“I can totally picture it.”
“And… I dunno, it’s funny. But I just said to myself, I could yell at this man forever.”
“Is that seriously what happened, Sid?”
“Well—”
“Babe, show her your scar.”
Sid gives me a withering look, then lifts our joined hands to reveal the shining mark that may or may not have occurred in the manner I just described. But it seemsto ratify my story, giving us a slap-slap-kiss vibe that our dysfunction can probably sell.
“I love it. I always knew you’d end up with someone with a bit of fire in her, Sid,” says Amy. “You’ve got to tell me everything. Where did you come from? How are you liking the island?”
“Oh, it is so great!” I lie.
A kale and goat cheese salad arrives for Amy, but she hardly touches it, preferring to quiz me instead. The conversation is nothing short of exhausting. I give Amy a shortened version of my life, consistent with what I told Tom. Little tears prickle in her eyes when I tell her about living through the fall of Port Alberni and later my mother’s death. When I mention I have a younger sister, she perks up, asking how she likes school, and is particularly delighted to learn April got an A on a math test a couple of days ago. All the studying is paying off.
“I always wanted siblings,” says Amy. “But… well, it’s probably for the best it was just Tom and me. How’s he treating you, by the way?”
“Oh, he’s great.” Biggest lie yet.
“Really? That’s amazing! I mean, I’m not surprised. He takes his job very seriously.” But there’s something to the way she says this that tells me she knows. No one is saying it out loud, but Amy Sullivan is perfectly aware that her uncle is an asshole.
“Okay, my turn. I want to know more aboutyou, Amy. Sid told me you were running for office, but I’m forgetting what you do for work now.”
“I’m head logistical officer at the Reinventor’s Guild,” she says, drawing herself up happily.
“The… what?”
“Sid! You haven’t told her about the Guild?” Amy rounds on him, aghast.
Sid, who has had the luxury of silence for most of this conversation, straightens in his seat. “I guess it never came up.”
“Not even when you talked about the campaign? But that’s my whole platform. Innovation!” Amy sounds more distressed than she ever did asking us about our supposed romance. Maybe she isn’t interested in Sid that way after all.
“Oh, I told Kayla that. I said you work in innovation.”
“He did,” I chip in.
“Well, you should come by the guild. If we’re going to align our campaigns, it would be better if both of you know what I’m working on. I can give you a tour. You can bring your sister too, if she’s interested. No, wait!” She bounces in her seat, fingers flaring into sunbursts of enthusiasm. “I’ll do you one better: I’ll talk to Tom. We can organize a formal tour for new immigrants and their sanctuary hosts. The branding will be perfect! Immigration and innovation all together. And with Tom there to give it some gravitas—”
“Sounds a bit contrived,” says Sid.
“It’s a photo op. Of course it’s contrived. I’ve got a friend at the paper. I’ll tell her about it and see what she thinks,” says Amy.
“Wait, photo op?” I say. “How the hell would you take a photo?”
Amy flashes me a grin so dazzling, it reminds me of James. “Come by the guild and I’ll show you.”
“Hmmm.” Sid scratches his chin. “I mean, I trust you when it comes to publicity—”
“As you should.”
“—but Kayla and I need to talk about it. If we’re involving her sister, I want April to be comfortable.”
“Totally understandable,” says Amy. “Crossing my fingers, though, because I am excited about this. I thinkI’ll head back to the office and see if I can’t work out some details.”
“But you’ve hardly touched your lunch,” I say.
