Page 59 of Until Then

“Reid’s going to bring coffee by for me. Do you want anything?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say no. I don’t want her boyfriend to have to bring me something out of obligation. I’m the pathetic single little sister, after all. Though, ironically, I’m older than he is. But I really could use the pick-me-up, so I pluck up the courage to ask for an iced matcha.

“You got it,” she says, her thumbs already tapping out a message.

There are a few other people in the store: A couple in the back painting on separate canvases. An elderly woman carefully adding details to a ceramic pitcher. And a mother with her two kids.

After Via slides her phone back into her pocket, she sits across from me at the same table I chose the last time I was here. Wonton settles beneath the table, resting his head on my feet.

“Oh,” Via chirps, hopping up from the table a second later. “Your first plate.”

I watch her scurry to the back, suddenly hit with a wave of sadness. It’s been too long since I was here last. Despite being so close to my sister physically, I hardly see her. It’s no fault of hers, or even mine. She’s busy, and so am I.

Derrick probably thought I was out of my mind when I volunteered to work for him, but I needed a purpose, and he gave it to me.

I would’ve gone mad by now if I had nothing to do but take photos for social media accounts I’m currently avoiding.

I’m pulling my hair back and out of my face when Via returns with a visible pep in her step.

My sister isglowing. Her every movement is lighter than it was a few years ago. It’s not just Reid; it’s thisplace. Because she’s finally found the place where she belongs. She’s flourishing.

Not that long ago, I felt as though I was flourishing, too. Now I’m like a wilted flower—not quite worth throwing out of the bouquet yet, but it’s obvious I’m suffering.

“Here you go.” She gently hands over the plate.

I remove the honeycomb packing paper carefully, my throat tight. Suddenly, I’m sure the piece won’t look at all how I wanted it to.

But when I pull the paper away, a breath whooshes out of me, and my heart flutters. It’s perfect. The little flowers around the edge of the plate are beautiful. Sure, they’re a little crooked, but that imperfection is what I was going for.

“Are you happy with it?” Via asks.

My smile is so big it hurts when I nod and wrap it back up. “It’s perfect.”

She nods to the blank plate on the table in front of me. “What are you going to do on this one?”

“I was thinking butterflies.” I dip my brush into the paint and tilt my head, trying to envision the design.

“Oh, that’ll be so cute.”

The door chimes behind us, so, with a squeeze of my shoulder and a smile, Via leaves me to paint while she greets her new customer.

I take my time, working alone for the most part, sipping the drink Reid drops off and going over the colors multiple times to make sure they’re vivid after being fired. When I’m finished, I put it on the cart in the center of the room for items that need firing.

Via’s on the phone, answering customer questions when Ileave, so I wave, miming that we’ll talk later, and guide Wonton out of the store.

My pup leads the way down the sidewalk with a pep in his step. I shouldn’t be surprised, I guess. He slept the whole time I worked on my plate. While I’m in town, I make my way to the bookstore to see whether Ella has a new release I thought might find intriguing.

I scoop Wonton up before entering just in case the store’s cat, Tremaine, is roaming about today.

Inside, Ella is reading a book behind the register. She promptly shuts the paperback and gives me a welcoming smile. “Hey, Izzy. What brings you in?”

I fish my phone out of my pocket and bring up the browser. “I was looking for this.”

She bites her lip, squinting at the cover, brow furrowed like she’s not sure she’s seen this new release.

“It just came out.”

“Oh,” she says, popping up. “It might be in the back. There are a few boxes I haven’t unpacked yet. Hold on.” She holds up a finger for me to wait, then disappears into the back room, her hair swishing over her shoulder.

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