Page 4 of Hargrave Health Kick (Brookwell Island)

Chapter Three

She did her best to put Brayden out of her mind, though it wasn’t easy when he sent silly, random text messages. It felt nice to have that immediate connection to her best friend after so long. She was looking forward to catching up when their schedules allowed.

In the meantime, she had plenty of other things to focus on—primarily her new content plans.

It was early afternoon when she heard Celeste’s car pull into the drive.

So far, living together again had been working well.

Celeste kept to herself, handling the bulk of the administrative tasks and maintenance issues for The Hideaway along with the welcome packages.

Veronica and Natalie appreciated Celeste’s attention to detail.

Their sister had the organizational skills to look through drawers and discover what might be missing or broken after a stay.

Lately it seemed as if they needed to create a specific line item in the budget for corkscrews, considering how frequently those disappeared. And the kitchen knives were never dull at the Hargrave Hideaway, because Celeste sharpened them regularly.

It had taken significant encouragement, but finally, Celeste was taking short trips on her own.

She’d started with small excursions around neighboring states, though more daydreams of a longer, overseas vacation were creeping into her conversation.

Veronica had no doubt her sister would continue to gather research and learn from other hosts wherever she traveled.

Veronica was hopeful that the trips—near and far—would help her older sister heal. There had been so much tragedy in Celeste’s life already. She’d lost her husband and their mom without taking time to truly process it all.

Veronica stayed at her desk with her work, grateful Celeste wouldn’t interrupt the way Natalie would have done. Her oldest sister tended to come home and just do stuff. She didn’t need anyone to keep her company or listen to her chatter.

Some of it was her naturally reserved and serious personality, but over the last few weeks, Veronica worried it was coming from wanting to stay out of the way.

Of the three Hargrave sisters, Celeste was the oldest but also the most likely to disappear in a crowd.

Veronica could still remember going to parties with her older sister and finding her in the kitchen—usually cleaning up.

It had been so annoying.

With that weird vibe in her head, she reached a stopping point on her video edits and headed for the kitchen. Her sister might not need the company, but Veronica was willing to be there for her anyway.

Naturally, the ever-efficient Celeste was nearly done unloading the groceries. “Hey you.” Celeste smiled. “I’ve got champagne chilling for mimosas tomorrow morning. Plus, all the ingredients for French toast casserole.”

One of Veronica’s favorite dishes. The way Celeste put it all together the night before was pure kitchen magic. Even when Veronica followed the family recipe to the letter, it never came out as tasty as when Celeste made it.

“And what are we celebrating tonight that you think will leave us hungover?”

“Being sisters?” Celeste laughed. A sound Veronica didn’t hear often enough. “I figured it would be nice to have a good hearty breakfast in case we have any issues with overindulging tonight.”

“Can’t argue with that logic.” Veronica leaned back against the kitchen island. “And what kind of overindulgence are you encouraging?”

“Chocolate and wine. You and I might be old enough to master our urges, but Natalie is never afraid to cut loose and overdo it.”

It was a ridiculous claim, considering they were all so close in age. “I might just join her tonight,” Veronica mumbled.

Celeste’s dark gold eyebrows arched. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Veronica waved her off. “I’m just being whiny. It’s my week on purpose. I just didn’t expect this particular guest to be so hard to please.”

“She’s not what you hoped for, huh?”

“No.” Veronica almost unloaded every uncharitable thought she had about their current guest. “I didn’t want to intrude on her time, obviously.

That’s not what we do. But I did expect a five-minute professional chat.

” At the minimum. There were bigger disappointments in life. She really needed to get over it.

“That’s a fair expectation,” Celeste said. “In fact, that’s the norm with our guests.”

“Okay.” The pressure on her shoulders lifted. “Thank you for the reality check. I was starting to think I was just coming out of left field on this.”

“Not at all,” Celeste assured her. “Tonight, we’re going to enjoy sister night. It officially starts by six, right?” She glanced at the cuckoo clock on the wall, one of Veronica’s prized treasures from their mom.

Veronica rolled her eyes. “I think it officially starts as soon as Natalie shows up with dinner. With any luck, she won’t be so lost in her project that she forgets to feed us.”

Celeste agreed. “I might’ve done something to ensure we’re fed.”

“Do tell.” Veronica was all ears.

“I bumped into Lola while I was shopping.”

“Lola?” Veronica had to think. “Oh!” She snapped her fingers. “The owner of the Book Well.”

“Yes,” Celeste confirmed. “She’s such a delight. We chatted for a couple of minutes in front of the tomatoes at the farmer’s market and she said she would send her assistant out to poke at Natalie if she was still there at five.”

Natalie was an artist who specialized in mixed media sculpture. Brookwell Island had commissioned three pieces for special placement around town. The art gallery, next door to the bookstore, had given her workspace in the service alley.

“You’re brilliant.” Veronica raised her hand for a high five. “My hungry stomach thanks you.”

“That’s why I’m the big sister.” Celeste laughed. “How are things going with your new videos?”

Veronica sighed. “So far, I’m only working with trusted content and new storyboards. There’s always more to do.”

“Always.”

“I need to be ready to forget about engagement numbers when I try the recipe posts.” She gathered her long blond hair up into a messy bun on top of her head. “I did pick up a new home health patient and booked the first assessment.”

“Nicely done.”

“Yeah.”

“How come you don’t sound satisfied with much of anything lately?”

“I don’t know.” Veronica opened the fridge, scanning the shelves until she spotted some cans of Diet Coke tucked in the back. It was her guilty pleasure—all the chemicals, none of the health benefits. Sister night was synonymous with cheat day in her head. “Want one?”

“If my health-nut sister says it’s okay,” Celeste teased.

“I don’t want to go down alone.” Veronica handed her sister the cans of soda and then turned back to pull out a block of cream cheese. “I’ve got hot pepper jelly stashed behind crackers in the pantry.”

“Since when?” Celeste gasped. “Who are you and what have you done with my sister?”

“We’re just getting a head start, that’s all.”

“This chef has done a number on you.”

Veronica shrugged. “It’s probably more accurate to say I’ve done it to myself.”

“But why?”

Veronica took a big gulp of the soda. “No idea. Again, I gave you the whining warning.”

“You did. But I didn’t believe it.” Celeste centered the block of cream cheese in a shallow bowl and poured hot pepper jelly over it. She dumped small square crackers into another bowl. “Come on. We’re going out back and you’re going to tell me everything.”

“What if I don’t want to?” Veronica protested, even as she followed with the drinks and napkins.

Outside on the screened porch, Celeste set the snacks on the table between two wicker chairs and took a seat. “Tell big sister all about your funk.”

“It’s dumb,” Veronica began. And then suddenly the entire story was pouring out of her. “All these years I’ve loved my work. Helping people heal or teaching them how to feel good in the bodies that they have is my jam.”

“It is. One hundred percent,” Celeste agreed. “When did it change?”

“I’m not sure. And that’s not being coy. But it was changing before you ever moved in, so don’t even begin to go there .”

Celeste leaned back, considering. “I actually wasn’t going there.” She seemed surprised. “That’s good news for both of us.”

Veronica chuckled despite her off-kilter mood.

“Absolutely.” But that only brought the focus right back to her.

Why was she struggling? The new ideas of yesterday had helped, but not enough.

“I can’t get Susannah out of my head. Her assistant, Marley, says it’s cancer.

Whatever the prognosis, the disease is winning this week. ”

Celeste scooped a cracker through the dip and popped it into her mouth. She always did things like that when she needed time to think. “You’re thinking about making some recipes for her.”

Not a question. “Yes. Only as a courtesy, not for any potential collaboration. I know you were here for Mom more often than either me or Natalie.”

“Or Dad,” Celeste grumbled.

Veronica let that go by without a comment. Celeste wouldn’t be happy to learn Veronica had been talking to their father a lot lately. Honestly, that was the most likely source of her discontent. But this wasn’t the best time to come clean.

To be fair, their father had been here for his wife in those final weeks especially. Reducing his hours and commuting from the island to his practice in Columbia. It was only in the aftermath that he checked out completely, leaving the girls to handle all the final details.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand Celeste’s bitterness, but she also understood the helplessness of knowing everything that should work wasn’t giving any relief or healing to the most important person in his life.

“You carried the load. I tried to be here?—”

“You were here,” her sister stated.

Physically, she’d done her best to pitch in, to make snacks her mother wanted to eat. And it had been helpful. Until it wasn’t. “It was so hard when she’d turn waspish or go on one of those ridiculous nonsensical tangents.”

“Yeah, those were awful.” Celeste fixed her gaze on the afternoon light burnishing the grass to a soft brassy green. “I should’ve told you how much I appreciated you sticking it out with me.”

Tears blurred Veronica’s vision for a moment.

She let the emotion roll through before she dared speak again.

“Susannah is doing that to Marley. At least, that’s the vibe I got when I was over there yesterday.

Supposedly, she’s here to create some similar content, but it’s always nice to just enjoy a treat, right? ”

“I think so,” Celeste said. “But you don’t want to collaborate?”

Veronica shook her head. “I don’t have the patience right now to try and weave through another decaying brain.”

“Oh, end stages.”

Veronica nodded. “There was a touch of the manic in her eyes and the way her assistant reacted… All of it took me back.”

“But it didn’t squash your compassion,” Celeste pointed out. She raised her drink to make a toast. “To Veronica, my remarkable sister.”

“Now you’re being silly.”

Celeste rolled her eyes. “What is it you want to make? Mom was always fond of the breakfast cookies. Some days it was the only thing I could get her to eat.”

“Really? I guess that never registered.”

“I’m sure I told you. I didn’t hide things from y’all.”

Veronica disagreed. “No, but you carried the load and you know it. You were always trying not to burden the rest of us.”

“I never saw it that way. There were some things—the tough times—I just didn’t want to rehash once they passed. I wanted to focus on as many good moments as we could get out of those last months and weeks.”

“Nat and I appreciate your effort. You know that.” She felt as if her sister needed a hug, but that was Natalie’s expertise.

“I do.” Celeste munched on another cracker. “Why don’t you make the breakfast cookies and I’ll pull together the soup that Mom loved. The recipe you taught me is a quick one.” She tapped her temple. “And forever in my memory.”

Veronica smiled, suddenly inspired. “Good thinking. That soup is loaded with nutrition without being too heavy.”

“Exactly. Both the chef and her assistant can enjoy it.” Celeste popped up out of her chair. “Let’s get cooking. We can print out the recipe cards and pretty them up while things are baking and simmering. We’ll make Natalie run it all over to the Hideaway.”

“And then we’ll party like the amazing sisters we are.”