Page 3 of The Interception
While my mind reels, the driver makes the final turn onto my brother’s street and pulls into his driveway. I pay her and tip her well before trudging up the walkway and ringing the doorbell. The second Lottie opens the front door, she knows it all went wrong.
“Oh no, what happened?” She pulls the door aside and lets me in. Andrew is heading down the hallway into the living room with their dogs, Ginger and Goblin, close behind.
“It was awful. The worst interview ever, and I’m still jobless,” I admit and flop onto their sofa. “He laughed in my face, called me ridiculous, and sent me out without another word. The office manager, at least I think that’s who she was, tried to be kind to me but basically, that’s his way. He lines up interviews, criticizes, and throws people out.”
“Layne, it’s okay. You’ll find a job.” Lottie hands me a tissue and glances at my brother, who now paces, likely to keep himself from driving downtown and punching an arrogant, narcissistic, chauvinist pig of a man in the face.
“Whatexactlydid he say to you?” Andrew asks.
“I told you. That’s basically it. I didn’t even sit down. He took one look at me and laughed, then waved me off, saying I’m even more ridiculous in person than I am on my application.” I finally release the sob I’ve tried to hold off. “I guess he only set up the appointment to humiliate me.”
“That man—no, he’s not a man. He’s a rat. Thatratwould beluckyto have you grace his kitchen. His place is overpriced and his food is horrible,” Andrew says, grinding his teeth.
“It’s booked out for a year in advance,” I retort.
Lottie grimaces. “She’s right. Before we met, my friend tried to get us reservationsforeverat his satellite location,Uptown Bistro, but nothing came up. When she finally did, we discovered the hard way they were for a year later.”
“Who books for a year? A narcissist, that’s who.” Andrew’s pacing is beginning to wear my nerves down, so I stand and wipe my hands over my dress. It’s good and wrinkled now, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not going anywhere, literally or professionally.
“Listen, sis, why don’t you let me front the money and you can—”
I raise my hand to stop my brother before he really gets going. “Andrew, I want to do this on my own, okay? I don’t want a handout from my brother.”
“It’s not a handout, Layne,” Lottie says. “It’s an investment. And a good one, at that.”
“I understand what you’re trying to do, and I really, truly appreciate it, but I mean it when I say I want to do this on my own.” With a deep sigh, I wipe my face again and head to the kitchen. “Let me make something for lunch. It’ll make me feel better before I go pack for this competition Lottie’s gotten me into.”
Lottie squeals and leaps up from the sofa to help me cook. “So you’ll do it then?”
I shrug. “I said I would if the job interview didn’t pan out, so it looks like I’ll be heading to Charleston first thing in the morning.”
Chapter Two
Ender
I cannot begin toimagine why my entire home is covered in multi-colored glitter, but if I were to hazard a guess, I would say it has something to do with the three-year-old dancing in her mother’s bathrobe, blasting eighties ballads into her kiddie karaoke machine at the top of her little lungs, while boasting the worst lipstick job imaginable. My niece, who manages to wake up at five in the morningwithoutwaking anyone else, has also fed herself, evidenced by the trail of cereal from the kitchen to the living room. And the puddle of milk on the kitchen floor.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll clean it up, and I’ll get one of those door alarms today. I swear, I turned the monitor all the way up, and I still didn’t hear anything.” My older sister, Sarah Beth, has strawberry-blonde hair that sticks up everywhere, and the dark circles under her eyes are a heavy indicator she didn’t sleep well.
“Hey, it’s okay. It can all be cleaned, and Lula is happy. I’m not worried about it, sis.” I pick up the half-empty cereal box and pour myself a bowl, then grab the milk carton from the floor. Totally empty. Good thing cereal is just as good dry.
“Ender, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m exhausted all the time, Lula needs my love and attention right now, and the lawyer said it could take a whole year to get Asher’s death benefit.”
I forgo the cereal to comfort my sister, whose husband’s death has impacted us all. Despite careful planning, the state managed to tangle his estate in probate court, leaving my sister and niece with very little to live on.
“Sarah Beth, when I asked you to move in with me, I knew it would be an adjustment, but I love having you and Lula here. She brightens up my days, and if she’s happy, then I’m happy.”
“I know but it’s—” My sister chokes up again and I squeeze her shoulders.
“I know. You need your own space, and I promise somehow we’ll get the house back, okay?”
Sarah Beth wipes her face and puts on that tough exterior we Langleys are known for. Losing Asher in a hit-and-run car accident devastated our whole family, but somehow I know we’ll come out on the other side of this stronger. I wish there was a way to convince her I genuinely like having them here, even if the circumstances are horrible.
“Have you given any thought to what you’re going to do for the Bay Bridge Cook-Off this year?” She throws the question over her shoulder as she begins the arduous task of cleaning up. Lula is now engrossed in a cartoon show about a princess who learns to ride dragons, so we’re safe to begin the decluttering process without interruption. At least, Sarah Beth is. I have to get ready for practice.
I entered the first year on a whim because I love cooking. I never expected to win, but once I did, I was hooked on the thrill of the competition. Still, I can’t imagine having time to devote to it this year. “I’m not sure there’s time this year. Coach Holmeshas been on us every practice, pushing us harder than ever, and we need to get things squared away for you. I don’t know how—”
“Ender Langley, you promised me this wouldn’t interfere with your life. You let me worry about the estate. You go to practice, and tonight we can figure out some amazing dishes. You’re already entered, and there is no reason you can’t make this year your seventh win.”
