Page 6 of Idle

Closing my eyes, I back out of the solarium. I’m of no use here. I slink into my bedroom and shut the door. Lock it for good measure.

Planting my ass onto my bed, I try to ignore the screaming coming from down the hall. Punctuated with more glass breaking. Things have never reached this level.

Turning on my speakers, I drown them out with some TLR. My brother and cousin may not want them to play at their double wedding, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy their music. I hum along with “Let Me Give You A Sweet.” When Trent Washington-Hunte stops singing, I turn the speakers down and am rewarded with silence.

Blissful quiet.

Now that I can think again, I want to talk about what happened today with someone who would understand. Who wasn’t in attendance at the luncheon. Picking up my cell and a lollipop, I FaceTime Chloe.

She picks up, looking more bedraggled than me. Guess it’s bad on her end, too. “Hey, I’d ask how you’re doing, but your face says it all.”

“Yeah.” She plucks at her sorority shirt. “Daddy went off the deep end when the motion to dismiss was denied.”

Her father, “Uncle” Ward, is business partners at VOW-cubed with Father and Uncle Vince, Xander’s dad. “So did mine. He and Mum were going at it when I got here. I tried to smooth things over, but only managed to make them worse.”

She rubs her nose. “Daddy didn’t yell or anything, but I could tell he was freaking out on the inside.”

Which is better? I’m not sure.

She continues “What can we do to help? Law school takes three years, and their case will be long over by then. I wish I could think of something.” She plucks her shirt again. “Can’t even get an interview, but I want to be useful.”

Here my cousin is trying to get her life in order and find a job, only to be stymied by her last name. Wanting to try to help, I say, “I’m sure Uncle Ward wouldn’t want you to throw your life away trying to help him. He’s hired the best attorneys. They’ll all be free soon.” I hope.

“From your mouth.” She slurps something through a straw, probably her ubiquitous root beer. That girl must have it running through her veins. “I find it weird, though, that their motion to dismiss was denied. I thought this was all a big mistake, but now I’m wondering whether Mommy’s been right about Daddy all along.”

If this is true, our fathers are up to their necks in illegal activities and will spend many years in jail. I don’t want that for our families, no matter how uncaring our fathers have been. To be fair, Chloe’s dad treats her more like a sibling, an equal. Much nicer than how Father rules our family, IMHO. “Since we don’t know the answer, let’s move on, shall we?”

More slurping. “Sounds good. So, still no job interviews for me and graduation’s a week away.” She sighs.

“I feel you.” I gesticulate with my lollipop stick. “Have you considered applying under a pseudonym? That might work.”

“Yeah, but if I get the job, I’d have to come clean with all the paperwork. I know this because my degreeisin human resources.”

I stand and walk over to the window, moving the curtain aside. All the lights in Central Park are aglow, making it look magical. “How about getting a quickie marriage so you’ll have a different last name? You must know some guy who could help you out.” I allow the gauzy curtain to flutter into place.

She giggles. “Now this is an idea I haven’t considered.”

I snap my fingers. “Now that your problem’s solved, how about helping me fix mine?” She covers her mouth to hide her ongoing giggles, and I continue, “I hate it in this house. Mum and Father are one half step away from coming to blows. When I came home today, at least three different vases were broken on the floor. They’ve been screaming about the motion to dismiss being denied. It was awful.”

“That sucks.” She brings her straw to her mouth and takes another sip. “Why don’t you stay with Theo until this dies down?”

“I was at his and Amelia’s last week. Honestly, I’d rather take my chances around here than have to be around those two for more than a night. Love my big brother and all, but a single gal can only take so much, am I right?”

“Oh, I hear you. The last thing on my mind is finding someone to date.”

“Amen, sister.” Jesse’s offer replays in my mind, so I decide to share it with Chloe. Before I speak, I take another suck on my lollipop. “A weird offer landed in my lap today, though, that could take me out of the apartment for like six weeks.”

“Oh? Do tell!”

“Theo and Xander’s friend wants to apply to be on a new Renovation TV show. It’s one of those home remodeling competition shows.”

“I love them. It’s so cool seeing how the designers come up with completely different ideas for the same spaces.”

I pace around my bedroom. “I guess it could be cool.” I sigh. “Their friend needs an interior designer for the team. I don’t know. I’m not really a designer. I’m a house flipper.”

“Too bad the show isn’t about flipping.”

“Right? I’d be all over that.”

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