Page 94 of David's Love

“So which one is it?I have apple pie and pecan pie.” Miranda asks, holding a bakery box and pointing to the pies on the table with a kitchen knife.

“Both.”

It’s warm in her house, the sweet smell of cinnamon cloying the air.

“Perfect. I’ll pack them both.”

She reaches inside a drawer and pulls out another box.

A hand wrapped around the cup of coffee in front of me, I watch her handle the freshly baked pies.

Miranda couldn’t be more different than Anna.

Where Anna had beauty and spunk, Miranda had kindness and curiosity.

Anna had always entered people’s lives like a storm coming from nowhere, while her sister had always touched them like a summer breeze.

She’s never chased anything in her whole life.

I’ve never seen a more self-assured woman.

She knew who she was back when Anna spun around and crushed hearts like they were eggshells.

There’s always been little resemblance between the two sisters.

Miranda was older than her sister and way more quieter.

She studied math, worked as a teacher, and never got married. She had a passion for baking but never wanted to start a business and earn a living doing that.

I offered to finance her business, and she flat-out refused me, saying she’d never put herself through that kind of stress.

She loves to bake––she said––not to run a business.

I can’t blame her. I get it. It’s a shame, though.

She sets the two boxes in a paper bag with the name of a local grocery store printed on it and sits at the table across from me.

“How was today?” she asks with a soft smile.

“It was good,” I say quietly while she pushes the bag to the side. “I’m glad I made it on time,” I add before lifting my drink to my lips.

Quiet moments rush away while hollow sadness creeps up on me.

Anna is gone. Miranda is single by choice, of course. I’ve been single most of my life. By choice as well.

Julie has no interest in going out and meeting people.

It’s like Anna had put a curse on us before she left.

It’s sad when I think about it.

And here I am.

Miranda is my only family through association. Anna and I have never married each other.

And Julie is my protege.

Julie is that part of Anna that lives on.

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