“You couldn’t possibly know she’d be this happy elsewhere. She was really enjoying herself at Garden Breeze, though. There’s no reason to worry about her. That’s for sure.”
Ms. Winterset didn’t recognize Malena today. A fact that almost made it easier when it was time to leave. I tried to let her visit without my presence, hanging in the lobby area, dodging the women trying to flirt with me at the front desk. Malena left her mother a stationery set and a handwritten note. Ms. Winterset likes to write letters when she has flashes of clarity, and Malena hoped the letter would ease her mother in case she remembered that she’d been dropped off at Garden Breeze and left by herself in a strange new world.
I walk up behind her and set my beer down on the railing. “Do you like to garden?” I broach, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
She reaches around my waist with an arm. “I don’t know. I should try, right? It’s something she has always loved, and it’s the only thing she remembers that she still loves.” I hear the resentment in her voice. “Might be therapeutic for me. It’s always hot and sunny here. I could garden year-round. There would always be something in season.”
“Or you can throw yourself into planning my mom’s birthday at the beach instead?” I try to change the subject to something on more neutral territory. “It will be a pretty awesome surprise.”
Malena grins. “I’ve already got everything handled,” she replies, eyes lighting. “You know I’m going to have to be there to make sure everything goes smoothly, right?”
“Yes,” I reply.
“That means your sisters. Your family. They’ll all be there. At the same place I’ll be.”
I quirk a brow. “That doesn’t mean I have to introduce you to them.”
Malena swats me on the arm playfully. “You’re awful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
She blushes. “I’m hungry.”
A car door closes in the parking lot adjacent to my building. Right on time, I think. “I’ll introduce you to them now,” I say, sighing. Eva didn’t call, but call it brotherly intuition—I knew she would be coming over tonight. I have no doubt in my mind that Celia told her we dropped Ms. Winterset off at Garden Breeze yesterday.
Malena tightens under my hands, the nerves reacting immediately.
“What do you mean?” Malena says, scrambling out of my grasp. “She’s here? Now?”
I sigh. “I don’t want them to be. Not because you’re here. Because she never calls before she comes over,” I bark loudly, so Eva can hear as she approaches. Malena spins toward the sound of footsteps on the pathway to my front door.
“You never answer my calls, Leif. Don’t be a dick,” Eva croons, gaze lighting on Malena even though she’s talking to me. “Looks like I came over at a perfect time,” she adds. “I’ve been dying to meet her in the flesh.” Eva walks toward us with a proud stride and, much to my surprise, a pleasant smile on her face. My stomach flips at the realization of what’s about to happen. Worlds colliding.
Malena shrinks into me, but I push her forward to sense the evil I have to deal with on a regular basis.We all have our demons, Malena, I think.
“Malena, this is my older sister, Eva. She’s married and has her own house but likes to harass her brother at his place insteadof living her own life. Is Celia on her way?” I ask, tilting my head. “I can only surmise you’ve telepathically told her to get her ass over here as quickly as possible because I’m in a weak spot.”
Eva cackles, her blond hair sliding over her shoulder as she tips her head back. Taking out her phone, she sends a text. Of course.
Malena extends her hand, baffled or taken aback by sibling rivalry. “It’s nice to meet you in person, Eva,” she says. “Your brother led me to believe I might never get to meet you. Which would be a shame, as I don’t think anyone can put him in his place so…gracefully.”
Eva ignores Malena’s offered hand in favor of bringing her in for a hug, trapping Malena’s hands by her sides. “You don’t know how relieved I am to see you do actually exist in his world. I thought he was gay,” Eva says, pulling away to look Malena over more thoroughly, like a judge in a baking competition or something. “Not that there would be anything wrong with him being gay, but I really wanted another woman around. Why would you think you’d never meet me?” Eva narrows her eyes at me.
I make an irritated groan behind them. “I’m right here,” I say. “You knew she existed. Don’t play dumb. You’ve been hassling me about her. Hell, you’ve been hassling her too!”
“I thought maybe he was delusional, that’s all. He’s never really cared about anyone other than himself before. I knew you existed, I just wasn’t sure you were actually spending time with my brother,” Eva explains, making me seem like even more of a vapid monster. “I didn’t hassle Malena. I merely wanted to be friends with her. Why wasn’t he going to introduce you to me?” Eva asks Malena.
I push open the door and hold my arm out so they’ll both enter. Mr. Olsen laughs as he ambles outside to take up residence in his chair. “You kids doing okay out here?”
I respond to Mr. Olsen as Eva and Malena offer warm smiles and ask him if he needs anything. He looks a little tired today—worn down. I help him sit down even though he tries to push me away, I can tell he appreciates the attention.
“I’m going to cook dinner,” Eva proclaims.
Malena walks up next to me and pats Mr. Olsen on the arm. “Do you want to have dinner with us?” Malena asks.
“Yes,” Eva adds. “You’ll have dinner with us.” They’re already a united front, and I have to admit, I kind of like it. There isn’t any hostility between my sister and Malena.
Mr. Olsen lays back and waves a thin, veiny arm. “No, no. I’m not going to interrupt your dinner. But you can bring me a plate if you want to. I’m going to take a little nap.”
