“They’ve been up there a long time.” I gesture to the staircase leading to Brendan Murphy’s apartment.
“Who?” Rory asks.
“Donny and Dale. They went up to Brendan’s place.”
“I’m pretty sure they’re not having a threesome.” She laughs.
“Ooo! Shut up. They’re brothers. That’s gross.”
“Just trying to lighten your mood, sis. You’re so down in the dumps.”
The fact that Rory’s relationship is on the rocks and she’s not as down in the dumps as I am isn’t lost on me. Time to do something. Get off my ass and stop the stupid pity party. It’s no one’s fault. It just is.
“I have to admit. I love the idea of working for the city attorney’s office as an investigator. Or in any capacity, really. I’ll answer the damned phones. I just want to get my foot in the door.”
“And get closer to Donny Steel.”
“That’s a perk. I won’t deny it.”
“Head over tomorrow. Put on your best power suit and waltz right in there and ask Jade Steel for a job. She knows what our family has been through with the fire. She already feels terrible about it.”
“What if there’s no job available?”
“Show her how indispensable you are. Make her hire you.”
“I’m not going to go in and convince her to hire me if it means firing someone else. That’s not cool.”
“She won’t. Jade wouldn’t fire anyone to hire someone. Convince her she needs two investigators. You’re qualified.”
“Being qualified won’t help if there’s no job available. Come on. How many crimes does a little town like Snow Creek have? There are only so many accidents to investigate. We have a police department of two.”
“Three. We have a police department of three. And my God, Callie. The city covers part of the unincorporated county as well. Just go in and ask for a job. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“She can tell me to fuck off.”
“Which she won’t.”
“Okay. She can tell me she’s sorry but there aren’t any openings at this time.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s rejection.”
“For the love of God. We’ve all experienced rejection. Try auditioning for summer music programs and being forced to acknowledge that you’re never going to sing Cherubino at the Met. You won’t dissolve into nothingness. Besides, if there isn’t a job, she’s not rejecting you. She’s telling you there’s no job.”
“Same thing.”
Rory laughs. “You’ll be a darn good attorney, Cal. I swear to God you argue every single point all the time. Even when you know the other person is right, like I am.”
I join my sister in laughter. She’s right, of course. I’ve been this way since I began forming syllables in toddler language. It still drives my family nuts.
“So you’re going in tomorrow, right?” Rory gestures to Laney.
Laney approaches. “You need a refill?”
“Two beers,” Rory says. “We’re celebrating.”
“Celebrating what?”
“My sister here is going after her dream.”
Laney. “You’re going to school in January! That’s great!”
I bite my lip. “Not exactly.”
“Good news sure travels fast in this town,” Rory says. “No, that still has to wait.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Great, now sympathy. I hate sympathy, especially when I’m the recipient.
“Don’t be,” I say. “I’m taking another road for now.”
A road that will probably lead absolutely nowhere, but what the heck? I can go for a beer. We Pike kids are beer drinkers despite the fact that our parents produce wine. I gaze toward the staircase, where Donny disappeared into Brendan’s place. I’ve known the Steels since we moved here when I was a kid, and not once have I seen any Steel drink a beer. They’re all about wine and fine spirits.
God. And tomorrow I’m going to walk into the city attorney’s office and ask Jade Steel to hire me.
That’s going to take more audacity and courage than I have.
“I’ll get your beers.” Laney heads back to the bar, her cheeks red.
“What time should I come by your studio for lunch tomorrow?” I ask Rory.
“What? We don’t have a lunch date.”
“Yeah, we do.” I smile. “After I get shot down by Jade Steel, you’re going to buy me lunch. At Lorenzo’s. I could go for some baked ziti.”