Page 36 of Waste Some Time
“But that wasn’t the plan. What if I’m never with another?—”
“I know the plan.” Stephen squeezed her hands again. “But if Katie’s the only woman you’re ever with, would that be so bad?”
No.
The answer was as clear as anything in her mind.
But that wasn’t the problem. The problem was if she’d regret this down the road.
Stephen picked up one of her hands and placed it against her own chest. “Follow your heart, Syd. Whatever direction it wants to go in, I’ll support it. I’ll support you. Always.”
Sydney blinked back tears and tiptoed to wrap her arms around her brother’s neck. She knew he’d be in her corner, but she’d underestimated how much hearing the words would mean to her.
“Thank you.”
He pulled away and nodded toward the back door. “I remember someone mentioning bread pudding.”
“Savannah’s bread pudding.” Sydney’s mouth was already watering at the mere mention of her sister’s signature dessert. Warm, thick custard-soaked French bread perfectly balanced with fruit. Since it was winter, it was satsumas in this batch.
Sydney couldn’t believe she was going to taste that and a million other treats from now on.
But her heart was racing as she reentered the house, and not at the anticipation of dessert.
Stephen was right. If she was only ever with Katie from here on out and never another woman, she could live a blissful life without feeling like she was missing out on anything.
Time to follow her heart.
When they returned to the dining room, a quick scan of the table showed that they were missing a couple of people.
Simon sat in his chair from before, and their mother sat at the head of the table.
Stephen nodded toward the kitchen. “Katie’s helping Savannah in there?”
“No,” their mother said. “It’s just Savannah. Katie had to run. Told us to tell you both she had to leave early.”
Sydney’s heart sank.
Katie hadn’t mentioned needing to leave. In fact, she’d only mentioned how she was looking forward to dessert.
Stephen exchanged a quick look with Sydney, but neither of them seemed to know what happened while they were outside.
“Did she say why?” Stephen asked.
Simon shrugged. “Just that she forgot something she had to do. Maybe something with her cat?”
Katie hadn’t mentioned anything being wrong with Benjamin. And they’d exchanged messages earlier in the day, and it seemed everything was fine. She’d planned to spend the whole evening with their family.
Sydney sent a quick text from under the table.
Everything ok?
No response.
Savannah breezed in with a steaming pan and placed it on a potholder while she asked Simon to grab the bowls in the kitchen.
“Satsuma bread budding,” Savannah said as Simon returned with a stack of bowls and a handful of spoons.
The bread pudding had the bright scent of oranges mixed with warm cinnamon and a rich, custardy base. Savannah began scooping the dessert into bowls and handing them out when Sydney’s phone buzzed in her hand under the table.
