***
Piper suggests Clementine’s, a shop with acai bowls and smoothies and donuts that smell amazing. The place is swarming with people. We wait in line, then make our picks—chocolate-glazed and rainbow-sprinkled donuts—plus a Sunrise Acai Bowl that Piper swears will change my life. We take our food outside to a group of crowded picnic tables. A family’s vacating one, and we snag it, sitting side by side because the umbrella shades only half the table.
Piper scoops blended acai, granola, and a banana slice onto a spoon. “I can’t believe acai bowls aren’t huge in Spokane,” she says, holding it out to me.
“Maybe they are,” I say, taking the spoon. “I’m not all that adventurous about food.”For good reason, I think, looking down at what she’s given me. The mashed-up acai—a berry, she explained while we waited in line—is bright purple. I can’t remember the last time I ate something purple. But she’s looking on expectantly, so I shovel the spoon into my mouth.
It’s good.
“Right?!” she says, like she’s in my head.
I laugh, scooping up another bite while she loads a spoon of her own with mango and chocolate shavings. I want to ask her about the girl Tati mentioned back at the Towers—Gabi, who deserves either an apology or a trip to hell—but Piper’s in such a good mood that I opt to keep things light.
“So,” I say. “Your sister’s blond.”
She arches an eyebrow. “I used to be too, remember?”
“Vaguely.” Fourteen-year-old me thought her light hair wascute, but now that it’s a brown so rich her eyes appear almost hypnotically blue, it’s hard to recall her any other way.
“I had it colored the day you came back,” she tells me. “Tati was outraged.”
“Why?”
“She thinks it’s too dark. Too dramatic.Witchwas the word she used.”
“That’s bullshit. I like it.”
She pauses, spoon halfway to her mouth, eyes locked on mine. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I split our chocolate-glazed donut with a plastic knife, then demolish half before saying, “Your sister…pretty type A?”
Piper rolls her eyes. “I tried to tell you. She’s impossible.”
“Has she always been?”
“No. She was intense before my parents passed, but she was also really fun. When she lived in Boston, she invited me to visit her for a week. Our parents weren’t into the idea at first, but she pushed and, like always, she got her way. It was summertime, and we went to New York City for a few days. We saw Central Park and the Statue of Liberty, and went toWickedon Broadway. She bought me frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity and an American Girl doll at the flagship store.” I must not appear suitably impressed because she pokes me with her elbow. “American Girls are a big deal when you’re nine.”
“I’m sure.”
“She became a dictator when she was forced to raise me.”
I don’t know why I feel like I need to make a case for Tati, but “It’s probably been hard on her” falls out of my mouth. Piper’s eyes go wide with offense, and goddamn it, I wish I could take it back.
“Yeah. Sucks for her, getting a whole twenty-five years with our parents while I got a measly ten. Poor Tati.”
I rub the back of my neck, feeling like a chump. “I shouldn’t have said that. It was stupid—I don’t even know what I’m talking about.”
She polishes off a final scoop of acai before meeting my eyes. “People always defend Tati. She’s made a thousand sacrifices, she didn’t ask for this life, raising teenagers is hard…all fair points. But I didn’t ask for this life either. I lost my parentsandmy big sister.”
I pass her the other half of the chocolate donut. A peace offering.
She accepts. “So, I’ve met your dad… What’s your mom like?”
“She’s cool.”
Piper frowns. “I need more than that.”
I think for a minute, trying to figure out how to describe my mom in only a few sentences when she’s spent my whole life filling innumerable roles.
