Page 90 of The Muse
The store clerk holds out the suit coat for me to slide my arms into.
“June will love them.” Callie smiles, fiddling with her necklace and sipping red wine.
I look ridiculous. “Black dress shoes with no socks?” My face sours.
“It’s perfect for summer.” Donny, the suit expert, adjusts my tie.
It’s tight. Now I know why Rupert wears his loose, except today it’s proper.
“How much is all this?” I ask.
Donny looks at Rupert.
“How much do you think everything costs?” Rupert asks.
“I don’t know. A grand?”
“Do you think it’s worth a grand?” He studies me.
I look to Callie for help, but she sets her wineglass on the table and picks at lint on her white pants, offering me nothing.
After one last look in the mirror, I nod. “I suppose.”
“So you would pay a grand for it?” Rupert asks.
“No. June said I can wear my jeans and button-down shirt. Mrs. Rawlings already bought me loafers that don’t need socks. This would be a waste of my money. I can buy gas for June’s car or help her buy groceries. I think she has to pay for parking at her apartment. I bet a grand would cover that for about a year.”
“June is a lucky girl,” Callie says.
I remove the jacket. “I don’t know about that. But I’ve never been able to take care of anyone, and I don’t know how long this job will last. So I’m not wasting money on myself when I can do things for her.” I hand Donny the jacket and step behind the curtain to take off the clothes.
Rupert and Callie don’t say anything to me on the way back to their house. They don’t say anything to each other, either.
“You can have the rest of the day off,” Callie says when we get out of the car in the garage. “And we have a commitment tonight, so if you two want to hang out here and use the theater room or just get away from roommates, please feel free to do so.”
I look at Rupert, half expecting him to shake his head, overriding her offer. But he doesn’t.
“And I hope you at least take her somewhere nice to dinner before the orchestra,” Callie adds.
I nod.Good tip.
“Night.” She smiles and heads into the house.
“Would you like me to call and get you reservations at a nice place?” Rupert asks.
“Nah. But thanks.” I tuck my fingers into my back pockets.
“Well, you know where the key is to my Chevelle. If you want to drive it to the orchestra tomorrow night, you can,” he says. “I trust you’ll return it in one piece.”
“Are you serious?” I squint at him for a few seconds.
“About returning it in one piece? Yes. I’m dead serious.”
I shake my head. “About driving it.”
“Just be careful. She’s priceless.” He squeezes my shoulder.
“I’m not sure it’s priceless, but?—”
