18. Shane
“Age only mattersif you are a cheese.” ~Unknown
It’s bright and early the next morning when I walk ten minutes south to The Coffee House to meet my sister. Amelia’s already there as expected; she’s never late for anything. According to our parents, she was born exactly on her due date, while I was four days past mine. I’m, however, two minutes early today because I know how important this meeting is to Hope. It also helped that she practically pushed me out of our room when I’d lingered in the doorway for another kiss.
But now is not the time to think about kissing… unless it involves kissing up.
“Hey, sis, it’s good to see you.” I give Amelia a quick hug and offer to buy her breakfast. “Feel free to choose whatever you want, it’s my treat.”
“Thanks. I’m so glad I can finally eat solid food again.” She glances at the menu that’s written out in block letters on two framed mirrors. “I’ll have a hot green tea and a peach scone.”
Once our food is ready, we grab a small table beside a wall with colorful artwork and sit down. The café is empty and quiet, so the two of us sit in silence for a while sipping our drinks. I figure I’ll let her take the reins on this conversation since that’s what she usually likes to do, but the longer I wait, the antsier I get. Especially when all I can see are her hazel eyes studying me over the rim of her white mug.
“Okay, the suspense is killing me,” I finally admit. I wipe my damp palms against my shorts and release a heavy breath. “Just say it, sis. Tell me all the ways you think I’m wrong for Hope.”
She sighs, then shrugs. “That’s the thing. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to come up with reasons why you guys won’t work out, and I’ve got nothing. Nothing concrete, that is. You guys are grown adults and honestly two of the best people I know. You both deserve the best, so it kind of makes sense that you’d fall for each other. I just can’t believe it happened now of all times. On the vacation that Hope and I had planned to go on together. And all because I got sick and asked you to take my place. I don’t know if I should be happy or not that I had food poisoning. Are you happy I had food poisoning?” she adds with a quirked brow.
“Happy?” Talk about a no-win situation. I take a sip of my coffee to stall for time, then choose the safer route. “Of course not.”
“Really? But if I hadn’t, you and Hope wouldn’t have met again.”
“Not in Solvang, but we might have met somewhere else. I believe we’re meant to be together, so God would’ve made our paths cross one way or another.”
“And how do you know you’re meant to be together?”
Amelia’s question brings me back to yesterday and Hope’s and my so-called one bed trope. Sleeping beside her all night long had been too much and also not enough. But not once did I try to cross the imaginary line I’d drawn in between us. Everything in me wanted to respect Hope and put her first. When I woke up to her snuggled into my side with the most peaceful smile on her face, it was another confirmation that she’s worth waiting for.
She’s been worth waiting for.
I know exactly how to answer my sister’s question. “You know what Dad always said when we were growing up, how it works out better for a relationship when the guy likes the girl more? Hope is the only woman I’ve ever loved more than myself. I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”
Amelia’s mouth falls open, and she gawks at me like I have two heads or maybe five. That’s how shocked she looks. “I’ve never heard you talk like this before. Are you sure you’re my brother and not some alien being who took over his body?”
“Would an alien know your deep, dark secrets?” I joke. “I heard a lot of juicy info all those times I hid in your closet.”
“Okay, you are definitely my annoying little brother.” She rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re dating my best friend. Does this mean you’re going to kiss her, too?”
“What do you mean going to? We haven’t stopped since we got together.”
“Ew, no! I didn’t need to know that.” After some wincing and groaning, Amelia calms down enough to meet my gaze. “Shane Morgan, you listen up now. Under no circumstances are you to make Hope sad or mad. I expect you to treat her like the queen that she is. She’s been waiting for a good guy to come into her life, someone who really knows her and appreciates everything about her. Do you think you’re ready for the job?”
I raise a hand with three fingers up and my thumb and pinky touching like I’m back in the Boy Scouts. I’m not taking the Scout Oath today, but I’m equally dedicated to following through on my duty to God and to others, specifically to Hope. With conviction, I say, “I’m more than ready. And I know that if I ever mess up, I’ll have you to answer to.”
“You got that right! Don’t forget I know where you live.” Her brows suddenly shoot up. “Does this mean you’re moving to Arizona? Or is there a chance Hope will move back to the Bay Area? If you can convince her, I’ll forgive you for reading my diary when we were kids!”
“I have no idea what our plans are yet, but I’m sure we’ll figure them out soon enough. But hey, I thought you already forgave me for reading your diary?”
“Forgiveness is a process. It’s like cheese. The longer you let it age, the better it gets.”
“If you say so, sis.”
“I do.” Amelia’s expression finally lights up in a grin. “Oh boy, you owe me a big one for setting this reunion up between you and Hope. How do you plan on paying me back?”
“Wait a minute. You’re taking credit when I’m the one who came to your rescue?”
“No, I’m taking credit because I chose you to come to my rescue. I could’ve asked a dozen other people, but I chose you.”
“Hm. But you chose me because I’m reliable, dependable, and fun. I should get some credit for that, right?”
Her smile turns sheepish. “Actually, I chose you because the other people I asked couldn’t make it.”
“Seriously? All this time I assumed you’d asked me because you thought I’d be the best person to keep Hope company.”
“And you are! You’re the perfect person for Hope. That’s precisely why I asked you.”
“After everyone else you asked first couldn’t make it,” I remind her. I cross my arms and feign disapproval. It’s rare that I have the upper hand over my sister. I’m having too much fun to stop now. “Exactly how many people did you ask before me?”
“Not that many.” She pushes the sleeves of her cardigan up and shrugs. “Like one or three.”
“Was it one or three?”
“Actually, one plus three. Just two of the nurses in my department, one of the front desk receptionists, and my downstairs neighbor, Mrs. Curtis.”
“Mrs. Curtis? She’s almost ninety years old! You thought she’d be a better vacation date than me?”
“She happens to be from Denmark. She has so many rich stories to tell from her life there. I thought Hope would enjoy hearing them.”
I shake my head in dismay. “So, I was the fifth person you asked then?”
“Something like that,” she mumbles before taking a bite of her scone.
I narrow my eyes. “Who else did you ask before me?”
“Just one other person, Beatriz, my favorite barista. She makes latte art that’s out of this world. She has almost half a million followers on Instagram!”
“Good for her,” I remark drolly. “So, you asked six people before you even thought of asking me?”
“Um, no. Lily, one of the girls from our book club, is the one who reminded me I could ask you.”
“You completely forgot about me?”
“Of course not. It wasn’t like I forgot I have a brother. I think about you all the time.”
“Mm-hmm.” I scoff. “My own flesh and blood forgot about me.”
“I didn’t forget. It just never crossed my mind to ask a guy to come in my place. I didn’t want it to be awkward for Hope to have to room with a man. But since you’re my little brother, you’re not a real?—”
“Uh-uh. I know what’s coming next, and if you don’t want to offend me even more, you should probably stop.”
“I change my mind!” She offers me a big cheesy smile, then jumps up from her chair to reach over and hug my neck. “You are most definitely a real man to have won my best friend’s heart! I can’t wait to see her! Come on, let’s get out of here! Take me to your girlfr—oh, that’s so weird to say. Take me to see Hope!”