"Is it because of Gracey? Really, don't worry about her. She's just-" James paused in his pleading after Lucy had told him she couldn't go with him. "You look beautiful."
Lucy met his oddly timed compliment with a somewhat sympathetic smile. She gave him another untrue excuse. "I just don't think it's appropriate for you to take your employee."
"No one besides my family would have to know." As he said this Lucy knew if she went this is how their relationship would always be. He'd always be embarrassed by her social and economic rank and try to hide it from his high-society friends.
She frowned, "No. This is silly."
It was James's turn to frown. He didn't think his affection for her was silly. "Please, I'll be a laughing stock if I go alone. It's too late to find anyone else."
Something about his statement bothered her. She felt used but as Lucy glanced at the clock she realized it was true. Guests would begin to arrive within the hour. She sighed, "I just don't know..."
"Please."
Lucy massaged her temples. She thought with a cynical sense of humor that she'd been doing a lot of that lately. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
James hugged her rather awkwardly and thanked her.
Spot had been pacing the length of the Brooklyn Bridge for most of his day. Rather than selling his newspapers, he contemplated his situation with Lucy with some irritation and less compassion. He found himself blaming Lucy for all of the problems he had been encountering lately. It was her fault he hadn't sold enough papers in days. It was her fault he could hardly afford food. It was her fault he couldn't even eat the meager meals he bought. It was her fault that he wasn't sleeping at night. It was her fault he couldn't concentrate on anything. It was her fault that she was all he thought about.
He wondered if Jack could help at all. Jack knew nothing about their fight, but his threat from the beginning of Spot's involvement with Lucy left Spot indecisive about turning to him.
Standing in the over-sized townhouse's foyer, Lucy feet began to ache. Mrs. Johnston's shoes were too small for her and she felt as if she'd been standing with the family greeting guests for hours. Glancing at the clock in the adjoining parlor, she saw it had only been 35 minutes. The task of welcoming everyone had been assigned to her and James. It was extremely uncomfortable for making small talk with strangers was not her forte. She caught herself wishing it was Spot standing next to her rather than James but pushed the thought out of her head.
As Jack scowled at him after hearing his story, Spot decided going to Jack had been a bad idea. The great Spot Conlon was squirming and eager to leave Jack's angry presence. Although he felt assured that he could take Kelly if it came to it, he didn't think busting her friend's face would help Lucy along on the road to forgiveness should she choose to take it. "Listen, I'm just gonna go." Spot said.
"No, we're gonna fix this." Jack said after collecting himself.
"We?"
"Yeah, we. Can't-cha hear good no more?" He was frustrated and Spot was trying his last nerve with stupid questions.
After an eternity in Lucy's mind, everyone was seated. Chatter buzzed around her as dinner was served but she didn't take part in it. James sat to her right and to her left, where Grace's seat would have been, was a vacant chair. She smirked at thought of what kind of revenge Grace sat in her room plotting.
Looking around she observed the Johnston family. Mr. Johnston carried himself in a very professional way; Lucy couldn't remember an instance when he hadn't. Ms. Swanson acted so stately one would never have guessed she'd only escaped poverty through her daughter's marriage into wealth. Mrs. Johnston beamed and laughed. The day's earlier events were forgotten for the time being. James chatted with a girl on his other side. Even though she had never felt anything for him, she found herself feeling betrayed and somewhat abandoned. He had left her to face the table of strangers by herself, much to Ms. Swanson's joy she was sure. They came off as being so put together, so perfect. It caused her to reflect on their problems and the falsity of their unity upset her. She didn't really know why either.
"Are you okay?" Someone whispered in her ear while placing another plate in front of her. Lucy turned around to see Hattie's smiling face. Lucy had every intention of nodding the affirmative but her neck had other plans for her. Hattie's grin died on her lips. "Come to the kitchen when you get a moment." She said with worry laced through her quiet words.
A few moments later Lucy excused herself and went into the kitchen. Hattie and Catalina rushed towards her and as they did she felt tears prick her eyes.
It was too much. The inevitable collapse of living a double life was finally here. She came to the conclusion that due to her lies, her exhaustion, and her stress she had lost the best part of her life, possibly for good. She felt hopeless as she wondered if Spot would ever come back for her.
Well kiddos ... what did you think?
(I'd love reviews but don't honestly have high expectations for this chapter. Personally I don't like it all that much.)