Page 1 of Designing Love
1
SURPRISE ARRIVAL
Sophia
The bell above the gallery door jingles brightly, startlingly loud in the otherwise peaceful space. I pause mid-step, wince, and shoot the offending bell an accusing glare. Sage never bothered with subtleties; I shouldn’t expect her doorbells to be any different.
“Sage? Sage, are you here?” My voice echoes slightly, ricocheting off walls painted with every color imaginable. A sculpture in the corner — metallic arms and legs sprouting feathers — staring at me judgmentally.Great, even the artwork’s giving me side-eye.It’s definitely a Sage original.
A rustle comes from behind a beaded curtain. Sage appears, all billowy skirts and bangles jingling like wind chimes. Her silver curls are piled high, held by chopsticks that I’m pretty sure she stole from our favorite sushi place.
“Sophia!” Sage throws her arms open, bracelets clinking. “My lovely, favorite niece. What a surprise!”
I sigh, dropping my purse by a wooden sculpture that vaguely resembles a moose... or a giraffe?
Sage beams. “That bag looks heavy.”
“Just my hopes, dreams, and possibly some regret.”
She laughs, guiding me toward the small counter cluttered with paintbrushes, crystals, and an alarming number of mismatched teacups. “Tea first, existential crisis second.”
“How about coffee?” I counter, hopefully.
She frowns as if I’ve suggested we sacrifice a small animal. “Soph, how many times do I have to tell you? Caffeine’s an anxiety amplifier.”
“And exactly what I need right now.” I pull up a stool, my fingertips grazing a sticky spot on the counter. “Is this honey or —?”
“Oh! Resin!” she chirps, busying herself with tea bags. “Art waits for no one. Neither does sticky resin.”
I grin despite myself. Sage’s chaotic charm feels oddly comforting after years away.
She hands me a cup covered in tiny daisies. I sniff cautiously. “Chamomile?”
“Lavender and sage, obviously. A soothing concoction.”
“Subtle,” I say, taking a hesitant sip. Not bad, but coffee would’ve soothed better.
She leans forward, eyes sparkling mischievously. “So, spill it. Why the sudden visit?”
I stare into my tea, swirling it like it holds answers. “We signed the divorce papers yesterday, and I needed breathing room. Needed to be in a different city. Different province.”
Her eyebrows shoot upward. “So... he finally accepted the divorce.”
“Yup. After that, I packed a suitcase, got on a plane to Toronto, and then drove here.”
“Oh, honey,” she breathes softly, resting her hand gently over mine. Rings sparkle on every finger, some I remember twisting around as a kid, imagining they held magical powers. “Are you alright?”
“I’m… not — not alright,” I admit slowly, voice softer now. “It’s been over for ages. I just… was he always such a douchebag?”
Sage laughs, making her crow’s feet even more evident. There is an undeniable glimmer that says she knew.Did the entire world know?
“I woke up and realized I’d been chasing something. But then I didn’t know what the something was anymore. It was just… gone. I wasn’t happy with him anymore, and I wonder if I ever was.”
She squeezes my hand tighter. “That’s life, sweetheart. One day you wake up, and your GPS is screaming ‘recalculating,’ and then suddenly you realize you’ve been headed to Florida when you really wanted Quebec.”
“Quebec?” I wrinkle my nose.
“Maple syrup, quaint towns — “
