“So, you come to live with me and Dexter. I told you that I can use you as an assistant.”
I was grateful to Hollie but I didn’t want to be her assistant. I wanted my own thing. I wanted to be independent and not have my big sister look after me for the rest of my life. “I know but—”
“And when I say assistant, I mean business partner really. You could really help on the marketing side—you’re creative and clever and organized. I’d be lucky to have you.”
“I agree, you would be lucky,” I said, grinning at her. “But I’m way too expensive for you. And seriously, Hollie, I appreciate the offer, but I need to figure this out and get something on my own.”
She didn’t say it, but the question hung in the air like expensive perfume: What if you don’t find another job?
“But you’ll come live with us when the new nanny arrives? Just until you work it out?”
I nodded. It was that or go back to Oregon. “I’m travelling in August. I thought about cancelling my trip, but nobody is holding interviews in August. It’s now or September. And I have the money saved up . . . I won’t spend all of it.” Six months of being paid as a London nanny with no living expenses had been good for my savings, but the idea of spending so much when I didn’t have a job to come back to pinched at me. There was a part of me that wondered if I should just get another nanny job. Just until I found something more permanent. I really didn’t want to go back to Oregon. I didn’t want to leave Hollie. And Gabriel. And Bethany.
Gabriel and I hadn’t talked about what happened next. And although I knew the things he whispered into my ear when we lay naked, breathless with our limbs tangled together—knew the way he looked at me when we played Monopoly or cooked or I made him watch musicals—I just didn’t know how things would work when the new nanny arrived. When I moved out. I should ask him. But it seemed pointless until I knew something more about my future—at the very least, what continent I’d be living on.
“You’ve wanted to go for so long, Autumn. You should definitely still go and see the rest of Europe.”
“You never know, I might get one of the jobs I’m interviewing for next week.”
Hollie nodded enthusiastically. “You’re sure to. You went to a great college and I bet you give a great interview.”
“Anyway,” I said, wanting to change topic. “You think Mom and Dad will cope with all this?” I said, scanning the well-heeled diners and ever-attentive wait staff.
“They’ll figure it out. They don’t pay rent since Dexter bought the trailer park, so they’re used to having a bit more cash and . . . I’ve had Mom send me their measurements. They’ve picked out outfits online that I’m having made for them.”
I laughed out of shock. “They’re going to have bespoke clothes?”
“Honestly, it’s a bit of an excuse. If I organize their outfits, I know they’ll actually have something to wear and not turn around the night before and realize they need to go shopping.”
“You’ve thought of everything.”
“Apart from you. What are you wearing?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not buying me something.”
She winced, wrinkling up her nose. “I know you’re going to think I’m controlling and that’s true. But I saw this, and I just loved it and so I went ahead and bought it.” She pulled out one of those fancy cardboard bags with Alexander McQueen emblazoned across the front in a font that just screamed expensive.
“Are you serious?” I asked, half mad at her and half super-excited to see what was inside.
“Wait until you see it. It’s so good.” She swiped on her phone. “I took a screenshot from the website. Look, see.”
I took in the picture of a white, ruched bustier with black pants. She knew me too well. It was far too amazing to say no to. It was the kind of elegantly chic thing I’d see in magazines and wonder what kind of woman I’d feel like if I wore an outfit like that.
“It’s a jumpsuit even though it looks like a top, and that sweetheart neckline is going to look amazing on you.”
“It’s gorgeous,” I agreed, feeling a little conflicted. “But I’ve come to London to be independent. I don’t need you to buy me—” The fact was I was in a very different position now than when I’d landed here. I no longer had a job to look forward to.
“I know you can stand on your own two feet now, but I’m still your sister. And since I’m not having bridesmaids, I think it’s only fair that you let me buy your outfit. If you don’t like this one, then something else, your choice.”