What Matters Most

by Beers, Georgia

  Kelsey groaned as she felt sleep sliding further out of her grasp.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THE SHOP WAS QUIET on Thursday morning, which was not helping Kelsey keep her mind off certain things. She preferred it busy. She could focus on customers and displays and then she wouldn’t have to think about distracting things like the upcoming rent increase or how Hannah hadn’t answered the text she sent more than two hours ago.

  There were many possible reasons for the radio silence that did not mean “she hates me.” Hannah was at work and busy (even though Kelsey knew she always had her phone in her pocket). Hannah was in a meeting. Hannah was off today for some other reason.

  “Yeah, she hates me,” Kelsey said to the empty office. She watched the security monitors for a moment before picking up her phone and typing out a second text.

  Look, I know you’re mad at me and I’m sorry about that. Let me make it up to you. Meet me for coffee? Or drinks? Dinner? Something? Please.

  Then she added several emojis, including a tearful one, a grimacing one, one that just looked sad, and she threw on one that was a puppy, just because it was cute and made Kelsey smile. Maybe it would do the same thing for Hannah.

  September had snuck up on her, but the weather was gorgeous, still in the seventies and with no sign yet of leaves changing colors or crunching underfoot. Kelsey decided to take a walk before eating her lunch, get some fresh air, absorb a little vitamin D from the sun and try to clear her head a bit, maybe wander around the park across the street. She told Jeanine she’d be back in half an hour, tops, and headed out the front door.

  The building Common Scents was in was essentially a strip mall, though the surroundings were lush and very residential looking and it kept the strip from looking like, well, a strip mall. In addition to Jacob Kim’s dry cleaners, there was a tax prep office that was like a ghost town this time of year, a nail salon with the super strong, not at all pleasant odor of acrylics wafting out the door any time somebody came or went, a tiny gift shop that Kelsey had never noticed a single customer patronizing, and the office of a CPA. The window said the CPA’s name was Pat Blucas, but Kelsey had no idea if that was a man or a woman, as she’d never seen anybody in or out any time she’d been able to see the place. Weird.

  All of these businesses must have gotten a visit from Betsy Siegler recently, and she absently wondered if any of them were as panicked as she was. They’d all been there when Kelsey had moved in, and from what she’d ascertained, most of them had been there for five years or longer. Betsy Siegler was going to shake up a lot of people. Kelsey suspected she’d enjoy every minute of it.

  The phone in the back pocket of her jeans dinged, indicating a text. She hoped it was Hannah, but when she pulled the phone out, she saw it was better than that.

  Theresa.

  How do you feel about chicken French?

  Kelsey smiled, loving the way her entire body flushed with warmth at the thought of spending time with Theresa.

  I have no idea what chicken French is, but it sounds yummy, she typed back.

  Do you like chicken? Butter? Lemon juice? White wine?

  Kelsey stopped and typed again. Yes. Yes. Yes. Absolutely.

  She walked for a moment or two, then came, Fantastic. That’s what’s on the menu for tomorrow night. Do you like dessert?

  Kelsey gave a snort. Are there people who don’t? Like, actual people?

  I hope not. That would just be sad, Theresa replied.

  Agreed. Kelsey paused to check traffic before crossing the street, then typed, What can I bring?

  Theresa’s response made Kelsey’s smile widen and her cheeks heat up. Bring your smiling face, your amazing mouth, and that hot body of yours. That’s all I’ll need.

  I’ll see what I can do. Kelsey made a note to get a bottle of wine, as her mother had taught her never to show up to somebody else’s house empty-handed. Time?

  As they settled on when dinner would be, another text came through. Hannah.

  “Okay, that’s some bizarre timing,” Kelsey said out loud to no one. When she finished her conversation with Theresa, who had to get back to work, thank God, she opened Hannah’s text.

  Sure, we can meet for drinks.

  Okay, that was good. A little...sparse in the words department, but Kelsey decided she’d take it. As she started typing a response, another text came through.

  And I’m not mad at you.

  That was even better. Kelsey blew out a sigh of relief that surprised her and felt a little bit of the weight on her shoulders lift just a smidge.

  They set up a time to meet after Hannah got out of work. Jeremy would be working at the shop tonight, so as long as they weren’t suddenly inundated with customers (which wouldn’t be a bad thing), Kelsey could leave without issue. The afternoon went by more quickly than expected. Not because of an influx of customers (there wasn’t one), but Kelsey suspected it was because she had a tiny bit less guilt hanging over her head. She’d been going over things to say to Hannah, but hadn’t settled on anything solid yet. They were set to meet in less than an hour, and Kelsey suddenly had a thought.

  I’m having drinks with Hannah. You’re okay with that, right? She sent the text to Theresa, before she reread it and realized it sounded very much like she was asking permission. Which she wasn’t, but she thought Theresa should know they were meeting, that it would feel strange for her not to. When a response didn’t come right away, Kelsey set her phone down and did her best to busy herself with e-mails. Nearly twenty minutes went by before her phone dinged.

  Of course I am. Just know that she won’t have nice things to say about me.

  Kelsey bit at the inside of her cheek as she read. While Theresa’s prediction wasn’t a surprise, it still made her sad. Kelsey had no siblings, but she had Chris, who was as close to being a sister as one could get without the actual blood relation. She couldn’t imagine saying anything bad about her to another person, even if she was hesitant about that person seeing Chris. Here, Hannah and Theresa were actual sisters—well, half, but still—and they seemed to hate each other.

  Noted, Kelsey responded, unsure of what else she could possibly say.

  You can text me later if you want. I’ll be here until late.

  Kelsey nodded, sent a quick, Will do, and slid her phone into her bag. It was time to meet Hannah and she was both nervous and happy. She’d missed Hannah over the past week, and it was a realization that had surprised her. She spoke to or texted Hannah every day and going nearly a week with no contact at all felt...wrong. Unbalanced. Weird. So while she was nervous to talk to Hannah about Theresa, part of her felt like her world was being righted again after having tilted slightly off-kilter.

  She hoped that part of her was correct.

  ***

  Point Blank ran several Happy Hour specials on weeknights, so it was pretty busy for a Thursday evening. The smells of stale beer, fried food, and men wearing too much cologne made for an odd mix. Kelsey scanned the patrons, found Hannah sitting at the end of the bar, the only empty stool to her left. She had a draft beer in front of her and was watching the TV overhead that was tuned to a soccer game. Kelsey took a deep breath, tipped her head from side to side to crack her neck.

  “Gear up,” she whispered to herself, then headed Hannah’s way. She was nearly there before Hannah saw her, and the smile that broke across Hannah’s face was additional relief for Kelsey. Hannah looked happy to see her.

  “Hey,” Hannah said as she got off her stool and wrapped Kelsey in a hug.

  Kelsey hung on, let Hannah let go first, then took the stool next to her. “Hi there. I’ve missed you.”

  Hannah gave a half-shrug. “I know. I’ve missed you, too.”

  Kelsey ordered a rum and Coke from the bartender and it arrived quickly. Then she turned to Hannah and asked, “How’s work?” Kelsey started off with that question intentionally. It was good neutral ground and a subject that never failed to get Hannah talking. And talk she did. She we
nt on about her week, about a couple of irritating patients, about the kid who threw up on Hannah’s shoes on Tuesday, about one of the other women who worked with her and her complete computer ignorance. Kelsey grinned as Hannah went on, feeling again like maybe things were back to normal.

  “And how are you?” Hannah asked, signaling the bartender for another beer. “Business good?”

  “It’s okay. I’m running a sale and it’s brought in some extra cash.”

  “Heard any more from the landlady’s evil daughter?”

  Kelsey sighed. She hated the reminder, but knew that pretending the situation didn’t exist wasn’t helping. “Yeah. She’s buying the building from her mother.”

  “Which means, I assume, she can raise the rent all she wants because your lease will no longer be valid.”

  “Exactly.”

  “What did your dad say about it?” Hannah sipped her beer, eyes focused on the soccer match as she asked the question.

  “Yeah, I haven’t told him yet.” Kelsey hid her face in her drink.

  As expected, that got Hannah’s attention. “Kels, you need to tell him. He might have some good advice for you.”

  “Or more likely, he’ll say he told me so and ask if he should have Mom get my old room ready for me.” Okay, that was a giant exaggeration, but she didn’t care at the moment.

  Hannah saw right through her. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s what would happen.” She bumped her with a shoulder, trying to cheer her up.

  It worked. Kelsey could feel a small smile creeping up on her. “I’ve missed you, goober.”

  Hannah’s smile was tense. “I know. I had to...think about some things.”

  “Me and your sister?” Kelsey asked, her voice small.

  “Half-sister. Yeah.” Hannah’s gaze was back on the soccer game. She sipped her beer and didn’t look at Kelsey when she asked, “So...are you two together now?”

  The stiffness of her body, the fact that she couldn’t look at Kelsey, the way she scratched at the side of her neck, it all told Kelsey what an uncomfortable topic this was. Kelsey inhaled quietly, a deep, slow breath, then let it out just as slowly. “I wouldn’t say that. We’ve had a date and spent some time together. We’re having dinner tomorrow night.”

  Hannah rolled her lips in and bit down on them until they were barely visible. Several moments passed before she said, “I see.”

  “I’m sorry, Hannah. I’m sorry if it’s weird for you. I don’t mean it to be.” Kelsey thought her own words sounded lame, but she didn’t know what else she should say.

  Hannah pulled her focus from the TV and stared into her beer as if looking for words in it. Finally, she turned to regard Kelsey. “I just want you to be happy, Kels. If it’s Theresa and not me that does that for you, I need to step aside. I don’t want to because, as you’ve probably figured out, she’s not my favorite person on the planet, but this isn’t about me or her. It’s about you.” Kelsey saw Hannah’s throat move as she swallowed. “You’re my friend. I love you and want you to be happy. That’s all.” Her eyes welled up and her expression immediately shifted to embarrassment.

  Kelsey reached for her hand, closed her own over it. “Thank you for saying that. And I love you, too. This week with no contact from you has been...just wrong.”

  Hannah laughed, swiped a hand across her nose. “I know, right?”

  They stayed that way for several moments, smiling sadly and holding hands. Finally, Kelsey signaled to the bartender for a refill. “So,” she said once it had arrived. “Why do you guys dislike each other so much?”

  Kelsey wasn’t at all sure if it was a very complicated question or a deceptively simple one. Plus, she had Theresa’s side, and she was curious to get Hannah’s. She sat quietly and watched several emotions slide across Hannah’s face. Uncertainty. Sadness. Hurt. Confusion.

  “You know...” Hannah took a big sip of her beer, stared at it for a bit. “I’m not really sure, to be honest. I mean, I have issues with her. She has issues with me. We just don’t have a ton in common and...” Her voice trailed off and she shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Kelsey wanted to push. She wanted to prod. She’d gotten more from Theresa, but not much more. Instead, she sipped her drink and stayed quiet.

  “Even if I did get along with her,” Hannah said, “I still wouldn’t be thrilled to have you dating her.”

  Kelsey gave a slow nod. A slew of responses zipped through her head. I don’t even know if we’re dating and it’s not really any of your business and I’m really sorry this hurts you and I would probably marry her tomorrow. Instead, she said simply, “I know.” And she did. She did know. She hadn’t planned this—whatever it was—with Theresa. And she’d never told Hannah she thought of her as anything other than a friend. So while she did understand where Hannah was coming from, she also found herself slightly irritated by the way Hannah was making her feel guilty, and she did her best not to let that surface.

  “Listen,” Kelsey said, forcing some cheer into her voice and hoping it didn’t sound forced. “My cousin Chris is coming to visit for a few days. I’d really like you to meet her. She knows all about you ’cause I talk about you so much.”

  That last line did the trick, judging by the way Hannah’s face lit up. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yup. She gets here Sunday. She’s not staying terribly long, but I’m hoping we can all get together while she’s here.”

  “I’d love that.” Hannah grinned and picked up her beer, and it was as if the whole previous conversation had never happened. Kelsey found that both cute and annoying. “Hey, we have a playoff game on Tuesday. You should bring her to that.”

  Kelsey liked the idea of having Chris meet some of the softball team. “She may only be here until Tuesday, but I’m going to try to convince her to stay at least a day longer.”

  “Yeah, work on that.”

  “I’ll keep you posted.”

  They spent some time just talking about mundane things, and Hannah was her old, smiling self. Kelsey was super glad to have patched things up, but much as she was enjoying Hannah’s company, she just wanted to go home and talk to Theresa.

  A text from Jeremy kept her from doing that, however. He had a few customers more than he could handle, so Kelsey bid Hannah goodbye, promising to keep her updated on Chris’s visit, and instead of going home to flirt mercilessly over the phone with the woman she couldn’t stop thinking about, she headed back to work.

  It was nearly ten by the time she made it back to her apartment. While she would never, ever curse an onslaught of customers, she wanted to curse this one a tiny bit simply because she was so exhausted.

  Once home, she took a long, hot shower to get her body to relax. The nights were no longer hot and humid, but they weren’t exactly chilly, so a hot shower might sound weird to some people. But Kelsey had learned long ago that when she was worked up or too wired to sleep, a hot shower helped soften her muscles, let her veg a little bit mentally, and overall, just made her feel better. By the time she got out and had slathered herself with the new Gingerbread Autumn Spice lotion Stephanie Bradley had sent, she felt a million times better.

  A million and one after she glanced at her phone and saw the text from Theresa.

  Missed you tonight...

  Kelsey’s entire body felt mushy. In that good way. Theresa had sent a couple texts earlier telling Kelsey she was still at the office, but had been thinking about her. Kelsey had texted back a short note telling Theresa she was slammed at the shop, but was thinking about her, too. And that was all either of them had been able to do until this latest text from Theresa, which had come while Kelsey was in the shower.

  Missed you back. Which seemed like an odd thing to say given they’d only spent a short amount of time together. Was it possible to miss somebody you didn’t really see that much?

  The shower had done the trick. Kelsey was beat. She climbed between the sheets with the phone and turned off the lights, texted in the dark.

  You
home? she asked.

  Just, came the reply. You?

  All curled up in bed. Kelsey burrowed down into her pillows, thankful for the gentle night air that let a gorgeous breeze come through her open windows. Coming from someplace that got as warm as North Carolina, she wasn’t used to open windows. More often than not, places were closed up and the air conditioning was running, at least in her parents’ house. This open window thing was sort of new to her. She liked it. A lot.

  Well, that paints a lovely picture.

  Kelsey smiled at the words on her screen. Yeah? It’d be lovelier if you were here with me.

  A beat went by before the reply came. Lovelier, maybe. But less sleep would be had.

  Kelsey chuckled to herself, wondering how it was possible for a woman to make Kelsey blush while she lay in bed in the dark all by herself. She placed a hand against her heated cheek. Very true, she texted back.

  Listen, I would love nothing more than to chat with you all night, but I am wiped out from my fourteen-hour day. Kelsey could hear Theresa’s voice in her head, could actually hear the regret in the apology when it arrived. I’m sorry...

  Kelsey shook her head as she typed. No need to be sorry. I get it. I feel like I got run over by a truck tonight. As long as I get to see you tomorrow, I’m good.

  A few seconds more went by this time before a reply, and Kelsey could picture Theresa in her bed, dozing a bit. You do. Can’t wait.

  Me neither. Sleep tight.

  An emoji with a line of z’s was all that came next. Kelsey ran a fingertip over them as her eyelids became heavy. She gave it another minute to make sure no more was coming, and the image in her head of Theresa asleep made her feel gooey and warm and happy. She plugged in her phone, set it on the nightstand, and rolled onto her side, breathing in deeply and then letting it out slowly.