“That’s fine,” Georgie said, pulling herself together. Once her business got off the ground, she’d gotten herself a present: a good therapist. The doctor had helped her understand that she’d shifted from trying to gain her father’s approval to seeking her brother’s, an equally impossible task. Logically, she knew she only needed one person’s approval—her own—but knowing it and living it weren’t always the same thing. “The business side of things won’t take long, but we haven’t all been together in at least a couple of years. I thought it might be nice to share a meal, just the three of us.”
The way Lee pursed his lips as he studied the menu suggested he didn’t feel the same, and Adalia seemed unsure of how to react.
“Addy,” Georgie said enthusiastically. “What are you working on right now?”
A war played out on Adalia’s face, but excitement won out. “A gallery wants to display some of my work next month, so I’ve been busy prepping for that.” She held up her stained hands. “Hence the reason I look like I have the nail beds of a mechanic.”
“You’re working with ink now?” Georgie asked in surprise. The last she’d heard, her sister had been working on mixed media sculptures.
“I’ve been dabbling with screen printing,” Addy said, becoming even more animated. “The gallery owner saw one of my prints hanging in someone’s home and reached out.”
“You should see her pieces,” Lee said, his gaze still on the menu. “They’re amazing.”
Lee had seen her screen prints? Her siblings only ever saw each other at family events—like funerals—or when Georgie arranged it. What had happened to draw them together? And why hadn’t they included her?
But she shook off her hurt feelings, telling herself that she should be happy Lee and Adalia were making an effort. Even if they weren’t making an effort to spend time with her.
“That’s so exciting!” Georgie said, truly meaning it. She’d be the first to admit that her younger sister’s waywardness had worried her. She had no doubt that Adalia was talented—she’d seen plenty of her work—but she also had a tendency to float from one art medium to the next. And while Georgie hated to agree with their father about anything, one of his favorite sayings about Adalia made a sad sort of sense: talent didn’t pay the bills, and a successful career in the art world was just as difficult as an actor making it on Broadway. There were plenty of uber-talented actors waiting tables across the city. “Does the exhibit have a theme?”
Addy’s smile wavered for a moment, then became more serious, but now pride filled her eyes. “Yeah. Isolation.”
The theme hit Georgie in the face. Art was an expression of the artist’s psyche. Adalia always seemed so happy with her life and her friends. Had things changed? Regardless, it sounded like she was doing well professionally, which probably meant she wouldn’t want to move to Asheville. Adalia and Lee would probably remain remote partners.
The waitress appeared with a carafe of coffee and a small creamer container. “Coffee? It’s our special organic Bolivian blend.”
Lee turned his cup over as though it was a race to see who could get coffee first. “Bolivian. Columbian, North Carolinian…I don’t care where it’s from. As long as it has caffeine, I’ll take it.” Then his eyes narrowed as he scanned the menu. “I think I have the wrong menu. Where are the breakfast items?”
“Oh, they’re on there,” the perky waitress said, pointing to one side of his menu. “See?”
“That says bean sprout toast,” Lee said in a deadpan voice.
“It’s one of our most popular dishes,” the waitress said.
“Where’s the bacon?” Lee asked. “And the eggs?”
“We have tofu bacon and egg substitute,” she said. “We’re vegan.”
Lee looked up at Georgie, his mouth gaping.
Oh dear.
Adalia leaned forward and held the waitress’s gaze. “We’re gonna need a moment to look over the menu, but we’ll take coffee while we’re looking.”
“No problem,” the waitress said, setting the creamer dish on the table as she poured coffee into Adalia and Georgie’s cups.
“Is that half-and-half or heavy cream?” Lee asked.
The waitress laughed as if he’d made a hilarious joke. “It’s almond milk.”
Then she left to check on the next table.
“Vegan?” Lee asked, staring at Georgie in disbelief.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I knew it was organic, but not vegan. We can go if you want.”
“No way,” Adalia said, pouring almond milk into her coffee. “I’ve heard this place is great.”
“You’ve been in Asheville less than forty-eight hours,” Lee said in disgust. “How in the hell did you hear this restaurant was great?”
“Everyone’s talking about it,” Adalia said with a mischievous grin. “We’re staying.”
“We can pick up a muffin from a coffee shop after we finish,” Georgie told her brother.
“They have muffins here,” Adalia said.
Lee made a face. “Chia rhubarb agave muffins.”
“And blueberry,” Adalia said. “And also pancakes. Try them. I’m sure you won’t even notice the difference.”
Lee shuddered.
Georgie couldn’t stifle a laugh. “Okay, I’ll not only get you a muffin but also an Egg McMuffin.”
“Deal.” He grinned, and some of the tightness eased from her chest. She liked it when he let himself lighten up. It reminded her of how things used to be, before Lee followed in their dad’s footsteps and became his clone in training.
When the waitress returned, Georgie ordered a fruit plate and Adalia ordered strawberry pancakes. Lee stared up at the waitress, looking hopelessly lost. “What’s the tofu bacon taste like?”
She made a face. “I can recommend the egg substitute.” When he didn’t seem impressed, she said, “Or the banana almond pancakes. They’re my favorite. With the egg substitute scrambled on the side.”
Lee handed her the menu. “Yeah. Okay,” he said, but he sounded like he’d just committed himself to a three-day fast.
Then again, Georgie supposed it did feel like that to her brother, whose favorite breakfast had always been eggs over easy and multiple pieces of bacon.
“I’m sorry, Lee,” Georgie said after the waitress walked off with their order. “We really can go someplace else if you like.” She needed him in a good mood for the conversation they were about to have.
“No, it’s okay.” He sucked in a breath, then let it out. “Sorry I’m being such an asshole. It’s just that when Victoria and I fight…” He shook his head, offering her a puppy dog smile. “Congratulations on the sale of your business, by the way. After the mess at the attorney’s office, I realized I’d never touched base with you after you emailed and told us all about the deal…” He grimaced. “I’m sorry, Georgie. I really was—and still am—proud of you. I just got busy.”
“Yeah, Georgie,” Adalia said less enthusiastically. “Congrats.”