Chapter 22 #2
‘I forgot to tell you my news,’ she said brightly. ‘I was trying to before, but I got interrupted by all that drama. I’ve found myself a job.’
Lucas looked up from the burgers he was preparing for later. ‘Oh yeah? What’s that?’
‘Well, I was walking past the bookstore and I bumped into old Ernie. We got to talking. He’s struggling to manage things now and he needs an assistant.’
Lucas pushed his prepared meat to one side. ‘And you said yes?’
‘Yeah. It’s just a temporary thing while I decide what I want to do next.’
‘But what about your fashion career? You were doing well in that little boutique in New York.’
Mia shrugged. ‘Yeah, it was good, but I wasn’t really going anywhere with it. I guess this way I will give myself some time to think about what I really want to do next. And you know how much I love reading. This could be good for me. I can relaunch the bookstore.’
Lucas walked over to the sink and started to wash his hands. He could detect a shift in his sister’s tone. She was preparing a salad for him and slicing up vegetables, but she had barely cut anything in the last minute or so. Instead, she was staring blankly at the knife.
‘Mia,’ he said finally, wiping his hands. ‘Are you going to tell me what’s really going on with you and Joshua? You’re clearly planning to stick around here for a bit, so things can’t be good, and I know you’ve been ignoring his calls.’
‘You noticed that, huh?’
‘It’s hard to ignore. Your phone goes off every minute.’
Mia sighed. ‘I took one call. When I walked over to the lake the other day. I knew I had to speak to him. And I told him it was over.’ She paused and lay the knife down carefully on the side.
‘He’s been cheating on me, Luc. I caught him with my best friend.
He keeps begging for a second chance, but I don’t think I can – not yet anyway; the trust is gone. ’
Lucas had suspected something bad; he had never liked that shifty guy – there had always been something so fake about him and the way he could never quite hold eye contact. A cool rage passed through him.
‘He was always such a bad choice,’ Lucas said, without thinking. ‘I don’t know why you’re attracted to men like that. It was obvious he was going to hurt you.’
Mia glared at him. ‘It wasn’t obvious, Luc. We loved each other. I can’t help who I’m attracted to.’
Lucas thought of Willow and his thoughts darkened even more.
‘I don’t know why you girls are always attracted to the bad boys. Rachel keeps telling me it’s a typical romance trope. What is it about them? Do you really think they will change for you?’
‘You can’t simplify it like that, Luc. Life isn’t like one of Rachel’s crappy books. We love who we love.’
‘Yeah, well I don’t understand it.’
‘Maybe if you stopped walking around looking like someone has peed in your coffee, you might be able to open your mind to other people’s opinions.’
He opened his mouth, shocked by Mia’s outburst. He wanted to say something sharp and cruel about the man who dared hurt his sister, but then he saw Mia’s face.
It was so pale and vulnerable. The last thing she needed was more negativity from him.
He realized, perhaps a bit too late, that he had once again gone too far.
‘Come here,’ he said instead.
Mia folded into his arms. Lucas tried to remember the last time he had held his little sister this close. It had probably been the night their mom had died. They had clung to each other for hours then.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I shouldn’t have gone on like that. I was just angry that idiot had done that to you.’
‘I’m sorry too,’ Mia muttered back. ‘But it is true. You do look like someone has peed in your coffee.’
‘Maybe I need a new coffee brand,’ he said back, smiling into her hair.
‘Maybe you need to drink matcha instead,’ she teased.
He squeezed her. He knew she was pushing him a little, but he didn’t mind. That was Mia’s way. She loved to give him a hard time.
‘It’ll be OK,’ he said quietly. ‘I’m glad you came home. I kind of need you here.’
‘I’m glad too,’ she whispered back. ‘We can look after each other.’
Later, just before opening again, Janice arrived and asked to see Lucas’s recipes for Saturday’s planned celebration of life on the second anniversary of Mel’s death. Lucas had them out already for her. Mia sat with them as they went through them together.
‘I want to serve Mom’s Easter meatloaf,’ he said. ‘It was always popular and this is her special dish. I found her recipe in the apartment.’
Mia picked up the old, beaten-up cookbook and read the marked page. ‘The words are worn; she used it so much. I loved this dish. It had so much flavor.’
‘I only hope I do it justice,’ Lucas muttered. ‘I’ve been avoiding doing the dishes she was known for.’
Janice gently squeezed his hand. ‘You’re a wonderful cook, Lucas. You need to have more faith in yourself.’
‘And I can’t wait to try Mom’s blueberry cheesecake again.’ Mia smiled. ‘Just thinking about it is making my mouth water.’
‘Are you going to tell Willow about it?’ Janice asked. ‘Maybe she can help promote the day alongside her matcha wagon.’
Lucas thought about how badly things had ended up with Willow earlier that day. Willow had made it clear she would be calling Jake later. It was obvious he didn’t really matter to her.
What he needed was distance and lots of it.
‘I don’t need her help,’ he said firmly. ‘I need to do this on my own.’