“Are you sure? Because you know your body needs a proper diet to feel happy.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I was worried they’d get stuck there.
My sister was like one of those mothers who can’t stop worrying about their children’s weight or whether they’re getting enough vitamins. But since she didn’t have kids, she focused on me.
“Hayley…” I warned her.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay. There’s nothing wrong with me wanting you to take care of yourself, eat right, get enough sleep… That’s an older sister’s job.”
I tried to look irritated, but the dam broke, and I said, “You know you’re the best sister in the world, right?”
“Someone reminds me of it from time to time.” She smiled and leaned her head on my shoulder.
The host told us we could be seated and guided us to a table on the patio courtyard. We sat there smiling, and it seemed strange to me that I’d never been to the place before. The patio was between two buildings and had cobblestone flooring and lots of brightly colored flowers: hanging baskets, hibiscus, oleander. Precious. I’d never have found it if it weren’t for Hayley. This is another secret in a city that’s full of them.
We ordered crepes with cheese and saffron sauce as an appetizer and pasta pomodoro for a main course, with red wine and olives and onion bread.
The waiter soon returned with our first course.
“Are you nervous?” I asked. The next day, my sister would no longer be a single woman.
“Incredibly. It’s been hard for me to sleep these past few days.”
“What are you doing here, then? You should be resting up for the big day.”
Hayley smirked and reached across the table to take my hand.
“No! I want to spend some time with you. I haven’t seen you since the funeral. Tomorrow I don’t have a second to spare and Sunday I’m taking a plane to French Polynesia with my brand-new husband. But this night is ours, Sister. Just for the two of us.”
Then, with a serious demeanor, she looked down into her glass.
“Hayley, are you okay?” I asked.
She looked almost mournful, and tears seemed about to fall from her eyes.
“I feel like it isn’t right for me to go ahead with the wedding. Like I should wait a while, leave it for later. It hasn’t even been a week since she died.”
I shook my head and bent over the table.
“Don’t say that. You know she wouldn’t want you to…”
“I know, but still…”
“It was her last wish, and you want to get married. You’ve been planning this day for months, Hayley. You shouldn’t feel bad for going ahead with it.”
“You really believe that?”
“Of course I do. Don’t let anything spoil one of the happiest days of your life. Grandma wouldn’t want that. You know how she is. I mean, how she was…”
She nodded and looked me in the eyes.
“What about you? Do you know what you’re going to do?”
I swirled my wine and thought it over.
“I don’t have the least idea what to do. It was so hard to make the decision to move to Toronto and study literature, and I convinced myself it was my life’s dream and no one would take it away from me. That city’s home now, and I have everything I need there.”
“But…?”
