Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood (24 page)

Lucy looked between them. “We’ll come too!” she quickly declared. “It’s time for Angelina’s nap, and the apartment is in your direction. We can split a cab.”

“OK,” Hallie agreed. “Grace?”

“Sure.” She sighed, impatient. “I’ll see you guys out front.” Grace hurried ahead, leaving Hallie to find a register and pay for her motley assortment of gifts. It had been hard to find anything on her budget — let alone in Amber’s kind of store, where even a pair of gloves seemed to cost three figures — but Hallie had prevailed. So what if Uncle Auggie might not want another pair of golfing socks: it was the thought that counted!

“So what’s the story with your sister?” Lucy asked, waiting alongside her in line for a register. There was only one salesclerk on the floor, and he was busy flirting with the Ivy League guy in front of them: studying engraved business-card cases like they were the Holy Grail.

Lucy bounced baby Angelina in her arms and fixed Hallie with an eager gaze. “Is she, you know, seeing anyone?”

“You think she tells me anything?” Hallie snorted.

“Come on, there must be someone. A crush, someone from back in San Francisco, maybe?” Lucy’s expression was sharp for a moment, then it smoothed into a sunny smile again. “I was just thinking, you know, maybe I could fix her up!”

Hallie laughed. “Don’t bother. She’s got our neighbor Brandon over all the time, and this guy from school, Harry, and then there’s —” She stopped, suddenly glimpsing a tangle of dark curls on the other side of the menswear section. Her heart leaped. Could it be . . . ?

“Who?” Lucy asked. “You were about to say something.”

“Huh?” Hallie squinted eagerly across the room. The guy was too far away to see clearly, half hidden by a display of tuxedo jackets.

“You said there’s another guy,” Lucy asked, “for Grace?”

Hallie didn’t take her eyes from the stranger. She’d thought she’d seen Dakota everywhere in L.A. too, but this was different — it really could be him! But as Hallie watched, a blond girl approached: shaking her head at his selection, and passing a new jacket for him to try. He did so obediently, stepping out of sight behind the rail of clothing.

Hallie sighed. Of course it wasn’t him — why would Dakota be browsing tuxedo jackets in Bergdorf’s? He was a strictly vintage guy, at home in threadbare band shirts and worn jeans. She turned back to the line as the Ivy League guy finally tucked his platinum credit card — and the salesman’s phone number — away.

“Hallie?” Lucy prompted again.

“Oh, yeah, it doesn’t matter.” Hallie strode up to the register and dumped her gifts on the counter. “So, where in England are you from?” she asked Lucy, changing the subject. “I’ve always wanted to go to London!”

Lucy filled the cab ride back with chatter about life in England, and then insisted on stopping off at the hotel with them to take a look at the lobby. “It’s so Christmassy,” she trilled happily, gazing around at the baubles and tree.

“Miss Weston?” The concierge called over from the front desk. “You had a visitor. A young man . . .”

Hallie gasped. “When? Where? Did he leave a note?”

“No message,” the concierge said, “but I saw him head into the lounge. He might still be there. . . .”

Hallie was already hurrying across the lobby, heart pounding. He’d come! Her boots skittered on the marble floors as she ducked past tourists, sliding to a stop as she reached the lounge area. She scanned the couches, desperate for a glimpse of Dakota. Not him, not them, no . . .

“Oh.”

Her heart sank as she spied the boy sitting in front of the fire. Messy brown hair instead of Dakota’s dark curls; a preppy parka and khakis where skinny jeans and leather should be.

“It’s you,” she said, disappointment in every syllable.

Theo turned at the sound of her voice. “Hallie, hey!” He got up to greet her, then paused, noticing her expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Hallie sighed. “I just thought you were someone else.”

“Sorry.” Theo gave her an awkward hug.

“What are you even doing out here?” Hallie asked. She could hear the petulant note in her tone, but she didn’t care. Everyone was showing up except the one person she wanted more than anything!

“We’re spending the holidays with my grandma here in the city,” Theo explained. “There’s a holiday party, tomorrow night. I thought maybe you’d want to come. Both of you,” he added, looking around hopefully.

“I’m going to Dakota’s show,” Hallie told him. “But I guess Grace could come. Why don’t you ask her?” she added as Grace reached them, Lucy following behind. “Look who came to visit,” Hallie told Grace meaningfully. “Isn’t that great?”

Grace didn’t speak. Instead, it was Lucy who lit up. “Teddy!” she cried. “Oh, my God. I didn’t think you were coming until next week!”

Hallie looked back and forth between them. “Wait, how do you two know each other?”

Theo flushed. “I . . . um . . . we . . .”

“They met over the summer,” Grace said, her voice dull. “In the Hamptons.”

“Huh. Small world.” Hallie shrugged. Theo was still frozen, turning redder by the second. “Anyway, his folks are throwing some party tomorrow, he came to see if you’d come.”

“I’d love to!” Lucy piped up. Hallie was about to point out that he hadn’t actually meant her, when Grace backed away, knocking into an antique side table.

“I need to go,” Grace said, looking strained. “Headache. I have to lie down.”

“But Theo came to see you.” Hallie stared at her, confused. Was Grace completely oblivious? This was her one true love in front of her, with that puppy-dog look and everything! “You should have a coffee. Catch up!”

“I can’t. But, thanks.” Grace gave Theo a weak smile and then took off across the lobby, almost at a run. Hallie watched her go, frowning. That had been downright impolite, and her sister, no matter what, was
never
rude. Even when creepy homeless guys accosted her on the subway, Grace would always smile and tell them she was sorry, but she didn’t have any change.

“I better go too,” Hallie told them. “Make sure she’s OK.”

“Right,” Theo said, looking downcast.

“That’s OK!” Lucy trilled happily. “I’ll keep him company.”

Hallie caught up with Grace by the elevators. “Are you crazy?” she asked. “Why did you blow him off? He came to see you, anyone could tell.”

Grace just shook her head, but when the doors closed behind them, Hallie heard a muffled sob. She looked over. Grace was crying.

Crying!

Hallie gasped. “What’s wrong?” She couldn’t remember Grace crying since . . . since never. Not even at their father’s funeral!

“He’s with Lucy,” Grace told her, lips trembling. “They hooked up over the summer. She’s been visiting him at college. They’re in love.” Her voice twisted on the last word.

“No . . .” Hallie breathed, remembering Lucy’s smug comments about lingerie and secret rendezvous. “That bitch!”

“It’s not her fault.” Grace sniffed, clearly miserable. “It’s mine, for ever even thinking . . .” The elevator doors opened. Grace slumped miserably down the hall to their suite; swiping uselessly with her key card until Hallie took it from her and let them in.

“Look at me,” Grace sniffled. “I can’t even open a door.”

Hallie shook her head. Doors weren’t the problem here, no, their problem was five six, with freckles and a snooty British accent. She knew there was something off about the girl. Nobody was that nice to small children without hiding some dark, twisted heart.

“How do you know all this?” Hallie demanded. “Wait, did she tell you?”

Grace threw herself on the couch. “Why wouldn’t she? She thinks I’m her friend. She doesn’t know . . .”

Hallie wasn’t so sure.

“And Theo?” she asked. “What does he say?”

“He didn’t.” Grace sat up, eyes puffy. “He didn’t say a thing. Not that he’d met someone, or that they were still together. It’s probably the real reason he was he in L.A., that time he came to visit. He came to see her.”

She gave Hallie a dejected look, so defeated that it took Hallie’s breath away. She sank on the couch beside Grace, guilt suddenly blossoming in her chest. All this time, she’d figured Grace’s feelings were a childish crush; something to tease her about. But this wasn’t the end of something light and silly, this was real heartbreak on her sister’s face.

“How long have you known?” she asked gently.

“Since October.” Her sister curled up. “It was this big secret, she swore I couldn’t tell.”

“So all this time . . . ?” Hallie remembered their fight — how she’d accused Grace of being a coward, when, really, she’d been suffering just the same as Hallie: pining for a boy who was out of reach. “Oh, Grace . . .” She reached out and stroked her sister’s hair.

“It’s my own fault.” Grace sighed. “I shouldn’t have thought we could . . . That he felt . . .”

“But he did. He does!” Hallie insisted. “Everyone can see.”

Grace shook her head. “No, he’s just a friend. He was being nice to me, that’s all, after Dad died. I was the one who wanted it to be something more.”

Hallie tried to smile. “At least you finally admit it.” Grace stared back blankly. “Your feelings,” Hallie explained. “That’s the first time you’ve ever come out and said you like him.”

Grace laughed, hollow. “Right. Because that helps me now.”

They sat in silence for a moment. “Sorry,” Hallie offered at last. “For being so, you know . . .”

“Oblivious and self-involved?” Grace suggested, but there was a ghost of a smile on her lips all the same.

Hallie grinned, relieved. “I was going more for single-minded, but sure.”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference”— Grace sighed —“even if you had known.”

“But we could have been in it together: losing them.”

Grace looked at her, plaintive. Resigned. “No. You were right. He was never even mine to lose. You at least had Dakota.”

“Have,” Hallie corrected quickly. “Or, at least I will, come Monday.”

Grace rested her head against Hallie’s shoulder, snuggling closer, the way they used to do as kids, bundled up in the den watching Disney movies. “I hope so,” she said. “I really do. Because nobody should have to feel like this. Not even you.”

“Thanks!”

“You know what I mean.”

Hallie wanted to skip the Coates Family’s Christmas Nightmare altogether, but Grace insisted they at least drop by. “Theo will know something’s wrong, otherwise,” she said forlornly.

“So?” Hallie blotted her lipstick, already breathless with excitement for Dakota’s show. “It is!”

“But I can’t have him know that. Please, Hallie,” Grace added, “I mean it. The one thing that would make all of this worse is if he knows I’m upset about Lucy. It would ruin everything!”

To Hallie, it seemed like Theo had done all the ruining himself, but Grace was insistent, and so early Monday evening found the sisters outside the penthouse of a snooty doorman building on the Upper East Side. “Another penthouse.” Grace sighed, stamping her feet on the rug.

“It’s because they like looking down on people,” Hallie replied, before the door swung open.

“Girls!” Portia cried, blinking at them. She was wearing a severe white dress with diamonds twinkling at her throat — not so much the merry widow, Hallie noted, as the positively glowing one. “What are you . . . ? I mean, welcome!”

Hallie smirked. Ruffling Portia’s precious feathers? That was worth coming for all on its own.

Grace exhaled. “Didn’t Theo say he invited us?”

“No, no, it must have slipped his mind.” Portia gave them a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Anyway, come on in. The more the merrier!” She waved them inside.

The girls followed her in. It was one of those echoing, old-style apartments: tall windows and bare floorboards, cluttered with antique furniture and tight little groups of stiff-backed guests in cocktail outfits sipping wine. Only the tree in the corner, and the faint sound of carols on the stereo, gave any hint that it was a holiday party. “Help yourself to a drink.” Portia waved at the circulating waiters. “Juice, of course. Dash is in the playroom, but I’m sure he’d love to see you.”

“Thanks.” Grace smiled politely. There was a pause.

“Well, then . . .” Portia blinked. “Lovely to see you. We’ll catch up!” She turned on her perilously high heels and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

“These people sure could use some Christmas spirit,” Hallie murmured, looking around. “They look more like Scrooges in here.”

“Shh,” Grace hissed. “They’re family.”

Hallie rolled her eyes. As far as she was concerned, family was something you chose, not got lumbered with because of your father’s brief lapse in sanity. These people may be tied to her by marriage and law, but they were clearly no relation. Just look at all this tweed!

“We only stay an hour, max,” Hallie reminded her. “I don’t want to be late for the show.”

“We’re not even going in,” Grace argued. “It’s sold out. And I’m not going to freeze on the sidewalk for hours when —”

They were interrupted by a burst of laughter. Lucy was in the corner, wearing a demure pale-pink dress and chatting happily with a trio of white-haired old ladies in pearls. Hallie felt Grace tense beside her. “Pink?” Hallie snorted quietly. “With her hair? Please.”