I have no idea what Karma does, but there’s no way I can work with her.
Which leaves coffee shops, bars, and other places Ricky’s fans could easily get to me. I touch my cheek where my black eye is probably fading into an awesome purplish green.
No.I can’t make myself an easy target.
While I’m contemplating what the hell I’m going to do with my life, someone bangs on the door. I jump, grabbing the stack of money and shoving it under a pillow, just in case it’s Karma.
“You up, Whit?” It’s Aunt Jackie.
“Yeah, one sec.” I hurry to the door and pull it open. “Sorry, getting a bit of a late start this morning. Cricket and I talked half the night.”
Jackie’s answering smile shines brilliantly enough to light up the dreary morning. “She left a note on the counter telling me that having you home was the best wedding present she could ask for.”
I wrap my arms around my middle and smile. “I’m glad me coming home makes at least a couple people happy.”
“You’ve got two people firmly in that camp, and I’m sure a whole lot more.” She narrows her gaze on me, and I flinch as she reaches a hand toward my face. “Hey, calm down. Just want to see that eye of yours. I thought you did a half-assed job covering it, but you’ve got a doozy of a bruise. Who do I need to kill?”
“He got arrested, and I pressed charges. If they want me to come back to LA to testify, I might have to drop the case.”
Aunt Jackie’s mouth screws tight. “Oh, hell no. We’ll go back together and teach that bastard a lesson.”
“Hopefully it won’t come to that, but I appreciate it.” Her ferocity in my defense makes my eye hurt a little less.
“That’s family. It’s what we do. Speaking of family ... are you going to your parents’—”
I shake my head. “No. I can’t. Not yet.”
Jackie sighs but there’s not much she can say. She can’t make me deal with things I refuse to deal with.
“Okay. Well, I was coming out here to see if you wanted to sneak into the resort with me today and use up some of my spa credits I get for bonuses. You look like you could use a day of pampering. Maybe they can cover up that bruise a little better for you too. Or even put some fancy stuff on your face to heal it faster. I don’t do facials, but everyone raves about the girls there.”
In my former life, facials were a regular thing, but I don’t expect to continue partaking in them now.
“I don’t need all that. I’m fine. You should use them on yourself. Or save them for Cricket for the wedding.”
“I’ve got tons of credits. If I was gonna use them myself, I would’ve. I already blocked off a chunk for you girls for the wedding too.” She eyes me skeptically. “Don’t tell me you couldn’t use a few hours of relaxation. Maybe a massage to help work out some of that tension you’re holding on to so tightly.”
She’s not wrong, but ...
“It’s a Riscoff resort.”
Jackie tilts her head to the right. “Put that out of your mind and get dressed. I’m not taking no for an answer. Anyway, I’m guessing you’d rather spend the day on Riscoff property rather than listening to Karma slam doors and blare music while the girls are gone. According to the neighbors, that might as well be her job instead of that online stuff she does.”
Well, that answers one question about what Karma does for work. And no, I don’t want to be around her any more than I have to be, at least until her attitude calms down.
“Fine. You win. I’ll be ready in ten.”
16
Whitney
The drive upto The Gables takes twenty minutes. It’s perched on the side of a mountain overlooking the river that cuts through the gorge. Ricky once played at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, and I wondered if the Riscoffs felt inadequate, so they had to try to build something even more grand. It’s over two hundred thousand square feet, and I don’t even want to think about how much it cost to build.
It’s also only a few miles down the road from the Riscoff estate.But I won’t be going anywhere near that place.
Actually, I can’t believe I’m even daring to go to The Gables.
Aunt Jackie guides the car past the front gate and turns down a road that leads around the side. I stare at the structure silently as we pass by it. I would love to call it a monstrosity, but instead it’s like something out of a fairy tale. It looks like a French chateau on crack that should have a prince and princess presiding over it. But the Riscoffs rule here.