Page 47 of Away With You
Her face lights up. “Tell me everything.”
I sit down at the kitchen bench, in front of a plate now piled high with desserts for breakfast, watching as she assembles a pot of tea.
“Well, as you know, I followed through with your bonkers idea to ask Katie to pretend to be my girlfriend.”
“You say bonkers. I say brilliant,” she interrupts through a mouthful of Jaffa Cake. “And I stand by it; it’s all working just as we planned.”
I take a sip of tea, humming my appreciation. My sister may be annoying and too all-up-in-my-business, but she knows how to brew the perfect cup.
“Well, I think Katie’s having buyer’s remorse. She seemed happy enough when she agreed to come to St. Lucia with me, but since then, she’s becoming more and more anxious.”
“In what way?”
I pass my phone to her, watching her face while she scrolls through them.
“Yeah, I see what you mean. And I also see a way to fix it.”
My sister. The relationship guru.
Thefakerelationship guru.
“Tell me.”
She chews on a mouthful of digestive, and I grit my teeth at how long she’s taking.Take smaller bites next time, Rosie!
“Katie’s just having a normal girl reaction, that’s all. Nothing a little shopping spree won’t fix.”
I re-read our text exchange, wondering if the answer is that simple. “How can you be sure?”
She points her teacup at me. “You read the subtext. Katie is feeling insecure about spending a week with strangers pretending to be something she’s not. What she’s not saying, is that the strangers will all be wealthy, snobby and downright obnoxious, and as beautiful as we know she is, she’s no doubt worried she’ll be compared with the chic, glamorous Victoria,and she’ll come out second best. A shopping spree to fill her suitcase with designer everything will help with this. She’ll at least dress the part of your girlfriend, even if she won’t feel it.”
Huh. Can it be that simple?
“So, should I offer to take her shopping?”
“No, dummy. She’d never agree to that. You have to do something she can’t refuse.” Her grey-blue eyes sparkle, and she jumps up to grab her phone off the counter. “And I know just the thing.”
I watch, baffled, as she puts her phone to her ear and is in the middle of a conversation three seconds later. Whoever is on the other line is as chatty as she is.
“I know it’s Christmas Eve, but this is important. We’ll pay whatever it’s worth.”
Now my ears are perking. Rosie’s idea of responsible money management is as non-existent as her ability to stay out of my business.
“Nate? Give me your credit card.”
I stand up and glare at her, raising a brow and tapping my foot. “Explain, first.”
Her sigh matches her epic eye roll. “I’ve got Claudia on the phone.”
Blank stare.
“Claudia. FromJ’dore Chic?The most luxurious, the most elegant, the chicest boutique store on Bond Street. She’s agreed to close the store for the afternoon and have it available only for us. For a price, of course.”
“Won’t that be too much for Katie?” I argue. “A whole store opening just for her?”
Another eye roll. “This is perfect for her. Can you imagine Katie navigating the Christmas crowds? Or going from shop to shop to find the right outfits for this wedding? She seems more the type to shop online and hope for the best.”
An image of Katie in that long, ugly winter jacket springs to mind, and I don’t disagree. Although she looks incredible in anything she wears, her outfits don’t scream ‘I love to shop.’
