Page 5 of Finding My Charming

If you lined up Mom, Beth, and April you’d think you were seeing the same person at different points in their life. They all had vibrant red hair, pale skin, and green eyes. They clearly took after Mom’s side that came from Ireland. I took after my dad — brown hair, brown eyes, no looks to set me apart.

“Why are you here?”

“I had to drop off some paperwork for Mom, so I decided to wait and say hi to you.”

“Well, hi.” I tried my best not to give her a dirty look, but really, who was able to carry on a civil conversation when they’d been awake for less than an hour?

“So, are you excited?”

“There’s nothing else I’d rather do with my summer than work at Dad’s office.” I gave her a fake grin.

She shook her head and sighed. “We’ve all had to have jobs in the summers, Elise. It’s not like this is a surprise.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.” I stared into my glass to avoid her gaze. When I finally looked up, she was smiling patronizingly at me like she was dealing with a frustrating toddler. Maybe she was.

“Make the best of it. Not every eighteen-year-old gets a job at a highly acclaimed law office. It will look great on your résumé.”

I slumped onto a stool at the counter. “Does it count when one of the partners is your dad?”

Beth smirked and nodded. “Of course. We’ll figure out a way to spin it later for your applications.” She winked and squeezed my shoulder as she walked by. “I’ve got to go to work, but try to have a good time today.”

“Bye, honey!” Mom smiled as Beth waved and walked to the front door. She turned to me, and her smile dimmed. “Please try to have a positive attitude, Elise. Your sister is right. An internship at a law office is what many people your age fight over.”

I watched as she rehashed the same lecture she’d given me for the past three weeks. I had it memorized, so I knew when to nod, shrug, and roll my eyes to make it seem like I was paying attention. My friends were going to be traveling or hanging out at the lake or sleeping in. I would be working forty hours a week, without pay. How was I supposed to smile about that?

April took the seat next to me and put on her perfect-child smile for our mother. “I’m looking forward to working this summer, Mom!”

Gag me.

Mom nodded in April’s direction as if trying to get me to follow her example.

“Yeah, yeah. You two are going to have the best time ever!” I mimicked her fake, peppy voice she saved for cheerleading.

“Green is not your color, Elise.”

The urge to take her to the floor in a headlock like I used to when we were little was tempting me, but I stood to put my glass in the sink like the mature person I was.

“I just need to change, then I’ll be ready to go, Dad.”

He spoke from behind the tablet. “You’ll have to drive yourself, Elise. I’ve got a few late meetings today.”

I nodded, even though he wasn’t looking.

Mom met my eyes and smirked. “You should probably plan on driving separately every day.”

“Good idea.” I turned and pulled my hair into a twisted knot and tied it up on my way out of the kitchen.

April gasped and jumped off of the stool so fast it fell to the ground with a bang. My eyes darted from her to my mom then finally to my dad. They shared the same look of confusion and awe directed at me.

“What?” I looked down at my pajamas to see if I’d spilled.

April took two steps closer to me and pointed to my neck. My hands shot to the necklace, but it was still there. If I hadn’t lost it, so what was her problem?

“It’s red!”

I gasped and ran down the hall to a mirror. The large stone surrounded by intricate metalwork that was a clear crystal yesterday was now, in fact, ruby red.

I looked up from the necklace to my family surrounding me. My dad looked bemused. My mom looked angry, and dear old April was busting at the seams with excitement.