Chapter 20 #3
I don’t miss the frown that takes over Janae’s face. There’s more to the story here, but the Woods family drama isn’t any of my business. I’m just passing through.
When the conversation shifted to me, I didn’t miss the lack of enthusiasm when I told them about my work at Mosaic Inc.
Janae was looking at me with a polite smile, one that I’ve seen many times before.
It was the physical embodiment of a southern, “bless your heart.” I don’t think Aja is even attempting to cover the twisting of her lips in disapproval.
They’re incredibly perceptive, and I’m not sure how, but they're seeing right through my carefully crafted facade.
The food arrived, interrupting us momentarily. It took two waitresses to bring it out. They started setting down steaming hot dishes, and everything smelled delicious. An additional waiter delivered three carafes of a deep burgundy mixed drink, that must’ve been the sorrel that Janae ordered.
There are Ackee and Saltfish Stuffed Plantains, an Oxtail Flatbread topped with fried onions, Chicken and waffles, Huevos Rancheros, and Paella.
My mouth waters as the food is placed in front of me.
I’m not sure where to start, but the twins dive right in.
The Oxtail Flatbread calls to me, my first bite provoked a moan of appreciation for the perfect marriage of flavors.
Aja and Janae nodded their heads in agreement, like they had predicted my reaction.
We eat in silence for a while before Aja breaks it.
“I’m sorry in advance if I’m overstepping.”
“Pfft, that would be a first,” Janae muttered. Now it’s Aja’s turn to give Janae’s arm a smack.
“As I was saying! Willow, it doesn’t seem like you love your job. Have you considered quitting and finding something new?”
“Actually, yes,” I responded slowly. “I’ve always wanted to start my own graphic design company. When my sister passed away, I let that plan take a back seat, and I took a job at Mosaic Inc to get the bills paid.”
Though there was sadness in their eyes, there was also excitement.
I mentally patted myself on the back for getting the words out.
Holding up a mirror to yourself and taking accountability wasn’t always easy.
Work was my main focus. My plate was always full because more work meant less time to ruminate on the state of my life.
Her death may have been the catalyst, but the truth was, after everything was taken care of, I stayed at Mosaic because I was comfortable.
“I’m happy you’re taking this step, that’s huge. You shouldn’t stay at a job you don’t love.” Janae’s voice was solemn as she tucked a blonde strand behind her ear.
“I’ll drink to that!” Aja responded, raising her glass in the air before taking a sip, just as her phone began to ring. “I’ve got to take this, ladies. Please excuse me.”
Grabbing her phone, she walked away from the loud ballroom and toward the entrance of the restaurant.
Janae stared at her retreating form with a weird look before taking a gulp of her own drink, reminding me of the expression she wore earlier.
“Are you alright?” I asked, unable to ignore the way she deflated once Aja walked away.
So much for minding my own business.
Tucking the same strand of hair behind her ear, she bobbed her head. “Yeah, why do you ask?”
“I could be reading into things, but it doesn’t seem like you’re happy with your job either.” Shrugging my shoulders, I watched her turn the thought over in her head.
Janae glanced toward the entrance. “I don’t want to be a corporate lawyer anymore.
I’m not sure I want to be a lawyer at all.
Which is crazy, right? I just graduated from law school and passed the bar.
But every day I go into work, and I absolutely hate it.
I hate it so much. I only agreed to this for Aja, and I’ve regretted it ever since.
” Her words are rushed as if she’s scared Aja might reappear out of thin air.
Somehow, even after telling myself to stay out of the Woods’ business, I’m reaching across the booth to lay a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Have you told anybody this?”
“I can’t, Willow. My father would never approve, and I can’t depend on our mother either to support me. If I mention anything to Aja, I’m sure she’ll convince me that I’m just having a quarter-life crisis, book us massages, and buy me a new book for my library.”
“I’m sure Parker would understand more than anyone.” After all, Parker was supposed to take over the whole company, and he left everything behind to fight fires.
“That’s too much to unpack.”
“What’s too much to unpack?” Aja said, sliding back into the booth, effectively ending the conversation.
Janae raised an eyebrow at me before turning to her sister, recovering smoothly with a lie. “The theory that Owen Hunt is the reason for every great tragedy on Grey's Anatomy.”
“Boo, you’ll be here for days if you let Janae start going on this topic.”
We chatted about our favorite medical show dramas before the waitress came back around offering dessert menus.
Janae insisted the tres leches was to die for, so she ordered one for us to share.
I was sure they would have to roll me out of the restaurant with how much I had eaten.
The twins assured me that the only way to remedy that feeling was to go out on the dance floor.
The thought to decline crept into my mind, but their eager faces and the DJ playing Everyone Falls in Love by Tanto Metro they weren't worried about leaving theirs with the valet.
Janae sent a quick text to someone and confirmed that they would pick up her car, along with our gowns, by tomorrow.
The ride back to the estate was a lively one.
The sorrel had loosened me up, and I was really enjoying myself.
I even felt comfortable enough to trade stories with the twins about my childhood and some of the trouble Celeste and I would get into when we were kids.
Aja and Janae grew up vastly different from Celeste and me.
While we were running around our neighborhood playing manhunt, they were going to retreats for young scholars.
They assured me that they got into their own version of trouble, though—pranking their tutors and stealing away champagne at events.
They may have grown up with more money and gone to private schools, but they still got up to the same nonsense that Celeste and I did.
It felt good to talk about her and be able to laugh. These days, I had no one to share my thoughts about her with, unless you count Dr. Beck.
We were pulling into the estate when I began telling the twins about the time Celeste dyed her hair blue with Kool-Aid and ended up accidentally dying her hands blue too.
She scrubbed her hands until she finally gave up, and we started brainstorming ways to get her out of school.
Iris was furious when she saw her. Apparently, she had already told Cel she couldn’t dye her hair in the first place.
But she took pity on her and let her stay home for two days.
On the third day, she made her go to school.
Her punishment was to be a smurf for a day.
The twins laughed until tears gathered in their eyes.
When the car stopped at the front of the main house, we all hopped out. I was ready to part ways and walk to the guest house when Aja suggested having a movie night. I agreed without hesitation, feeling like this day might have healed something in me.
For the first time in a while, it felt like I was finally looking forward in the right direction.