Page 41 of A Spot of Tea
Cora put her hands up. “No! Every act of love is an act of courage. We can be careful, but we can’t completely avoid risk.”
“Then that’s it. Eliza is being careful with him. I think that’s good.”
“I don’t think that’s it. Eliza doesn’t think she’s good enough for anyone. She thinks she has to be perfect to deserve love.”
This tea was making her nauseated. It was too lemony. It was like reflux in a cup. Mackenzie set it down. “Why are you saying all of this?”
Cora, who had been staring into space, startled and looked at her. “I thought you knew. She’s always been like this.”
“Of course I knew! She’smysister.”
“I’m not accusing you of anything.” Cora sighed. “I’m her best friend. I’ve seen her at her lowest. Eliza tries to look strong for everyone.”
The heat rose from her chest and into her throat. “So she tries to look strong for me, but she’s willing to be vulnerable and tell you all these things?”
“I’m not trying to compete with you,” Cora said gently. “Eliza doesn’t have to worry about looking bad in front of me.”
Mackenzie scoffed. That was true.
“Though I know she still tries to be strong,” Cora added. “I’m so much of a mess, I don’t make anyone feel self-conscious.”
Mackenzie let out a breath and uncrossed her arms. “You’re not a mess.”
“Oh no, I really am.” She drew herself up and took a deep breath. “I just wish Eliza didn’t spend so much time measuring herself, thinking she’s supposed to be this, or supposed to be that, and always finding herself lacking. It makes me sad. She’s incredible and she doesn’t see it.”
Mackenzie looked down at her hands. She’d never considered that Cora might care so much for Eliza. Mackenzie tended to get stuck on the whole ditzy-rich girl thing. “She’s a perfectionist.”
“I know. That’s the thing about perfectionists. They don’t believe they have any worth if they’re not impossibly exceptional.”
Impossibly exceptional. The words landed on Mackenzie’s chest with a punch. The heat on her skin dissipated, blasted away. “And you think Eliza believes pilot boy is too good for her?”
“She thinks every guy is too good for her. Have you ever seen her with a boyfriend?”
“There was that one guy. He was…interesting.” She scrunched her nose. “He always smelled.”
“He did, didn’t he?” Cora shook her head. “And he never did anything nice for her. He only thought of himself. He was so…disappointing.”
Her breath stung in her throat. She took a sip of water.
How had she not noticed any of this about her own sister? Mackenzie hadn’t put nearly as much thought into analyzing it as Cora had. Until this moment, Mackenzie had written her off as a self-absorbed simpleton.
Who was the simpleton now?
“Can we help her?” Mackenzie asked.
“Oh, sure.” Cora smiled. “Just keep loving her.”
For the first time, Mackenzie had something more important to think about than her own broken heart.
It was the best she’d felt in weeks.
She nodded and picked up her cup of reflux tea. “You and me, Cora. We’re going to crack this one. For Eliza.”
Cora raised her cup. “For Eliza!”
Sixteen
After convincing the last table of patrons to continue their game at home, Eliza finished cleaning the tea shop with Mackenzie and Cora’s help.
