to pieces or shot point-blank in the head.
Laura reached over and tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear. “I worry about you all alone in Mom and Dad’s house. Since they went RVing and Jami’s away at college, you’re alone in that tiny town. Move here to D.C. There’s lots going on.”
My frown deepened the more she spoke.
“I’m a country girl. I understand the appeal of city life, but . . .” I picked at my fingernail and shrugged. Admitting something I never even told her before, and I always told her everything, like TMI everything, was going to be difficult. “I enjoy walking the trails of the mountains back in Castle Ridge. I would miss that. It’s too busy here, too noisy, and way too expensive.”
She nodded because I believed my sister secretly missed Castle Ridge, Virginia, too. She lived in Washington, D.C. with her boyfriend so she could work for his father in some fancy restaurant.
My sister had a career. She was a chef. I had jobs because working for the man wasn’t my thing. Especially when the man was a dickhole who had a dickhole of a son who cheated on my sister.
She ignored my cries about his philandering. No matter what I said, she assumed the best in people, even her jerk boyfriend.
“Is Dickhole here, oops . . . I mean Beau?”
Her green eyes jerked around, refusing to focus on me. She stood on the other side of the Dutch door with the lower half blocking her legs, but I knew she was tapping her foot.
“I know you don’t like Beau, but if you just got to know him a little better—”
I snorted. “Oh, I know what he’s like. I just don’t think you do.”
She sighed and pretended to straighten her perfect hair.
“I can’t talk about this, Julia. I’m at work. The guests should arrive soon for the ball. All you have to do is take their coats and hand them a ticket. They’re rich, so they’ll tip well.”
Now it was time for me to purse my lips as I eyed my sister.
“Fine. Maybe not big tips, but they will tip.”
I continued to stare.
“Okay, fine, I lied. Rich people are stingy jerks. But some will tip, so you will make more than the hourly wage. Besides, I heard that a VidTube star you like will be here, Jake James. Is that his name?”
My eyes widened. Now my interest was piqued.
“It’s Joke’in James. His videos are hilarious. I’ll take his coat anytime.” I winked.
She smiled for the first time that evening, and I was glad. My sister was stressed all the time, and she needed some fun in her life. I only took the coat check job so I could spend some time with her. Come up to D.C. for a girls’ weekend. Even if it meant rich people threw their mothballed coats and cruelty-filled furs at me.
Also, the money didn’t hurt. I never had a steady job, so I needed the cash.
But I missed my sister. A billion dollars couldn’t keep me away from her.
“I have to get back to prepping the dishes.” She grabbed my hand and with a soft smile said, “I love you, Julia. You’re my best friend and sister . . . Don’t tell Jami. I want you to get serious. You can have fun anytime, but when you’re at work, it’s work. Okay?”
I nodded. She was right. I wasn’t sixteen anymore; I was thirty. Maybe it was time to think about a career. A fun one, like beer tester or a park ranger or something.
I made a mental note to look into cool, fun jobs when I got home.
“I promise. I’ll work so hard tonight, these people will talk about my skills for years. They’ll be nostalgic for that amazing coat-taker for years to come!”
“Good. I’ll see you later.” She waved and walked down the hall.
They held the Jingle Ball in one of those old, grand hotels built in the early eighteen-hundreds. I wasn’t joking about Dolly Madison haunting it. The place probably had lots of ghosts, which made walking farther back into the dark closet less appealing.
The closet was a compact room with several racks filled with wooden hangers, mainly because the rich didn’t approve of wire. In the back, it extended to the corner. There was a miniscule hallway. I could see a hint of it, but the hallway disappeared into darkness.
A chill went up my spine as I wondered if it led to a room where