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Fliss poked at her chocolate with the tip of her spoon. “Molly doesn’t know Seth.”
“But she knows people. And she knows a lot about relationships.”
Molly snapped her attention back to the present. If there were things Fliss chose not to tell her brother, that was none of her business.
“I think how you handle your first meeting depends on what impression you want to create. What you want the outcome to be.” It was hard to make any useful comment without knowing the details, but she sensed Fliss didn’t want to talk details.
“I want him to know I’ve moved on.” Fliss stared blankly ahead. “That what happened is history. Something that happened as part of my rebellious phase.”
“You had a rebellious phase?”
“Things weren’t great at home.” She caught Daniel’s eye. “She doesn’t know?”
“She knows some of it.”
“You told her?” Fliss looked surprised. “Okay, well, I just want to get this first meeting out of the way, that’s all. Ever since you told me he’s here I haven’t been able to sleep or eat. I feel sick.”
“If it’s upsetting you that much, then maybe you should engineer the meeting,” Molly said. “That way you’ll be in control. You pick the time and the place. I’m guessing that will be the clinic. And you should do it sooner rather than later. The longer you leave it, the more stressed you’ll be. How often do you take animals there?”
“Some months we seem to live there, and then we go weeks without taking any animals to the vet.” Fliss wrapped her arms around herself. “Harriet is supposed to be taking Noodle for his vaccinations next week. I could take him instead. What if I start shaking, though? I might drop the cat.”
“Do some breathing exercises before you go in. Practice what you want to say in front of the mirror. And smile. That helps you relax.”
“Right. Practice. And smile. I can do that.” Fliss bared her teeth. “How am I doing?”
Daniel opened hi
s mouth and then caught Molly’s eye and obviously thought better about whatever he was going to say. “I’m sure it will look more genuine with practice. Do you want me to come with you?”
“No. That would look as if I still had feelings. Or worse, as if I was scared.”
And she wasn’t scared, Molly thought, she was terrified.
She didn’t know what had happened, but it was obvious Fliss still had very strong feelings for her ex. Feelings she didn’t want him to know about.
“Work out what you’d like him to know,” she said, “and write yourself a script. Keep it neutral. Tell him he’s looking well. Ask him what he’s been doing. Then tell him what you’ve been doing. Focus on your business, and how it’s growing. Tell him how busy you are. Then talk about Harriet.”
“Business. Growing. Harriet. Okay, this is good. I can do all that.” Fliss stood up so quickly Valentine jumped to his feet in alarm. “I’m okay now, thanks for listening. I’m going to write a script. I’m going to hijack Noodle’s appointment so that I can control this.” She bent and kissed Daniel. “All things considered, you’re not the worst brother in the world.” She smiled awkwardly at Molly. “Thanks. Your advice is brilliant. And I’m so glad you’re finally reforming Daniel of his wicked ways.”
Molly tried to speak but Fliss was already halfway out of the apartment.
She jumped as the door slammed.
Daniel sighed. “Thank you.” His voice was gruff. “It’s not part of your brief to handle my family problems, but I’m not going to pretend I’m sorry you did. You were great. Really great.”
His praise warmed her. “This is why you were upset when you saw Seth? Because you knew his being in New York would upset Fliss?”
He nodded. “We used to hang out together every summer at my grandmother’s beach house in the Hamptons. We were great friends and then suddenly he had this thing with Fliss—” He shook his head. “It’s history. But thanks again for helping with my family drama.”
She sensed there was a lot left unsaid. “If you want to talk about it—”
“I don’t.” He turned to her and pulled her into his arms. “Instead, I think you should take me to bed and cure me of my wicked ways.”
They fell into an easy routine. Sometimes they stayed at Daniel’s apartment, and sometimes at hers. As the evenings grew warmer they strolled along the tree-lined blocks of the Upper East Side. They discovered wine shops, bakeries bursting with sugary temptation, and little boutiques tucked away off the beaten track. They ate steak tacos and sipped frozen margaritas in a romantic restaurant in Lenox Hill and strolled along the East River Promenade. He took her to a performance of Tosca at the Lincoln Center, and showed her his favorite parts of the Met and the Guggenheim. Together they explored the northern end of Central Park, an area often overlooked by tourists.
They were both busy, but he sent her texts during the day, and she texted him back. She worked with her phone next to her laptop so that she didn’t miss a message from him.
When they stayed in they took it in turns to cook, and sometimes they ate with friends.
