She didn’t mean any harm in her words, but defensiveness reared up anyway. “Greg and I didn’t work out because he’s gay, not because my underwear was too scandalous for you.”
She shook her head and lifted her shoulders like maybe she didn’t believe it. “I’m just saying is all ...”
“Okay.” I tossed the blankets aside and stood. “I’m up. Can this conversation please be over?”
Mom moved to the doorway, and before she left, tossed a wink over her shoulder. She had goaded me just enough to drag my sorry ass out of bed, and I’d fallen for it.
Downstairs, nostalgia hit me square in the chest. The air smelled of sweet pancakes and hearty bacon. It looked like my parents had already eaten, but left a stack just for me. I’d spent years chasing trendy brunch spots and overpriced oat milk lattes, but nothing touched a quiet kitchen and a plate someone made because they knew you were coming. I pulled one pancake off the top, placed a strip of bacon over it, and rolled the pancake up.
I took a bite and moaned.
“Gross. Make out with your breakfast somewhere else.” My little sister Kit’s voice had me turning. She shot me a grin before sticking out her tongue.
Simply because I could gross her out, I opened my mouth to show her my half-chewed food.
She laughed, throwing a tiny piece of bacon in my direction. “That’s so hot.”
I giggled and swallowed down the food. I looked over her shoulder to make sure my parents were not within earshot. “Let me move in with you.”
The words tumbled out before I could prettify them. I sounded desperate because I was. I loved my parents, but I was one “So, what’s next?” away from a full mental breakdown.
Kit looked sympathetic but shook her head. “No can do. One-bedroom apartment. I’d rather keep warm with someone besides my sister. No offense.”
I pouted but knew she was right. Though I hadn’t seen it in person, her apartment seemed tiny, and we’d be practically on top of each other. I’d arranged for movers to clear out the apartment I’d shared with Greg, and the boxes were slated to arrive later in the week. I sighed.
I already miss that closet.
It wasn’t just the hangers and square footage I missed. It was the version of me who’d stood in that closet and believed she was one good break away from making it.
“Get dressed. I’m going to the farm, and you can come with me,” Kit said.
“Yes, I’m in.” I shoved another bite of bacon pancake into my mouth and went to get myself ready.
Caland my sister Elodie lived together. He owned the local inn, and together they were renovating the neighboring farm property. She’d turned it into a family-friendly destination, and they were even opening a restaurant on-site. I couldn’t wait to see it in person.
As Kit drove past the Drifted Spirit Inn, I stared up at the beautifully peaked roofline of the old Victorian house. “Maybe Cal will rent me a room.”
It came out half joke, half plea. Anything to avoid being the thirty-one-year-old cautionary tale living at home with her parents and a stack of moving boxes.
Kit’s barking laugh shot out. “Good luck with that. Once Elodie revamped Star Harbor Family Farm, the inn’s been booked solid. The waitlist is over a year long.”
I was disappointed for myself, but happy for my sister. While my life was falling apart, hers was falling perfectly into place. Kit drove past the inn and toward the huge blue barn on the farm property. The once-overgrown farmland had been transformed into a family destination. A soft blanket of snow covered the pumpkin patch. In the distance, the dunes of Lake Michigan created a breathtaking view of the lake.
Old trees dotted the property, and immediately my mind went to a winter wedding with twinkle lights and an old chandelier hanging from the branches. I wondered whether Elodie had ever considered using the property for weddings. She’d make a killing.
I could already see it: velvet bridesmaid dresses, fur wraps, hot cocoa bar in the corner, the signature cocktails named something cute and romantic. My brain slipped into work mode without asking my permission.
Kit turned off the car engine, and we both climbed out. The huge blue barn was still under construction inside—together they were creating a farm-to-table restaurant, and the crew was still working on the interior.
As we walked in, cozy, warm lighting greeted us. “This is stunning.”
The soft glow made the raw beams and unfinished edges feel intentional, like the whole place was mid-transformation. I felt a sharp, stupid pang of envy. The farm knew exactly what it was becoming.
I did not.
Kit grinned. “She really did it.”
Warmth filled my chest as happiness for my sister spread through me. I could see her vision so clearly, but it wasintermixed with my own thoughts of how gorgeous a wedding could be there.
