Page 36 of Beautiful Dreamer

It was going on five p.m. on Saturday, and the sun still shonebrightly, which only seemed to fuel Jill’s good mood. She’d been lookingforward to her friends visiting for days now, talking through the menu andmaking sure there was enough variety. “How’s your energy level?” Devyn asked.“You still feeling up to this?”

Jill balked. “Are you kidding? Even if I wasn’t, I need to seefaces besides yours and Elizabeth’s. No offense, but I’m a little sick of theboth of you.” She smiled and stuck out her tongue just like she used to do whenthey were kids.

“Fine. I’ll stick around to make sure everything is set and readyand then let you take it from there. Give you a break from my boring, stupidface.”

“Freedom at last,” Jill said, with a Braveheart fist in the air.

Devyn passed her a look. “I refuse to let that hurt my feelings.”But as far as Devyn was concerned, nothing could dampen her mood. Seeing hersister make progress, not just physically but mentally, was everything toDevyn, and she knew she’d made the right choice in sticking around, even if itmeant sweating it out in the kitchen like underqualified hired help while hercareer spiraled dramatically out of her control. The bruises that once marredJill’s face and limbs had faded significantly. The broken ribs were still verysore, making upper body movement a painful struggle, but were getting bettereach day. Her left leg injury was the worst and where they focused much of herphysical therapy. She still battled to get around as fluidly as she would like,and her pace was slow and measured. The cane was her go-to, but when she becamefatigued, they’d swap it out for a wheelchair. Luckily, that was occurring lessand less. Not only that, but Jill’s sparkle was back. She seemed lighter, moreoptimistic about the future. For Devyn, the time she and Jill spent togetherquenched a thirst she hadn’t even known she had. Wasn’t that something? Turnedout Devyn didn’t just love her sister, sheneededher.

“What do you think about putting out those fresh flowers Elizabethbrought yesterday?” Jill asked, tapping her lips. Elizabeth had developed ahabit of arriving with something daily to bring a smile to Jill’s face. Donutsone day. Coffee another. A huge bouquet of colorful wildflowers the day prior.She had a generous heart, and even if she was a little quirky, they were luckyfor her help.

“Great plan.” Devyn scanned the room for the right spot as theyprepared for Jill’s guests. The handful of teachers from the elementary schoolhad decided on a potluck themed evening of wine and Bunco, a game Devyn had nounderstanding of at all. She wasn’t exactly domestic either, but she askedherself what Noreen, the woman who staged all of her listings, would say. A bigoverflowing vase of flowers on the kitchen table would add lots of color to itsboring brown surface.

“I think the kitchen table would be a great spot for them,” Devynsaid, seeing imaginary Noreen offering a great big thumbs-up in her head.“They’ll look amazing there. The fourth-grade group won’t know what hit ’em.”

“Well, third grade is coming, too, and a couple from fifth, who wetolerate. They tend to pass each other looks. We ignore the looks, because it’sthe right thing to do.”

“Big of you, Jilly. Keep ignoring those looks. Mom would beproud.” She located the flowers where Elizabeth had left them in the kitchenwindow and moved the vase to the table, taking a minute to admire their beauty.Not a high-end expensive arrangement from a florist but a handpicked variety ofall colors, shapes, and sizes combined together for a very jumbled, yetpleasing effect. The bouquet reminded her a lot of Elizabeth herself: beautifuland unique without a lot of rhyme or reason. She smiled as the front dooropened and closed behind her.

“Liz,” Jill said, turning from her spot. “We were just discussingyour beautiful flowers.”

“You were?” Elizabeth asked, beaming.

Devyn had honestly never known the meaning of the wordradiateuntil ElizabethDraper decided to walk into her life and demonstrate it daily. Yes, it was alittle hokey, but the more time she spent in Elizabeth’s presence, the more sheappreciated her ability to simply radiate her happiness. Broadcast it to thewhole damn world with the flip of a switch.

Jill pointed at the wildflowers. “I’m using them to impress my friends.”

“Fifth grade, too?” Elizabeth asked, with a grimace.

Jill deflated. “Let’s not get overzealous.”

“See? I knew those flowers had a purpose.” Elizabeth stole a chipfrom the chip and dip caddy on the counter and then seemed to reconsider andtook three more. Devyn smothered a smile and continued arranging the flowers.“Did you know I’m taking your little sister out tonight?”

Jill raised an interested eyebrow, and Elizabeth blushed, glancedat Devyn, and then quickly away.

“Notoutout.”

“Wait. We’re not goingoutout?” Devyn asked, and dropped her arms. “This isn’t a date?” She was teasingElizabeth, on a mission to witness more of that glorious blush. It had alreadyswept down her face to her neck and now approached her chest and the tiny dipof cleavage her navy blue top showcased. Yeah, she owed that top a thank-younote.

“Oh.” Elizabeth paused. “I didn’t think we…I mean, going out in away that was more like casual, but not. Really, when I thought about it…” Shepaused and stared at Devyn hard. “You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

Devyn laughed and decided the flowers were good to go. “You makeit so very easy.”

Elizabeth shook her head woefully. “I’ve been told so for most ofmy life. I’d say I’m working on it, but let’s be real. I’m just gullible, andthat’s the way it’s always going to be. I once bought a timeshare. An actualtimeshare.”

Jill slowly made her way to Elizabeth. “You’re trusting, andthat’s a good thing.”

“My favorite kind of client.” Devyn held up her hands. “But ifyou’re offering to take meoutout, just let me know.”

Elizabeth didn’t seem to know what to do with that sentence,opening and closing her mouth as the blush spread.

“Ignore my sister,” Jill said. She spun a dish towel and crackedDevyn on the ass with it as she passed. “She’s always been the troubled one inthe family. She was likely dropped on her head.”

Devyn winced and rubbed her ass. “Well, look who’s gettingstronger by the second. Guess I can head home now.”

“Not an option,” Jill deadpanned. “Who would stir the damn soup?”

Devyn gasped but did as she was told. “We’re resorting to swearwords now? My, my, Jilly.”

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