Page 74 of Lessons in Lemonade

“Sure,” I deadpan, looking at her smug face, and then I change my mind. “Actually, no. You are way too dressed up.” There’s no way she isn’t picking up on my lack of enthusiasm. I’m in my bed for the night—despite the fact that it’s still daytime—and the thought of getting that dolled up to go out doesn’t sound good to me at all.

“Well, you’ve been in this bed for two days. It’s time. You could at least pretend to sound a little more excited, because a lot of work went into getting these tickets.”

“What tickets?” Color me intrigued.

She now grins from ear to ear. “I might have scored us two tickets to a private home and garden tour with wine and finger foods. I saw a chardonnay shrimp dip listed, and you love shrimp, so there you go. I know how much you were looking forward to the Festival of Houses and Gardens twilight garden tour, and although we missed it, because we were so busy we needed to work, I’m certain this one will be pretty good, too.”

“A private tour? I didn’t realize they did those.” I was disappointed I didn’t get to do the festival tour this year; I love looking at the gardens.

“Yep. A patron came in and was talking about it, so I signed us up.” She moves to my closet and starts rummaging through the dresses.

“Really? Well, I guess it makes sense if you think about it. People are still lingering around since we’re in season, and the gardens are all immaculately maintained. Anything to make a few more bucks while they can.”

“Exactly. So happy early birthday.” She beams at me, holding up a dark blue dress that is not too short and ties around the waist, along with a pair of gold heels. “Get up, take a shower, and be quick about it. Tour starts in an hour.”

“In an hour?” I sit straight up.

“Yeah, is that a problem?” She lays the dress on the end of the bed then makes her way to the door.

“No, it just seems kind of sudden. You could have given me more of a warning.” I throw off the covers and stand. My eyes fall to my phone, which is on my nightstand, and I lament its continued silence with a frown.

“I just got them, and I just got done closing down the restaurant. Forgive me, your highness, for interrupting your very busy schedule.” She glances toward the messy bed and pops one eyebrow.

I let out a sigh and she claps her hands together, because she knows she’s won.

“Come on! This is going to be great. I’ll wait for you downstairs.” And with that she’s gone.

Of course she had to go and come up with one of the few things that would actually make me happy.

“Aren’t you so excited?” Taylor beams beside me as we walk down the sidewalk at a speed that shouldn’t be normal in heels like the ones we’re both wearing.

“I guess so.” I haven’t been excited by much lately, but the house the tour is at, The Cooke home, is one of my absolute favorites in the Battery. In fact, I’m shocked they are even open to do this private tour, and I find that my brain is excited to see how they’ve designed the back yard this year, even though my heart is not.

“You kill me,” she says, her piercing hazel eyes looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

“I know, I know, and I’m sorry I’m a bit of a Debbie Downer.” My gaze pleads with her to understand. “I really do appreciate you doing this for me. Thank you, Taylor. I know tonight will be amazing.” And it will be, because how could it not? A beautiful home and garden, great company, and let’s not forget the wine. There’s only one thing that would make this even better, but I’m not going to think about him at all tonight. He’s made his choice, and after him not replying to my text tonight, I know I’m not it.

“Don’t thank me yet. Thank me after you’ve had the best night ever.” She grins as we cross the street corner and come to a large stone wall that’s covered in ivy.

“Best night ever, huh.” A smile stretches across my face at my friend. It feels nice that it’s genuine and not forced like so many have been these past couple of weeks. All I would have done tonight is stayed home and wallowed, and it’s time for me to stop doing that. As much as I really don’t want to, it’s finally dawning on me that I need to find a new sense of normal, one he’s not going to be a part of.

My throat tightens and I force myself to swallow down the loss. Taylor went out of her way to do something nice for me tonight, and I’m going to enjoy it, no matter what.

“Yep,” she says, popping the P.

It’s almost seven thirty, and the golden hour has made this night look nearly flawless. The ombre sky is splashed with sherbet orange and lavender, and sometime over the next half hour, the sun will say good night, lowering the temperature and humidity with it. It’s perfect outside, and the perfect night for a garden tour.

“Look, there’s the entrance.” She points to an opening in the ivy in the wall.

“Wow, I didn’t even know there was a door there. It’s hidden underneath all the greenery like in The Secret Garden.”

“Oh, I love that movie,” Taylor says.

“Me too. Can you imagine having a garden like that all to yourself?”

“I have seen your back yard, or should I say garden. Don’t sell yourself short—it’s pretty amazing, too.”

“Yeah, it is pretty nice.”