Chapter Six

In Which Elisa Enters Stepford (Or Close to It)

The sky was streaked with pink by the time Elisa reached Bobby’s house. It had rained for about half an hour a while back, but her hair was nearly dry as she walked up the sidewalk to ring the doorbell. Her feet were killing her, and she was sweaty, despite it being October. On top it all, a car had gone past her about twenty miles over the speed limit and splattered her with a tidal wave of mud.

A maid opened the door.

“Sorry, I think you have the wrong address,” she said, beginning to close it again.

Elisa quickly stuck her foot in the doorway to keep the door from shutting. “I’m Elisa,” she said. “Julieta’s sister.”

“Oh. Oh, yes. Mr. Charles mentioned you were coming. Three hours ago.”

“It’s a long story.”

“Follow me, Miss Benitez. And please remember to wipe your feet on the doormat before you step inside.”

Deciding not to comment on how weird it was to be called “Miss Benitez,” she stepped into the house—after getting most of the mud off of her boots. The inside of the house was beautiful—white marble floors with a high ceiling, a chandelier glittering in the entry hallway. She looked around, trying her best not to gawk. The maid took her coat from her before leading her into the lounge, where Bobby, Cora, Louise, and Darcy were all playing a video game.

Oh, right. Darcy is staying here. Elisa had forgotten about that.

“Your guest has arrived,” the maid said, presenting Elisa to the others. She shifted on her feet self-consciously.

“You look like you’ve been hit with a truck,” one of the twins said.

She rolled her eyes on instinct but couldn’t really get offended—it was true. “It was a long walk.”

Bobby looked appalled. “You walked here all the way from Longbourn?”

She shrugged weakly. “Mom needed the car,” she said. The truth miiiiiight freak him out a bit.

“Why didn’t you call? I would’ve sent a car to pick you up,” he said.

“I did think of that about halfway here,” she admitted.

“You must’ve gotten caught in the rain.”

“I did.”

“Your feet must be killing you.”

“They are.”

“It looks like you got splashed with mud.”

“Yep.”

“And you still didn’t call?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“To prove a point.”

Bobby gave her an odd look before shaking his head, apparently deciding to leave it at that. “Would you like to see Julieta?”

“Yes, please.”

He gestured for her to follow him. She only got a glance at the others before she left the room. Cora and Louise were both staring at her as if she were something disgusting that they’d found on the bottom of their shoes. Darcy simply watched her with the slightest curve of a smile around her lips.

Fortunately, the McMansion Bobby lived in had an elevator, and Bobby had correctly guessed that she was in no mood to take the stairs. Elisa, for her part, couldn’t quite wrap her head around the idea of an elevator in a house. Even the one back at the apartment complex was broken half the time.

“All the guest rooms are on the east side of the second floor,” Bobby explained. “My family and I—and Darcy—all sleep in the west side.”

“Isn’t Darcy a guest, too?” Elisa asked.

“She’s never a guest,” he said with a smile. “We’ve known her way too long for that. She’s family.”

Elisa smiled, too. No wonder she’s nicer to him than anyone else.

The elevator opened with a pleasant ding! and Bobby led her down a long hallway. Elisa cringed when her still-damp feet left a trail. Feeling sorry for whoever would have to clean up the mess, she followed behind him. Every closed door looked the same to her, but he seemed to know where he was going.

Finally, they reached a door that was cracked open. Bobby knocked lightly, peering inside.

“Jules, you awake?”

“Yeah,” came her croaky reply.

“Your sister’s here.” He opened the door wider so Elisa could step in.

Julieta had dark bags under her eyes, and a trash can next to her bed, but managed to sit up, brushing some hair out of her face. “Elisa,” she said, opening her arms for a hug. In spite of her aching feet and her exhaustion, she grinned, rushing forward to sit on the bed, hugging her sister. “I figured you weren’t coming today after all.”

“Mama needed the car, so I walked,” Elisa explained.

“All the w—”

“Yes, all the way. Yes, in the rain.”

Julieta laughed. “Well, Mama’s stubbornness had to go somewhere, I guess. But Bobby would’ve given you a ride if—”

“If I’d called. Yep. I know.”

Bobby chuckled before pecking Julieta on the cheek and saying, “I’ll be right back.”

After he left, Elisa told her why, exactly, she’d walked to Netherfield instead of taking the car. Julieta groaned, looking embarrassed but not surprised.

“I’m glad you came anyway,” she said, “but Mom’s gonna kill you.”

“Yeah, her texts to me said as much.”

“What’d you say?”

“Well, I ignored her for as long as I possibly could, and then I texted back that I had already walked halfway there, so there was no point in telling me to come home now unless she wanted me walking through our end of town alone at night,” Elisa said. “And then she said, fine, if I was that determined, I could go, but I shouldn’t expect her to come and pick me up. I said I could live with that, and I’m sure that one day, we’ll be on speaking terms again.”

Julieta laughed, shaking her head. “Lisa, you didn’t have to do that. I don’t want Mom mad at you.”

“She hasn’t yelled at anyone in nearly a week. One of us was due to piss her off. Figured I’d give Cam and Lulu a break.”

“Well, you didn’t need to go to all that trouble,” Julieta said, though she was still smiling, “but I am very glad you’re here.”

“What’s it like, being a guest in Netherfield Park? Is it like visiting with royalty?”

She blushed, looking down at her lap. “Bobby has been lovely. He’s the only person I’ve seen much of for the past week. The others tend to go out or hang out downstairs. Darcy did keep an eye on me for Bobby when he had to deal with work for a few hours yesterday, though.”

She grimaced. “Ugh, being under the watchful eyes of Darcy Fitzgerald. What was that like?”

“It really wasn’t bad,” she insisted. Elisa gave her a look. “Really, it wasn’t. She’s not as…considerate as Bobby, but she was genuinely trying to help, I think. She held my hair back when I got sick, and she tried to get me to stop working for a little bit. Said it wasn’t good for me.”

“See, that is so like Darcy,” she said. “Who is she to tell you when you can or can’t work?” She paused and then reluctantly added, “It was nice of her to sit with you, though. But she still shouldn’t have told you what to do.”

Julieta tilted her head, not even trying to hide her amused smile. “I seem to remember a certain someone hiding my laptop so I’d get some sleep when we had the flu last year,” she said. “Now don’t try and tell me that was Darcy, because she wasn’t even in town yet.”

“W-well, no, but…” Elisa stumbled over her words for a second, before giving an exasperated, “You know what I mean.”

“Elisa, is it possible—just possible—that maybe you’re being a little hard on Darcy?”

“No,” she said stubbornly.

“I know she made a bad first impression—”

“And second, and third.”

“—but she’s been Bobby’s best friend for years. You like Bobby, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but…”

“If he likes her, then she can’t be that bad, can she? Not all the time, at least.”

“I think Bobby is like you,” Elisa said. “Too nice. Too forgiving.”

“Being forgiving is a good thing, Elisa.”

“Yeah, in moderation.”

Julieta sighed, leaning back against the pillows. “Well, one of us has to be,” she said. “You can be practical and cynical, and I can be naive and forgiving, how about that?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Bobby returned, then, carrying a small tray of food.

“Here you go,” he said, setting the tray on Julieta’s bedside table. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted fish or roast beef, so I brought you a little of both. And there’s vegetables and bread if the meat is too much for your stomach.” He ran a hand over Julieta’s hair, kissing her on the forehead, before turning to Elisa. “I’m sorry, Elisa, you just missed dinner—I’m sure our chef wouldn’t mind fixing you something if you’re hungry, though.”

“I’m fine,” she said. “I ate before I came.”

“Still, that was hours ago…”

“I promise, I’m fine. I can just hang out here with Julieta.”

“Actually, about that…” Bobby said. “It’s already starting to get dark out. Why don’t you stay the night? We have plenty of room, and you can spend the day here tomorrow, too.”

“I don’t want to be a bother,” Elisa said. She really didn’t want to leave, not when she’d only just arrived. “I can Uber home and come back tomorrow.” Though, she had exactly five dollars in her pocket, which might get her to the end of the road he lived on.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re always welcome. You can stay as long as you like.”

He flagged down a maid who was in the hallway and asked her to take Elisa to a room. Promising Julieta she’d come right back, Elisa followed the maid, leaving Bobby to fuss over her sister.

The guest bedroom was amazing, almost exactly like Julieta’s, except with a forest green color scheme instead of a dusty rose. There was a queen-sized bed with at least ten pillows, a flat-screen TV, a bookshelf, a desk, and even a huge walk-in closet. If this was where they kept guests, she could only imagine what the real bedrooms looked like. (She made a mental note to ask Julieta.)

“I think you’ll be very comfortable in here,” the maid said, fluffing one of the pillows. “I just changed the sheets in this room a few minutes ago, and Brenna vacuumed and dusted earlier.”

“It’s perfect,” Elisa assured her. “Thank you so much.”

“My name is Cassie, by the way. Call me if you need anything.”

“I will. Thank you, Cassie.”

After she left, Elisa slipped back down the hall to see Julieta. Bobby was still there, and his face lit up with a small smile as soon as she walked in.

“Oh, I was just about to go check on you,” he said. “Do you like your room?”

“Very much,” she said. “Thanks again for letting me crash here. I should probably call Mom so she doesn’t worry, now that I think of it.”

“Actually, about that… Julieta and I were talking, and she—well, we—were wondering if you wanted to stay until she’s feeling better?”

They both looked at her hopefully. Elisa almost laughed out loud. With Bobby sitting on the bed, holding Julieta’s hand, they looked like they were married already. And his asking as if she were a guest at their mansion, not just his, didn’t help.

“I wouldn’t want to impose,” she said. “I mean, Bobby—I’m sure you didn’t intend on having me over for longer than a few hours. And since Julieta is feeling a bit better, I can take her home tomorrow.”

He frowned and pulled Julieta’s hand to his chest.

“Elisa, have you seen the size of this place?” He laughed. “I’ve gone for a week without seeing my own sisters in here. I think I’ll live. It’s no imposition at all.”

“If you want to go home, I understand,” Julieta said. “I mean, honestly, I’m getting kind of homesick.” She glanced at Bobby and hastily added, “Not that I don’t love being here. I just miss my sisters. And Mom.”

Elisa couldn’t deny that the idea of staying in a relative stranger’s mansion for what could potentially be weeks on end seemed a bit weird and awkward to her, but Julieta seemed to have enjoyed her stay there, even with being sick. And, honestly? A vacation away from their mother and other sisters didn’t sound half-bad.

And she had really missed Julieta.

“If you’re sure I won’t be overstaying my welcome…then yes. I’ll stay,” she said.

Julieta grinned. “Oh, Elisa, that’s great.”

“Since you’ll be staying over,” Bobby said, “how about I drive you to your apartment real quick to grab some clothes, fill your mother in, that sort of thing?”

“Okay,” she said, as her heart hit the bottom of her stomach.

Bobby hurried off to grab his keys and jacket, and as soon as he was gone, Julieta said, “What’s wrong? You have that ‘sudden moment of existential dread’ look again.”

“Mom,” she said. “She’ll never let me stay here. She thought my visiting for a few hours would somehow wreck your relationship with Bobby. Imagine how she’ll react when I tell her I’m staying for at least a few more days.”

Julieta, much to Elisa’s surprise, didn’t look worried. In fact, she was smiling.

“Elisa, I’ve had a whole twenty-two years’ worth of experience in dealing with our mother, and you didn’t think I’d think of that?” she asked, pretending to be offended. “Why do you think I insisted Bobby drive you over instead of one of the chauffeurs?”

“What does that have to do with—oh.”

“I think you’ll be surprised at how agreeable Mom can be, under the right circumstances.”

…

Elisa and Bobby arrived back at Longbourn Apartments less than a half hour later. After seeing Netherfield Park, she felt somewhat embarrassed at her neighborhood, though that was ridiculous. He had been there before and clearly didn’t mind. It wasn’t a slum, exactly, but most of the houses were boarded up, and the only businesses still operating within walking distance of the apartment complex were two liquor stores, a gas station that ran out of gas to sell with annoying frequency, a thrift store, a strip club, and one surprisingly amazing food cart. She had never been thrilled with the neighborhood she called home, but being outright embarrassed by it was new to her.

Alejandra came to the door almost immediately after Elisa unlocked and opened it. She did a double take when she saw Bobby and forced a charming smile. Evidently, she’d decided to wait on throttling Elisa until he was gone.

“I was wondering when you’d get back. Thank you so much for giving her a ride home, Bobby,” she said. “How’s Julieta feeling?”

“She’s better, but still pretty sick,” Bobby said. “Actually, Ms. Bello, I invited Elisa to stay until Julieta’s feeling better.”

She stared at him for a split second before her eyes flicked to Elisa, saying what the hell are you doing.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said quickly.

“Please, it’s my pleasure. Julieta said she’s been missing home, and I think Elisa staying would help a bit.”

Julieta, you absolute genius.

“Elisa’s in school,” Mom said, clearly thinking on her feet.

“Oh, that isn’t a problem. Darcy commutes there all the time from the house, she said the drive isn’t bad at all. In fact, Elisa can even commute with her on the days they have that class together.”

Elisa froze for a second. She really, really needed to quit forgetting about Darcy. She guessed that the college was a half hour’s drive from Netherfield Park—which was actually shorter than her normal commute, so fine. But a half hour in a car twice a week with Darcy? And she hadn’t even thought about how she’d be living under the same roof as her.

If she’d thought this through all the way, she would’ve said no. It was one thing to come over for a couple of hours, avoid Darcy during that time, leave, and return the next day. Actually living there would make avoiding her outright impossible, even without counting the commute.

She couldn’t change her mind and disappoint Julieta or let her mother win.

Ah, karma. You’re a bitch.

Bobby was still talking.

“I promise, Ms. Bello, I’m happy to have Elisa stay with us. And I’m sure Darcy will be glad to have some company that isn’t me or my sisters.”

Yeah. No.

Mom’s eyes flicked between Bobby and Elisa. Elisa had to give Julieta some credit; she definitely knew their mother. She would never refuse Bobby’s very generous offer, especially not when he was her eldest daughter’s kind-of-sort-of-maybe-almost boyfriend.

“If you’re sure. Elisa, I’ll help you get a bag together.” Her tone was pleasant, but her eyes said “murder.” Bobby didn’t seem to notice.

Once they were alone in Elisa’s room, her mother’s smile dropped off her face, and she gave her most withering look.

“Clever,” she said. “I’ll give you that. But understand that if you screw anything up for Bobby and Julieta, you are grounded until the third coming of Jesus.”

“You mean second.”

“Oh, you wish.”

Elisa barely repressed an eye-roll. “Mama, they invited me, remember?”

“Why didn’t you say no?”

“Because Julieta hasn’t seen any of us in days, and she’s obviously lonely over there. I mean, Bobby’s been great, but she’s been stuck in bed for a week.”

Alejandra threw up her hands. “Julieta should know better.”

“Maybe love is clouding her judgment,” she said dryly.

“One can only hope.” She sighed and began picking out clothes for her to bring with her. “You know, your other sisters are gonna miss you.”

Elisa rolled her eyes as she grabbed some books to bring. “Oh, come on. A few days with no nagging older sisters? They’ll be thrilled.”

“I’m gonna miss you.”

Her expression softened ever so slightly. “You know you could always come over to visit Jules,” she said. “I know she’d be happy to see you.”

Mom sighed, shaking her head. “Believe me, I’d like to. But I’ve been working all these extra hours, and then next thing I know it’s nighttime, and I’m exhausted and in no state to be talking to anyone… I call her, though. I can usually manage that on my lunch break.” She sighed, running a hand through her messy hair. “I’d love to take the afternoon off some time and visit, but it’s just not doable.”

“Mom, don’t beat yourself up. You work hard to support us. Julieta understands that. We all do.” Elisa pecked her on the cheek. “And I promise to call you, too. It’s not like I’m moving across the country. Just staying across town for a few days.”

“Netherfield Park may as well be a different planet.”

She nodded. “You have no idea.”

“Listen—if you’re gonna be there, then you’re gonna help, okay?” Mom said. “I mean it. Imply that he should ask Julieta to be exclusive, give him tips on what kind of presents she likes, arrange a private candlelit dinner for them as a surprise, pop in a Beyoncé CD when they’re alone in a room, lock them into closets together—the whole nine yards.”

Elisa chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do.”

…

Elisa overslept and missed breakfast the next day, but that was okay, since that meant she’d missed spending a whole meal with Cora, Louise, and Darcy. When she went to check on Julieta, she found her curled up on her side, groaning. The trash can was within arm’s reach, though it luckily looked like she hadn’t hurled. Yet.

“It’s always the worst in the morning,” she mumbled half to herself as Elisa came to sit in the chair next to her bed.

“I’m sorry, Jules,” Elisa said, biting her lip. “Want me to get Bobby?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not that bad,” she said. “It just feels like there’s a rock in my stomach.”

“That sounds bad.”

“Earlier this week it was a snake. I’ll take the rock. Besides, I don’t want Bobby to spend all day fussing over me.”

Elisa went to push a lock of Julieta’s hair behind her ear. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Keep me company. I’ve been going a bit stir-crazy in here.”

Elisa fetched some food from the kitchen to make up for missing breakfast, and then she was content to spend the day in her sister’s room, watching TV while Julieta typed on her laptop—once the pain had lessened enough for her to sit up. It was almost like being at home…if home had a huge TV and the occasional maid popping in to see if there was anything they needed. Elisa wasn’t sure what would take the most getting used to; being called “Miss Benitez,” or being asked, “Can I get you anything?” every couple of hours.

Eventually, Julieta drifted off to sleep, still sitting up. Gently taking the laptop and setting it on the table, Elisa pulled a blanket over her older sister and tiptoed out of the room. She shut the door behind her just as Bobby came down the hall.

“Shh,” she said, raising a finger to her lips. “Julieta’s asleep.”

“Oh, good,” he whispered. “The past few days, her stomach has been killing her so much, she hasn’t been able to get much sleep. I was just coming to see how she was doing.”

“We should probably head someplace farther from her room,” she said, glancing back at the door. “She’s a light sleeper.”

“Believe me, I know,” he said, ushering her down the hall. “Since Julieta’s asleep, you want to come downstairs and hang out with the rest of us? You don’t have to stay holed up in your room the whole time.”

Elisa hesitated. Truthfully, she wanted to stay holed up in her room the whole time. Bobby had been great, but the others…

“I wouldn’t want to impose,” she said.

“Nonsense. You’re our guest.”

She thought it over for a second, then nodded. She should be polite. Bobby had been so accommodating—well beyond the call of duty. Socializing a bit was the least she could do.

“Okay. What are we doing?”

“At the moment? Not much. We’re all just hanging out in the lounge. Darcy’s doing her own thing, Cora and Louise are doing their own things…”

“Ahh, ignoring everyone in the company of others,” Elisa laughed. “One of my favorite social activities. In that case, would it be rude if I brought a book with me?”

“Not at all.”

Feeling a bit better that she wouldn’t have to talk to the others much, Elisa ducked into her room, grabbing one of her favorite books, Annie on my Mind, before following Bobby down to the lounge.

The lounge seemed to be the same thing as a living room, except without a TV. Darcy sat in the corner reading a novel that was so heavy, she probably could’ve knocked someone out cold with it, while Cora and Louise sat on one of the couches, playing a game of chess as they talked back and forth excitedly. The twins didn’t even react when Elisa walked in, but Darcy’s gaze was trained on her.

Elisa took a seat in one of the empty recliners and opened the book she’d brought. It was one of her favorites, and she’d read it at least five times. Everyone stuck to their activities in comfortable silence. Or, semi-silence—Cora and Louise were still whispering.

Just as she was starting to think that maybe staying here wouldn’t be so bad, Cora raised her voice.

“Bobby,” she said, “what was the name of that girl Isaac used to go out with?”

Bobby looked up briefly from his laptop, forehead creasing in thought.

“Uhhh… Victoria.”

“Why’d they break up, anyway?” the other twin asked. “Isaac didn’t want to talk about it last time we saw him.”

“He didn’t tell me,” he said. Elisa immediately got the sense that this was a lie.

“He finally figured out that she was denser than osmium,” Darcy said, not looking up from her book.

Elisa didn’t say anything, trying her best not to listen as she turned another page in her book.

“I don’t know what osmium is, but she was an idiot,” Louise said. “I’m pretty sure Gianna’s smarter than she is.”

“Gianna’s smarter than most people,” Darcy said, a slight bite to her voice.

“How’s she doing, anyway?” Bobby asked. “I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to her since I moved.”

“She’s well,” Darcy said. “I invited her out here, but she’s busy with her music teacher. She’s started work on learning Chopin.”

“Chopin?” Cora said. “Jeez. I can only play ‘Heart and Soul.’”

“She’s one of the most accomplished people I know.”

Louise laughed. “Knowing you, that’s probably a club of two.”

“Give me a little credit. It’s a club of five. Six, if I’m being charitable.”

Elisa looked up, then. “Oh, come on,” she said, glancing at Darcy. “That can’t be true.”

“It is,” she said. “Gianna’s incredibly accomplished. She’s got a four-point-oh GPA, she’s a classically trained musician, she—”

“That’s not what I meant,” she said, exasperated. Darcy gushing about her sister would’ve been sweet if it weren’t at the expense of everyone else. “I meant you must know more than five or six accomplished people.”

“I gotta agree with Elisa,” Bobby added. “I think most people are accomplished, in their own way.”

Darcy snorted.

“What it means to be ‘accomplished’ is subjective,” Elisa said. “For instance, you may think yourself very accomplished, being rich and smart and pretty and all, only to find no one agrees with you.” She paused, then added, “Hypothetically, I mean.”

Cora chimed in before Darcy could say anything. “Disagree. I think there are a few requirements you need to hit before you can be considered accomplished. Objectively speaking.”

“I have a feeling I’m going to regret this, but… Like what?”

“Well, you have to know something about music that isn’t played on the radio. You should be able to dance and be able to discuss politics and art. You should speak more than one language. You should be able to appreciate foods besides local fast food chains. You need to have a goal to work toward. You have to be polite, intelligent, a good conversation partner, in good physical shape, you should have a job of your own—or pursuing education, I suppose—and you should have some kind of talent that sets you apart from the rest of the crowd.”

Well, Elisa was right. She did regret it.

“You should also,” Darcy added, “better yourself via extensive reading.”

Because that list wasn’t already long enough. Thanks, Fitzgerald.

Making a point to ignore Cora, she looked to Darcy. “You actually believe this crap?” she asked, working very hard at keeping her voice level.

She shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it ‘crap.’”

“What would you call it, then?”

“Standards.”

“Well, I still don’t believe you’ve met five or six people who meet your definition of accomplished,” Elisa said. “I think you’ve met none.”

“Oh?”

“Believe me when I say there is no one alive who checks off every single box on that list. I think a lot of people—probably most people—get most of them, but not all. Besides, that list sounds more like a recipe for an annoying, pretentious hipster. No offense toward Gianna intended,” she added quickly. She didn’t like Darcy, but there was no reason to bring her sister into this.

Though Darcy seemed perfectly willing to insult her sisters…

“What I’m saying is—if someone’s a nice person who you enjoy being around, who you get along well with and can talk to easily, isn’t that more important than them meeting all the requirements on some stupid list?”

“I could never enjoy being around someone who didn’t meet those requirements,” she said.

“No wonder you always seem like you’d rather be anywhere than with other people.”

The corner of Darcy’s mouth quirked up into a small smirk. “Now you understand.”

“That was not intended as a compliment,” she snapped.

Bobby was just about to hurry in to change the subject, when they were saved by a maid coming in to announce that lunch was ready. Elisa was the first one out. She shouldn’t have taken the bait. She should’ve just ignored Cora and Darcy both. But her annoyance had gotten the better of her, and now she had no choice but to stew in silence.

Fitzgerald: 1

Benitez: 0

Is it time to go home yet?