The style seemed intrinsic to her, and Daisy had always admired that. How Nora bent rules around her to suit her had been one of the first things Daisy had found appealing about her. They were different. Daisy’s family was close knit and happy, mostly. Nora’s family was dysfunctional, her living situation very often subpar.
She had never been sweet. Acerbic, yes, and terribly funny.
Daisy hadn’t needed Nora to be sweet. She had none of Daisy’s people-pleasing tendencies, and Daisy had found that fascinating and liberating.
In many ways, Nora was who she wanted to be when she grew up. Even still.
She glanced back at Soraya, who had two people in line between herself and Nora, and realized Soraya was leaving her sunglasses on so no one would accidentally make eye contact with her. Daisy took a look around the coffee shop.Reallytook a look.
No less than three people were sitting at tables with a Bible.
Hemlock Christian Fellowship was the biggest church in the area. With over five thousand members, people drove long distances to hear Pastor John speak. It was an oddity, a church that popular in a town so small, and Soraya was deeply entrenched in that community. Daisy wouldn’t be surprised if she knew every single person in here with a Bible.
When she completed her order, she scuttled quickly to the table, taking the seat that faced the back wall. Only then did she lower her sunglasses.
“You look like you’re fleeing the law.”
“Kind of. I’m fleeing my Bible study.”
“Fair enough. Are you actually going to ask for a job?” Daisy asked.
“Yes. She said she was thinking about having somebody bake. Well, I can do that. I can ... I can do that.” She suddenly looked wobbly.
Nora popped over to the table right after.
“You didn’t text,” she said to Soraya.
Soraya seemed to fold in on herself slightly. “I didn’t want to text because I was afraid if I did, I would talk myself out of it. Or misdirect the text. You know, I have recent trauma with misdirected texts.”
Nora laughed, then shut her mouth quickly. “Was that not supposed to be funny?”
Soraya frowned, her eyes round. “Oh no, it was.”
“It was.” Nora picked her laugh up where she left off, seeming relieved.
“So, what was your breaking point?” Daisy asked Nora.
“My friend Sam asked me what I was going to do if Ben didn’t want to get together when he came back. I’m embarrassed to admit that’s the first time I really let myself consider that.”
“Lavender latte.”
Soraya put her sunglasses back on, then stood up and went to the end of the bar to collect her coffee, then returned a moment later, taking them back off.
“I think you look like you even with the sunglasses,” Nora pointed out.
Soraya frowned. “Then maybe that means no one is talking to me because I’m excommunicated.”
“Oh, don’t be silly.” Nora patted Soraya’s shoulder. “They won’t excommunicate you. If they did, how would they shame you?” Soraya frowned and opened her mouth, but Nora forged onward. “Anyway. I thought I could use a little bit of income supplement.”
“Yeah,” Soraya said.
“What about you?” Daisy asked Soraya.
“I had a visit from my Bible study leader.” She clutched her coffee cup with both hands and looked around the room like she was afraid someone might overhear. “She thinks I should get back with David because he’s such a good man.”
Nora made a loud scoffing sound, then got up when her drink was announced and returned to the table a moment later.
“I’m not taking him back,” Soraya said. “That is, of course, going to be a financial problem, but I can’t let go of the infidelity, even if it isn’t physical. It feels like a betrayal.”
