up to you. You gotta decide right now what it’s gonna be. Because whether you think you’re gonna win, or you think you’re gonna lose—either way, you’re right.”
Punctually at three-thirty Hope went to Big Julie’s suite to pick Baby up for their shopping trip. Drake opened the door.
“Hi,” she said, eying Drake’s sharp attire. “I’m Hope. I’m here for Baby. Are you the butler?”
“Bodyguard,” Drake said. “I opened the door because you’re no threat.”
“Yes, I am,” Hope said, ruffled. “I’m getting my ranch back. Is Baby ready?”
“How should I know? Do I look like a butler?” Drake asked, drifting away.
“Yes,” Hope said, “just not a very good one.” But Drake was gone, leaving Hope standing in the hallway. Some bodyguard, she thought, and entered the suite, looking around until she found Baby in a huge bedroom putting things in a trendy leather purse adorned with buckles it didn’t need.
“I don’t know why I have to take you shopping,” she complained when she saw Hope.
“Because Big Julie asked you to, because I need some accessories, and because you know where to shop,” Hope said, eying the purse. Shopping with Baby, even for two hours, looked like an eternity. Who else had to do this just to play cards? She should be downstairs right now, earning her stake. But here she was, about to go shopping.
“Accessories? Just accessories?” Baby glanced at Hope’s suit again, dismissing it.
“Yes,” Hope said firmly. “Bracelets, sunglasses, and a hat.”
“Well, if we have to, we have to,” Baby said, giving herself a last glance in the mirror. “I do know a darling shop for jewelry.”
“It has to be costume jewelry,” Hope said, suddenly alarmed, as they left the suite. She had a vision that Baby might think a “darling shop” was Tiffany’s. “I need something that’s big and clanks.”
“That’s how you buy jewelry? Because it clanks? No wonder you look like that.”
“How do I look? No, don’t tell me.” Hope had to admit that Baby looked terrific. She was like a porcelain doll, carefully made up in vivid colors—bright blonde hair, red lipstick, big blue eyes—and all the outfits Hope had seen her in were tight, short, and brightly colored. But Baby pulled it off. She looked stylish and modern and fresh, and, well, hot.
Not Hope’s look at all.
“You look like you never have fun,” Baby said.
Hope blinked. She thought she looked fairly nice most of the time. She wore suits in neutral colors to work, and she wore jeans and tee-shirts at home. Hope thought she looked well-dressed and practical, but looking at Baby, she had to admit: she wasn’t big on the wow factor. Whereas Baby was all wow, all the time.
“I have fun,” Hope said, trying not to sound defensive.
“You look like you’re going to the office,” Baby said, as they got into the elevator. “On a Saturday. Where’s the fun in that?”
True, Hope thought, there were more fun things to do on a Saturday than go to the office, but shopping with Baby wasn’t one of them. The elevator deposited them on the lobby floor, and Baby headed toward a retail atrium.
“Down here,” she commanded, leading the way.
Hope trailed after her, feeling resentful. They stopped in front of a shop. The window was full of sparkling, colorful costume jewelry. Some big, clanking bracelets were among the pieces displayed. Hope perked up. Those bracelets were cute. Baby knew her merchandise.
“Here we are,” Baby said.
Hope peered into the glass, looking closer, and then saw the price tag of one item peeking out from underneath a faux jewel. She almost fainted.
“Baby, those things are nice, but I can’t spend this much,” she said.
“Big Julie said to spend what I want,” Baby said, stepping into the shop.
“Yes, you can spend what you want, but I’m on a different budget.” Hope sighed in frustration as Baby, already inside looking at displays, ignored her. Hope gave up and followed her into the shop.
Twelve hundred dollars for a bracelet? Hope knew she was out of touch with what nice things cost, but yikes. This was rent for a month. And this bracelet was plastic. Cute plastic, set with glass shiny things. But still. Twelve hundred dollars.
Inside, Baby was holding up earrings against her face in front of a mirror. Any of the earrings would have looked fabulous on her, and well they should, Hope thought, as she checked the price tags. Four hundred dollars. Hope put the earrings down.
“Baby,” she hissed. “I can’t afford anything here. We have to go to