Page 4 of Elling & Jackie

Chapter 2

Terri, the night clerkat Colman Hotel, answered the phone. Jackie waved, letting her co-worker know she was taking off for the night. She looked forward to the weekend and being away from her responsibilities as the hotel manager.

Pushing the elevator button, she carried the Styrofoam container holding her dinner she'd ordered from the restaurant downstairs before it closed for the night. Today had been especially busy with people checking out, and she'd worked through her last break knowing she'd enjoy the meal more up in her room.

Riding the elevator to the Fourth Floor, she made it to Room 46 without running into any of the guests. Juggling her dinner, she held her keycard in front of the scanner and walked inside the suite and locked the door.

On the end table beside the couch, her phone vibrated. She put the container down and picked up her cell. Stassi, her younger sister, had texted her three times. It must be a slow night in her sister's life.

Often times, Stassi would spend all day or all evening sending messages, even though she couldn't read them until after work. Hotel policy—one that she'd put in place to keep the employees concentrating on their job.

She kicked off her shoes, removed her shirt, and unzipped the back of her skirt. Wiggling out of her work clothes, she carried her food and phone over to the couch and lounged in her bra and panties.

Unwrapping the club sandwich, she scrolled through the latest drama surrounding Stassi while quenching her hunger. Her sister, instead of going to college, decided to go to work at a nursery, learning horticulture while earning a paycheck and had quickly found contentment inside the greenhouses. But, at nineteen years old, Stassi struggled with finding independence while living at home with Mom and Chief.

She understood the battles her sister faced, and it was one reason why she'd worked hard through college and found a position as a manager in a hotel where she could live on site. Her job search had taken her to Portland where Mr. Garrison, the owner, had taken a chance on hiring her. She was only twenty-four years old, but she'd proven herself over the last year that she could manage the hotel.

Her phone vibrated. Another message came through. She called Stassi.

Her sister picked up on the first ring. "You're off?"

"Yep, and now I'm bummed after reading your texts." She took a bite of sandwich. "Why did you cancel coming down and spending the next two days with me?"

Stassi blew out her breath. "Chief."

She needed no other explanation. Their dad was...well, Chief. No one could change his mind once he'd issued an order. Not his wife, not his sons from Chief's first baby momma, not his daughters.

"What does he want you to do instead of spending time with me?" she asked.

Stassi scoffed. "You miss everything, not living at home."

Guilt filled her. She wanted her freedom but missed her family. It was a hard conflict that bothered her more than she let her sister or anyone else know.

"I have to work, and that means I can't live at home." She set her half-eaten sandwich on the counter and plucked the dill pickle off the side, carrying it to the bedroom with her. "You know that."

"Are you still looking for a job opening in Tacoma?"

"I haven't had time."

"Uh, huh."

Changing the subject so she wouldn't have to admit that she hadn't wanted to look for a new job closer to family, she said, "So, what's happening at home?"

"You know," muttered Stassi.

Caught up in work, she'd forgotten that it was the middle of the month. Brikken would be going on their run and lately Jett, her oldest brother and president of Brikken Motorcycle Club, locked everything and everyone down tight.

"Hey, don't get bummed. We'll plan something for next weekend. Just make sure you tell mom now, so she can soften Chief up." She crawled up on the bed, stuffing the pillow behind her head.

"Okay, but we're going to miss the big sale, and I really wanted to get those Vans I showed you."

Jackie raised her knees and crossed her legs, swinging her foot in the air. "I'll tell you what. I'll hit the sale and buy your shoes. My treat."

"I love you. Have I told you that you're my favorite sister?"

She laughed. "I'm your only sister."

"Yeah, well, you don't see Jett, Olin, or Thorn buying me the shoes."

---