Tiffany watched me with pinched brows until I caved. “It was hard. My mother meant the world to me, and as far as I know, she didn’t know what my father did. The evidence showed he’d been involved with the state scandal for a long time and impacted a lot of people. I mean, how could my mom not know? She was a smart woman, Tiff.”
“But you don’t know that for sure.”
“True, but I think about it all the time.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t,” she reasoned. “I know you love your mom, so what good would it do to think she was involved in it if it changes how you feel? You can’t change what happened.”
She had a point. Ripley told me the same thing once upon a time, but it didn’t stop me from thinking about it.
“I know.”
“Your mother was a sweet person.”
“I know, Tiffany.”
“So…?”
Sitting on the stool beside her, I uncapped my water and took a sip. “I can’t just say I’m not going to not think about it. That only makes me want to know the truth more.”
“But you won’t.”
“I know.”
She eyed me. “This is exactly why we need alcohol. You won’t think about it when you’re filled with tequila.”
My stomach churned. “No tequila.”
“Boring.”
“You’re bor—” My phone rang, making me glance down at the screen to see Sophie’s name on the screen.
“Oh.” Tiffany jumped down. “I’m going to wash up and change if that’s cool with you. Good luck with that.” She knew I wasn’t that close with my aunt, so she walked away to give me privacy.
“Hi, Sophie.”
“Adele,” she greeted. “I was reaching out about tomorrow. Lydia said she was going to be in town and wanted to join us for our brunch.”
Lydia rarely did that, so it perked me up. Though, I wasn’t sure why she was telling me. “I would love to see her. It’s been a while.” A while meaning my father’s funeral.
“Oh. Well, I’m glad then.”
Why did she sound like she wasn’t? “Is there something wrong? I know you aren’t close to Lydia, but—”
“Oh, stop. Who says I’m not?”
My lips parted to list the amount of times she’d made it clear that her half-sister was just that. Half. As in, not her full responsibility. Lydia and my father were the closest of the three of them because he didn’t treat her different.
“You know what, don’t answer that.” Her voice was tight. She knew what she’d done to her sister over the years, I didn’t need to tell her. “So, normal time then? There’s a lot to catch up on I’m sure.”
I wanted to ask her why she never tried to get along with her sister. Half or not, they shared blood. They lived together. Lydia’s mother wasn’t alive, so she understood my life better than anybody. Sophie? Not so much, and she never tried pretending she did.
“Same time. And Sophie?”
She hummed.
I debated on asking her what I never did about Lydia and her, but I chickened out when I saw Tiffany walk out of the bathroom with her hair down and a brow arched at me. “Never mind. I’ll see you two tomorrow.”
When I hung up, I frowned at my phone before setting it down.
“How’s the Dictator?” Tiff asked, drinking the water I’d given her.
“I wish you’d stop calling her that,” I grumbled, even if she weren’t totally wrong. “She means well. Most of the time.”
Tiffany was disbelieving, but she didn’t say anything about it. Instead, she moved on. “I think you need another makeover. At least temporarily for the night.” Making a face, I began trying to convince her otherwise when she shook her head. “It’s a night out to not think. We both might as well look good doing it.”
Scoffing, I said, “Like you have any trouble looking good even on your worst days. I remember when you came to dance with the flu and you still looked hot.”
“I looked like Rudolph.”
“A sexy Rudolph.”
She laughed. “Agree to disagree. But don’t act like you don’t look good daily either. Just because you don’t think so doesn’t mean it’s not true. Guys turn their heads when you walk into a room.”
I frowned. “Because of what happened.”
“Because you’re beautiful, Della.”
Lips parting, I debated my answer. Throat thick, I said, “We’ll agree to disagree.”
We just stared at each other.
The floral perfume was the first sign that both my aunts were already here. Lydia loved lavender and lilac and she always smelled like fresh-cut flowers and summertime. It was both her and my father’s favorite season, and my father always admitted he loved lilac which was why I’d give him candles in that scent every year for his birthday even when people poked fun of him because of it.
I saw Sophie before my absentee aunt, her body rigid in the seat, one leg crossed over the other like how she always sat. When I walked further into the room, Lydia came into view. She was the opposite of Sophie and my father—light hair like mine, light eyes like her brother, and a fuller face unlike Sophie and my father’s defined jawlines. She didn’t sit with as much tightness, but casually with her hands resting on the arms of the chair whereas Sophie’s were on her lap.
“You’re late,” Sophie stated, standing up and flattening out her dress. “The food was ready fifteen minutes ago.”
Lydia looked from her sister to me, a kind smile on her face. She didn’t wear much makeup, usually some light lipstick and mascara. “Hello, Della.”
I walked over to her as she stood
