Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
so lunch was weird it may not have seemed weird on the surface but I know my
sister and trust me that was weird
Izzy and I were super close growing up but while our fabulous bone structure is
similar
our pasts really diverged which is strange because I we thought Izzy would be
a career girl
but in her last year of architecture school she and John announced, not only a wedding
but the impending arrival of my adorable nephew so now Izzy has Henry
Little Emma and John to take care of. And I take care the rest of the world
Izzy has always been a really happy person but at lunch she talked a lot but didn't
actually saying anything and what she did say was overly positive
the restaurant was great her salad was great the waitress was great
the dessert was great and the weather you guessed it
it was great there's nothing wrong with being positive but that is a classic
Izzy deflection technique Something is definitely bothering her and I'm going
to find out what it is
I didn't get a chance to ask her yesterday because the constant presence
on the Knightley brothers
one is snarky and the other one well john can be almost cynical
don't get me wrong he's a great guy practical organized
honest dependable plus he really knows how to stretch a dollar
like a Prius which he drives
John's a planner and Izzy is a pleaser
so basically they're perfect together which for the record I saw coming before
anyone else did
I also knew John was gonna open up his own restaurant before anyone else
by the truffle appetizers he made to try to impress my dad. Something is
definitely bugging my sister
I can feel it however if there's anything I learned recently it's not to
jump to conclusions
what we need is a second opinion and Harriet's recalibrated a perfectly
calibrated copy four or five times, so she needs the distraction
that's what we call a win-win Harriet
come in here a minute?
- Hey Emma, how can I help? - I want your opinion on something
You talked to my sister yesterday Did she seem happy to you?
- Yeah, very. She kept saying how great everything was. - I knew it.
- Knew what? - Something is very wrong.
-It is? - You don't know my sister. She's masking. The worse the cake tastes the more
icing you put on it. - Her cake must be really bad then.
- So you're going to help, right? - I'm not sure.
I thought about it but is it really the the right thing to do? Maybe I should wait until she
asks for my help
So you think she'll ask for help?
- No. Izzy never needs help. - So how are you going to help her if you're waiting for
her to ask for it?
you know what? you're right!
but I have to be sure let me do some research first. Figure out what's
really going on, okay?
Great. So does this mean you have a new client?
Maybe let's keep this quiet for now.
- What are you conspiring about? - Only amazing things, Alex Knightley.
I'm going to get back to work.
you two seem energized
- just feeling better - that's great
- so what's going on? - well we're healing
- by taking time - that's fantastic so having Izzy here helps?
- Yeah, definitely and John too - Isn't it great to see our sibs?
- Let's not call them that. - oh yeah you and the bro
- the boys club, two brothers in arms - - yes it's
really nice having him here. I didn't get a chance to talk to John one on one yesterday
How is he?
He's fine. Though he thought the restaurant was a bit overpriced
He thinks everything is overpriced
Everything is overpriced when you know how much it actually costs make it -true
one minute he's explaining how to bring up the full flavor of an artichoke
the next he's talking about profit margins on flank steak. It was like having
you and Annie stuck inside one body. very disconcerting
- Well now I'm disconcerted too. - So john didn't seem
stressed or worried or I don't know unhappy at all?
- of course not why? - no reason just checking
Emma what's this really about?
- I just told you - did Izzy say something you?
- I can honestly say no -okay then listen to your sister
listening is all part of the process, right?
Hey, I don't suppose John thinks what we do is overpriced?
- No. worth every penny. - nothing terribly definitive there
but if you want to find out if something is wrong with someone the last person
who's going to know is her husband's brother
but this is a slippery slope is something is really wrong
with Izzy Knightley then this immediately becomes personal for both of us. John would know if
something is wrong with her
actually he probably doesn't know. After all she doesn't seem to want me to know or
else
wouldn't she have said something by now? no I've learned my lesson
no imagining things that aren't there until I know for sure
we will proceed cautiously and by we I mean Harriet me
although I am not sure taking on a new client is the best thing for Harriet right now
she's definitely hit the workaholic phase of her grieving process
but since the last client was a certain State Senator Scumbag
will healing Izzy heal Harriet too? Only one way to find out
Okay
- so what's the plan? - well Izzy is coming in tomorrow and I will convince her to tell
me what's wrong
I'll listen. - what do you think it could be?
You know, Harriet? we'll figure that out later
But right now I'm more worried about you Me? Well you seem to be doing better
lately -I am
and I wanted to let you know that it's okay to not be okay
- but you seem to be okay - well I've been better
but Alex reminded me that it's important to listen so I wanted to see how you're doing
Well I've been trying not to let the Sen-
- let it bother me. - by keeping busy?
Yeah. I figured the more I work, the better I'll feel. But it's hard because there are reminders
everywhere. I unbookmarked all the apartments in Sacramento I was looking at, and I
threw out all the celery soda, but I didn't start feeling better until I talked to you the
other day
- to me? - when you think that you're happy being single and a man will just get in
your way
- that's just me. That's not for everyone - but it could be me too
I started thinking that if I throw myself into as many things as possible
- then it won't matter that I'm not in a relationship - what things?
- Work! The copier is driving me crazy - work's been a little slow lately, but I think
you have the right idea
- I do? - Sure, do short-range things! pursue hobbies!
beef up your personal resume a little bit. Who knows what it will lead to?
I don't have a hobby other than the ukulele and I haven't played since...
- I'm sorry, again. - It's okay.
- Don't give up on trying new things - and you should definitely help your sister
she needs you
- So that's how we're going to heal? - sounds like a plan to me
Harriet Smith we will make a life coach out of you yet