Page 90 of Breadwinner

“They are perfectly imperfect.”

Jamie nodded in agreement. “Happy birthday, Sarah.” She smiled and turned to go back into the gym, where Lily was waiting.

That evening, Sarah pulled onto the tree-lined driveway that sloped its way down to her house. An unfamiliar car was already parked in the driveway, and as she looked closer, she spotted two familiar figures sitting on the steps of her front porch.

Nell and Nate sat shoulder to shoulder, each holding what looked like matching portable gaming devices, both intenselyfocused, their thumbs rapidly tapping buttons, neither seeming to have noticed Sarah’s car pulling into the driveway.

She pulled under the carport and put the car in park. It was only when the car door shut that Nate looked up, grinning at her.

“Hey. Just a sec; Nell is about to kick my ass.”

Sarah shifted her bag and the package containing the gift from Jamie in her hands as she approached the pair, but not before catching the smile on Nell’s face.

“Take that!” Nell said, bumping her shoulder into Nate, who groaned. She looked up at Sarah, smile wide, piercing eyes catching hers.

“What in the world are you two doing here?” Even through her confusion, Sarah smiled. The two of them had talked yesterday evening, but Nell had made no mention of being in town.

“Waiting for you, birthday girl.” Nate stood, slid the game into his sweatshirt pocket, and pulled her into a bear hug, which she returned. “Staying away from those king crab legs?” he asked.

Sarah laughed into Nate’s shoulder. “It’s been challenging, but I prefer to be alive, so yes.”

“Good. Well, I’m off, you two. Have fun.” He gave a salute with his hand before hopping into his car. As he drove away, Sarah turned to Nell, who was still looking at her with those bright eyes.

“Is showing up unannounced at my house going to become a common occurrence?” Sarah raised a quizzical eyebrow at Nell, who was still beaming at her. There was something so genuine about how Nell was looking at her—like seeing her was the best thing that had happened to Nell all day.

“I guess I could consider calling ahead from time to time, but where’s the fun in that?”

“What are you really doing here?” Sarah asked quietly.

A couple of weeks had gone by since the unfortunate shellfish incident. While their arrangement was technically over, everything still felt exactly the same as it did before, which left Sarah with more questions than answers, but she was too tired after the events of the last few weeks to dig any deeper.

Nell motioned to the front porch as if it were self-explanatory. “No one should be alone on their birthday.”

Sarah blinked, then smiled. “I wasn’t going to be alone for my birthday. I have plans.”

“Oh, really? Plans? You didn’t mention anything when we talked yesterday,” Nell said dryly.

“Neither did you, and look, here you are.” She smirked. “Yes, I have birthday plans... with my couch, and some Thai takeout, maybe a little bourbon, andMamma Mia!”

“Ah, I see. Party for one.” Nell kept smiling at her like she was missing the joke. “Do you think maybe there’s room for it to be a party for two?”

Sarah considered for a split second, her smile already pulling at the corner of her mouth. “I always have room in my life for you, Nell.”

Sarah held out her hand. Nell took it without a second thought, and Sarah led her inside.

They each removed their shoes, and Sarah placed the box with Jamie’s gift on the small table next to the door. When she turned around, Nell was already halfway down the hall, taking in the wall of family photos that hung neatly in front of her. Sarah watched closely.

It was odd seeing Nell here, in her home. Up until a few weeks ago, their entire arrangement had existed solely in Nell’s spaces. And now, here she was, sock-footed in Sarah’s entryway, looking at her family photos. It made Sarah suddenly self-conscious.

She rubbed her hands down the sides of her leggings. “I know it’s not quite as grand as any of your houses,” she said softly.

Nell turned from the photo she had been looking at—one of Sarah, Beth, and Lily from a family trip they had taken to Nantucket when Lily was three years old. “Oh, shut up,” Nell said, with a small smile.

“Did you just tell me to shut up?” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest.

Nell reached out, the brush of her hand against Sarah’s forearm a welcome comfort.

“I did. You know why?”