Skye went over to a new hang out she had: her brother Jason's condo.
Jason had moved into the condo with Maureen Donovan, his nurse girlfriend.
Skye and Jason's grandfather had said he was proud of Jason for his independence, which at first floored Skye but on later thought, did not surprise her. Whatever Jason did was right.
If she or AJ had tried the exact same thing, they'd never hear the end of it from their family, Skye thought. It would be abandoning their family.
Jason and Maureen even had a little separate-entrance suite for Emily in their condo. Emily was really pleased with it, and their parents were really pleased with Jason for being so thoughtful.
But if Emily could do it, Skye thought she could. The idea of her own place was even more attractive from the time she spent over at Jason's. She could relax. There was no threat that her Grandfather or one of her parents or her stupid cousin, Ned, would come in and make a damn stupid or annoying or irritating remark, or ask a difficult, pressuring question.
AJ apparently had no plan to move out. The idea was that his girlfriend Joanna and her two kids would move in. If the Family made life impossible for Joanna, then AJ would move out with his girlfriend and her two children and his one child.
AJ had taken a job at Jax Corporation, so there was already tension at Quartermaine Mansion.
But considering where they'd all been a year ago, things were amazingly good, Skye thought. There were two non-family board members on the ELQ Board. Skye worked for one of them and AJ for the other. And so far, the family had not imploded.
Edward muttered comments to the effect that of all the companies in the world, AJ and Skye specifically picked the two most uncongenial to ELQ. But really, Skye thought, Grandfather was wrong. Or he knew he was wrong and was just posturing. What could be more natural than that they work for those companies, and what was bad about it? The Family had an insider at these companies that were supposedly so dangerous.
Grandfather also talked, as he always had, as if every other company in the world thought of nothing but how to take over ELQ. That was stupid. She knew from working with Sergei and Alter Corporation that they worked for their company to succeed. They never thought about ELQ.
Maureen brought a tray with a teapot and cups into the living room. She poured a cup for herself and for Skye.
"This is so sociable," Skye said. "Unlike at home."
"Come over whenever you want," Maureen said. "How are things?"
"I saw Sean in Wyndham's the other day," Skye said.
"Really? Did you talk to him?"
"Yes. He was looking for furniture for his new apartment."
"He finally moved out of Kelly's."
"Yes. He kept inviting me to see it. Which I declined, of course."
"Do you want to see it?"
"Only to compare apartments. I'm thinking of looking for one myself."
"Well, why not have a look at it?"
"I may. He was talking about furniture. I like what you two have done with this place."
"We had a good time picking it all out," Maureen said.
"How is it living with Jason?"
"Wonderful," Maureen said. "He even did the dishes the other night."
"Thought he wouldn't know that job existed, did you?" Skye said, a smile curving her lips.
"Yeah," Maureen said, smiling a little. "I always had maids growing up, too, but I'd had my own place at least for a little while. How about you? If you get your own place, you'll need to learn about all those little chores."
"Yes," Skye said. "Maybe I'll hire a maid."
Maureen laughed. "That's not a bad idea, either," she said.
"Sean acts like he can make friends again," Skye said. "Naturally, he would think so."
"It takes two for that," Maureen said. "Sean doesn't have all the control."
"He'd love it if he did! But he doesn't. So there, Sean! He's doing well at work, from what I hear. But I suppose a big mouth like him would succeed as a lawyer."
"Yes. Is he going out with anyone else?"
"Not that I can catch him with."
Maureen smiled. "You can outsmart him, even if he thinks you can't."
Skye smiled to herself. "I certainly could," she said.