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Compared to Josie she seems polite, maybe even kind. I smirk and place my hands in my pockets. They are so innately different that it’s amusing.

“She’s engaged,” the receptionist tries to throw herself into the conversation, hoping I’ve made some sort of grave mistake.

“I was wondering if you had a moment to talk?” I ask Vivian, ignoring the redhead.

“Is this about a rabid dog that you fed dinner to the other night?”

So she does have wit just like her sister, and they talked about me. I gesture toward the door. “If we could.”

“I guess I can spend my break soothing a broken heart.”

“You know, I might go to lunch soon,” the receptionist announces loudly.

“You already took yours, Jess. It would probably be best if you did your job instead of ogling every man who comes in.” Vivian rolls her eyes.

Jess’ face reddens, deeper than the shade of her hair, and she glues her eyes to the paperwork in front of her.

I follow Vivian out onto the street, and she leads me to a group of tables around the back. It looks like a sort of break area for the clinic. I lean against the table.

“Please sit. You’re making me anxious.” She starts to unpack her bag, pulling out a sandwich and a few other items. Granola bars and an apple included. I oblige, sitting on the plastic bench across from her. Some of the paint has been worn away, exposing rusted bars. The area around us is overgrown, and ivy creeps up the walls. “So, why are you here?”

I’m at a loss for words. I didn’t think this through before coming here and now I don’t know what exactly to say.

“Hello.” She waves her sandwich hand in front of my face. “I like to eat my lunch in peace.”

I take another look around. “Not very peaceful out here.” The sound of people shouting in the street, and construction on the next block over, are distracting.

“I like it,” she says indignantly. “You can find peace anywhere. Not all of us are rich snobs who get our condos paid for by our boyfriends. Some of us work for a living.”

I don’t know if that’s directed at me, but it doesn’t seem like it. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“I know, because you’re here obsessing over my sister.” She shoves the sandwich into her mouth and takes a massive bite. A pickle falls out of the back onto the wrapping she left laid out as a plate.

“I’m not obsessing,” I defend myself. I am.

“Yeah, and I’m Aphrodite.”

“I’ve never seen her. You could be,” I offer.

She shovels the sandwich into her mouth. “Is this all the charm everyone was talking about? I’m disappointed.” Some sort of sauce runs down her arm.

“Do you both eat like starved dogs?”

“Excuse yourself,” she admonishes me through a mouthful of bread.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”

She gives me a small smile and offers me a cookie she pulled from a package. “First time being nervous?”

I want to argue, but I am nervous. It’s uncomfortable. I take the baked good and shift in my seat. Vivian gave me a cookie like a child so I wouldn’t feel so much like this. It’s a kind gesture, unlike one I’ve ever received. People have done nice things for me, but it’s never simple. I can see why Josie cherishes her so much.

“Thank you.” I take a bite. I can’t remember the last time I had a cookie, and the flavor explodes in my mouth. “This is really good.”

She smiles wide. “I made them.”

“Well, it’s really fucking good.”

“I’m a pretty good baker if I do say so myself. I give cookies to the patients after we fix them up. I cook, too, but I only learned because we would starve if I didn’t.”