Thursday morning. All three guests were home, plus their cook, Marta. Darcy was situated at the bar again, with his ever-present laptop. When he looked across at Elena, she couldn't help the exasperation in her face. She'd told him when they were coming, couldn't she depend on him to arrogantly stay away? Was that too much to ask?
He looked confused and turned back to his computer.
Caroline sat cross-legged on the couch with her phone and a tablet. Charles seemed to be at loose ends, drifting around the house.
While Elena swept the back deck (Valerie had not gotten it done on Monday), he leaned against the rail and chatted with her. His blond hair shone in the sun. He would look more at home on a beach than he did here in the mountains, she decided. She couldn't picture him in a suit in the capital building either.
He'd already ascertained that Noa had to work every morning and three afternoons a week. As strange as it was, Elena was starting to think that he really liked her sister. Possibly enough to maintain a long-distance relationship. It was incredible, but if so – well, Elena would be ecstatic for her sister. If Charles grew serious, he could change Noa's life.
Elena wouldn't say anything like that to Noa or her mom, however. It was still unlikely to the point of fairy tale.
Charles was happy to talk to Elena as a substitute for Noa. And frankly, with only his sister and his surly friend to compete with, Elena was not surprised.
"I loved college, but I had to try all the majors," Charles answered her last question humorously. "I probably never would have graduated if Darcy hadn't helped me make up my mind."
"Did he?"
"Oh yes. I'd done two years of marketing, then I tried finance - hated that, then there was…" he laughed deprecatingly and ticked them off on his fingers. "Music theory. Management. Spanish. And back to marketing. You can tell I'm a man of decision."
"So, when did you move to political science? Or whatever you finally majored in?"
"Darcy settled me, really. He convinced me to work at his father's thinktank one summer - I was something less than an intern, believe it or not - but I finally saw what kind of job I could have. I know I seem like a frivolous guy, but I actually do have goals. I'm not so interested in changing the nation, but I do think I could help make California better – schools, jobs, infrastructure. Anyway, I went back for one more semester, took eight classes and graduated. Darcy was right – it didn't really matter what I majored in. I worked for his PAC a little longer while I got my masters degree."
"Wow. That's fast. You must be really smart."
He gave a pseudo-cocky grin. "Well, I don't always do things perfectly, but I do them fast. If I decide to do something, I do it the next day." He laughed. "Particularly if I waste six years first."
Elena laughed, too. She swept the next pile of leaves to the edge of the balcony and brushed it under the railing. The dust, pine needles, and twigs swirled down like confetti to the hill far below.
The sliding glass door squeaked open behind her and Darcy came out to join them.
"This guy though," Charles said, "doesn't have any trouble making up his mind. His goals are much bigger than mine."
Elena began clearing the next quarter of the deck methodically. "Oh? Are you running for office, also?"
"No," Darcy said. "Maybe someday. I'm not blessed with the happy manners that make Charles such a perfect candidate."
Elena swept under the glass table. "Oh, so you're happy to be the puppet-master?" She grinned at Charles to show she was only teasing.
Charles feigned a dagger to the chest. "Ouch. At least he's the best at it."
"I wouldn't characterize my work like that," Darcy said.
Charles shrugged. "She's not too far off. I wouldn't have been able to afford the support your GRO PAC supplied."
"GRO PAC?"
Darcy explained, "It's an acronym. Grassroots Republican Organization. Pac stands for—"
Elena finished, "Political action committee, I know. You realize it sounds like "Grope act?"
Darcy opened his mouth and shut it again and even Charles looked stunned. "Darn. I hope you're the only who thinks of that."
"I guess most people don't know the names of PACs anyway," Elena let Charles off the hook. "They're not very sensational news, though as far as I understand it, they control everything."
Darcy smiled unexpectedly. "Almost as scintillating as accounting in Northridge."
She glanced sharply at him. Was he actually displaying a sense of humor about himself?
"My sister tells me you have a house near there, in Pacific Palisades," Elena offered. "Do you like it?" If he was willing to unbend at all, Elena would meet him halfway. Only for Charles' sake-
Never mind. Darcy's face shut like a door and his chin retreated into his neck. She should've known he wouldn't lighten up. Stupid her for trying to meet him halfway.
Charles jumped in. "He's trying to keep his personal life somewhat private right now."
"Sure." Elena was annoyed. "I wish most people supporting Trump felt that way."
Darcy stiffened up even more. Charles grimaced. "We're still in shock the nomination is going to him. Even as Republicans… well, it's not ideal."
Except she'd seen that cap in Darcy's room. Whatever. "Let's not talk about Trump," Elena begged. "I can't get away from it in LA."
Charles winked. "But you're with two politicians! We have to stay in touch with our base."
Elena snorted, "No offense, but I'm not your base. Besides, I get an earful of politics at UC Northridge. If you feel the need to explain your platform, please hold it in til you see Noa again."
Darcy twitched his shoulders. "You don't care for politics?"
"I tried to care for politics, but he was, like, this major jerk. Dumped me on our first date. Slashed my tires. Called me names."
Darcy's brow furrowed and Elena laughed. "It's a metaphor."
She swept another pile off the deck and a plume of dust twirled away below them
He rolled his eyes. "I got that. It's a shame that your generation-"
"If you complete that sentence with something about millenials, I will disconnect your water heater."
"Are you excited to vote for the first woman president?" Darcy asked.
"Yes, I am," Elena said. "But if I agreed with her about more than immigration and jobs, I might be more excited. It's galling to admit, but I'd actually considered voting Republican before Trump swept in. That's been a slap in the face. My only consolation is that I live in California," Elena waved her hands at the trees and mountains. "so my vote wouldn't have mattered anyway."
Charles pursed his lips in a soundless whistle. At the same time, Darcy said, "Wouldn't have mattered?"
Charles shook his head. "Now you've done it."
Elena picked up the broom. "I'm done out here anyway. You'll have to save your soundbite on civil liberties."
Darcy moved away from the sliding door to let her go by, but he couldn't let the conversation go. "You don't seem surprised that I'm Republican. Most Angelenos assume the opposite about Giana Gamble's brother."
"Because of the Hollywood connection," Charles chimed in.
"Huh. Have they met you, these people? You're obviously..." Elena gestured up and down. Even if she hadn't googled Darcy and seen his Trump hat, she'd know. His stiff bearing, his clothes, even his haircut..."You could be Paul Ryan's son. It's hardly surprising."
Charles burst out laughing. He bent over and put his hands on his knees.
Darcy looked confused again, then annoyed. Elena shrugged. "You asked."
She left them on the deck, glad that at least Charles had a sense of humor. Really, he deserved better friends.
She and Valerie cleaned uninterrupted for the next hour, though Valerie tried several times to strike up a conversation with Caroline about Giana. Elena was annoyed, but from what she heard, Caroline was up to the task of shutting Valerie down. Plus, she was on the phone a lot, and even Valerie wasn't rude enough to interrupt her calls.
When Elena got to the dusting again, Darcy was back in his place by the bar. His laptop was open, but he held his phone in his hand. Caroline perched on the stool next to him, reading over his shoulder. "Oh, Giana can come! On Monday? Fantastic. Please text her that she'll have a great time. Oh, and ask her if she prefers more space or fewer stairs so I know which room to make up for her. Is she bringing anyone?"
Darcy mostly replied with grunts to her suggestions, but to the last he said, "Yes. She wants to know if Fitz can come."
"Of course. We have plenty of beds. As long as we don't shower at the same time, we'll be fine." She threw a significant look at Elena.
Elena was embarrassed to be caught watching their little interplay, and applied herself again to finishing up.
Caroline stretched. "I feel so lethargic. Let's go for a hike."
Perhaps because Darcy was still texting his sister, he completely ignored her.
"What do you say to a hike?" she tried again. Elena could practically hear Caroline's teeth grind. She was surprised when Caroline turned to her. "Elena, would you care to show us where to hike out here? Show me which paths are worth taking and don't fizzle out after a few feet?"
Elena was caught off-guard by this. Was Caroline trying to goad Darcy into coming? How did she figure Elena would help?
But putting all that aside, was this Elena's chance to finally make Caroline appreciate this location? She would not give up on that positive review; for her dad's sake.
"Sure. Why not?" Elena answered.
Darcy looked up from his phone to her, and then to Caroline. "Sorry. What did I miss?"
"We're going hiking," Caroline said. Her smile was forced. "Do you want to come?"
"You are?" He looked as if a yes was coming, but then that would have been the human response, Elena thought harshly. He shook his head. "No, I've got work to do."
Caroline slid her hand down his arm. "Come on, you need exercise, too."
"I jogged this morning."
"It's refreshing."
His mouth showed annoyance but Caroline didn't seem to realize what was coming. Elena was shamelessly eavesdropping now. "I'd just be in the way," Darcy said flatly. "You can talk to Elena without me. If you only want me to admire your hiking outfit, I can see you better from the window." He thrust his chin toward the wide bay windows that offered a view down the hillside.
It was bitingly rude, and more than a bit demeaning. Elena instinctively sided with Caroline. Sure, Caroline was kinda ignoring his 'not-interested' cues, but that was no excuse to insult her so bluntly.
To Elena's surprise, Caroline chuckled and slapped his arm. "You're so bad. Isn't he awful, Elena? How should I punish him?"
She could start by not flirting with him when he was being a jerk.
"Laugh at him," Elena said. "Men hate that."
"Doesn't everyone?" Darcy commented.
"No. Only conceited people can't bear to be laughed at."
"So all men are conceited?"
"Well. Yes."
Valerie came into the living room and Elena latched onto her with relief. Elena was on the verge of having a full-on argument with a guest and that was bad policy. Elena wanted to give Caroline a sharp smack and tell her to move on to a guy worthy of her, which honestly wasn't setting the bar too high.
"I'd actually better get going," Elena said to Caroline. "The east path by the lower door is the best walk. Just wear pants and watch out for stinging nettles."
Elena nearly shoved Valerie out the door. Why couldn't she just ignore the people in this cabin? She kept getting sucked into their little drama and it was not okay.
No one would blame Elena more than herself if she drove off paying customers. Or ruined Noa's (tiny) chance with Charles.
#
When the door shut behind Elena and her younger sister, Darcy turned back to his computer, frustrated. He had not gotten as much accomplished as he meant to, seemingly he was unable to ignore Elena's presence in the house, and worse, he had been quite rude to Caroline.
He was beginning to feel that this vacation with the Bingleys had been a complete mistake from beginning to end. He brought out the worst in Caroline-her entitlement, vanity, and insecurity-and now he knew it was mutual. She brought ought his impatience, arrogance, and bad temper.
But really, he had made it clear. What did she expect? He should not have come here. He'd thought the invitation was mainly from Charles, but he'd realized sometime during the drive that it had been Caroline.
He would stay for the next few days, so that Gigi could come visit, but if Charles extended his stay, Darcy would not.
Caroline perched on a bar stool next to him. "Admit it, you almost agreed to hike when Elena was going. Do you and Charles have such similar taste?" She smiled archly.
"Maybe we do," Darcy said. And perhaps expressing interest in another woman would be enough to disinterest Caroline.
Her eyes widened. "I was joking. I didn't expect you to agree. Seriously. Elena?"
"I like her eyes."
Caroline's armor was up now. "Can I quote you on that? Your mother will be thrilled to hear you've met The One."
"Yes, admiring one facial feature clearly indicates I'll be proposing."
"It's more than I've heard you do for anyone else." The silent corollary hung in the air, "except for me."
Unfortunately, he had paid more compliments to Caroline than anyone else except his sister. How much emphasis had she placed on that? Too much.
Caroline probed. "Noa is beautiful and sweet, but I think even the politics in Sacramento would eat her alive. You think Elena could handle D.C.?"
"I have no intention of finding out," Darcy admitted. "But I'd love to see her try."
Caroline laughed, brittle and angry. "You're acting strange this week. Mid-life crisis coming on?"
Darcy maintained silence. What was it that made one woman's laugh grate on the nerves, while another woman's laugh made him want to kiss her neck? And it wasn't just that Caroline was angry right now. Her laugh never caught and distracted him the way Elena's did.
That was probably a bad sign. Perhaps he was having some sort of crisis. Not a mid-life breakdown, he was only thirty-five, but an identity crisis. What else would explain his inexplicable attraction to a completely unsuitable girl? She was smart, sure; funny, and enjoyable to bait...
Darcy cut off his thoughts when Caroline sniffed and walked away. He'd only allowed himself to talk about Elena to give Caroline a hint. Now he would put her aside, or risk looking like a real idiot.
