Sublime

Emeline had always seemed occupied with watching everyone else and trying to be helpful, but she’d stayed on the sidelines, as if it weren’t her turn to live. William had thought the hesitation was part of Emeline—part of her personality—but now it was gone. She seemed fully alive in front of him.

“She’s running away,” Emeline said. But Sylvie suspected her sister was running toward something. A new life. Julia wanted to reimagine herself, and it was hard to do that in the presence of people who had known her since she was a small girl.

Jacaranda wondered how anyone as clever as this Janet Wilton, with New York at her fingernail tips, had come to the Bamboo Café that night and given Jacaranda her card.

“I like her, dear brother.” Emilia laughed, breaking the tension. “You must be Miss Camilla Antonius. I’m so happy to meet you. It’s about time someone gave Envy a bit of hell.”