I wake with a start to a loud prolonging banging at my door. I close my eyes hoping that it will stop, but it doesn't so I grumble and jump out of bed remembering to put a robe on over my see through pajamas.
“Ali. Wake up it's me Olivia.”, Olivia says behind the heavy door. I open up the door to see Olivia awkwardly standing there in a button up polka dot dress that fits her petite frame.
“Good Morning Olivia.” I say trying to sound cheerful even though I've always hated mornings.
“I'm sorry to wake you up this way. It's just I needed someone to talk to and we're the same age so I thought you'd be able to help me.” She says frantically.
“Sure, come on inside.”, I say leading her to my bedroom and through the French doors onto the small patio with a bistro set. Olivia looks paler than usual and frightened.
“Are you okay?” I ask unsurely.
“Yeah, I'm all right, I'm better than fine I'm amazing. It's just I have to tell Adam that I can't marry him and I don't know how to do it.” She says looking down at her hands folded down in her lap. “I've never had to break up with anyone, and I've never even had a boyfriend except for your brother.”
“So you want me to help you tell him that you have to break off the engagement?” I ask.
“Yes. Please, you seem like a really smart person and I'm sure you've had to break up with someone the way boys here chase you around.” She says smirking. What is it with everyone's interest in my love life I think to myself?
“Well if I were you I would take off the engagement ring that my brother gave to you first.” I say eying the extraordinary ring that looks beautiful on her skinny finger.
“Okay now what?” She asks straightening up and listening intently.
“Okay then you have to go talk to Adam. Explain your feelings, I like to write my feelings down and then read them out loud. I know it sounds dorky but it's always helped me.” I say trying to be as helpful as possible.
“Could you pretend to be Adam just so I can practice what I need to say?” I ask.
“Sure.” I say awkwardly. I've never been asked to role play as a man so this could be interesting.
“Hello Adam.”, She says coolly.
“Hello Olivia.” I say in my deepest manly voice, and she starts laughing hysterically. “This is never going to work if you can't stop laughing.”
“Okay. Let's restart this conversation. Adam, I have something important to tell you.” She says trying to pull off a serious face.
“Okay.”, I say trying to look nervous.
“I can't marry you. I can't marry you because I'm in love with someone else and I don't want us to have to spend the rest of our lives unhappily. I want you to find someone who will truly care and love you the way that I can't because you deserve that. You're an amazing man and I'm just not the one for you.” She says sympathetically. “How's that?”
“That was perfect Olivia. It'll be hard but it's worth it in the end because you get to be with the person you're meant to be with.” I say.
“You're right.” She says standing up, she wraps me in her arms and she smells like honey-suckle. “You're going to make a great sister one day.”
We leave my patio together and I go downstairs to the kitchen. I hope there aren't a million chefs in there today because I'm starving. I search all the cabinets for a bowl and a spoon and finally find them, and then I go to the pantry to find cereal. There are all kinds of choices here, healthy or unhealthy, marshmallows or cookie crisp. I opt for a bowl of my favorite lucky charms and pour in some milk. I sit down at the island and enjoy my cereal and the quietness of the kitchen. Grandma walks in and sits down beside me.
“Hello my dear.” She says in her cheerful voice.
“Hi Grandma.” I reply.
“How did you sleep last night?”, She asks genuinely concerned.
“I slept like a baby it was great.” I respond.
“Good. Would you want to go to the city with your old grandma today?” She asks.
“Of course, I would love to get a better feel for the kingdom, and the people.” I shout with glee, almost spilling my cereal in my excitement.
“Great. I'll get the carriage to pick us up in an hour. Can you be ready by then?” She asks.
“Of course.” I say between large spoonfuls of lucky charms. I put the bowl in the sink and rush upstairs where I find someone has placed my sign on the door and when I open my bedroom door everything is clean, the clothes on the floor have been removed and my bed has been made.