“It was a great idea,” she says. “You don’t need to try so hard. You’re my friend. I’m not going to leave.”
My eyes well up with tears, but I blink them back. Not fast enough, though, because Ana sees.
“Lucy?”
“It’s your turn,” I say, twisting my head down.
“We’re going to talk about this next.”
“After you go.”
Ana scrunches up her nose. “It’s strange, you know? When you called me out, I truly didn’t remember saying anything negative about my mom.”
“It’s notnegativenegative.” I consider. “More just not positive.”
“I had no idea. Maybe it’s a coping mechanism, because I can’t be mad at my mom for wanting the best for me, can I?”
I shrug uncomfortably. “You’re talking to someone who left home and barely talked to her mother for over a decade because she wanted the best for me.”
Ana snorts. “You’re such an overachiever.” Then she gets serious. “I compare my family to Jayne’s and I’m grateful. The only thing I wish is that Mom would let me be me instead of wanting me to be more like my sisters. I get that Fernanda is perfect. Great cook, great mom. Good housekeeper. Works full-time. Maria goes over for dinner almost every night after her amazing bank job. They’re the daughters my mom wanted.”
I drink my wine, letting her talk.
“The thing is, I’m happy. They think owning a store isn’t a good use of my business degree, but I can’t bear the thought of wasting my life on a report that’s only being generated because someone up the ladder thought they might want it. They know about Jayne, but they keep mentioning my old boyfriend and wondering what he’s up to these days.”
She heaves a sigh that seems to have been dragged up from her toes. “Your turn.”
“Shouldn’t we talk about this?” I ask.
“How about we get all the sharing out of the way first?” She gives me a look. “So no one gets out of talking.”
“I wasn’t going to,” I protest.
“Good. Then go.”
I tell her about Kelsey and Mom and Rafe, and all she does is nod. Then I tell her about the register, and her eyes widen in recognition. “That’s what your grandma sent.”
“It’s a history of my family. I found out something yesterday. About myself.”
She looks sympathetic. “Whatever it is, I can say with assurance I’ll still be your friend.”
“I left home because I thought I didn’t have my power, but I do. It’s not true love I can bring. I can bring someone’s heart’s desire. The thing they want most in the world. It might be love or it might be something else.”
“Holy shit, like a genie?” She looks impressed, and this makes me laugh.
“I guess so, but with only one wish. But I think the thing my perfume summons isn’t what the person necessarily expects to happen.”
“You do a bait and switch?” Her eyebrows rise in disapproval.
“Yes, but also no?” I take a sip of wine. “Like they think they want love, except what they actually want is companionship.”
“They’ve been brainwashed into thinking they can only get that through a romantic partner,” she finishes.
“I wouldn’t saybrainwashed, but basically. Or they can’t admit it to themselves for some reason.” I eat some of the pappardelle. “Your turn.”
“Your bit was just getting good,” she complains.
“So was yours.”
