Chapter 16 Lucy
SIXTEEN
Lucy
Walking into the coffee shop, I look around for Willa. She waves at me from a table next to a big bay window that overlooks the lake.
I stop at the counter and study the menu.
The high school–aged girl working the counter greets me with a smile. “I just figured out that you’re Willa’s baby sister.”
I smile and don’t bother correcting her. People have made that mistake for a long time.
Willa’s about five inches taller than me, and she comes across as the more put-together one of the two of us.
Heck, she is the more disciplined of the two of us. And I think, sometimes, she thinks she has to keep me organized so I don’t mess up my life.
“Yes, we’re sisters.”
“That’s great! Willa’s my favorite customer. Do you like extra caramel like she does?”
I smile at the brightness in the barista’s voice and order a caramel mocha—with extra caramel. She makes it in record time, and I make sure to add a good tip to the jar.
I sit down across from Willa, my coffee cup clutched in both hands. “Hey, it’s the sister that I moved to town to be close to.”
Willa smiles sheepishly at me. “I’m honestly so embarrassed that we haven’t hung out yet. You’ve been here for over six weeks now. I feel like every time we see each other, it’s when we’re working in the cat café or in passing.”
“Oh, that’s right. You did catch me in the soda aisle at the grocery store. Which reminds me, what were you doing in that aisle?”
Willa smiles. “Maybe I was buying myself a Mountain Dew because I missed you.”
I laugh at that. “Honestly, it would make my day if you became a Mountain Dew drinker.”
Willa makes a gagging face. “No, absolutely not. But I’ve found out I have a thing for cherry Pepsi.”
“All right. I’ll accept that as a close second,” I tease her.
It makes me happy to see her joking about food and drinking a caramel mocha with lots of extra caramel.
Willa has struggled with an eating disorder for years.
Brought on in a large part by our mom, who critiqued our bodies when we were growing up.
Willa ended up with the brunt of the nagging and demands for perfectionism simply because of her height.
Hearing that she’s enjoying a soda makes me overjoyed.
“I’m glad it finally worked out to visit.”
Willa nods. “I told them I was gonna be late for work today.”
“Is everything going well at work?”
Willa smiles. “Yeah, I really like it. It’s busy. Kingston’s as much of a workaholic as me. But there’s always a new challenge or something different to do, but also with a sense of familiarity, if that makes sense. I don’t know…Does that make me high-maintenance?”
I shake my head. “No, I think it means you’ve found what you like to do. And that makes me really happy for you.”
“What about you?” Willa asks.
“I’m enjoying the vet office I’m at. I think it’s a good challenge. Turns out, they service a lot of large animals out here, so that’s been interesting. I’ve been working with a lot of horses and even an alpaca recently.”
“I know you were hoping there would be some of that here, so I’m glad you’re getting to do what you enjoy.” Willa shudders. “I still remember you telling me about the pig C-section.”
I grimace. “I’m sorry. I’ll try not to share the gory details. But I am really happy here.”
Willa studies me for a minute. “Then why do you look so stressed?”
I spin the coffee cup around as I debate how to answer her. Willa is finally settled for the first time in a long time in her life, and I’m stuck paying off my big loan. I could tell her about it in vague terms—maybe. I am trying to be a better communicator in this relationship.
“I have a big student loan to pay off. Another company took it over, and the APR increased. I’m honestly really grateful to be living with Miles right now.
I’d like not to pay interest for the rest of my life on this loan.
I’m also starting out on a trial basis here at the clinic for the first six months, so my pay isn’t as high. ”
Willa looks concerned. “Do you need help? Because I don’t have a lot, but I could at least help a little.”
I smile at her brightly. “Oh, no, no. I’m just sitting here, complaining to you like a sister. This isn’t a do-or-die moment.” Even though I feel like I’m drowning.
“Are you sure? You’re not thinking about selling a kidney to pay this off, are you?” she asks with a laugh.
No, but I am considering getting married to help pay it off, I think to myself. But I can’t tell her that.
I can’t even tell her about the student loan in detail because she’ll find out that I’ve been lying to her for years.
The student loan isn’t mine. It’s Willa’s.
I let her think that she got a scholarship, and I took a loan out in my name to pay for her bachelor’s degree. I’ve been paying it off ever since.
“Okay, well, as long as it’s not something big. Thank goodness. You had me scared there for a minute. You know those moments where life is going great and you’re just waiting for the shoe to drop?” Willa asks.
“Yes, I do know that feeling.”
“That’s exactly how I feel right now,” Willa admits.
Well, now I definitely can’t tell her anything about it.
And given how she handled finding out that I was living with Miles, maybe it would be better not to tell her that I’m going to marry him.
“Why don’t you tell me all about the new project you’re gonna work on?” I ask her, then take a long sip of coffee.
It’s better just to enjoy my time with my sister. No need to burden her with something she can’t change.