“How long will Bennett get to stay before he has to go back?” Douglass asks.
Harper’s finger glides through the condensation on the outside of her glass. “A day. He’ll have to fly back the same night.”
Her sadness is palpable, only because she misses him like crazy.
I love to watch sports and admire the hell out of any athlete for what they do, but I don’t think I could ever live out of a suitcase or be away from home for half the year. During the season, players get one day off about every ten days or so. Bennett and Harper have worked out a schedule to where either he flies home, or she flies to him.
“Douglass should come with us to Opening Day,” I suggest.
In response, Douglass turns sideways in her chair, literally giving me the cold shoulder. Her blatant attempts at brushing me off are starting to annoy me. If she has a problem with me because of Amelia, she needs to say so. Say something. I’d even take, “You’re an asshole,” over her silent treatment.
Then again, why do I care so much what she thinks of me? Amelia cheated on me, not the other way around. I had every right to call off the wedding and give her older sister a big fuck you.
“You absolutely have to,” Harper replies, cheering up. “We have a VIP suite and box seats for every home game, but I like to sit in the stands behind the dugout closest to third base since Bennett plays shortstop. Oh! And Mason, Carter, Christy, and Michelle are coming for Opening Day. It’ll be like old times at CU watching the guys play.”
Douglass’s smile is genuine when she replies, “I’d like that.”
“Have you spoken to Mason lately?” Harper asks, biting into her burger.
Douglass gathers her thick hair with her hand. I’m transfixed as she lifts the mass of auburn hair from her neck and pulls it to one side, draping it over her left shoulder. Little Douglass Donnelly has definitely matured into a beautiful woman in the last five years.
“The other day. He called to see how I was settling in.”
I only met Mason once, briefly in passing, when I flew to Highland years ago after Harper was attacked by her ex and was recuperating at the Montgomery mansion. It was right after she found out Phillip Montgomery was her biological father and that she had a bunch of brothers and sisters she knew nothing about. It was also the first time I met her. She and I have been peanut butter and jelly ever since, as the saying goes.
“How did you like CU?” I ask Douglass, interested to hear about what she’s been up to.
Douglass always had her head in a book and dreamed about going to college once she graduated high school. I’m a little surprised to hear that Harper met her at CU. I thought Douglass had decided to go to Rice to pursue a degree in their writing and communication program. She’d won several awards in school for her short stories and used to carry around a blue journal with her everywhere she went. She started doing that right after her mother died. I never asked her about the journal or what she wrote in it. Natalie had the girls see a grief counselor for a while to help them process their loss, so I figured it was something the therapist suggested she do, and therefore was none of my damn business. Amelia didn’t like therapy and stopped going after a month. Said it was a waste of time.
I never knew what happened to Douglass after the last time I saw her. It was like one day she was here, and the next day she was gone. Then again, that was the time I had completely checked out and drank myself into oblivion most days in order to escape my miserable, fucked-up life. I’m surprised I can remember anything from those two years.
“Douglass,” I say, irritated when she doesn’t answer me.
She jolts in her seat but continues to pretend I don’t exist.
“I need to find a job. Know anywhere that needs a waitress or wait staff?”
Waitress? Why the hell does she want to work as a waitress?
“Douglass,” I say more harshly, and she flinches.
I frown at her reaction. One second, I’m met with homicidal anger; the next, frightened timidity.
“If I hadn’t just hired a new assistant at the gallery, I’d ask you to come work for me.” Harper looks at me, imploring me to jump in at any time.
“Thank you. That’s really sweet of you. I can’t wait to see your gallery.”
“Douglass,” I try again.
Her hand clenches into a tight fist on top of the table.
“Why don’t you drop by tomorrow, and I’ll give you the grand tour? I’ve done a few new pieces I can’t wait to show you. And we can have lunch at this awesome little bistro located around the corner.”
“I’m excited to see what you’ve painted. Your girl in the thunderstorm is still my favorite.”
“I hung that one above the reception desk. I’ll never sell it.” Suddenly, Harper snaps her fingers. “Hey, you should talk to Mike. I think he’s looking for a new bartender. Didn’t he say he needed to hire someone to help run the bar?” she asks me.
Douglass shrugs a shoulder. “It’s okay. I’m sure I’ll find something.”
