Palmer frowns but nods once. “Noted. Anyway, I saw the way the family was so—involved in your relationship status. I want to avoid that at all costs.”

“You do realize by admitting you have a girlfriend, you just opened yourself up to all that involvement,” I say drolly as I turn on the water and start rinsing dishes.

My brother nudges me out of the way and takes over the job. Our mama did something right by instilling in him he needs to help clean up. “I didn’t want to keep her a secret. She didn’t like it. Said she wanted to meet everyone today. And she wants me to meet her family.”

“Are you going to?”

“Not today. They’re all in San Jose.” He makes a face. “She’s driving back here right now so she can meet everyone. Says she can’t wait to taste Mom’s homemade pumpkin pie.”

My voice drops. “It’s not homemade. Not anymore. She buys it from Costco.” Biggest pies you can find for the best price, is what Mom and Dad say.

“I know that now. I thought she still made it.” Palmer’s expression turns to misery. “I lied to Cassie. I feel like a jackass.”

I burst out laughing, thinking of all the lies my ex told me. “If that’s the only lie you tell her, then don’t worry about it. She won’t be offended. Plus, you can turn this around and make it seem like Mother lied to you.”

“Ha! Good idea,” he tells me as he continues rinsing off dishes. He suddenly shuts off the water and turns to face me. “Are you doing okay, Amelia? We haven’t really talked much lately. I’ve been—preoccupied.”

My big brother was my hero when we were younger. When I was five, I declared to my parents I was going to marry him and they laughed. But I truly felt that way. No one could replace my brother.

As we grew older, we drifted apart, as so often happens. Lately he’s definitely been preoccupied, and so have I, with my breakup.

“I’m okay,” I reassure him. “Getting through it.”

“Met anyone new?” he asks, sounding like one of our aunts.

“Please don’t ask that question,” I tell him, making him laugh once more.

I think about what my friends told me. How Candice wants to set me up on a blind date at her wedding, which is a stretch. It has to be. That’s the most important day of her life! How is she going to have time to worry about who she’s setting me up with?

Please.

Never going to happen.

Five

Isaac

Fuck me sideways, it’s busy.

You’d think I’d get used to it, after working here at the tree farm for the past three years, but somehow, it’s always a surprise. The rush of customers on this day, like there’s a great big light switch that gets turned on and all of the Monterey peninsula is in search of a Christmas tree, even this early in the season.