Page 44 of Kiss My Glass
My sister is another one whose instinct is to connect. That’s why she never hides her emotions. And it must be because mine are churning around in my internal blender that I have a rush of love for her. I’m so lucky to have Shelby as my sister and so grateful that she asked me to be here with her. If she hadn’t, I’d never have had this opportunity with Danny. Shelby’s always claimed our mom is a little witchy, but I suspectshe’sthe one with special powers.
“Cross my heart,” I say. “And I’ll make sure Brendan makes your burger with your favorite spicy pickle.”
ChapterTwenty-Four
DANNY
Man, I have to stop letting Ava rile me up. Every time I do, I lose, and then I look – and feel – like an idiot. It’s my own fault, I know, but old emotional triggers are strong, and it doesn’t take much to set them off. For me, anyway. No doubt other people have more self-control.
On the plus side, I bounce back quickly. Especially when I have the prospect of a perfect day ahead of me. A classic car treasure hunt with Frankie by my side. The only thing that will make it better is if the car turns out to be a rare beauty – like finding a first edition holographic Charizard Pokémon card in a junk store. The guy who messaged me didn’t give details, so he’s probably some crusty old farmer, a man of few words. Not even sure how he got my number – probably through the Flora Valley grapevine, pardon the pun.
And I was pretty sure Frankie wouldn’t want to come with me, but to my surprise, she didn’t hesitate. Given my previous advice to myself about self-control, I shouldn’t get too excited about what this might mean. But then, advice is always easier when you’re giving it to someone else.
Nate’s dutifully rinsing off all the plates before loading them in the dishwasher. The hardest substance in existence isn’t diamonds but cooked egg that’s been left on a plate and put through a hot wash. Mom taught all us kids how to be useful in the kitchen. We may have been rich enough to have cleaners and gardeners, but the kitchen was solely Mom’s domain and we learned to respect it from a very early age. I can make cutlery and glassware sparkle and was always the best at ironing and folding the cloth napkins. In the rare instance that I might be called on to polish forks and press table linen, I’m ready.
I watch Nate wipe up the bench. Pretty soon, he’ll be changing diapers and whatever else parents need to do with babies. I’d better bone up quickly if I’m going to be any great shakes as an uncle.
“Hey, Nate,” I say. “Got a burger preference?”
“Anything as long as it has no spicy pickle,” he says. “I’d rather have a patty made out of roadkill than eat that stuff.”
“If Brendan’s still mad at Shelby and Frankie, a roadkill burger might be what you get,” I say.
“He was only mad at Chiara,” says Shelby. “And she will have made it up to him by now.”
“I want to know how. And yet I reallydon’twant to know.” Frankie echoes my thoughts exactly.
“What will you do this morning?” Shelby asks her.
“Research,” says Frankie. “Brewing supplies, vintage shops, craft beer tasting, pickleball courts, rare birds of Sonoma county.” She pauses. “Where to buy hiking boots.”
“Ball’s,” says Nate. “The sports shop in Verity also has outdoor gear.”
“We can stop off there this afternoon,” I say. “Get you kitted out.” Now it’s me who pauses. “And I guess I can buy a pickleball paddle.”
“You should sell this idea to your TV producer guy,” says Nate, with a grin. “Dating showmeetsWWE Smackdown.”
“It’s so cute that you’re pushing on with your plan,” says Shelby. “Even though you’ve already boinked.”
“Boinked isn’t even a real word,” says Frankie. “Let alone a euphemism!”
“And on that note, it’s definitely time to go,” says Nate. “You ready, Shel?”
“I suppose,” says Shelby, heavily. “Hospitals are not my favorite place.”
“Mine either.” Nate kisses the top of her head. “Now go pee because we don’t want a repeat of the roadside incident from last time. I swear at least five thousand cars went past while you had your pants down.”
Frankie catches my eye, and her expression clearly says,Can we get out of this madhouse as soon as possible?
“I’ll be working in the office until after lunch,” I tell her. “Then I’ll go get my car and pick you up back here at two thirty?”
“Two thirty it is,” she says, and her smile makes my heart beat faster. I’m going to work like a dog to make sure the morning flies by. Because I cannot wait for this afternoon.
* * *
Two thirty on the dot I pull the BMW M3 into the spot beside Frankie’s Karmann Ghia. She’s ready and waiting, and in the cutest outfit yet, yellow capri pants and a blue-and-white striped top, a yellow scarf holding her hair back and white espadrilles on her feet. Cute and hilarious because I’ve changed into a fresh set of clothes and happen now to be wearing a yellow polo shirt and a pair of seersucker pants in a pale blue and white stripe.
“Awkward,” says Frankie when she joins me in the car. “Shall I put on a different shirt?”
