Page 111 of Don't Quit the Day Job

"Back from where?"

"Oh, I don't know," she says quickly, and I frown. What's she talking about? "So how was D.C.?"

"What are you talking about?" I say.

"You were in D.C., right?"

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, of course. It was fine."

I chuckle slightly. I hadn't been in D.C., but I had told Marie I was going to D.C. because I hadn't wanted her to know where I was really going and guess what I was really doing. Because I didn't want her to slip up and tell Lila anything.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I'm not laughing. I was just thinking about something," I say. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine," she says. "Why didn't you tell Lila you were going to D.C.?”

"Um, she knew I was going away this weekend."

"Yeah, but she asked where you were going and you didn't tell her."

"Because I didn't want to lie to her."

"Why won't you tell her you're looking for a job on the Supreme Court? Why didn't you tell her you were going for a job interview?"

"What are you talking about, Marie? I never said I was going for a job interview."

"Then why did you go to D.C.?"

"I didn't go to D.C.," I admit, frowning. "I just told you I was going to D.C. because I didn't want you to know I was going back to South Carolina for the weekend."

"Oh," she says. "Wait, why did you go back home? Oh my gosh. It's not because of me, right? Is he angry?"

"I did go to see Dad, but it had nothing to do with you." I frown. "Why did you think I went for a job interview?"

"Because you said you were going to D.C. and I figured that was the reason why. Why else would you go?"

I sigh. "I have no idea where you got that from, but whatever."

"Lila thinks you went to D.C. for a job interview as well."

"What? Why would she think that? Wait, you told Lila I went to D.C,. for a job interview?"

"Because you didn't tell me that you were going to South Carolina and you didn't tell her either. If you were going back home, why wouldn't you tell her?"

"Because I didn't want her to know." I sigh. "Marie, sometimes you have to just keep your mouth shut. Okay?"

"I'm sorry. I just didn't know that you weren't still pursuing your dream of being a Supreme Court Justice."

"What are you talking about? You don't pursue a dream to become a Supreme Court Justice by moving to D.C. That's not how these things work." I sigh. "Anyway, you do or you don't know where Lila is?"

"I don't know. She told me she was going away this weekend and I haven't heard from her. But I know she was upset that you didn't tell her about your trip and yeah, maybe that's my fault because I kind of told her that you wanted to become a Supreme Court Justice and you might be moving."

"Marie, why would you do that? You know that…" I pause. "Anyway. I’ll talk to you later. I gotta go. Okay?"

"Okay," she says. "Sorry."

"I know you didn't mean to make any trouble. I love you. I'll talk to you later."

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