Page 43 of Our Big White Lie
“Anyway,” the salesman said. “Are you ladies looking for anything in particular?” He gestured at the display plates. “A new set of china? A replacement dish?”
“A new set,” Tori said.
“Okay, okay. Perfect.” He cautiously came closer. “Is there a particular look you’re going for? We have a whole catalogue if you don’t see what you like here.”
Tori and I exchanged glances, and we both shrugged.
“We have pretty simple taste,” I said. “Like nothing really complicated or flashy, you know? And notso nicethat we’re afraid to eat off it.”
He was nodding as I spoke. “Any particular color palette?”
“I’m not a big fan of warm colors on dishes,” Tori said. “I don’t really know why.”
“Doesn’t matter why.” The salesman waved his hand. “If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. Now, are we thinking more blues? Purples? Greens? Or black, white, silver, gold?”
“Any of those,” I said.”
Tori nodded.
“Let me grab a tablet so we can look at the online catalogue.” He smiled. “I’ll be right back.”
When all was said and done, our salesman—his named turned out to be Aaron—helped us land on a pattern. After we all swipedthrough pages and pages on his tablet, all three of us fell in love with an understated silver and black pattern with subtle purple accents. It was a little more flowery than I thought we’d get, but it was beautiful… as was the way Tori’s face had lit up the moment that pattern appeared on the screen.
I’d been sold in that instant. Anything that she liked that much was a winner. Period. Even if it had been one of the weird abstract designs that looked like it had permanent food stains.
Aaron told us the whole set wasn’t in stock, but they did have a few of the dishes so we could see them in person.
“They’re even prettier like this,” Tori murmured, cradling a plate in her hand like it was the Holy Grail. “Wow…”
“You like them?” I asked even though I knew the answer.
“I love them.” She met my gaze, her pleading expression reminding me a little of when Tucker noticed me eating sushi. “These have my vote.”
How could I say no? I loved the pattern too, but more than the design on the plate, I loved the way they made Tori smile. If she liked them this much, then there was nothing to discuss.
I turned to my mom. “I think we have a winner.”
“I think we do.” Mom was absolutely beaming. “I’m so glad you two found one you like. And it’s gorgeous!”
“It really is,” I said, and no one in the room needed to know that I wasn’t talking about the china pattern.
Tori and I left Mom to handle ordering the set with Aaron. We stepped away to the showroom where we’d been looking at hideous patterns earlier.
“That was a lot more fun than I thought it would be,” I said.
“Right?” Tori smiled. “And I… kind of never thought I would get that excited over… dishes.” She wrinkled her nose. “Oh God, am I adulting? Am I gettingold?”
I snorted. “You’re six months younger than me, so you’d better not be getting old.”
She met me with a wicked grin. “Well, maybe I am, and you’re just?—”
“Oh shut up,” I said with a laugh. “You’re such a brat.”
“Yeah?” She gave an unrepentant shrug. “And?”
I rolled my eyes and elbowed her, which got a giggle out of her.
As her humor faded, she glanced in the direction of the office where Mom and Aaron were ironing out details. “I didn’t think it would mean that much to her—the whole china thing.”
