Page 45 of The Last Lavender Sister

Micah’s good. She’s been around a little bit less simply because her schedule’s riddled with court dates. It’s nice when we get a chance to sit down and have a meal together, really catch up. I wonder what she thinks about my job sometimes. She glazes over if I go on too long about a complicated case. Do I ever bore you with those? I’m sorry if I do.

Violet is fantastic, flourishing even. Now that Tad has a new girlfriend that none of us envy, he seems to have lost interest just as you once predicted. Money will buy you companionship. That’s for damn sure. Little Ethan is growing like crazy. He has his mother’s smile, which is not that far off from yours.

You take care of yourself, okay? Have you seen the moon this week? Full and big. I feel like it’s one you would appreciate. In fact, I think of you when I look up at it. Bye for now.

Sincerely yours,

Brynn

Aster let herself into the apartment and smiled at the aroma offresh cut rosemary. “You’re cooking,” she said. “I could tackle you with joy.”

“You’re welcome to, but watch the sauce. It’s fucking awesome, and I don’t want to lose a drop.” Nora turned around from her spot at the stove and smiled, hand on her hip. Her dark as night hair was on top of her head in a mess of curls, and she wore a white apron with the wordsI’ll feed all you fuckersacross her chest. They’d been living together as roommates for two months now, working killer hours at separate restaurants, trying to make ends meet. The living arrangement afforded each of them a bigger, nicer two-bedroom since they shared the rent. Plus, it was nice to have a roommate, a friend, someone to hang out with after work, shoot the breeze. Not that they weren’t without a little gray area. They’d hooked up twice since moving in. Once after killing two bottles of wine together—most of that was Nora—and another after a party with their chef friends where they’d laughed half the night and headed home on a life high. Nora hadn’t pressed for more, but it was probably coming, and honestly, Aster was feeling like maybe she’d put this off long enough, the two of them. She’d never taken that trip to Provincetown that Nora had offered. But things felt easier now. She liked Nora. Nora liked her. The sex was good. No, it didn’t make her blood run hot. She wasn’t desperate for it. Nora didn’t make Aster breathless or spur an urgent need to be close to her, touch her skin, or stare endlessly at her face. But Nora was a ton of fun, and the older Aster got, the more she valued life’s little enjoyments. “Try this.” Nora held out a spoon, and Aster tasted the sauce as she passed by.

She closed her eyes and took in the layering of flavors. Spot on. “I love the red pepper.”

“That was a last-minute addition.”

Aster nodded her approval. “A good one.”

“Now I have your attention.” Nora winked, swatted Aster’s ass, and went back to her prep. That’s how it was with them these days, flirty and light until someone’s clothes came off. “Don’t disappear in there for too long. Dinner in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll be there. I hope the sauce is, too.”

“Count on it. How was dinner service?”

Aster ran a hand through her hair. “We were crushed but somehow managed to dig our way out of the weeds. I stepped away from desserts and hopped on the line for a bit just to help out.”

“Always a team player.”

“I try. Gonna change.”

But she had a letter to write first, and her fingers were itching to pick up a pen and get started right away. She pulled out a white sheet of paper with her initials at the top. A Christmas gift from Marigold, who never could have anticipated her letter writing needs, but somehow had known she could use her own stationery.

Dear Brynn,

I saw the moon and not surprisingly thought of you, too. Not a lot of people appreciate those things, but for me, they are the reason life is good. I remember undervaluing a good thunderstorm when I lived in Homer’s Bluff. I appreciated their beauty, but not enough. I don’t do that anymore. I relish them. Dancing lightning is my favorite of all. You never can guess its pattern. That’s the stuff of life. Do you enjoy the sound of rain on the roof, especially when it’s not too hard and not too soft? It’s become a new favorite of mine. Isn’t it interesting how we grow and change? Find value in new things as we age?

My brother said Violet isn’t interested in dating at all. If I were her, I’d be opposed as well. She has time, though. Fuck Tad, and forgive my language. Let him ride off into the sunset, drink expensive champagne, and wear a lobster bib with whoever the hell he wants, as long as he’s far away from my family.

Sorry. That was harsh, but it’s actually an accurate representation of my feelings. I’ve been paying more attention to those recently, giving them space to breathe and expand.

Say hello to Micah for me. My parents used to watch Law & Order when I was younger and I think of her in the courtroom, whittling away at a hostile witnesses. If that’s not accurate, please don’t ruin my delusion. Dill sends his love and apologies for the Pomeranians of the world. He’s asleep at the feet of my roommate while she cooks, but I did get a tail wag when I arrived home.

I’m gonna go steal another look at that moon beforedinner. This is likely the last night. Maybe you’ll be looking, too.

Take care,

Aster

PS I’ll never look at a Pomeranian the same way again.

PPS Please come try one of my desserts soon. Please?

She sealed her words, found a stamp, and walked straight to the mailbox. That’s what was so great about her written relationship with Brynn. They wrote back promptly, keeping the exchange alive. The letters were never overly long, and that kept the pressure low. But Aster had come to depend on those letters, looking forward to each one as a bright spot in her day. She didn’t know if it was the same for Brynn, but she did write back just as quickly.

Six days later, Aster had a reply in her hands.

The blue envelope sat on the seat next to her as she drove to work, beckoning her to open it and absorb Brynn’s words. She parked her car near the back entrance to the restaurant and checked the clock. She had a few minutes before she needed to start her dough for lunch service and used them. She eased open the envelope and read the words slowly so as to not finish too soon.

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