“I’m not sure that’s a conversation you want your sister to hear.” Alethea joined them in the kitchenette. Her hair had been braided snug and long down her back and she wore a worn pair of black yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. “This place is nice,” Alethea said when the silence dragged on. “Cozy and homey.”
“You just defined all of Butterfly Harbor.” Calliope added a drizzle of honey to the tea and handed Alethea one of the butterfly mugs. “Are you hungry?”
“Not really. I’m just going to take this in my room if that’s okay?”
“Alethea.” Xander took a step toward her, rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t.” Tears exploded in his sister’s eyes. “I know you’re disappointed in me, Xander. And I know I shouldn’t have left school the way I did without saying anything.”
“Why would I be disappointed in you?” He wrapped his arm solidly around her and brought her in close. “I wish you’d told us how hard a time you were having.” He wished he’d been paying closer attention. “Losing Talia was difficult for all of us, Alethea. You could have talked to us.”
“I didn’t want to be a bother. There’s been so much going on with the business and then with Dad. I didn’t want to pile on.”
“What else is family for if not to pile on?” He pressed his lips against her forehead, much like he used to when she was a little girl. “We’re going to talk about this more. Until you get it all out. So you can see clearly again, okay?”
“Today?” Alethea’s voice sounded slightly strangled.
Xander glanced back at Calliope, who, with the mere inclination of her head, gave him the answer he needed. “Not today, no.” He squeezed her again. “You sure you don’t want something to eat?” Xander asked.
“Not really, no.”
“How about popcorn?” he offered. “I can manage popcorn.”
“Just the tea.” Alethea looked uncertain. “I know you’re worried, but I promise, I’ll be here in the morning. I won’t run away again. Besides, you two need time to talk about me.”
“That’s not what we’re going to do,” Xander protested. “Calliope and I have work to do. Regarding the sanctuary. Committee stuff, right, Calliope?”
Alethea looked at Calliope for confirmation.
“It does seem an appropriate time to discuss...stuff.” Calliope touched her hand to Alethea’s face. “Tomorrow will be better.”
“For the first time in a long while, I think that might be right. Good night.” She held her mug to the side as she hugged Xander tight. “I’m sorry I scared everyone.”
“I’m just glad you’re safe.” Xander held on for as long as she let him. “I’ll see you in the morning.” After Alethea closed her bedroom door, Xander found Calliope watching him, an odd expression on her face. “What?”
“You’re a good man, Xander Costas.” She pushed a hot mug into his hand and gestured to the sofa. “No matter how much you pretend otherwise.”
* * *
“I DON’T SUPPOSE you know some magical cure for grief.”
Calliope might have laughed at Xander’s question, but she knew he wasn’t joking. Curled into the corner of the small sofa overlooking the twilight cascading onto the winter flowers in the window box outside, she sipped her tea and took long, deep breaths. “Time. While I don’t care for the cliché, it is what finally heals. That and embracing the good memories. As I’m not sure we have anything committee-related to talk about just yet, will you tell me what happened?” She turned her attention away from the flora that called to her and faced the man who needed her. “To Alethea’s friend Talia?”
“An overdose. Six months ago. Opioids.” He rattled off some pharmaceutical name that gave her a headache. “She was a competitive swimmer. Her coaches thought she could get to the Olympics, but an injury sidelined her last year. Dislocated hip. Surgery. Apparently the pain was pretty bad. Hence the prescription. Which led to another prescription. And another doctor. And more pills.”