Children should be treated this well, she thought as she passed the polished metal bodies that sparkled as radiantly as the sets of silver in her father’s mansion. If parents spent as much time with their children as these owners obviously spent on their vehicles, kids would never know loneliness.
The train of thought led to Kara. How much love and attention did she receive, given that her parents were dead? Jess shook her head when she immediately realized she could ask the same thing about TJ. Did the eleven years separating them mean the pain of such a devastating turn of events had impacted TJ any less than it did Kara? She doubted it. The difference was Kara had someone to care for her. TJ had stepped into the role of guardian, taking on the significant responsibility at a young age. What toll was it exacting?
TJ worked hard, somehow managing to attend a demanding graduate program and care for her sister at the same time. A pang of guilt made Jess’s stomach clench. Why had Kara invited her? Shouldn’t just the two of them spend this day together? Their one-on-one time together was limited. Jess was intruding. As she considered heading back to her car, she saw TJ and Kara waiting for her near the gate. Kara raised a crutch to draw her attention.
Once TJ caught sight of her, confusion registered on her face. TJ spoke into Kara’s ear, but Kara’s smile didn’t change and her gaze didn’t waver. TJ’s elbow quickly jabbed into Kara’s side, though she smiled politely.
Too late to turn around, Jess approached. TJ wore a black polo shirt and charcoal jeans that clung to her like honey on a spoon. The shirt was open at the collar, the sleeves stopping where her defined triceps began. Her large silver watch provided exactly enough jewelry to give her a slightly feminine air. It annoyed Jess the way stylish Hollywood power celebrities did—they were so damn perfect, you could never measure up. How could something as plain as a polo shirt and jeans make TJ look delectable? Cotton-mouthed, Jess was grateful she could still speak. “Hey, guys,” she said. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
Reaching into her jeans pocket, Kara retrieved a ticket and offered it to Jess. “Thanks for introducing me to Dillon.”
Jess reached for her purse and sought her wallet. “Don’t be silly. There’s no need to thank me for—” TJ’s hand on her wrist stopped her.
“Ah ah ah. Please,” TJ said.
Jess glanced between the sisters. Kara seemed so pleased at the prospect of treating her to the show, she could hardly decline. She took the proffered stub. “Thank you. Your texts made it sound as though you and TJ wanted me to join you today.” Turning to TJ, she said, “But I’ve a feeling you weren’t expecting me.”
“We both wanted you to come,” Kara said.
TJ cocked her head and raised her eyebrow.
“Don’t give me that. Just because you didn’t say anything doesn’t make it untrue,” Kara said. “Let’s get this party started.” Kara led the way, excitedly chattering about some of the cars in the winner’s circle, not slowed in the least by her crutches. TJ and Jess followed.
“I think my sister’s been taking lessons from your stepmother,” TJ said.
“God. Don’t say things like that.”
TJ leaned close and whispered conspiratorially. “I think she’s trying to set us up.”
Jess smiled. “So I wasn’t imagining you weren’t expecting me?”
“No, but I’m glad you’re here.”
“Are you?”
“I can think of worse things than being in your company.”
“Flatterer.”
TJ laughed. Jess loved the joyful sound and the way the skin around TJ’s eyes crinkled. She wanted to make TJ laugh time and again. Seeing her carefree and happy felt as good as a hug from an old friend.
“You want to tell her the rules, Kare?” TJ asked.
Jess pretended to be more interested in the surrounding spectacle than her colleague. “Rules?”
“More like games, really,” Kara clarified. “Pick your favorites. Like, pick your favorite date-mobile, outfit, artery-hardener, date, etcetera. You have to say your reasons and we all vote.”
“Date-mobile?” Jess asked.
TJ chimed in. “You know, like Greased Lightning. Usually something with bench seats. Something good for, you know, necking.”
Jess laughed. “Necking? That’s still a word?”
“Lame,” Kara said.
“Oh, and making out makes more sense? At least necking gives you the gist,” TJ said.
“Favorite date?” Jess asked, not wanting to think about necking with TJ so close.
“Checking out the crowd and picking the person you’d want to take home if you could.” Kara’s expression turned thoughtful. “In your case, I guess that could be anybody.”
Jess offered an amused smile. Seemed Kara was operating under the assumption that Jess was interested in men and women alike. Maybe she was. “I’d like to think I’m a little more selective than merely checking for a pulse.”
Kara shrugged. “Sorry. Sometimes I think out loud. None of my business. You can be straight, gay, bi, pan, ace, label-less, whatever. My school has all kinds. Personally I think it’d be cool to work a larger section of the spectrum, but it’s not really up to us, is it?”
How did a sixteen-year-old know this stuff? “You’re way more ahead of the game than I was at your age,” Jess said.
Kara nodded at TJ. “That’s what she’s always saying.”
TJ said to Jess, “You have no idea. Light-years.”
Jess addressed Kara. “I take that back. You’re way more ahead of the game than I am now.”
Kara used a crutch to point to an extremely muscular, heavily tattooed, early twenty-something man wearing a baseball cap and a wife-beater. “My vote so far for favorite date, though I reserve the right to change my mind.”
Jess nodded. “He’s pretty hot.”
TJ rolled her eyes, but the sparkle in her eyes gave away how much she was enjoying herself.
Kara smiled. “I think I’m going to like this year’s judges.” She ambled away on her crutches.
“So am I,” TJ said before following her sister. And as TJ did so, the thought flitted across Jess’s mind that she wouldn’t mind spending more than an afternoon with these two.
Chapter Twelve
The invitation arrived via courier, and the receptionist carried it back to TJ’s desk. It was beautiful, wrapped with a satin bow and made of thick paper stock. A tiny red-and-white origami sailboat fell onto the desk as she opened it. With a gray-and-black raised border and a small red image of a cocktail glass, it was elegant yet whimsical. It was official: Muriel Manchester had invited her and a guest for a sunset cruise on Saturday.
The other thing that was official: TJ would be completely out of her element. If Derrick Spaulding’s party had taught her anything, it was that she fit in with the rich set like almonds in a Mounds bar. The only thing she had in common with them was a love of good coffee, proven by her affair with Magnate’s espresso machine. She’d already done her part to help Magnate win over Muriel. Why continue pretending Magnate’s people were any more different than slices in a loaf of Wonder Bread?
But it gnawed at TJ to throw her hands up. She’d worked hard to arrive at the place she was in her life and didn’t walk away from a challenge. Waitressing meant dealing with folks up and down the socioeconomic ladder. There wasn’t much a person could throw at her that she hadn’t already seen in some capacity. Her goal to one day head her own nonprofit meant she’d have to court the one percent—the small number of Americans who control nearly half its wealth. Perhaps she should consider the invitation a training ground.
She stared at her laptop screen. Inspiration on planning the city-treasurer event had been sporadic, though she’d made progress. It had become a little more fun once she imagined the guests as a roomful of people wearing Pee Wee Herman costumes, holding an abacus in one hand and a glass of prune juice in the other. Jess was right. TJ had been stereotyping. She knew as little about government financial
officers as she did about the uber wealthy, and she wasn’t proud of herself for her presumptions. She didn’t appreciate when people put her in a box based on her address, clothes, or sexual orientation. She’d learned from waitressing that you couldn’t tell what kind of tipper someone would be from what they wore, their accent, or how much they chatted you up. You could only start to tell once they showed attitude or couldn’t have their persnickety requests met, and even those hints weren’t foolproof.
Why had she reverted to compartmentalizing people she didn’t know? The thought brought her back to her conversation with Jess the day they met, when Jess had asked if she’d nix dates because they earned too much. Most people would do the opposite and ax dates because of poor prospects. Leave it to Jess to call her out on it. She chuckled at the memory.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?” TJ turned to see Jess leaning against TJ’s cubicle wall. “Hmm?” Her playful expression changed once she spotted the invitation on TJ’s desk.
“I was thinking about you, actually.” TJ glanced at the computer clock and stood. “Eleven twenty. You’re here early.” TJ smiled. Jess had remained true to her word, ensuring TJ stayed busy with honest-to-goodness work that kept TJ on a steep learning curve, but she continued to maintain minimal office hours. Knowing Jess was putting in significant time elsewhere and was available via phone at any time, TJ no longer cared. Jess gave TJ complete access to her during the short time she came in each day, and it was plenty helpful.
“Had to check on you. If you have any questions, come on in.” Jess headed to her office and TJ followed, invitation in hand.
“I do.” TJ sat in the guest chair and slid the paper to Jess.
Jess scanned the card and returned it. “Not surprising. I saw her speaking with you at the party.”
“What’s your take on it?”
“Muriel has a reputation as something of a lothario. I imagine she’s invited you because she’s interested. Maybe you can be the first to tame her.” TJ hadn’t heard this caustic tone since her first, disastrous week at the firm.
“I never said I was interested.”
“You didn’t have to. Muriel Manchester’s hard to resist. The media’s tied her to some of the most beautiful women in the world. She’s smart, attractive, rich, and influential. You could do worse.”
This was unexpected. Jess had made no bones about the reason TJ had been invited to Derrick’s party. But this went well beyond trying to show Muriel another side of Magnate. TJ worked there as openly lesbian and as such, knowing Jess had no issues with it and no one else seemed to, hadn’t minded playing the part. But this was far more than taking one for the team. Magnate employees had no business interfering with TJ’s personal life.
“I’m not asking your opinion on my love life. I want to know if the firm has any particular stance on my attendance at the event since the card arrived here. If the firm considers this a strictly social engagement, I don’t need your input.”
Jess took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, her expression softened, as did her tone, which immediately settled TJ down. “This isn’t a Magnate-sponsored event. It’s a personal invitation to you from someone who happens to be of interest to the firm. You’ve already gone over and above what any employer could rightfully expect of you. I want you to do what’s right for you.”
It was the professional thing for Jess to say, but something felt off. Jess had been so cheerfully welcoming mere moments before. Now she was all business. “What is it about this that’s bothering you?” TJ asked.
Jess offered one of her infuriatingly polite half-smiles TJ had come to know as a veneer. “Not a thing. From Magnate’s standpoint, we wanted Muriel to notice we’d actually hired someone who wasn’t a straight white male, and we succeeded. Your invitation’s a testament to the effort you made with Dr. Stanfield.”
More slick words that sounded hollow to TJ. Something was eating at Jess. “You don’t like her,” TJ said.
“TJ, stop fishing. Muriel and I aren’t friends, but we certainly aren’t enemies. I’ve known her for years through my parents’ functions. I’ve nothing but respect for her. She’s a straight shooter who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. I think you’d enjoy her company.” She raised a palm. “And please don’t take offense at that. It’s not an endorsement or recommendation. I’m not trying to steer you in a particular direction.”
Perhaps it was the resignation in Jess’s tone that signaled she was withholding some key piece of information. TJ tried a different angle. “It could be good for me, getting more comfortable with people of her caliber in terms of money and power.”
“I agree.”
“It could also be excruciating. She could have country music piped in through the sound system, and I’d be a prisoner with no escape except to jump ship.”
Jess lips curled up at TJ’s hyperbole. “Can you swim?”
“I can.”
“Then you’ll be fine.”
“Somehow I get the sense you’re not concerned for my safety. This could be death by Olivia Cruise.”
Jess didn’t appear troubled by the prospect. “The only risk you face on Muriel’s boat is catching flies because your mouth will be agape at all the beautiful women surrounding you.”
“A lesbian Hugh Hefner? Dear God, why invite me?” TJ rolled her eyes before taking note of the change in Jess’s expression. “What? I know what agape means. You don’t have to demonstrate.”
“You’re not serious,” Jess said.
“Yes, I really do know what it means.”
“About why she invited you.”
“No clue.”
“She invited you because she enjoys surrounding herself with extremely attractive women, especially—though not exclusively—those that play for her team. That is why she invited you.”
Unsure of how to respond, TJ sat quietly. Did Jess really think she was attractive?
“If I knew all it took was a compliment to get you to pipe down, I’d make an audio file full and play them for you on an endless loop,” Jess said.
Was it possible the change in Jess’s demeanor at seeing the invitation was due to jealousy? Did Jess think Muriel was actually interested in her? TJ didn’t have high hopes Jess was starting to feel more for her than she did toward any other colleague, but the idea intrigued her. And TJ wasn’t the type to use one woman in order to gain another’s attention. She preferred a more honest approach.
“Come on the cruise with me.” TJ said. “Be my plus-one.”
“If Muriel meant for a Spaulding to come, she’d have invited one.”
“I’m inviting one.”
“You’d be too polite to leave my side for any stretch because you’d want to make sure I was having a good time. If you want to get to know Muriel, perhaps attend by yourself.”
I want to get to know you. “You give me too much credit. I might ditch you at the first sign of one of the luscious ladies you insist will be milling about, hopefully all bikini-clad and single.” TJ waggled her eyebrows to communicate she was being purposely absurd.
“And in four-inch heels, no doubt.”
“A spectacle you simply have to see. As Kara would say, it’ll be epic.”
“Wow. It sounds so…appall—appealing.”
“You’ll come?”
Jess’s face crinkled into a wince as if she were preparing to offer her regrets.
Before Jess could decline, TJ said, “Think about Magnate. If I go by myself, it says nothing about the firm. If I go with you, she’ll know there’s at least one Spaulding who’s not afraid to be the minority in a sea of lesbians. If you want to start chipping away at her misperceptions of Magnate’s staffing practices, join me.”
After some hesitation, Jess said, “All right. Now, shall we get to work?”
TJ nodded but made no attempt to leave. “What are you working on?”
Jess raised an eyebrow.
It was now or never. TJ hadn’t been brave
enough to broach the subject of Jess’s Magnate endeavors while they were out enjoying the sunshine, fresh air, and overt sexism of yesterday’s car show, but she hadn’t gotten the subject out of her head either. Once home, she and Kara had discussed ways to get Jess to come clean, but because TJ preferred a far more direct approach than anything Kara suggested, they’d stopped batting ideas around.
Deciding to take the plunge and see where it led, TJ said, “I realize I’ve never asked. You’ve been giving me special projects and teaching me a lot, but I haven’t worked on anything you’re working on.”
“I’m a Spaulding. I don’t have to work on anything.”
“Perhaps not. But you do. Can I help?”
Jess’s jaw tightened. “Our deal was to teach you what I know. Am I not living up to my promise?”
“Very much so. But I—”
“If there’s nothing else?”
TJ was being dismissed. She hadn’t wanted to make Jess uncomfortable. She wasn’t sharing Jess’s secret but wanted her to know she had someone to confide in, if she so chose. “There is one more thing.” TJ fortified herself with a deep breath. “Kara and I discussed ways in which we could get you to admit you’re sharper than you let on. I’m sorry if that stings, but it’s the truth. I realized if there’s something I want to know about you, I should ask. I know you work hard for this firm. I don’t know why you hide it, but there you go. I hope one day you’ll let me in, and I hope you know I would never betray your confidence.”
TJ exited quickly, upset by her dispassionate tone when she was anything but indifferent. Seeing Jess’s trembling chin made TJ’s heart clench. She wanted to go to Jess, wrap her arms around her and tell her she cared, tell her she didn’t have to hide. But the next step was up to Jess. It was Jess’s secret to maintain or share as she saw fit. All TJ could do was be honest and respect Jess’s privacy.
Moments later, Jess left the building.
Chapter Thirteen
Tuesday came and went without word from Jess. TJ was grateful to be buried by the city-treasurer project. It helped take her mind off Jess. But whenever her thoughts strayed, they landed squarely on her colleague.
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