Page 73 of Breadwinner
Sarah’s fingers stopped abruptly as she digested Lily’s question. “That kind of came out of nowhere, Lil,” she said, trying to buy herself a moment as she resumed her earlier movements.
“I’ve just been wondering. You’re smart, and pretty, and weirdly actually kind of funny.”
“What do you mean actually? I’m hilarious,” she said, ruffling Lily’s hair slightly, deflecting her question. Lily batted her hand away, flattening her hair back into place. “I guess I’m not interested in dating right now,” she said truthfully.
Lily gave her a skeptical look.
“I have everything I need with you here. And your mom and Jamie, and even Wren.”
And Nell.
That thought stopped her in her tracks.
“But what about being in love and finding your person?” Lily asked.
“Everyone is in such a rush to find someone, and people will make you feel like there is a prize waiting for you at the end for crossing the finish line, but there is more to life than finding love.” She looked down at Lily’s head in her lap, those big blue eyes she loved so much looking back at her. “Being in love—true love—is the best feeling in the world.” She cupped Lily’s cheek gently. “And you’ll meet a lot of people in your life who could be your person, and they might even feel like the right one for a while. But that love that all the fairy tales and rom-coms talk about, sweetie? That love doesn’t stick unless you’re okay being with yourself first. That’s what I’m working on right now—I’m falling in love with me.”
Lily was quiet for a moment as she thought about what Sarah had said. “I think that’s really cool, Mom. But I still think some dork out there is missing out.” Her smile spread across herentire face as she laughed, and Sarah reached down to tickle her sides.
“Some dork, huh?”
Two streaks of light cut across the wall, catching their attention. They both sat up and glanced toward the driveway.
“Who’s that?” Lily asked.
Sarah leaned forward, tapping on her phone to check the time. It was well past the time anyone should be visiting. “Probably your mom or Jamie. I bet they forgot something.”
She got up to head to the door, but when she opened it, her jaw nearly dropped. In front of her was a figure carrying a duffel bag, wearing a black Carhartt jacket and a well-loved Boston Red Sox hat, concealing a long, messy strawberry blonde ponytail.
“Auntie Kelly!” Lily said excitedly, as she ran onto the porch and flung her arms around Kelly, who scooped her right up in a big bear hug.
“Lily! How’s my favorite niece?” she said, beaming, before looking at Sarah. “Hey, sis. Merry Christmas. Is it cool if I crash here for a bit?”
“What on earth are you doing here?” Sarah said, pulling her sister into a hug and then stepping back and holding the door open for her.
Kelly smiled, grabbed her duffel, and entered the house. Lily followed her.
“Boat got back a few hours ago. I grabbed a drink at the bar with some of the guys from the crew, then hopped on the ferry. Managed to sweet-talk an adorable redhead into giving me a ride here. Got her number, obviously, and we’re grabbing coffee tomorrow at a place called the Grumpy Goat. Terrible name for a coffee shop, by the way.” Kelly winked at Lily, who looked at her with adoration.
“How are the whales? Did you learn anything new about them? Your job is so cool.”
Her younger sister, Kelly, had always been the wild child of their family. Fifteen years younger than Sarah, their relationship had always felt more aunt/niece than what she could call a sibling bond, considering that Kelly was only three when Sarah had gone off to college. Kelly spent most of her time off-grid and on a boat somewhere off the coast of Canada, studying the migratory patterns of whales. How she had ended up in that specific career field was still a mystery to Sarah, but Kelly loved it.
“The whales are good. They send their regards.” Kelly grinned before turning toward Sarah, her signature strawberry blonde ponytail whipping around. “Got any bourbon ’round here, Sar?” She tossed her bag onto the floor before heading toward the bar cart Sarah kept stocked in the dining room. Kelly returned moments later with a tumbler and two fingers of bourbon in hand. “Hey...” She looked at Lily, who was still standing in the foyer with Sarah. “Shouldn’t you be in bed? It’s pretty late, kid.”
“I’m seventeen, and it’s the holidays. I don’t have a bedtime.”
“God, I wish I still had someone telling me when I should go to bed.” She groaned, and Sarah watched, bemused, as Kelly motioned with her finger for Lily to come closer. “I’m going to tell you the secret of life, kid. Sleep as much as you can now, because once you’re thirty, your body turns against you and hurts for no reason. Also, you get up at least once a night to pee, so take advantage of the restful sleep of your youth and head to bed. Plus, I don’t want to bore you with the grown-up things I need to talk to your mom about.”
Sarah glanced at the clock on the wall. It was after midnight.
“She’s right, Lil, you should head to bed.
They all said their good-nights before Lily disappeared up the stairs. Sarah rounded on Kelly.
“I’m going to need something stronger than peppermint hot chocolate for this, aren’t I?”
“Is the Pope catholic?”