Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Hollie
Everyone had left the office some time ago, leaving me in the dark with just the glow of my monitor lighting the way to understanding the specialty design software. At some point I’d have to master my new company smartphone as well.
I’d been over Sparkle’s designs for the competition again and again.
They were . . . nice. I was sure they had qualities I didn’t fully appreciate, but at the same time, to my untrained eye, they seemed kind of .
. . dull. I got that a design fit for royalty would have to be conservative.
The tiara Dexter’s parents had designed set the bar for an innovative but classic piece, timeless and elegant but forever in style.
Sparkle’s entries were definitely on the classic end of the spectrum, and I had yet to be convinced of any innovation.
I had some ideas and wanted to see if I could use the computer to bring my design to life instead of relying on my trusty notebook.
The longer I sat at my desk, the more error messages I saw. I was worried I was about to blow the entire computer to pieces.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when my new smartphone began to ring.
Propping the cell on a stack of stationery, I pressed the accept button.
“Hey, you did it,” Autumn said, beaming at me from the screen.
“I just had to move my finger, Autumn. It wasn’t that hard. I wish I could say the same thing about this computer program. This stuff is so complicated.” I needed to be proficient at the program, which all the big houses used. Adding the skill to my resume would be important during my job hunt.
“You’re smart. You’ll figure it out.” Easier said than done.
Despite the fact that I worked in a semi-conductor factory, I wasn’t great with technology.
In preparation for doing an internship, I’d spent the last twelve months getting familiar with my sister’s old laptop, so at least I knew the very basics.
I probably should have bought a smartphone before coming to London, but those things were just so expensive.
I couldn’t justify it when there were so many bills to pay.
“Speaking of smart,” I said, “how are your classes? You don’t have long to go so you need to get—”
“I know, get my head down, get the work done and get out of this town. You’ve been telling me the same thing since I was eight years old.
I’m just as motivated as you are.” Hearing how Autumn was keeping things on track was almost as gratifying as my internship at Sparkle.
Knowing my sister was destined for something more than the Sunshine Trailer Park was something that kept me going when I was working double shifts at the factory to pay her tuition at Oregon State.
I’d been determined for as long as I could remember that she and I would not end up stuck where we weren’t happy, just because that’s where we’d been born.
Autumn was smart—so smart she’d gotten a scholarship for half her tuition and most of her textbooks.
Some months I had to juggle—take on extra shifts, pray for a necklace sale on my Etsy site, even do a spring clean for Mrs. Daugherty across the street.
But Autumn would graduate this summer and it was as if I were graduating too.
Since I was four years old and my mom had brought Autumn home from the hospital—a bundle of limbs and peepy eyes—I’d vowed to take care of her.
Her graduation would be confirmation that I’d done what I set out to do.
After that, I just had to get her to leave Sunshine and make good on all her amazing potential.
She would do something spectacular with her life—if her boyfriend didn’t make her want to stay right where she’d always been.
“How’s Greg?” I asked.
Autumn laughed. “You know I can see your gritted teeth when you ask me that because you’re on video.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m trying to be supportive.”
“No, you’re not. You were just hoping I’d tell you he’d been crushed by his dad’s muscle car.”
“I’m not a monster. I don’t want Greg dead. I just don’t want him . . .”
“Anywhere near me.”
I couldn’t lie. I would be very happy if Greg disappeared from Autumn’s life.
Not because Greg was a bad guy—he wasn’t.
But I could guarantee he was going to spend the rest of his life living within a hundred yards of his current home, which just happened to be the Sunshine Trailer Park, managed by none other than Greg’s dad.
I wanted something better for Autumn. I dreaded her getting pregnant or announcing she and Greg were getting married or something.
She was almost twenty-two and I wanted more for her.
Or I at least wanted her to have options.
If she took a job in Portland or New York or something and decided she was happier at the trailer park, that was one thing.
But not having a choice? I couldn’t live with myself.
“Don’t sweat it,” Autumn said. “Greg does whatever I tell him and it’s convenient. It’s no big love affair.”
“How are Mom and Dad?” I asked. Keen as I was to change the subject, I was just jumping from the frying pan right into the fire.
“Okay, actually.”
“Have they asked you for money yet?”
“I gave Mom twenty yesterday but it’s no big deal.”
I sighed. I’d begged Mom not to ask Autumn for money.
“It’s not a big deal. She seemed okay actually, talking about applying for a job at Trader Bob’s.”
“Really?” I said, wondering if I’d heard her correctly.
I couldn’t remember the last time my mom had been interested in working.
Occasionally she’d get offered something through a friend, but it never lasted long.
She’d shoot her mouth off or lose something important.
She never lasted more than a week. But I covered their rent and gave them money here and there.
I just didn’t want Autumn to have that burden. It wasn’t fair.
“Yeah. Her friend is working there or something. We’ll see how long it lasts.”
“How’s Dad?” It had only been a week since I’d left but if Mom was job hunting, maybe Dad had taken up lion taming. Apparently anything was possible.
“No idea. Mom says he has a cold.”
Maybe I was overreacting. My dad took to his bed with a cold most months. It was an excuse to watch a lot of TV and not clean up after himself.
“But enough of boring old Oregon,” Autumn said. “Tell me about last night. How was the dress? Did you get to try on any jewelry?”
“You know.” I sighed dramatically. “Another evening, drinking champagne and rubbing shoulders with the beautiful people.” I grinned. “I didn’t get to try on the jewelry, which is just as well because I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have wanted to take it off again.”
“You look so happy,” she said. “I bet you looked beautiful.”
“Well I didn’t get thrown out because my dress wasn’t expensive enough, which at one point, I thought was a real possibility. I even got to drink the champagne.” That wasn’t quite true. I’d tasted it, but I kept putting down my glass and forgetting about it. The jewelry had been all-consuming.
“You were born to drink champagne,” Autumn said. “I’m glad it’s not just work, work, work. I know what you’re like. I know you’re there to learn but try and have some fun too.”
“Actually, I got asked out on a date,” I said and then immediately wished I hadn’t.
Autumn scooted closer to the phone. “Tell me everything. A British guy?”
Not just a British guy. The British guy. Anyone who was anyone knew Dexter Daniels. I still wasn’t sure why he’d singled me out. “Of course a British guy.”
“Tell me you said yes.”
“I took his number.”
Autumn groaned. “I suppose that’s better than a straight no.”
Except that I had no intention of using the number, so it wasn’t much better.
“You should enjoy yourself,” Autumn said. “You can work hard and go out for drinks with someone you know.”
It was tempting. Dexter had been sweet. And although he couldn’t have been as good looking as I remembered, he was undoubtedly handsome. But he had thrown off my concentration long enough for me to miss my ride. God only knew what the man was capable of during the course of an evening of fondue.
“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m in London. I’m having more fun than you could possibly imagine.” Compared to life in Oregon, the past week had been a kaleidoscope of fresh, exciting experiences.