‘So do I get to see where you live, Miss de Santoval?’ he asked, as he unloaded the trunk of her bags.
Grace laughed. ‘Are you asking for an invitation?’
‘Are you offering one?’
‘I have my sisters coming over, sorry.’ It was true. They were coming to go through their presentation for the bank and the board meeting.
‘Another time then?’ He stood with his hands in his pockets.
‘Yes, I’ll call you tomorrow?’
‘I’ll call you tonight,’ he said, and reached over and hugged her. ‘I’m here you know, if you need anything.’
‘Thanks.’ She leaned against his chest. ‘You need a coat. It’s too cold for these sweatshirts.’
‘Yes, I’ll get one,’ he said.
Grace smiled into his chest. Finally letting go of him, she rushed upstairs to get ready for Violetta and Carlotta’s arrival.
Upon hearing about Calypso’s agreement to be the new face of Pajaro, Violetta and Carlotta had spun into action and were due in the next hour. Grace pulled off her travel clothes, wriggled into her jeans and a white T-shirt, and washed her face. Standing up straight in the bathroom, she waited and then ran to the door. Violetta was struggling with bags and folios.
‘Did you hear me? I hadn’t buzzed yet,’ she said breathlessly.
‘I didn’t, I just had a feeling you were here already,’ said Grace, smiling at her sister.
‘You were always the spooky triplet,’ laughed Violetta.
Violetta dumped her bags on the sofa, put her hands on her hips and looked at her sister. ‘You look different.’
Grace blushed. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You, you look different. What did you get up to in LA?’ interrogated Violetta.
‘Nothing, I just worked,’ said Grace, turning from her sister.
Violetta started to dance around her. ‘You got your groove back, gurrll!’ she sang.
Grace started to laugh hysterically as Violetta danced around her like a lap dancer.
‘What’s his name? What’s his name?’ she sang as she pushed Grace onto the sofa and started to tickle her.
Grace was crying with laughter. ‘Stop it, stop it,’ she cried.
‘Stop it? Is that his name? That must be weird when you call his name out in the bedroom,’ teased Violetta.
Grace was lying on the sofa and Violetta was sitting on top of her when the buzzer sounded to announce the arrival of Carlotta. Violetta jumped up and opened the door, and ran back and jumped back on her younger sister.
‘What’s going on?’ laughed Carlotta, looking at her sisters.
‘Grace got some LA action,’ said Violetta.
‘Really?’ asked Carlotta, shocked. She couldn’t remember when Grace last had a boyfriend, besides that drippy William from college, but he didn’t count.
‘Tell me more,’ she said as she sat down opposite her sisters.
‘I surrender,’ moaned Grace from under Violetta’s bottom.
Finally her sister moved off her.
