"Olive Township is a cute place, you know? The names of the stores are eccentric and memorable, the vibe is desert chic. It's like you drive into a magical portal on your way in."
"That's what the reporter who wrote about SagewoodSpa said. People have been infiltrating our special bubble ever since."
"Well, then, I guess I'll go back home to Phoenix," she says tartly.
My chest constricts at the mere thought of being apart from her sass, her smile, her sense of humor. I glare at her. "Don't you dare."
Smirking, she says, "I have to at some point, you know." She grabs her phone, looks at her calendar. "Oh," she says softly, like she's just had a realization.
"What is it?"
She pinches her lower lip between two fingers. A sure sign something has affected her, and now she's thinking of it. I've noticed her doing this before. "Mallory?" I urge when she doesn't respond.
"Just some appointments I need to reschedule."
She forces a smile, but I know a brave face when I see one. With only ten minutes left of our drive, I maintain conversation, but it's not like it was before. Whatever she saw on her calendar, it has upset her.
"Here you go," I say, pulling up to the curb at Olive Inn. As pledged, I hop from the car to get Mallory's door.
She turns to face me. "Today was good, right? You're happy you went?"
The care and concern in Mallory's gaze plucks at my heartstrings. She hardly knows me compared to some, but her awareness of how I'm feeling makes it seem like we've been friends for years.
"Today was important for various reasons. Thankyou, and that inquisitive mind of yours, for making it happen."
Mallory smiles, but it doesn't quite reach high enough on her face to be genuine.
She walks up to Olive Inn, disappearing into the front door, and leaves me wondering what the hell she saw on her calendar.
Chapter 19
Mallory
I'd grownquiet at the end of our drive.
Hugo was happy. Buoyant, even. What he did today was big. Something he never thought he'd get the chance to do. His relief was palpable and he was chatty, and although I joined him in that effervescent feeling, it wore off when I realized today's date. I couldn't bear to impart my personal pain on him, nor will I diminish his feeling by telling him tomorrow would've been Maggie's 26th birthday.
Chapter 20
Mallory
Jolene: Sending you the fiercest hug. Tell me if you can't find strawberry cake. I will buy some and drive it to you.
Mallory: I appreciate you. XO.
Mallory: Hi, Mom. Thinking of you today. Love you.
Mom: Thank you,Mallory.
Maggie's birthdayis the hardest day of the year for me, second only to the anniversary of the day she was killed. Every year I bake her favorite strawberry cake, placing twelve candles in the thick layer of vanilla icing. I'm usually in tears, and then I double down and increase the pain by lighting the candles and singing happy birthday. It's dramatic, but it's what I need. After being forced to live in a world without Maggie, sometimes I want to spend just one day drowning in the pain of losing her. Then, and I'm not proud of this, I get drunk and pass out, knowing I will wake up with a pounding headache and self-inflicted illness. In an unhealthy way, this is punishment for how I abandoned my sister on that day.
Without my own kitchen to bake in, I set off for Sweet Nothings. I know from being here yesterday with Hugo that they don't have a strawberry cake on the menu, but I noticed they have rotating flavors. How perfect would it be if today's flavor were strawberry?
Yesterday's bickering couple is here again today. Sal and Adela.
"I told you we ran out of powdered sugar." Adela scowls at her husband.
"Bah," he says, waving her away.
