck here. Now she’s married with kids and she’s never going to be able to do any of the things she imagined. Her small life is getting smaller and she only has herself to blame.”
Information that almost made her feel sorry for them, Olivia thought. “Then why be pissed at me?”
“Look at you. You’re glamorous and successful. Whatever you’re doing here, you had a good job in Phoenix. You’ve lived all over the country, you’ve seen things. And you’ve been back in town all of five minutes and you’re practically running things. I understand they’re envious but they shouldn’t have been so mean.”
Olivia hugged her friend. “Thank you. You’re the best friend ever.”
“I’m not. A good friend would have punched one of them in the nose.”
“Can you reach that high?”
Eliza stepped back and laughed, then her humor faded. “I really am sorry.”
“Stop saying t
hat. I don’t want to hear it again. Come on. Let’s go get takeout and head back to your place. I’d invite you over, but my mother is there and I like you too much to subject you to that.”
* * *
Kelly stood on Helen’s front porch, a bag from the drugstore in her hand. She knew her dad was at home—she’d left him there with Marilee not fifteen minutes before, so was reasonably confident that Helen was alone.
It had been too many days since they’d spoken. Too many days of her not knowing what to say. Helen was her best friend and with them not talking, she had a Helen-sized empty space in her chest and no idea how to fill it.
She knocked, then waited. A couple of seconds later, Helen opened the door. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Kelly, hi.”
“Hi, back.” She held up the bag. “Olivia has shamed me about the state of my nails. I’ve explained I farm for a living but then she pointed out I don’t actually dig in dirt, so there’s no excuse. I went and bought supplies and thought maybe we could do manicures together. I have no idea how, but I thought you might be able to teach me the basics.”
Helen hesitated only a second. “Sure. Come on in.”
They walked into the kitchen and sat at the table. Kelly unloaded the items she’d purchased. She’d bought manicure scissors and nippers, a package of files, an orange stick which wasn’t close to orange, three different colors of nail polish, a base coat, a top coat and pads that were supposed to take it all off.
“You weren’t kidding,” Helen said. “Did you watch any YouTube videos?”
“A couple. They were pretty basic. I’m not looking to create nail art. Just, you know, get Olivia off my back.”
“It’s hard to compete with a beautiful sister.”
“Tell me about it. I swear, she wakes up with great hair. It’s not right.”
They smiled at each other, then their smiles faded. They both looked away.
Kelly reached for the package of nail files, then dropped it back on the table. “I don’t know what to say. Or think. I’m confused about everything that’s happened.”
“Me, too,” Helen admitted. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Jeff. In my heart of hearts, I didn’t know how.”
“I get that. He’s my dad and older and it’s weird. Are you really in love with him?”
Helen nodded. “He doesn’t know. Right now things are fairly casual.”
Kelly opened her mouth, then closed it. She sighed. “So this is what makes it hard. Normally I would ask what that means. I would want details. But I don’t want to know more. Can you understand that?”
Helen nodded. “It’s hard for me, too, because you’re my best friend and if I don’t tell you, who do I tell?”
A question that made Kelly feel small and selfish.
“I want this to work,” she said. “For both of us. I think I just need time.”
“Okay.”
“What does that mean? Okay, I get what you’re going through and it’s fine, or okay, be that way?”
Helen picked up a bottle of nail polish and turned it over in her hands. “It means I understand you’re not comfortable, but I wish you’d at least try to see things from my point of view. I’m going through something huge and I can’t talk to the one person I always thought would be there for me.”
“You’re saying I’m not being a good friend.”
“I’m saying you’re not being my friend.”
“Are you being mine? You’re sleeping with my father.”
“What does that have to do with us being close?”
A reasonable question, Kelly thought, fighting guilt. “I don’t know, but it does. Helen, you changed everything. I need some time to catch up.”
“If I were with Sven, would this be an issue?”
“What? No.” Kelly paused. “It would be a little weird because I was with him for so long, but not a big deal.” She stared at Helen. “Do you think I don’t want you to be happy? That I resent you having someone?”
“I don’t know. Do you?”
“No! Of course not. This is about my father, Helen. I swear. Just my dad. I want you to be with someone wonderful. Someone who will cherish you and take care of you. Someone who believes you’re the best thing to ever happen to him and—”
Kelly stared at her friend. Oh, no. She was describing her father. She knew him, possibly better than anyone, and he was that guy. He was decent and honest and loyal. If he fell for Helen, he would be all in. And based on what she’d just said, she should really, really want that for her friend. No, she did want that for her friend. So what the hell was the problem?
Tears burned. Kelly blinked them away. She stood. “I’m sorry,” she said as she fought emotions she couldn’t define, let alone control. “I should be a better person. I want you to be with someone great and if that’s my dad, then yay you. I just need more time to deal with everything. Please don’t hate me for that.”
She ran out of the house and climbed into her truck. She drove a few blocks, then pulled over and picked up her phone.
Griffith answered right away. “What’s up? I thought you were going to talk to Helen.”
“I did.” She sniffed. “It didn’t go well. Can I come over?”
“I’d say yes, but Ryan is here with a bunch of his buddies and it’s loud. Want me to sneak into your place?”
She managed a smile. “You don’t have to sneak. I’m over twenty-one.”
“Are you really? Damn. I thought I was dating a teenager. Now I have to rethink everything.” She heard movements, then he said, “My keys are in my hands. I’ll meet you at the house in ten minutes.”
“Thank you. Want to bring a bag? You can stay the night.”
“I just might do that.”
Kelly got there first and waited for him. Griffith pulled up and she ran to him.
“I’m a terrible person,” she admitted as she hung on.
“You’re not. You’re processing.”
“I’m sure Helen would tell me to process faster.” She raised her head and looked at him. “I’m very flawed. Do you still like me?”
“I like you a lot.” He kissed her nose. “To prove that, I’m going to take you into your bedroom and make incredibly quiet love to you.”
“I texted Olivia and she said it was fine for you to stay the night as long as you leave the toilet seat down. It’s because we share a bathroom.”
“I figured.” He reached in the truck for a backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “It’ll be just like college. Me sneaking into a girl’s room, then sneaking out in the morning.”
She laughed. “There’s no sneaking. You keep saying that. Everyone will know.”
“You’re determined to take the fun out of this, aren’t you?”
Instead of answering, she took his hand in both of hers. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome.” He pulled her close and kissed her on the mouth. When he straightened he said, “Kelly, you’re not wrong or bad or any of those things. You’re genuinely trying to work through some things. It’s okay that it takes time. Helen will understand.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Because while he sounded sure, she was less so.
29
Helen had a restless night. Even giving herself a manicure with Kelly’s supplies hadn’t made her feel any better. Logically she could understand what her friend was going through, but the rest of her felt angry and betrayed.
She was awake before her alarm and knew she was going to be exhausted all day. Hopefully work would be busy and time would go quickly, then she could go home and catch a quick nap.
As she approached the café, she saw a truck parked in front. Not Jeff’s truck, she thought as she studied it. Griffith’s.
Sure enough, as she reached the front door he got out. Sven stepped down from the passenger side and they both walked toward her.
Their faces were unreadable, their eyes concerned. Her mouth went dry and her chest tightened.
“What?” she demanded. “Was there an accident?”
The two men exchanged a look.
“We should go inside,” Sven said. “Everyone is fine. There was no accident. We have to talk to you.”
Helen felt her body stiffen. She had trouble getting the key in the lock. Griffith took it from her and opened the door, then locked it behind them.
Lights were already on. Delja would have arrived at two. Helen called out a shaky greeting, then faced the two men.
“What is it?”
Griffith led her to a table for four and urged her to sit. He and Sven sat down as well, then Griffith cleared his throat.
“I spent the night with Kelly last night. At her place.”
Helen glanced between the two of them. What on earth were they talking about? “I know you’re having sex. What’s the point of this? If you’re trying to scare me, you’re doing a really good job.”
Sven reached for her hand. Helen wanted to snatch it back—despite using Sven as an example the previous evening, she’d really never been interested in him that way. But something warned her that in a few minutes she might welcome the human contact. She braced herself both physically and emotionally, then looked at Griffith.
“Tell me?”
Griffith was obviously struggling. He opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked ready to run. Helen couldn’t figure out what would—
No. No! She knew, even as she refused to believe. Her fingers tightened on Sven’s hand.
“I spent the night at Kelly’s,” Griffith began. “Around midnight, I got up to get a glass of water. Marilee was in the kitchen. She was wearing a man’s pajama top and fixing a sandwich. She said—”
He looked at Sven who nodded encouragingly.
Secrets of the Tulip Sisters Page 33
