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She then told him everything. Even about her workaholic mom. Her childhood full of neglect and struggle. About Mandy’s depression. About Deli Luck.

Kate remembered the day Mandy and she had bought the restaurant.

They’d walked into the building, and Kate’s head had spun from happiness. There was nothing in there, just empty walls, big windows, and hardwood floors. It smelled like dust.

“I like the blinds,” Mandy said, looking at the windows. Jax, who was three, sat in his stroller and played with a police car that went wee-oww wee-oww.

The sun shone through the windows and the blinds left striped shadows on the walls and the floor.

“They look very retro,” Kate said. “Very diner. We want something more unusual.”

“But this town wants retro and diner.”

“No, there are enough of those places. You know I want to cook something more creative than burgers and spareribs.”

“I know, hon.” Mandy shook her head and shrugged. “But I don’t see any of our customers enjoying a vegan quinoa bowl with avocado, either.”

Kate’s stomach tightened. A part of her agreed with Mandy, but she didn’t want to give in to negativity. Mandy seemed to have felt well over the past couple of weeks. She took her medications regularly and didn’t miss therapy. But there wasn’t any way to know if she was thinking clearly.

“Only because they’ve never tried one,” Kate said.

“And they’ve never tried one because they don’t want one.”

Kate didn’t want to stress out Mandy with unnecessary arguments. She’d better change the subject. She walked towards the back of the space. “Here’s a good place for a kitchen door.”

“Yeah. That looks good. Nice central place for the waiters to move quickly. That’s what you want.”

Kate smiled. “Yeah. Agreed. And there are also stairs leading to the first floor where we all can live. Do you want to see it?”

A smile blossomed on Mandy’s face. “Of course!”

She let Jax out of the stroller, and the three of them went up the stairs and into the apartment. Like downstairs, it was big and empty. The old windows, hardwood floors, and flower-patterned wallpaper made Kate think of old times.

Kate finished the tour and they stood in the living room. “We don’t need much. Two bedrooms is enough, right?”

“Absolutely. I’ll share a room with Jax. And it’s so convenient that it’s in the same building as the restaurant.”

Kate hugged her sister, her small frame feeling fragile in Kate’s arms. “I’m so relieved you like it.” She sank to the floor and stroked Jax’s full cheek with her knuckles. He giggled. “And don’t worry, I’ll take care of you two. With money coming in, Jax can go to preschool. You can go to college like you wanted.”

She picked up Jax, set him on her hip, and kissed his sweet, plump cheek.

“Actually,” Mandy said, and her eyes sparkled for the first time in a long time. “What would you think if I were to help you in the restaurant?”

“Help me?”

“Yeah. With anything. Waitressing. Cleaning. Running the business.”

Kate frowned. “Are you sure you’re well enough? And what about college?”

“I want to go to college to be able to run my own business one day. But here we’ll have a business, already. And I could always get an online degree, part-time.”

Kate bit her lip. “I’d love nothing more than to do this together, but I don’t want to overburden you. I’ll take care of you, don’t worry.”

Mandy’s smile fell. “I’m not worried. I just want to do something. Feel useful.”

“Does Dr. Lambert think it’s a good idea?”

“I don’t know yet.”