Page 72 of January

“Yes,” Kyle said, feeling the blush creep up her cheeks. “I really like her.”

“I could tell. I’m glad you’re going for it, Ky. But why did you bring her to an empty house? Doesn’t she have a place of her own?”

“She does, but it doesn’t have this garden, and this garden is amazing, too. Did you know that Grandma met Grandpa here?”

“No. Did you find that out in the journals?”

“Yeah. I started at the beginning, so no word on the mom drama yet, but I wanted to go as far back as I could. Did you know that our great-grandmother was a huge feminist back in the day and that her mother was a suffragette?”

“No. Really?”

“Yeah. Grandma was a bit ahead of her time, too, especially for down South. She had a job outside the home, and even though her family had money, she insisted on it.”

“That’s pretty cool,” Jolie said. “But, Ky?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you have a pretty girl waiting for you outside?”

“Yes. She’s staring up at the stars right now, just how I imagined,” Kyle said. “But this is important, too.”

“I know. But I also want you to get a third date, Ky.”

“She took me on a helicopter tour tonight and dinner at Commander’s Palace.”

“She did?Yougot on a helicopter? Wait… How didImiss the fact that there are helicopter tours?”

“We can do one when you get back. Melinda knows a guy,” Kyle said proudly. “It’s the best way to see the city at sunset, in my opinion, and the food we had tonight wasn’t like anything we’ve ever eaten.”

“Well, we grew up on box mac & cheese and PB&Js,” Jolie replied. “I assume they don’t serve those there.”

“No, they don’t,” Kyle said, chuckling.

“You sound happy, Ky,” Jolie replied.

“I am,” she confirmed, “I really am. I like it here. It’s so different from home.”

“I could see that when I was there.”

“You could’ve stayed, Jolie. You can even stop working for a while and find another job later, if you want. We can afford it.”

“I like working. And I liked my time there, but it was just fun. It’s not home to me. I know Mom is a mess, and Dad isn’t always around, but they’re still here when I need them most of the time, and we have a little brother, too, now.”

“Am I the bad sibling because I don’t want to–”

“Kyle, you could never be a bad sibling. You’re the best older sister there is, and I love you. I think it’s great that you’re there, exploring the city and probably also exploring Melinda later.” Jolie laughed. “I don’t know that I’ve ever heard you this happy before.”

“I don’t think I realized that Iwasn’thappy before. I was fine, you know? Getting by. I didn’t know that that wasn’thappy.”

“I know. But you are now, and that’s the important part. We can talk more about this another time, though, becauseyou have a date to get to,” Jolie said. “Have so much fun, Kyle. And I don’t mean sex, either. I mean, do that, too, if you want, but I meant, have fun. For the first time in your life, have fun and enjoy things. You’ve done so much for me and for Mom, and even for Dad sometimes, that I don’t know that you’ve ever really done anything for yourself. And you deserve this, Ky.”

Kyle looked out the window and saw Melinda stir a bit, rolling onto her stomach and glancing at Kyle through the window. The expression Kyle could make out through the lantern light showed that she wasn’t upset or annoyed. She was concerned. Kyle smiled and nodded at her, letting her know that everything was okay. Melinda smiled back and rolled over again.

“I just met her, Jol,” she said.

“Yeah, but it’s not just about her. I mean, I’m glad you like her, but your happiness isn’t supposed to be tied to a person, right? You’ve fallen in love with the place, too, and how it makes you feel. Melinda is part of that, and if you’re really into her, I think that’s great, but I just meant that I want you to be happy there. Take those helicopter rides, but also have a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning at the fanciest house you’ve ever been in. Melinda or no Melinda, enjoy the little things, too.”

“When did you become the wiser sister?” Kyle teased.

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