I’m in my studio at the back of the house when they arrive, finishing notes for a curator in Milan who wants to rehang one of my pieces. My sixth gallery opened six months ago and I still haven’t adjusted to how often my name gets mentioned in rooms I’m not in.
When I walk into the kitchen, the marble island is already covered in wine glasses. Victoria is inspecting a bottle like she personally invested in it. Kai is talking loudly about something that doesn’t matter. Aryan is leaning against the cabinetry, Zayn beside him, calm and observant.
Adaline is at the stove.
She doesn’t cook because she has to. She cooks because she likes the control. Because surgery is chaos disguised as precision, and this is quiet in comparison. She’s changed out of her hospital clothes but she still looks like someone who spent the day holding someone’s heart in her hands. She did, actually. The case was complicated. It made the news before she even left the hospital, i thought she would be exhausted but clearly not enough. She looks up when I enter and her expression softens immediately.
I avert my eyes to find my other girl, she’s sitting in the dining room; books spread out on the table. My sienna, well our sienna. We adopted her fifteen years ago when she was just a baby with the cutest little laugh. Since then its been a whirlwind raising our carbon copy.
She studies like she expects excellence from herself. That’s Adaline. The discipline. The focus. Her attitude is from me though, i can tell from right now when Kai exaggerates a story from high school, she corrects him without hesitation.
“That’s not how it happened,” she says flatly.
Kai points at her. “That tone is Juliette.”
“I do not sound like that,” I say.
Victoria laughs. “You absolutely do.”
Sienna smiles, pleased with herself. She is perhaps the most spoiled child on earth. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Victoria glances at her. “I’m still so glad you two had her.”
Kai nods. “Best decision you ever made.” He says interlocking his fingers with Victoria. They got married a few years ago too, but have more fun playing as uncle and aunty.
“Mamas,” Sienna says, suddenly
Adaline looks up first from the stove. “Yes?”
“I need to tell you something.”
Kai leans back immediately like he’s watching a show. “Oh no.”
“Shut up,” Victoria says, but she’s smiling.
Sienna inhales slowly. “I’ve been seeing someone.”
“For how long?” I ask, the air has shifted and i can feel it.
“A month.”
“A month,” I repeat. “And we’re hearing about it now?” I sound like my mother right now.
“I wanted to be sure.”
“Of what?”
“That it wasn’t stupid.”
Adaline steps closer to her, calm. “And is it?”
Sienna hesitates. “No.”
“And?” Adaline prompts.
“She’s coming over.”
We have no time to gather ourselves from what she just said because the doorbell soon rings. I gasp at her audacity, it’s so like me just doing what she wants and letting me know after the fact.
