35. Liberty
Early the next morning, Liberty stopped cutting fruit for a moment to look around the massive kitchen of the house where she had grown up.
It had always been an almost formal-feeling space with the black and white tile floors and solid wood original cupboards that her parents had painted dove gray or snowy white every four or five years because they were quality and should never be replaced.
Her mom had explained that when the house was built, this space would have been where the cook and maids spent most of their day. There was still an old bell board on the wall with each of the bedrooms marked on it, so that if someone rang, the staff would know who might need kindling or a pot of tea.
It was a nice big kitchen, and definitely had its own charm. But it wasn’t exactly cozy.
This morning, though, the space was feeling full, with her sisters and cousin all gathered together to make a big breakfast after the stress and exhaustion of their journey, and saying goodbye to Dad.
Sunlight slanted in the windows, ingredients were strewn over every surface, and the old radio on the counter was playing a Beatles marathon. The air was redolent with coffee and sizzling pancakes.
Glory pulled a quiche out of the oven, humming along to the radio while Anthem tried to flip a pancake and squealed a little when it caught on the edge of the pan, and they both melted into laughter.
“We Can Work it Out” came on the radio, and Liberty stopped slicing bananas for a moment to sing along, and Anthem joined her, using her spatula as a microphone.
Justine laughed and spun around, twirling out another of Glory’s floaty dresses. Until now, she had been wandering around stealing bits of pancake and fruit right off the cutting board. The pregnancy was definitely whetting her appetite. Liberty felt genuinely happy for her.
“Sing, Glory,” Liberty teased.
Glory set the quiche on the counter and started singing before she even put her oven mitts down.
They hadn’t had a chance to be silly like this in so long.
When Glory was four, Anthem was in third grade and Liberty in eighth, they’d goofed around a lot, playing out in the garden, and even slipping into the greenhouse to listen in on the adults and maybe swipe a cookie when Mom’s friends were over.
But when Liberty evolved into an awkward older teen, she spent most of her time in her room studying. By the time she headed off for college, she had been too stressed out and focused on her future for any silliness.
The time in Florida had really helped them all relax and get to know each other again.
She was surprised to feel a little tug on her heart at the thought of Driftwood Key, like she’d had leaving home for the first time. But how could she be homesick for a place where she’d spent so little time?
She watched Justine steal a pancake off the tray and eat it while rubbing her belly. Suddenly, all Liberty could think of was Chase.
He was so close—half an hour away in the city, at most. Her heart ached to go to him. Being with Dad last night had opened her eyes to how wrong it had been for her to leave Chase without explaining herself.
But the idea of going to him and telling him tore her apart inside. There was no way to imagine that conversation in a way that didn’t end with her weeping in his strong arms, and with him consoling her and telling her that he loved her no matter what.
Because she still loved him. And it wasn’t out of habit or familiarity, but with the same desperation and wild abandon she’d felt the day he proposed. Chase awoke something in her, something happy and free, that only thrived when she was near him. He made her feel safe and seen.
It’s not fair…
“Liberty, come on,” Glory laughed, grabbing her hand and pulling her away from the counter to dance.
Glad of the distraction, Liberty let her sister spin her around as they sang along to the beloved music. When it got to the ending notes, Glory gave Liberty one last spin and then surprised her by dipping her almost to the ground.
Liberty shrieked out a surprise laugh and Glory winked at her. Anthem started laughing so hard that she could barely breathe, and Justine giggled, her hand over her mouth since she was still eating a pancake.
The front door opened and closed with a familiar creak and thunk.
“Mom,”Glory breathed.
Liberty knew there was only one reason she would be home.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand”started playing on the radio as their mother’s footsteps came closer.
The girls were all frozen. They must have had the same thought Liberty had.
At last, Mom appeared in the doorway.
Though Jess Steele was petite and slim, she always had a big, warm energy that took up space. Today though, she looked so small. Her shoulders were slumped, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
“He’s gone,” she said simply.
There was a single moment of stillness. The radio was still playing, the upbeat sound in direct juxtaposition to everyone’s downcast mood.
Justine turned off the music as Glory ran to her mother, wrapping her arms around her. Liberty and Anthem moved to them as one, and Glory opened an arm, pulling them both in.
“Justine,” Anthem said softly, beckoning their cousin over.
She joined them, and for a long time it was just the five of them, holding each other and crying softly.