New York Debut

by Melody Carlson

  Casey nodded somberly. “Yeah . . . I do know.”

  “You should.” DJ knew they were both remembering the intervention a few months ago when Casey had stolen DJ’s pain pills.

  “So, mum’s the word?”

  “Until Taylor comes back. It’s up to her to say something or not.” DJ set her bags down by the door to her room, glancing around to be sure no one was around to eavesdrop.

  “I can just imagine Eliza’s big mouth. It’d be all over the school in no time.”

  “Speaking of Eliza,” DJ said quietly, “that means Kriti too.”

  “Kriti got here about an hour ago.” Casey whispered, nodding toward the room that Kriti and Eliza shared. “The taxi dropped her, and she went straight to her room like something was wrong.”

  “What do you mean?” DJ whispered back.

  “I’m not sure. She just seemed different. Kind of unhappy. I mean, she didn’t even speak to anyone.”

  “Maybe she’s just missing her family already.”

  “Maybe . . . but my guess is it’s something more.”

  “I feel sort of guilty about Kriti. I mean, it’s like we kind of shoved her at Eliza, like she got stuck with her and can’t get unstuck. It’s not really fair.”

  “And Eliza turned her into her yes-girl.”

  “Anyway, I think we should probably try harder with Kriti. We need to be her friends.”

  “Eliza might not want to share her.”

  DJ nodded. Everyone knew how Kriti practically worshiped her heiress roommate and how much Eliza enjoyed it.

  “DJ!” Rhiannon came out of her room and threw her arms around DJ. “Welcome home!”

  “Man, it is so good to be back. Vegas — for more than a day or two — what a nightmare!”

  “At least you got a tan,” observed Rhiannon.

  “I did get in some pool time,” DJ admitted.

  Now Rhiannon looked at Casey. “You both look great.”

  “Thanks to that California sunshine,” said Casey.

  “Don’t make me jealous,” said Rhiannon. “It was mostly rain, wind, and cold in Maine.”

  “But look at you.” DJ noticed Rhiannon’s outfit. “Is that new?”

  “Old and new. My great-aunt gave me some of her old clothes — totally retro, like from the forties and fifties — and I’ve been altering them.” She held out her hands and spun around to make the long circular poodle skirt flair out. “Fun, huh?”

  “And cool,” said DJ.

  “Rhiannon’s got all kinds of great stuff,” said Casey. “Hats and costume jewelry and scarves and things. I told her she should open a retro shop and get rich.”

  “Maybe I will someday.”

  “Or just sell things here in Carter House,” suggested DJ. “Between Eliza and Taylor’s clothing budget, you could clean up.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot, DJ, Conner just called,” said Rhiannon. “His family just got back from their ski trip, and he said he tried your cell a few times, but it seemed to be turned off.”

  “More like dead. My flight was early this morning, and I forgot to charge it last night.”

  “Well, I told him you’d call.”

  Casey set DJ’s bag inside her door. “Speaking of guys, I better check on Garrison — find out if he missed me, or if he got himself another girlfriend while I was gone.” She touched her hair. “Think he’ll like this?”

  “How could he not?” said Rhiannon.

  “Later,” called Casey as she headed for her room.

  “So, how’s Taylor?” asked Rhiannon quietly.

  DJ pulled Rhiannon into her room and shut the door. “You didn’t tell Kriti, did you?”

  “No, why would I?”

  “I just wanted to be sure. I was surprised that you told Casey.”

  “Casey told me she’d talked to you while you were in Vegas . . . I just assumed she already knew.” Rhiannon’s green eyes grew wide. “Was I supposed to keep it a secret?”

  “I just think we need to respect Taylor’s privacy. I told Casey to keep it to herself.”

  “Absolutely.” Rhiannon held up her hand like a pledge. “So, have you talked to her since she went in?”

  “They won’t let me. I tried to call, and they made it clear that they have a no-communication policy. No email, cell phones . . . nothing. It’s like a black hole. Kind of freaky.”

  Rhiannon nodded. “Yeah, it was like that with my mom at first. I think they just wanted to keep her cut off from any bad connections. Then after a while, she earned communication privileges. It’s probably the same where Taylor is.”

  “I hope so.” DJ didn’t want to admit how much she’d been worrying about this. Not even to Rhiannon.

  “I still can’t believe Taylor went there willingly.”

  “Yeah, the wild child . . . putting herself into rehab.” DJ shook her head. “Pretty shocking, huh?”

  Rhiannon put a hand on DJ’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about her, DJ. This is a good thing.”

  “I know.” DJ turned away to unzip a suitcase.

  “And we’re both praying for her.”

  “Absolutely.” DJ pulled her clothes out of her bag and tossed them onto Taylor’s neatly made bed. Obviously the work of Inez. “I might as well make myself comfortable in here,” she said. “As long as Taylor’s gone.” Now DJ turned and looked at Rhiannon with worried eyes. “I just hope she’s okay.”

  “I’m sure she’s just fine,” Rhiannon assured her.

  Rhiannon left, and DJ finished unpacking. Then she stood looking at the quiet bedroom, staring at Taylor’s side, and suddenly missing her more than ever. DJ told herself this was crazy. Totally nuts. If anything, DJ should enjoy this solitude. Having a room to herself again was a real luxury. And, really, missing Taylor was kind of like missing a toothache.

  To distract herself, DJ plugged her cell phone into the charger, then dialed Conner’s number. “Heard you called.”

  “You’re back?” His voice sounded happy, and suddenly DJ wished she was with him.

  “Yeah, I just flew in this afternoon. It’s so good to be home. How about you? When did you get back?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “How was it?”

  “Fantastic. Great snow. Nice place. But I did miss you.”

  “Really?”

  “You bet.”

  “I missed you too.”

  “Seriously? Wouldn’t that be hard to do in Vegas?”

  DJ laughed. “Okay, how much did Rhiannon tell you?”

  “Just that you were in Vegas. That you’d gone to hang with Taylor.” There was a pause now. “Seriously, DJ, what was up with that?”

  “I know it sounds pretty random.”

  “And insane.”

  “Taylor was lonely. I was bored. Grandmother gave her okay.

  The next thing I knew I was in Sin City.” DJ kind of laughed.

  “So . . . how’d it go?”

  “We had our ups and downs. But the good news is that I think God was at work. I can’t go into all the juicy details . . .”

  “Give a guy a break.”

  “Let’s just say that Taylor really talked. Now I understand her a little better.”

  “Is that even possible?”

  “She’s been through some really rough stuff.”

  “Is that why she drags you through rough stuff too?”

  “Maybe.” DJ was ready for a new subject. “So, what’ve you been up to, Conner?”

  “I just got done shooting hoops, and I’m starving. You want to grab a bite and see a movie or something?”

  “I’m probably not good for a late night. I got up around four this morning.”

  “But that was West Coast time, right?”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t sleep much before that either.”

  “Are you awake enough to go to the Hammerhead?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “See you in a few?”

  “I’m already salivating.”

  “Over me
?”

  “Actually, I was thinking about the fish and chips.”

  “Thanks a lot.”

  But when Conner arrived to pick her up, she threw her arms around him. “I am so glad to see you!”

  He hugged her tightly. “Man, I missed you, DJ!”

  “Hey, you got a tan too,” she pointed out as they walked to his pickup.

  “Just my face.”

  She chuckled. “Well, I did better than that.”

  “So you girls didn’t get into any trouble in Vegas?” he asked as he started the engine.

  “Remember what they say . . .”

  “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?”

  She laughed. “That’s right.”

  “Come on,” he urged as he drove. “Something must’ve happened there. I can’t imagine two hot babes like you and Taylor strolling around Vegas and not stirring up some kind of trouble. I mean, we are talking about the same Taylor, aren’t we?”

  “The same, but maybe changing.”

  “So what happened? Give me the gory details.”

  “Okay, I’ll admit that Taylor did some drinking.”

  “Big surprise there.”

  “She gave me a fake ID for Christmas.”

  “Did you use it?”

  “She practically shoved me into the club.”

  “You went clubbing?”

  “Taylor went clubbing . . . I went as her bodyguard.”

  Conner frowned. “I can’t really see you as a bodyguard.”

  “Thanks a lot.” She flexed a bicep.

  “I know you’re strong.”

  “I can hold my own.”

  “I just meant, two pretty girls like you and Taylor. You’d both need a bodyguard.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled at him. “But I did my best to keep Taylor out of trouble. It was like babysitting. Not much fun.”

  “I’m still shocked that you went in the first place.” Conner parked the truck and helped her out. “You’re not really the Vegas type.”

  “And I will take that as a compliment.” She linked arms with him as they went into the café. Then, to distract him from more questions about Taylor, she told him about Eva Perez and the concerts and some of the Vegas sights.

  “It feels like it’s been a year since I saw you.” Conner smiled as they sat across from each other. “You look better than ever.”

  “Back at you.”

  “I almost got a phone card so I could call you on a pay phone, but I didn’t want to get fined.”

  “Huh?”

  “Yeah. Fifty bucks.”

  “Why?”

  “My dad’s little game. When we realized our cell phones didn’t work at the resort, he challenged us to totally disconnect. To make it interesting, he attached fifty bucks. Anyone caught breaking the rules was fined fifty bucks, but those who didn’t were rewarded with a C-note.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, it was tough at first. We all went through serious withdrawal. But then it was okay.” He laughed. “The best part was catching my dad on a pay phone in the ski lodge, and he had to pay me.”

  “Sounds fun.”

  “And profitable.”

  While Conner looked at the menu (which they both probably knew by heart), DJ studied him. His life was so totally different than hers. Sometimes it almost seemed like a dream to hear him talk about it. And sometimes it bugged her to hear him taking his family for granted. Sure, he appreciated them, but he didn’t always realize what he had. She mentally compared their Christmases and imagined what it would feel like to spend hers with caring parents and interesting siblings, together at a ski lodge, cut off from the rest of the world and just having good clean fun like that. Meanwhile she’d been in Vegas with Taylor. She sighed.

  As much as DJ didn’t like feeling jealous of others, particularly her boyfriend, it was hard not to compare her “family” situation to his. Living in a boarding house with a bunch of teenage girls, having someone like Grandmother for her guardian, the whole focus on appearances and modeling . . . she wondered how it would feel to switch places with Conner.

  3

  GRANDMOTHER DINGED HER FORK against her coffee cup, then cleared her throat as if getting ready to make a big speech. It was the morning of New Year’s Eve, and everyone except Taylor had returned from Christmas break.

  “First of all, I want to welcome you all back to Carter House officially.” Grandmother smiled as she turned her attention to Eliza. “I heard you arrived late last night. I do hope your holidays went well.”

  “Yes. France was very nice. We spent some time on the Riviera and even got in a little skiing at Paradiski.”

  “Oh, that sounds lovely, dear. I’m surprised you didn’t want to stay for the New Year’s celebrations.”

  “I missed my Harry.” Eliza smiled in a coy way. “Speaking of Harry . . . I know this is very last minute, Mrs. Carter, but he and I wondered if we might have a New Year’s Eve shindig here. He had planned to have a small gathering at his parents’ beach house, but he just found out it’s already promised to friends for the weekend. His parents are having company at his house . . . and poor Harry has already invited his guests and arranged for catering, and now he doesn’t know what to do.”

  Grandmother frowned slightly . . . or as much as her latest Botox would allow. “I don’t know, dear . . . that last party . . . at Halloween . . . got a bit out of hand.”

  “It did,” agreed Eliza. “But that was only because we had party crashers, but that wouldn’t be the case this time.”

  Grandmother placed a finger on her chin as if considering this.

  “Naturally, Harry and I would take complete responsibility for everything, from the caterers to the cleaning ser vices afterward,” promised Eliza. Then she gave Grandmother her most charming smile. “I told my mother how much you make us all feel at home here, Mrs. Carter. How you treat us as if we’re your own family.”

  DJ suppressed the urge to gag.

  “Well . . .” Grandmother sighed loudly. “I suppose a party would be all right. As long as you do as you promise, Eliza. I expect you to take full responsibility for the outcome.”

  “Absolutely.” Eliza nodded.

  “I suppose I’ll need to cancel my plans with the general.

  He got us reservations at the country club party, and we were meeting friends.”

  “Go ahead and go out,” urged Eliza. “We’ll be just fine. If you like, we could pay Inez or Clara to stick around as chaperones.”

  DJ couldn’t help but roll her eyes at this ludicrous suggestion. Both Clara and Inez knew enough to lie low and keep their mouths shut when it came to some of these little rich girl games. Some chaperones.

  “Yes.” Grandmother nodded slowly. “I think that would be a good idea.”

  “Great,” said Eliza, folding and placing her napkin off to one side. “I’ll have to call Harry and tell him the good news.”

  “Not quite yet,” said Grandmother. “I have some very important and exciting news that I wish to share with everyone first.” She cleared her throat for the second time, then launched into a rather long-winded monologue about Dylan’s gracious invitation for the Carter House girls to show off his new line during Fashion Week.

  “Oh, that is exciting,” gushed Eliza.

  “We’ll all be modeling?” asked Kriti uncertainly.

  “Yes, of course. Dylan wants all of you girls to participate.” Grandmother looked around the table, pausing at the empty chair where Taylor usually sat. “Including Taylor.” Her voice sounded confident, but her eyes clouded ever so slightly. DJ wondered if Grandmother was worried about Taylor too.

  “Does this mean we’ll have to learn how to walk again?” Casey, as usual, couldn’t hide her disinterest. But DJ understood. Already she had suppressed the urge to groan several times this morning. Then, as if reading her thoughts, Grandmother tossed DJ a withering glance. Like she had something to do with Casey’s attitude.

  “I hope you gir
ls appreciate what a marvelous opportunity this is for all of you.” Grandmother looked directly at Casey now. “Spring Fashion Week in New York is one of the fashion events of the season. Everyone who is anyone in the fashion world will be there. You should be thankful for such a privilege.”

  Casey sighed, but Grandmother continued droning on. “Naturally, we will need to begin practicing at once. I would like to start our classes this upcoming Saturday. And then on every Saturday morning up until the event, which will be the last week of January. I will expect all the girls to meet me on the third floor where we will have a runway in place. I’m having it constructed to the exact proportions of Dylan’s catwalk. We’ll use it to practice on.”

  “How long are these practices going to take?” asked DJ.

  “We’ll begin promptly at nine,” said Grandmother. “And we will end at noon with a light lunch.”

  “Three hours?” DJ couldn’t help but grimace.

  “We will focus not only on modeling, Desiree, but also manners, grooming, deportment, and other matters that certain young women are in dire need of these days. It’s becoming more and more apparent that the younger generation is degenerating by the minute.” Grandmother’s stern expression suddenly brightened. “In fact, my granddaughter has given me a most delightful idea.”

  DJ couldn’t help herself as a groan escaped. “What now?”

  “I shall open these classes to the public. Goodness knows there are dozens of other girls in this town . . . girls from good families who are sadly lacking in the social graces. We shall include them.” Grandmother clasped her hands together. “For a small fee, of course.”

  Now DJ groaned even louder.

  Grandmother sent her another warning look. “I think you are making the need for such training painfully apparent, Desiree.” Grandmother stood with perfect posture and an even expression. “Now, if you will excuse me, ladies, I have some phone calls to make. Have a good day.”

  “Way to go, DJ,” Casey said after Grandmother was out of hearing distance. “Thanks to you, this craziness will be open to the public.”

  “Are you saying you didn’t have something to do with that too?” DJ tossed back.

  “Maybe. But now we get to look like fools in front of others.”

  “You don’t think they’ll look like fools too?” asked DJ.