But while the reminder that she and Sadie didn’t have the kind of relationship she had with her other sisters would’ve once made Greta’s stomach cramp with anxiety, now she shrugged.

“Anyway, whether she does or she doesn’t, I’ll be excited to show everyone around.”

Then, the final bouquet tied and wax seal applied, Greta tumbled Carys to the floor.

“Thanks for your help,” she murmured into her neck as she placed kisses on all the exposed skin she encountered.

“Mmm,” Carys said, which might’ve meant You’re welcome, but Greta chose to interpret it as Ravage me, you sexy beast. So she did.

Chapter 34

Greta

The launch of Lagniappe Lemonade started in an hour. Greta, Carys, Helen, and Veronica had spent the morning setting up the dining room of the local barbecue joint that had volunteered to host.

The bar was stocked with the classic lemonade, the lavender lemonade, and two new varieties: a mint mojito lemonade and a spicy mango and cayenne lemonade, which was Greta’s favorite. All were made with Veronica’s honey.

There were cocktail suggestions to turn them into alcoholic drinks, and large posters of the label art hung on the walls. Postcards containing the branding on the front and the cocktail recipes on the back sat in neat stacks on every high-top table beside a plate of appetizers that Veronica had made. A table with the lavender bouquet business cards containing all their information sat beside the exit.

Everything was ready, and Helen and Veronica were staring at the space as if some cosmic horror was about to erupt from the floor and drag them all into the abyss.

“Are they okay?” Greta whispered to Carys, leaning close.

“Oh yeah. They always get like this before they do a thing that really matters to them. They’re both so stoic that neither wants to be the first to confess they’re scared, so they just stare at each other until it passes.”

“Okay. That sounds… Is there something we should be doing?”

Carys smiled at her. It was the You’re very sweet and I love you for it smile that Greta could now recognize. “I got it.” She walked to where Helen and Veronica stood and put a hand on each of their shoulders. “Darlings.”

They both looked at her, wide-eyed. She pulled a joint from behind her ear and a lighter from her cleavage and handed Veronica both.

“Go smoke this and calm down. Greta and I will check to make sure everything’s where it should be.”

Veronica and Helen drifted out back as if in a trance. At the last minute, they both reached for each other’s hands.

“They’ll be fine,” Carys assured Greta.

“Should they get stoned right before the launch?”

“Nah, it’s like one part weed and three parts lesbian herbs,” Carys said breezily.