When he’d asked me to come to his estate for coffee the other day, I’d had half a mind to refuse him, given his stupid fucking decision of sellingLure. I can be furious at him, despise him, but at the end of the day, he’s family – the last of it, too – so I couldn’t find it in me to deny his request.
I take a left and enter the lawn, and my hair, along with my lavender summer dress, flow sideways as a bout of air whips by me. The grass at my feet swishes as it shifts with the wind, and caresses my ankles as I walk further into the lawn. The sun is right above me, and even though I prefer the gloomier weather over this one, I’m absolutely loving the warmth on my skin today.
“There you are!” says Uncle Chase.
I put a hand over my eyes to shield them from the glaring sunrays, then look ahead. There’s a set of white chairs and a table set up under the shade. Various biscuits and macaroons are plated on delicate crockeries, along with a pot of coffee that’s placed right in the center of the table. Guards are surrounding the area, but they remain a respectful distance away from the setup.
I wave at my uncle, then make my way to him. “Your gardens are stunning,” I say by way of greeting.
“Aren’t they?” He opens his arms for me, so I close the gap between us and hug him.
He places a kiss on the side of my head, and when we step back, he smiles down at me.
He’s wearing beige pants and a red polo t-shirt, and I know it’s a bit darker here, but I can still see the circles around his eyes, and how prominent the creases on his face look. He seems tired, and I don’t know if it’s because Mom’s absence is getting to him, or if it’s the elections. Probably both, I’d wager.
“You sure you wanna do this?” I ask him. “You look exhausted, Uncle Chase; you need rest.”
“Nonsense. I called you here because I wanted to spend some time with you, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” He moves behind me, then pulls a chair out for me.
I can’t help but chuckle as I settle down, and when he does the same, I grab the pot and fill our cups with coffee.
“I’m glad you came,” he tells me. “I was of the impression that you wouldn’t want to see me for a while.”
I sigh, then set the pot back in its place. “Make no mistake, I’m still mad at you. And I’m not here foryoutoday, but only for the macaroons you promised me. I am too enticed by them for my own good, and you know that as well.”
He laughs, and his eyes crinkle around the corners. “Well, I’m glad you’re here, regardless of the reason.”
I smile, then grab a lemon cookie off one of the plates before biting into it. A chorus of birds’ chirping echoes from high above, and I notice a few butterflies flittering around the lawn. Their black wings, dotted with pink, make for a beautiful contrast against the green around me, and when one of them sits atop a patch of grass near me, I notice that its entire body is pink, with spots of black on the side.
“I didn’t know we had Pink Rose butterflies here,” I tell Uncle Chase, then finish my cookie before grabbing a coconut macaroon.
“Fascinating, aren’t they?” he says before polishing off the scone he was holding. “I’ve seen them quite a few times during my afternoon walks around the estate. I can have one of them caught for you, if you’d like to own it.”
“No.” I face him so fast, that it makes him chuckle in surprise. “Sorry.” I laugh a little, then shake my head. “It’s just that I wouldn’t want to cage it. It wouldn’t be fair to its nature.” I glance at the butterfly again, and its velvety wings shine against the sunlight as it takes off after the others.
“Your mother never had an affinity for these things.”
I look at Uncle Chase again, and he gestures at the table before us.
“Nor these, for that matter,” he adds, grinning to himself.
I finish my macaroon before responding to that. “She always looked at the bigger picture, I suppose, and not the smaller ones that constituted to the entire thing.”
He nods. “She did have dreams that were too bold, even for my imagination.”
“But you still helped her achieve them.”
“Of course I did. She was, and always will be, my family.”
I reach out and give one of his hands a squeeze, then grab my cup and lean back in my chair. Taking a sip of the warm, creamy coffee, I try not to moan at its decadent and nutty taste. It’s strong, and something I most definitely needed.
“What have you been up to these days?” Uncle Chase asks, then exhales heavily. “I’ve been so busy that I haven’t even checked up on you.”
I drink some more of my coffee, then set the cup down. “You’re good, don’t worry.” I swipe a strawberry macaroon off the plate to my right, and then lift a shoulder at my uncle. “I’ve been thinking of starting a fashion blog. Maybe a YouTube channel, too. I’ve got so many ideas I wanna let out, and while I’m at it, I can perhaps help people who are looking for fashion advice.”
It’s not something I’ve mapped out yet, but I’ve discussed the possibility of it with Julian. It’s the second-best thing toLure, I guess, especially because it’ll help me establish myself as a public figure before I can launch my own brand in the future. Well, that’s what my end goal is for now, at least.
“That’s good, sweet pea,” Uncle Chase says, then nods. “I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with the idea.”
