Twelve

Whitney

Aunt Jackie’s voice booms through the backyard.

“Lord Almighty! Someone tell me I’m hallucinating, because I can’t believe what I’m seeing with my own eyes. My Whitney is home! Girl, get over here and give me a hug. It’s been too damn long since I’ve seen your beautiful face.”

Tears prick behind my eyes at the sight of her with outstretched arms. Unlike Karma, Aunt Jackie is beyond happy to see me.

I step toward her, letting the shed’s screen slap shut behind me. As soon as she envelops me in a hug, a wave of belonging washes over me. She rocks me from side to side.

“Sweet girl, we missed you. It’s been too damn long since you set foot in this town. Coming down to see you in LA wasn’t the same. You weren’t yourself there.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I should’ve—”

“Shhh. I shouldn’t be giving you hell for getting out of here and living. I sure can’t fault you for that. I’m just happy you’ve finally found your way home again. Welcome back.”

Now I wish I’d come home sooner, and maybe for reasons other than the fact that I have no place else to go.

“I thought you had to work until six? Are you going to get in trouble for leaving early?” Cricket asks as Jackie releases me, and I dash away a stray tear.

Jackie shakes her head. “Of course not. I’m the boss. Unless my job isn’t being done satisfactorily, no one will fuss.”

My eyes widen. “The boss?”

“Head of housekeeping at The Gables.”

I blink a few times. “I can’t believe they’d let a Gable work there, let alone be in charge.”

Jackie smiles proudly. “Ms. Riscoff doesn’t share the same prejudices as the rest of her family, and since she’s CEO of the resort, working there is pretty damn fine.”

I didn’t think my eyes could get any wider, but I would have been wrong. “Little McKinley Riscoff is CEO of The Gables?”

I can’t picture Lincoln’s younger and painfully shy sister being in charge of anything, let alone an entire resort. His douchebag younger brother, Harrison? Sure. But McKinley seemed determined to blend into the background wherever she went.

“She’s a fair boss and runs a tight ship. You won’t hear me say a word against her.” Jackie pauses. “She’s not like the rest of them. She’s good people.”

I’m going to have to take Jackie’s word for it because I don’t plan on finding out myself.

“So, tell me everything. How are you? You okay? The tabloids have been vicious, but you know we don’t believe a goddamned thing they say.”

I drop my gaze to the ground. It’s harder to lie to Jackie when I’m looking her in the eye. “I’m okay. I’m going to be okay.”

My aunt’s rough finger slides under my chin, and she tilts my head up. She surveys my face, touching my cheekbone lightly with her other thumb. “Looks like you didn’t duck quick enough. What the hell happened?”