“You don’t have to buy me anything,” Rose protested.
“Now!” Lucy pointed at her. “Move it, sister. You too, Lillian. This is a girls’ trip.”
Lillian got up and tapped Rose on the shoulder. “You can’t fight her. Just go with it.”
She sighed, a small smile on her lips. “Fine.”
Chapter Six
The seaplane’s engine hummed along, a calming drone for Rose’s nerves. She thought her last flight was a special treat – first seeing the islands from above, then a short hour later, the city of Seattle expanding beneath them, the rows of buildings surrounded by the sea.
But now this was her commute to work. It was surreal, and she couldn’t get enough of the view.
The flight was too short, really. The pilot announced their approach for Lake Union and Rose gazed through her window, down at the lake littered with white boats gliding in slow motion.
As the plane got lower, details came into view: the windows on the buildings, people riding bicycles on the streets below, the yellow flags lining the docks. They touched down gently and glided to a slow, bumbling crawl. A boat with a tall, blindingly white sail drifted by, and she could see the Space Needle straight ahead.
It was the perfect day to start her new job. The sun was shining, yet the air was cool. For once, she wasn’t sweating. The outfit Lucy had bought for her was like nothing she’d ever pick out for herself – an A-line black dress that went to her knee, the fabric a soft and cool wool, and a blazer that extended just beyond her hips and provided “a long line for the eye,” as Lucy had put it.
She was right about everything. Rose hadn’t wanted to trust her, but the outfit looked amazing. Even the blazer’s loud print, with tangerine and pink flowers, looked marvelous. Rose looked like a professional, and she felt like a million bucks.
It might as well have cost a million bucks. Rose never would’ve picked clothes so expensive, and she fully intended to pay Lucy back once she got her first paycheck. She wasn’t counting on getting many paychecks – surely they’d fire her once they found out what a fraud she was – but even a few would help. Then she’d get back on the job market,andshe’d have this awesome outfit to show for it.
The pilot stopped the plane and hopped out. He offered Rose a hand as she stepped onto the dock in her heels.
“Lovely flying with you,” he said with a nod, his eyes peeking out from behind his aviators.
Rose smiled at him. “You too!”
She walked to the street where a car was waiting. Craig had sent it; he said she could order the company car any time she was in town.
It all seemed extravagant, but what was she going to do, refuse? She had to act like it was all normal, expected, even.
The driver spotted her and waved. “Dr. Woodson, very nice to meet you.”
“Please, call me Rose.”
“Rose,” he said with a nod. “May I take your luggage?”
She gripped the strap on her shoulder. She’d stuffed enough clothes for a week into the little duffel bag she’d borrowed from Lucy. Initially, she was proud of herself for fitting everything in, but now she was embarrassed by how rounded and messy it looked. “No, that’s all right, but thank you.”
“I’m happy to drop it off at your room.”
“Oh.” She paused. That week she’d decided to stay at one of the SerenadeMe apartments Craig had told her about. She wanted to be able to come into the office, since her first clients were going to be locals.
“It’s no problem at all,” he said, extending a hand. “Please, allow me.”
How could she pretend like this was normal? “Are you sure?” she asked in a small voice.
He grinned. “Absolutely. It’ll give me an excuse to get myself another tea. I’m doing a cleanse.”
She pulled the strap off her shoulder and handed the bag to him. “Thank you. I really do appreciate it. I’ve done the tea cleanse – what day are you on?”
“Of course. And it’s day three. I feel awful. When does it get better?”
She made a face. “Honestly? Never. I thought I was dying the entire time.”
He laughed and waved a hand toward the car. Rose slipped into the SUV, where a glass bottle of bubbly water was waiting for her.
