Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1927
L ouisa
“What a day.” Though I direct the comment to Clara, I am met with a silence that feels as chilled as the wintery evening air as we step away from the warmth of The Hamilton.
Bundled from head to toe, we trudge down the back stairs and up the alley toward the glow of the electric street lamps. “I can’t wait to be cozy at home with a cup of tea.”
Still, nothing. She hasn’t spoken to me since after lunch. Even when we met in the locker room to change out of our uniforms before walking home, she avoided my gaze.
I place a gloved hand on her coat sleeve and tug her to a stop. “Clara, what is the matter?”
“Why did you speak to him?” she hisses at me.
“Who? Mr. Barnes? I was trying to help.” I am taken aback by her anger. “I thought you wanted to sort the situation out. I thought you wanted to keep your job. And I was helping you do just that. I did it for you, Clara.”
A stab of hypocrisy catches me unaware. I clamp my bottom lip between my teeth. The truth is that I also wanted to ensure that Clara’s outburst, which I still don’t fully understand, hadn’t derailed my relationship with the Hollywood director. I could barely get through the workday, contemplating how this event might have inadvertently stomped on my dreams of Hollywood fame.
I motion for us to continue walking as a shiver runs through me.
“You shouldn’t have approached him. He is a dangerous man, Louisa.”
Clara has clearly lost her mind. I consider myself to be a fairly good judge of character, and the man does not seem dangerous at all. A tad over the top, yes. Overly theatrical and exceptionally friendly, definitely. But dangerous, I hardly think so. I do not, however, say any of this to my sister. I’m quite sure she isn’t inclined to listen to me, anyway.
Instead, I try another approach. “The man has been nothing but cordial and helpful to me. I would have thought you’d be more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, given how he stepped in to help me when I fell.”
Clara says nothing, but the look she tosses in my direction feels like the sharp end of a knife.
“I figured I might have a word with him and try to untangle the misunderstanding between you. When I saw him this afternoon I found him pleasant and happy to clear the air. I was ensuring all is well.”
Clara rolls her eyes at me, a sure sign that I have done wrong by her, again.
“It is, by the way.”
“Is what?” Clara steps over a pile of snow, grabbing hold of my arm to balance herself.
“All is well.” I give her an exasperated look to rival her own as we cross the street, another block closer to home.
“How can you think that? I’ve thought about it all afternoon, and it was not a misunderstanding.” Clara’s annoyed sigh takes shape in a breath of frosty air. “Seriously, Louisa. You can’t simply smile and toss your hair over your shoulder and assume that everything has righted itself.”
“I’ll have you know I did not toss my hair.” I giggle and pull her closer. She doesn’t laugh. “Maybe when we get home you can tell me what really happened, and I mean the entire story, Clara.” The lift of my eyebrow goes unseen under my toque.
Clara is defeated. I can feel it in her every movement. Her downcast eyes. Her hunched posture. Even her steps are slow and weighted.
She breaks the silence with a weary voice. “Honestly, since Mr. Barnes hasn’t said anything to Ms. Thompson and he leaves tomorrow, I’d just as soon forget about him and enjoy the holiday season.”
“Don’t think I’ll forget about this.” I force her to meet my eyes with a finger to her chin.
“Promise me, Lou, that you’ll stay away from him when he returns. I wouldn’t ask you to do so unless I was completely certain.”
I consider her request but don’t promise my sister anything. I can’t walk away from my one and only chance to have someone important from Hollywood truly see me. Instead, I tug her forward and distract her with a more pleasant question.
“I know you’ve been saving it for Christmas Eve, but do you think we could dip into the hot chocolate tonight? It would be such a treat, and isn’t it best to enjoy a treat when you really feel the need for it? After such a long day, I am quite sure we deserve it.”
Clara agrees to my request with a quiet “yes,” but I suspect it is only to ensure this conversation is finished.