Page 34 of Tattered Edges

Smiling, I shook my head and assured her, “How about youthinkabout ways we could revamp the front window display, and I’ll do some research on a few best sellers we should buy? We’ll start there.”

“Baby steps,” she replied with a nod.

“Precisely.”

We were interrupted by a couple of customers, one who simply wanted to wander about while the other was looking for a specific title. Victoria headed behind the counter to do a search of our inventory for the specific book while I grabbed my laptop, settled on a couch near the center of the shop, and began my research. Both customers ended up making a purchase. It might not have been much, but it felt like a win all the same.

An hour later, I was about ready to go over a list of potential new titles for the store with Victoria when a familiar face entered the shop.

I set my laptop aside and stood to brace myself as my half-sister approached. She looked no different than the first time I’d met her. Hair loose and parted down the middle. Her makeup elegant yet simple. She was dressed professionally, and she had on a pair of heels that made her footsteps sound even more deliberate against the hard floor than they appeared. Her long, wool coat was tied closed, and she wore her purse draped over her forearm. I’d only met her mother once, but it was hard to deny the two were so very much alike. Eloise carried herself like she was almost fifty rather than almost thirty.

“Hi,” I greeted.

I hadn’t had contact with any of the Blackstones in more than a week. Her visit definitely piqued my curiosity.

“Hello…Sawyer.”

I smiled, appreciative that she’d used my name correctly, even though I could tell it bothered her to do so.

“I know my visit is not an expected one, but I was wondering if you might be able to step away for a bit? There’s a place not too far from here that serves afternoon tea. My—ourfather used to like to dine there. If you can spare the time, I’d like to talk.”

“Oh,” I murmured, taken aback by her request. It felt like she’d extended an olive branch, one I really wanted to accept. “Um…” I hesitated, looking around the store for any sign of Victoria. She was still behind the register. When our eyes met, she raised her eyebrows as if to silently express she was as intrigued as I was.

“I’ll be fine here. Go ahead,” she assured me.

“Thanks.” To Eloise I said, “Let me just run upstairs and grab my coat. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded, and I collected my laptop before hurrying for the flat. I donned my coat, grabbed my mittens and my purse, and returned to the store. Eloise was waiting for me by the front entrance. Clearly, she and Victoria didn’t have much interest in speaking to one another, but this didn’t surprise me.

With a wave, I promised Victoria I’d be back soon, and then followed Eloise out into the cold.

“Where is it we’re going?” I asked, hoping to jumpstart our conversation.

“Just up the road, near St. Paul’s. It’s called Cafe Rouge. It’s not the most traditional afternoon tea, but I think that’s why dad liked it so much.”

“This will be my first official tea outing. It’s really nice of you to invite me.”

She glanced at me then replied, “Whether we like it or not, we are sisters. And you’re here. There’s no ignoring that.”

“Right,” I muttered under my breath.

I’d heard the Brits were indirect and reserved by nature. I believed the stereotype that their good manners were a result of respecting people’s feelings. However, it seemed—so far as my family was concerned—they weren’t afraid to be blunt.

Eloise and I didn’t say much else to each other for the remainder of our short walk. When we arrived at our destination, I was relieved to get out of the cold. Moreover, I hoped the warmth of the restaurant would also extinguish the chill that wafted from Eloise herself.

It being sometime between lunch and dinner, the restaurant wasn’t too terribly busy, and we were seated in short order. When Eloise told our server we were interested in the tea menu, we were provided with the abbreviated options. In the mood for savory over sweet, I chose the rouge afternoon tea, which sounded like glorified charcuterie, with a kettle of earl grey. Eloise ordered the traditional option, and then we were left on our own.

“I know we didn’t get off on the right foot,” admitted Eloise. “I’m sorry. You must understand, there’s no amount of time that can prepare someone for the news that she’s not her father’s only or first daughter. And the way I found out—it was like a slap to the face.”

Taking a page out of her book, I was not at all afraid to be direct as I replied, “I get that it was a shock. I can also understand that maybe news of my existence somehow distorted the version of your father you knew—but at least you got to grow up with him as a part of your life. I don’t have any version of him, only what he left behind.” I breathed a sigh and reached up to sweep my hair behind my ears in an attempt to take a beat and combat my defensiveness. “None of this has been ideal for any of us. How you feel about all of this, it’s not more or less important than how I feel. It’s just different.”

Eloise stared at me for a long moment. I saw it when something in her mind changed. Her shoulders relaxed, she exhaled slowly, and then she nodded as if in concession.

Just when I thought we might find our way to an easier sort of conversation, she dropped a bomb I was not expecting.

“I readAll the Shades of Summer. I wasn’t going to. I didn’t want to. But then—then I met you and my curiosity got the better of me.”

Our server brought our tea, allowing me another few seconds to stall before confessing the truth.

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