Page 73 of The Last Lavender Sister

“No, no, no,” Aster said, backing up. “I’ll just cry more.”

“Sometimes you need to. When I was going through my divorce, you guys group hugged the hell out of me, and it worked.”

She surrendered and let the kindness of her sisters wrap her up and hold her tight. The emotion came loose, and she didn’t fight. When they released her, she felt like something had unlocked. And then she blurted it all out. “I miss Mom. I’m so happy you liked my food. But I miss Mom a lot. And I kissed Brynn two nights ago, and it didn’t go well.” She exhaled. There it was. All laid out.

Her sisters exchanged a look and immediately pressed pause on their inventory work. “Well, first of all, slow down,” Marigold said. “Let’s take that apart.”

“I wonder every day what Mom would say or think or do in response to anything and everything. And when that started to fade a little bit, it made me doubly sad.”

“Same,” Marigold said. “I can’t believe we don’t have her here with us. She would be so proud of you, Aster. But you know what? I have a feeling she still is. Watching from heaven, tickled to pieces that there’s a restaurant named after her, and it’s all thanks to you.”

“Thanks, guys,” she mumbled, really liking that idea, and holding on to the fact that they were all grieving, grappling with this new existence, and experiencing similar feelings. She felt less alone with that reminder and smiled gratefully at first Marigold and then Violet, who had made such wonderful progress in just the couple of years since Tad had her in shambles. They would be there for each other. She vowed it here and now.

“As for Brynn Garrett and you…”

“You mean Tyler and Sage part two?” Violet asked with a wink.

“I don’t know whether to be offended or honored,” Aster said.

“Neither. You’re still untangling the knot,” Marigold said, matter-of-factly. “Listen, I may be the only one here who’s never been in hard-core love, but I do think it gives me a certain perspective. When a love is deep, it gives you a lot of rope to play with, and so many people spend time tying it in a knot. That’s you and Brynn, a complicated little knot that is not at all a lost cause. You’re almost untied, Aster. I’ve seen you two at the park when I drive by, sitting together on that bench, reading your books. Hell, the town should name that bench after the two of you.”

Aster was surprised by the optimism. “Really? You don’t think I’m an idiot? Because I felt like one two nights ago.”

Marigold nodded to Violet, offering her the reins. “Vi, want to offer your thoughts?”

“Most definitely.” Her sister fluffed her dark hair and took two steps forward.

Aster nodded. “I’m ready.”

Violet offered a soft smile and a dramatic pause. “Be patient.”

Aster waited.

Violet stared back at her.

“That’s it?” She gestured to their sister. “Marigold offered an entire dissertation with analogies and imagery. Yours is justpatience?”

“Mm-hmm,” Violet said. “And Mom would agree with both of us because we’re both right. You’re not yet out of the knot, and be patient so you can get there.”

“I love you guys, but I don’t know. It almost feels like I’d be setting myself up again. The ball’s in her court. And she doesn’t play a lot of ball these days.”

Marigold held up a hand of pause. “I know you don’t know. But we do, and we’re older.”

“Wiser.”

“And big basketball fans.” Marigold placed a hand on the hip of her flared jeans. “Give Brynn the space to play. That’s all we’re saying.”

Violet stood next to her, forming some sort of older sister wall of knowledge. “And you should listen to us instead of your overfunctioning giant brain, smarty-pants.”

“I’ll give it a try,” Aster said, curious about the prospect and truly wishing her sisters were right. “You’ve given me a lot of metaphors to consider.”

“You’re welcome,” Marigold said and slid a box her way. “Also, I’m gay. Not sure I mentioned that.”

Freeze. “Wait, what?” Aster asked. Her mouth was open, and she was quickly trying to catch up. Violet smiled knowingly. She already knew. “MG, are you serious right now?”

Marigold nodded and shrugged, her eyes going misty. “I think I had to really get to know myself before telling you guys. Losing Mom made me realize how short life really can be. We’re here once, and now it’s time to be the person I am. No holding back, right?”

Aster’s heart swelled and filled with love. She threw herself into her sister’s arms and hugged her tightly. “I love you. I’m so proud of you.”

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