"Send it." She shoulders the bag. "Are you ready for the Matiz holiday party tonight?"
"No," I answer truthfully. "I'm not sure I'm going."
"You're going."
"It's not a mandatory work thing. It's just a small get-together for people who work in marketing." I eye an apple in a fruit bowl. "Maybe I'll just eat that apple for dinner and go home and watch Christmas movies while I stuff my face with popcorn."
She picks up the apple and tosses it to me. "Eat it and then go home and get dressed. You'll regret not going to the party, Lark."
"Why would I regret it?"
She smooths her ponytail with her hand, pushing a few wayward strands of her long blonde hair back into place. "If you don't go to that party, the people you work with will assume that you think you're above them because of who your brother is. Don't set yourself apart from them, Lark. Prove that you're just like all of them."
I try to push a lipstick into my pocket, but there's no room. "I'm not just like all of them. I know they say things about me behind my back. I thought it would be easy working at Matiz, but it's not, Isla. I'm not even sure that anyone there genuinely likes me for me."
"You're just feeling sorry for yourself. Your twenties are slipping away from you. You'll be twenty-four in a few days." She rests her hands on my shoulders. "I'll feel the same way on my twenty-fourth birthday in a few months. I'll have my own pity party as I kiss my youth goodbye."
I burst out laughing. "You're hilarious. You have a perfect life. You're killing
it at Juilliard. You're married to Gabriel Foster and you have a beautiful daughter. You're the last person who will ever throw themselves a pity party."
"I do have the perfect life." She stares at her wedding rings. "Gabriel is taking me to Italy in the spring. It's my Christmas gift. He told me last night. We'll take Ella with us. He called in some favors so I can play my violin with one of my idols in Tuscany. It's a dream come true."
Since I met Isla eight months ago while we were both standing in line at a coffee shop, I've never envied her. I've always been happy for her and the life she's built for herself. I want a life that fulfills me too, but a husband and a baby girl aren't in the cards for me yet. I'll settle for a night at home alone hidden under the covers of my bed. I'm still embarrassed about those two images of my tattoo Mr. Moore sent me yesterday.
"Promise me you'll take lots of pictures." I cup her chin in my hand. "Promise me you'll be safe there."
"I'll guard her with my life." Gabriel strolls into the kitchen with his daughter on his hip. "I won't let Isla or Ella out of my sight. Italy is just the beginning of our adventures."
I reach forward to plant a kiss on Ella's cheek. "I have a gift for Ella for Christmas. Can I drop it off tomorrow?"
"No." Isla shakes her head. "I thought you were spending part of Christmas Day with us. It's your birthday, Lark. I'm going to bake a cake."
"We're going to order a cake from Dobb's bakery for you," Gabriel interjects. "Isla will pick up a pint of mint, chocolate chip ice cream from Cremza too."
The fact that he remembers my favorite ice cream shop and flavor touches me. I have three brothers of my own, but Gabriel has proven in both words and actions, that he has the emotional capacity to love anyone his wife does. He may be one of the shrewdest businessmen in all of Manhattan, but his heart is as soft as Isla's is.
"Stop by after dinner at your parent's house on Christmas Day, Lark." Isla tugs at my hand. "Come over and have dessert with us."
"Deal." I scoop my phone, my lipstick and my compact mirror into my hands. "I have to go get ready for the party I don't want to go to."
"You know about the party?" Gabriel arches a dark brow. "I thought it was..."
"He thought it was tomorrow night," Isla interrupts. "He can't keep his days straight anymore. That's what old age does to a hot man."
He huffs out a laugh. "You'll pay for that later, Isla."
"Promise?" She turns to him. "Promise I'll pay for it."
"That's my cue to leave." I run my hand over Ella's brow. "I'll see you in a few days, little lovely."
***
"You weren't at the party last year." I adjust the collar of Crew's dress shirt. "Why are you making an appearance this year?"
He studies my face. "When did you grow up?"
"It's been a long time coming." I step back to survey the shirt. It's flawless. "You didn't answer my question. You weren't at the marketing department's holiday party last year. Why are you going with me this year?"