“Have you been on a college campus in the last three decades?” She clutched her head with both hands. “I can’t believe this is happening. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.”
Just when Libby thought she couldn’t feel any worse. “None of this is Hildy’s fault. She’s incredibly smart and motivated and full of ideas. Any company would be lucky to have her.”
Uncle Richard lowered his glasses to give Libby a look of deep disdain. “You’ll pardon me if I don’t believe anything you have to say.”
“Seriously—whatever your name is.” Hildy didn’t lift her head. “Don’t do me any favors. The last thing I need is more help fromyou.”
Keoki strolled into the room, his smile wilting. “Hey… everybody. I thought Me-mas was a happy day?”
“Me-mas is canceled,” Hildy said. “Along with everything else.” Jean offered her the champagne.
“I believe that is my property.” Mr. L grabbed the bottle away from Jean, handing it to Hildy himself. “There’s nothing here that belongs to you three. Except that.” He pointed at the portrait, like they were doing a courtroom scene and Libby’s nudie picture was on trial.
He might not be getting a green card out of the bargain, but at least they could give him this, Libby reflected. A moment to chew the scenery to his heart’s content.
“I expect you to remove it from the premises, along with yourselves, in the next ten minutes.” Mr. L paused to give them his most threatening look. Libby rated it about a four. “Otherwise, I will have to consider my legal options. I could sue for breach of contract.”
Uncle Richard nodded his support. “A man is only as good as his lawyers.”
“Good luck suing us for not doing something illegal.” Jean sauntered to the ladder and started to climb. “And if you don’t appreciate my art, you don’t deserve it.”
After unfastening the butterfly clips that held the painting in place, she carefully rolled it before descending. “Put that in your pipes and smoke it.”
When Jean jerked her head at the door, Libby and Keoki fell in behind her. Neither of them could top that exit line.
Libby risked a final backward glance. She was clinging to the desperate hope that Jefferson might appear, but there was no sign of him.
The room, and the house, and her life, echoed with his absence.
Chapter 26
lovelillibetMy favorite soundtrack on long drives is a meditation app. A close second is total silence, which offers its own scope for thought.
Love, Lillibet
Image: A two-lane road winds down a steep incline with a sheer drop on one side.
#centering #myownbestfriend #auralhygiene
Keoki stared at the road in front of his truck. He was still dazed, which was probably a blessing. A shot of Novocain to the brain, before the real pain set in. “What happened back there?”
It wasn’t quite an accusation, though there was an undercurrent of,I was gone for an hour. How could you screw everything up that fast?
“Libby Long Legs here decided to burn it all down.” Jean pantomimed pulling the pin out of a grenade with her teeth and tossing it underhand, whistling as it descended to an invisible explosion. “It would have been impressive, if we weren’t so totally hosed right now.”
“Mr. L looked pissed.” Keoki glanced to his right, like he was hoping they’d contradict him. When Libby shrugged to say,Pretty much,his brows drew together. “But he knew all about it. It’s not like it was a surprise.”
“Except she signed the prenup,” Jean informed him. “Thatmight have gotten his hopes up.”And who could blame him?She didn’t say that part, but Libby heard it loud and clear.
“I didn’t know, Libs.” Keoki gripped her shoulder, shaking lightly. “I wasn’t setting you up to marry the guy.”
“I know.”
“Were you really thinking about it?” Keoki’s tone was harder to read. Disbelief, mostly; Libby didn’t thinkhewas disappointed in her. Or, at least, not for that.
“No.” Was that completely true? “I don’t know. I think I was trying to make Jean happy, and it got out of hand.”
Her roommate snorted. “Right. I was definitely top of mind for you. Especially last night. And this morning.” She leaned past Libby to address Keoki. “Mr. L will be fine. If anything, he’ll come out ahead. Fancy new faucets in every Johnson Media property. That’s how those people think.I have money and you have money so together I bet we can make even more money. Wheee!”
