“By sound?”
“It sizzles differently. I can’t explain it, but you learn.”
Fiona nodded slowly. She looked tired — not just jet-lag tired, but something deeper. Like she’d been bracing for a fight and found something more complicated instead.
“You’ve built a life here,” she said.
“I’m trying to.”
“Without me.”
“Not without you. Just...” Stella searched for the right words. “Somewhere new. Somewhere I got to choose.”
Fiona was quiet for a long moment. Then she picked up her lemonade, took a sip, and set it down again.
“It’s good,” she said. “The lemonade.”
“Joey’s very particular about the sugar ratio.”
“That’s evident.”
They sat in the quiet, the ceiling shells clicking softly overhead, and for a moment it almost felt like peace.
Tyler pickedthem up at three.
He’d texted ahead —Coming in 5, staying in the car, giving you space— which Stella appreciated. She wasn’t ready for everyone to be in the same room yet.
Fiona climbed into the passenger seat. Stella got in the back. Tyler pulled out of the parking lot, and for a blessed thirty seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Tyler’s phone buzzed.
And buzzed again.
And again.
“Popular man,” Fiona observed.
Tyler glanced at the screen at a red light. “It’s just?—”
Buzz.
“Family.”
Buzz buzz.
“Wanting to?—”
Buzz.
“Meet you.”
He handed the phone to Stella. “Can you just... deal with that?”
She scrolled through the messages, grinning despite herself.
Meg.
Dinner tomorrow? I’ll cook! I make an excellent risotto. Or pasta. Or both?
