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“Very good.” Elizabeth smiled. “You’re so sensible. Blaine and I were discussing that just the other night. How we’ve always been able to depend on you.”
Jayne put down her coffee and stood. She didn’t feel sensible. She felt confused and cornered and out of place. No matter how old she got and how much time passed, she still felt like that sixteen-year-old watching her mother die and knowing she had nowhere to go and no one to care about her. She felt desperately alone and willing to do anything just to pretend to belong. Even be Elizabeth’s bitch.
This might be the only family she had, but it was a seriously dysfunctional one, and if she wanted to survive, she had to escape.
The good news was, she would be getting on a plane first thing tomorrow.
The flight to Dallas was uneventful. Jayne had been checking the weather all week, and the last of the spring thunderstorms seemed to have blown through a few days before. Now the skies were clear and blue, and there wasn’t a hint of a cloud.
She collected her luggage and made her way to the taxi stand, where she took a cab into the city. There was an impressive skyline that reminded her a little of L.A. When they exited the freeway, they drove through a beautiful tree-lined residential area.
She’d been booked into the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. The Web site had been impressive, but the hotel was even more so. The elegant and spacious lobby screamed luxury. The Wordens would have been right at home.
After registering, she went up to her room—a quiet, pretty space with a small balcony. There was a marble bath, a huge tub with a separate shower, and a big basket filled with fruit and candy, along with a card welcoming her.
“We can’t wait to meet you in person,” the card read, and it had been signed by Paula.
Jayne had never been courted before. Neither by a man nor a company. Talk about nice, she thought with a laugh as she threw herself on the bed. For the first time in a decade, her future was completely in her hands. She knew in her gut that the job was hers to lose. And she very much planned on winning.
Eight
WHEN SOMEONE RANG THE bell at her condo door, Jayne practically danced across the living room to open it. She was flying. Beyond flying… she was empowered, excited, and still having trouble believing that everything about her life was about to change.
Rebecca stood there, looking chicly casual in a white gauzy dress and sandals, her hair hanging in loose curls, her eyebrows slightly raised.
“What’s gotten into you?” her friend asked.
Jayne held out her arms and spun in a circle. “I have a job.”
“Yes, you’re a nurse. Although if they see you acting like this, they might want to talk drug testing.”
Jayne waited until Rebecca stepped into her condo, then closed her door. “I have a new job!”
“What? When did this happen?”
“Yesterday. I just got back this morning.”
“Back from where?”
“Dallas.” Jayne flopped down on the sofa and explained about the call from Paula and the invitation to fly out for an interview. “They really want me. It’s a great offer. A big raise, a week more vacation, assigned parking. I toured the facility, and it’s amazing. Everything is new and well designed. The exam rooms are perfect, and there’s a huge waiting area. They really thought this through. They’re looking to fill a few more positions, so I told them about Katie, and they’re going to call her.” She sat up and grinned. “I have a job.”
Rebecca stood behind the chair, staring, not looking the least bit pleased. “I see,” she said. “When were you planning on telling me you were moving?”
Jayne felt her perfect mood slip a little. “I’m telling you now.”
“Wow. Lucky me. But you didn’t bother to tell me about the interview. You didn’t bother to call at all. You made a huge decision like this without talking to anyone?”
Jayne stood and cradled her cast in her good hand. “Why are you being like this? I have a great opportunity. You should be happy for me.”
Rebecca’s expression tightened. “You called Katie, didn’t you? You talked to her about it, told her they wanted her as well. Right?”
Jayne had. She and Katie had talked for hours after the interview. Jayne had raved about the job, and Katie had gone online, checking out the price of houses and condos. They’d been thrilled to realize the Dallas real estate market was significantly less expensive than any neighborhood in L.A.
“Rebecca,” she said slowly, knowing it was too late. That she’d hurt her friend. “I was going to tell you.”
“That you were leaving? Did you plan to let me know in person, or would I just get one of those change-of-address cards?” Rebecca’s eyes flashed with pain. “You didn’t even tell me you were thinking of leaving.”
“I wasn’t. I got a call about the job. It seemed interesting, so I went for the interview. It just happened.” She sighed. “Can’t you be happy for me?”
