Written in the Stars(77)

Margot shrugged, trying so hard to come across nonchalant that she seemed the opposite. “Check the card.”

She plucked the fancy embossed card from the plastic pick sticking up between the lilies’ velvet soft petals. “Did you read it?”

“Mm-hmm.” Margot reached for her coffee. “Go on.”

The way Margot was acting made her hesitate. Who was it from? She’d just been with Darcy half an hour ago; unless she had a florist on speed dial—which hey, knowing Darcy—it seemed improbable the lilies were from her. But who? Only one way to find out. Elle flipped the card open.

Elle,

Jane and I have both texted and you haven’t responded, but you’re still posting on insta so we feel pretty confident you haven’t died. Jane just told me that was a shitty joke and I shouldn’t have started with that but I’m writing in pen and I spent six bucks on this card so

Jane and I hope you’re doing well. That meme about Mercury retrograde was funny as fuck and Jane just got mad at me for writing fuck but I thought you’d appreciate

The card started over, this time in Jane’s looping handwriting.

Hey Elle,

Daniel and I wanted to send you these flowers as a belated congratulations on your deal with OTP! We’re so happy for you, little sister.

Daniel’s slanted, choppy scrawl picked up.

Little sister? Could this sound more Stepford?

A smudge of ink marked the transition.

We’re sorry for what happened on Thanksgiving, but more than that, we’re sorry for not realizing how you felt sooner. You’re our sister and we should have realized you were hurting.

You’ve never not been good enough, Elle. We’re both amazed by how fearlessly you pursue your passions and how you don’t let anyone’s opinion stop you from doing what feels right. You’re an inspiration and I’m so happy that Ryland and the twins will have you to look up to when it comes to always following their dreams and their hearts.

Daniel had once again stolen the pen.

Solid sentiment, corny execution, Jane.

Elle could imagine Jane standing there, hands on her hips, the perfect imitation of their mom save for the twitch at the corners of her mouth.

The next bit was cramped, Jane running out of room to write.

Daniel and I owe you dinner to celebrate, just the three of us, unless you want to bring Darcy. Who we really like by the way.

Daniel put in his two cents.

Definitely. Just between us, we like her better than Marcus, but don’t tell Lydia we said that. Hand to God, if he mentioned his Lamborghini one more time, I was going to flip my shit at the table. His car gets eleven miles per gallon. Weird flex, but whatever.

Jane’s exasperation shone through in the way her words were a little bolder, as if she’d pressed the pen into the card hard.

I’ll give you a call and we can plan something. Answer, please!

Love you bunches,

Xoxo Jane and Daniel

P.S. I looked up my natal chart online, and apparently my moon is in Leo. That’s good, yeah? You give friends and family discounts, right? –D

Oh god, someone was absolutely cutting onions in the next apartment. Elle sniffled and laughed and shrugged when Margot cocked her head.

“You gonna take them up on dinner?”

“As far as apologies go, that was basically perfect. Which kind of pisses me off because of course Daniel and Jane would make the perfect apology.” Elle rolled her eyes, but was mostly kidding.

As hurt and irritated as she’d been, she hated the tension, hated not answering their texts and calls, but she’d reached her breaking point on Thanksgiving. Daniel and Jane acknowledging her feelings was a weight off her shoulders, the validation more of a relief than she could have expected. Not everything was magically resolved, but it was a start.

Margot stared over the rim of her mug. “How about your mom? Still avoiding her?”

“I’m not avoiding her.” Elle pinched a velvety petal between her fingers. “I’m ignoring her calls. There’s a difference.”

Margot frowned. “Elle—”

“Don’t Elle me like that, like you’re disappointed.” Elle tossed the card on the counter. “All Mom’s messages have been business as usual. Asking if we’re still on for brunch. If I’m coming to the next family dinner. It’s like Thanksgiving never happened and I can’t do it. I can’t keep acting like nothing happened. Like I’m not hurt.”

“You need to talk it out. Just the two of you. It’s good you finally said something, but you barely scraped the surface of the issue, babe, and nothing was resolved. I’m not saying you should act like it never happened and I’m not saying you need to forgive her unless you feel so inclined, but you can’t keep sending her to voice mail. What are you going to do when it’s Christmas? Have another fight where nothing gets fixed? Not talk?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

Margot sighed. “And you don’t feel like this is avoiding the situation?”

Elle didn’t say anything.

“Fine.” Margot set her cup in the sink. “We won’t talk about that. Let’s talk about this dinner with Daniel and Jane. Are you going to take Darcy?”

She didn’t know. She’d just gotten the card. She hadn’t thought about it, hadn’t had time to think about it. “Maybe? If she has time.”