Page 3 of The Jinglebell War
It’s quiet so long, I open my eyes to see Peach and Cherry having some sort of silent conversation. Since when did my cousin and my sister learn to communicate telepathically? Only Peach and I should be able to do that.
“Blue, I think…” Cherry glances at Peach. “What Peach is doing is really lovely when you think about it. There doesn’t need to be just one ‘of honor.’ The more the merrier, right?”
“What the hell is this really about?” I ask, all my patience gone. “I’m your blood sister, Peach. And I throw amazing parties. Parties where no one gets arrested.”
Cherry gasps and slaps a hand against her chest. “You take that back, Blueberry Porter.”
“I won’t take back the truth.” I know I’ve gone too far, but I’m like a train that’s gone off the track and is hurtling toward the cliff. Only a miracle or a catastrophe will stop me now.
“Fine.” Peach swings her legs off Cherry’s lap and stands, hands on hips. “I want you and Cherry to share the ‘of honor’ title because I know Cherry will keep you in line if you try to take control of everything or if you keep me out of some loop because you’re trying to ‘protect me.’” She actually does air quotes around the word protect like I haven’t literally protected her for twenty-three of her twenty-four years of life. Well, except for that brief stint I did in boarding school, but that was out of my control.
“I don’t need Cherry to hold my hand, Peach. I’ve told you I’ll treat you like an adult and trust your decisions, and I mean it.”
Peach crosses her arms over her chest and glances at Cherry. Cherry gives her a little nod and my stomach twists. I hate that little nod. I hate that I’m on the outside of this. I’m the problem when I’ve only ever wanted to be Peach’s best friend, her sister, the person she looks to for help and safety.
Peach takes a deep breath and blinks. “You insisted on looking over the lease for my bakery building. When my phone died and you couldn’t reach me, you came to my house and, when you couldn’t find me there, you went to Nick’s house at four in the morning.”
“It had been two days, and you’d missed drag queen brunch, Peach. I—” Honestly, if she had any idea how close I’d come to going to the police to file a missing persons report...
“You called my landlord about my leaky sink after I told you I’d take care of it. You told Mom not to go to my bakery ever again after she made me cry at work that one time.”
“Well, someone needed to tell her.”
“I should have been the one to tell her.” Peach is yelling and she never yells. She throws her hands up and shakes her head. “Why are you staring at me like I’m the one who’s lost my mind?”
“Those are all normal things sisters do, Peach.” I look to Cherry. “Tell her. I’m sure Gen always looks over your contracts and—”
But Cherry shakes her head. “Gen only helps if I ask.”
Gen is Cherry’s older sister and lives in Vegas. She paid for Cherry and us to stay in Vegas for Cherry’s first, aborted wedding. Of course, she’d help Cherry as much as I help Peach if she could. “Well, if she lived in the same town, I’m sure—”
Peach runs her hands through her hair and grips it tight. “You’re missing the point. I don’t want your help anymore, Blue. I want to handle things myself and make my own mistakes if that’s what happens.”
“And I’ve let you do that. I knew blackberry rum cupcakes wouldn’t sell, but I didn’t say a word.” I could give her a list a mile long of all the times I’ve stepped back when I could have helped, but I don’t want to make her feel bad. “I’ve backed way off.”
“You need to back farther off. You’re going to share the ‘of honor’ role with Cherry, or you’re not coming to the wedding at all.”
If I weren’t trying so hard not to cry, I’d probably acknowledge how proud I am of Peach for sticking to her boundaries. I just wish she wasn’t doing it with me. “Fine. Okay. I’ll share the job with Cherry and I’ll stop trying to help you.”
Peach huffs. “Thank you.” She bites her lip, looking suddenly worried. “I hope I’m not hurting your feelings, I just—”
There’s no way in hell I’m admitting to hurt feelings when Peach is being so amazing at standing up for herself. Our mother has manipulated, used, and belittled Peach all our lives and Peach, ever the people pleaser, has only recently learned to set boundaries and be her own advocate. Even if I don’t like what she’s saying, I have to respect it’s what she wants or I’m no better than our mother. “Not at all. I completely understand.” I push to a stand, fake a yawn, and stretch. “Wow, I’m exhausted, and I have an early meeting tomorrow. I should go home and get to bed.”
Peach hurries over and hugs me. “I’m sorry, Blue. I love you and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I need to do this on my own.”
I hug her back, squeezing her tight until my eyes stop burning. “My feelings aren’t hurt, sweetie. I totally understand.” I understand that she needs to feel independent, but she’ll come around. She’ll figure out how much she needs me, eventually.
It’s not that I think she’s incapable, but she’s often so eager to make everyone else happy she gives up what she wants. I’m not going to let that happen.
Peach pulls away and studies my face, seemingly satisfied. She gives me a tentative smile. “We’re going to have so much fun.”
I’m not sure whether she’s talking about the wedding, the bachelorette party, or life in general. It doesn’t matter. We’re definitely going to have fun, even if I have to help her in ways no one can see or suspect. I always make sure we have fun. “We sure as hell are.”
She whoops and shimmies. “I’ll stay and help Cherry clean up. You go on home and get some sleep.”
I wave a goodbye to Cherry, who’s looking at me with sympathetic eyes and a faint frown. If I’m going to convincethem I’m really on board with the whole staying out of the planning nonsense, I’m going to have to become a much better actor. “Send me all the details you’ve got so far about the wedding. I want to know everything we have to look forward to.”
Peach hesitates only a moment, her brow creasing, before she smiles and nods. “Of course. You’re going to love everything we’ve chosen.”
