Chapter 1 #3
Who knows. Maybe I can reinvent myself as a fashion designer here. It’s not like Manhattan is far away.
At this moment, I’m not thinking about any big city.
I’m already smitten with the sights and smells of my childhood, the quaint small-town feel that’s a cocktail of historical nostalgia with state-of-the-art flair, all with the sparkling skyscrapers of New Carnegie and BioNex Tower in the distance.
When I was young, we lived in New Carnegie proper, to be close to Dad’s work and Mom’s hospital.
I never ventured into Belmont. In a place like this, I get all the peace and quiet with all the benefits of the big city just twenty minutes away.
I got used to smog, palm trees, and dates with my girlfriends and coworkers on Venice Beach, where we could lay out in the sun whenever we like.
Layers with winter in mind are something I’ll have to grow accustomed to again.
I wave down Jessica as she pulls up to the passenger pick-up area in her sexy Flagler Cupid sedan and quickly throw my stuff in her trunk, then jump into my seat like we’re bank robbers about to skip town.
After I agreed to move in, Jessica promised me a weekend of shopping in Belmont’s Old Town sector.
We pass by pretty cobblestone streets and sidewalks sporting holo-map displays shimmering on several corners for curious visitors.
It’s all done up with gourds, scarecrows that sway and move, and the trees are changing from lush green to warm reds, glorious yellows, and vibrant oranges.
Kids ride fearlessly around on their hoverbikes.
I feel inspired for some new designs, when I have a moment to rest with my virtual sketching tablet.
Suddenly, everything isn’t so scary or overwhelming anymore.
This could be the reset I needed. It’s not a permanent change, and yes, I have to live with Apollo—again—but I survived that once.
What’s one more time? In Belmont, I have everything I could ever want in a place to call home: unique eateries, tavern dives, a vintage movie theater, and what I’m looking forward to seeing most of all: my sister-in-law’s clothing boutique.
I’m all set for my return to the City of Barons.
After talking with Apollo and Jessica, and with the support of my parents once they get back from their vacation, this will help me get my bearings and figure out my next steps.
Plus, if I can help put my family on the fashion map, why wouldn’t I take this shot?
Everyone wins. At least, I try to tell myself that.
There’s some guilt I have to contend with, how I’m getting to live rent-free and try something different, something new.
I tried to make an arrangement to offer them some rent money, or even to help pay for groceries, but they wouldn’t even consider it.
Maybe I can reinvent myself here. I can leave behind the corporate lifestyle that betrayed me. Maybe when winter sets in, I’ll miss the land of eternal sunshine, but this little suburb is growing on me.
Who knows, maybe Apollo and I will finally bury the hatchet too. I’m not a teenage girl anymore; I’ve grown up. If I have, so has he. It’s just a question of how and when. For me, it’s still awkward to think about.
“So, how’s it feel to be back home?” Jessica asks as she checks her phone. She’s in the driver’s seat, but her car is on autopilot, gliding effortlessly down the cozy downtown streets.
“I’m thinking I might be in falling back in love with the city,” I say with a playful shrug. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Jessica glances up from the screen with a triumphant smirk. “And here I thought it might take you a little convincing. LA burned you that bad, huh?”
“Yeah. The longer I was there after I was fired, the shittier I felt.” I can be open and honest with Jess.
She’s the big sister I always wanted but never got to have.
Thank God Apollo had the sense to marry her.
“Everything reminded me of the job I lost. I must’ve applied to a hundred jobs that first week and got rejected by all of them almost instantaneously, and I just realized—why should I care that much about a place that snapped their fingers and dropped me like a bad habit? ”
“Exactly. Fuck those guys.” Jessica’s fire is unmistakable in her voice. “Fuck big corporations, period. Like, don’t even get me started.”
I’ve heard her long rants about everything wrong with America: big business, big pharma, big everything.
She’s not afraid to talk politics with anyone who’ll listen, and it’s hard not to get stirred by her.
“I know. Honestly, I think part of why I took it so hard was because I felt so foolish. I bought into it.”
“Well, you’re free now, cutie pie,” Jessica says, using the nickname she’s had for me since the first time we’ve met. If anyone else called me that, I’d hate it. “And I think you’ll like what you’re working with, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
The first thing I want to see is Jess’s store, Cyber Street.
Jess switches her car to manual and parks, applying fresh lipstick in the mirror.
“I’m so excited you’re here,” she adds. “Business is growing fast. I haven’t even needed to advertise much, so I’m psyched to see how much better we can do with an actual marketing specialist.”
“Of course,” I say. “I can’t thank you enough, really”
“Don’t worry about it. Besides, this was Apollo’s idea.
He’s been talking nonstop about you since you got laid off.
” Jess smiles at me. As though sensing my subtle skepticism, she adds, “Look, I know things weren’t smooth between the two of you growing up, but he’s a good dad.
A good husband. He takes care of us. He takes care of the city.
And I think if you give him a chance to prove to you how much he’s grown, you might like what you see. ”
It’s hard to argue with her. I can only nod. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“That’s all I ask.”
“Okay.” Feeling uncomfortable, I’m quick to change the subject. “By the way, I have a ton of ideas on how we can make sure Cyber Street takes the entire city by storm. Then the coast, then New York. Then the sky’s the limit.”
Jessica laughs. “Baby steps. I’ll take the whole city first, definitely.”
Before our conversation can continue, she gets a phone call.
“Sorry, I need to take this.” A mature man’s gentle voice flows through the car speakers, speaking smooth, fluent Mandarin.
Jessica answers seamlessly. Since I can’t really understand, I tune out, gazing out the passenger window.
I admittedly took two years of Mandarin in college, but I fell out of practice in my final year, and now I’m pretty sure I’ve forgotten everything.
I promised myself I’d pick it up again when I have time.
Now that I’m living with Apollo and Jessica, and Jessica’s mother.
Everyone calls her Laolao, which means grandmother in Chinese.
She was born and raised in Guangzhou. Now, I definitely have a reason to dust off my old college language skills.
I admire the scenery, and Jessica talks on the phone until we roll into the parking lot behind her store.
She tells her caller goodbye and hangs up.
“That was my dad,” Jessica explains, toying with her key fob as we walk together to the back door. She lets me in first. “He’s on a business trip in Taiwan. Our evenings are his mornings, so it’s the best time for us to connect.”
“What kind of work does he do?”
“He works for an investment firm.”
“That sounds fancy.”
“Way too fancy for me.” Jessica grins. “I’ll take fashion over finance any day.”
Once we’re inside, we’re joined by one of Jessica’s employees, an older woman with a little gray at her temples and crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes. She’s carrying a box of sweet bread that’s already making my mouth water.
“You must be Mia,” she says with a smile. “It’s so good to finally meet the baby sister.”
“This is Lindsay.” Jessica gestures between us. “She’s my assistant manager.”
My eyes immediately want to wander and take everything in.
Every clothing fixture is neatly stocked with Jessica’s designs for men and women, casual and classy.
I expected a sort of warehouse smell. Instead, the air smells of vanilla, cinnamon, and the sweet bread I’m trying not to think about devouring that Lindsay’s still holding.
“Shit,” Jessica mutters, her manicured nails tapping furiously at her phone.
“Of course, this happens now. I hate to introduce you and run, but I have an important conference call with fulfillment about our next shipment. There’s been some confusion that I need to set straight.
” Jessica looks at me apologetically. “I’m sorry.
Your bags are still in the car and everything. ”
“It’s fine,” I tell her quickly. “I’d love to just jump right in and see how everything works here.”
“I can show her around,” Lindsay volunteers. Jessica waves and walks off to take her call. Lindsay opens the box of sweet bread and offering it up to me. “I like bringing these in from time to time. Want to try one?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” I reply and eagerly dive in. “I’m a sucker for pastries.”
“How are you feeling, being back home?”
“I love it! Belmont’s so beautiful. And I can’t wait to check out my old hangouts in New Carnegie too, take a walk down memory lane, you know?”
“Just be careful about that,” Lindsay says wisely. “Ever since the attack on the Humanity First protest last year, the city’s been on edge. And the museum bombing . . .”
I look at her in disbelief. “Somebody bombed a museum?”
“Yes, just a few days ago.”