Lost in La La Land(41)

“I know. I just hate the idea of someone being here while we’re in. I like that it’s just you and me.”

“We have to learn to trust someone else. We won’t be so tired if we’re in at the same time and out at the same time. As it is, we’re spending twenty hours a day with the machine, either in it or observing it. My back hurts all the time. I’m exhausted. We have to fix that.”

“Fine.” She gave in and opened the fridge. “How much is the reno going to cost?”

“He’s doing it for two million seven hundred thousand.”

“Holy shit, that’s a ton of money, Em.”

“I know but I had the house assessed and the value of it is almost two million with no renovation. Once we fix it up it’ll be worth over ten million.”

“Did you take it out of the company?”

“Not yet, I will. I’ll transfer him the funds tomorrow. Fifty percent up front and the rest spread over the job, withholding five hundred thousand until the very end of the project. And paying upfront for anything extra he finds. I checked, this is a standard contract.”

“Sounds insane.” Lana rolled her eyes at me and grabbed a Lean Cuisine for us both, heating them up in the microwave. “But if it makes the house better for our health, then it’s worth it.”

“I am telling you, there’s mold and mice. The air quality is awful. It’s spring. We need to get this done. The basement floods all the time. There must be cracks in the foundation. It stinks down there.”

“I never noticed.” She shrugged, making a face. “Did you say it’s spring?”

“Yeah.”

“I never noticed that either.” She laughed.

“That's not a bad thing.”

“No, it’s not.” She smiled. “Six months since my divorce finally went through and it’s spring and I feel amazing, apart from the aching back.”

“He’s remarried, did I tell you? Marshall remarried.” I couldn't recall if I had or not.

“No. Is he? Who’s the unlucky lady?”

“Some young thing, I think only twenty-three.”

“Jesus.” Lana wrinkled her nose. “He’s fifty this year, or was it last? He could at least try for half his age. What’s he doing now?”

“He’s back on Wall Street, same job he had before the mayoral career.”

“I can’t believe they took him back after your charges against him and his criminal convictions.” She scowled.

“I know. Money buys everything.”

“When did you hear he remarried?”

“I was combing the papers online the other day, catching up on some things. I was searching for the company that bought Lucid Fantasies, checking to see if they survived.”

“And?” Her eyes widened.

“They have. They’ve made resorts. Imagination Playlands is what they’re called. You go and stay at the resort and hook in. It’s restricted and carefully done, but similar to what we have.”

“When?” For the first time in ages, she looked as if she might actually be excited about something beyond going into the machine.

“Three weeks ago.” I didn't realize the time had slipped by so quickly.

“Good for them. We might have to try it out.”

“Yes, once the reno is finished we should go on a vacation.”

“We should.” Lana brought the dinners to the table while I doled out pills, probiotics, and green supplements.

We ate, laughing and joking and daydreaming about the possibility of leaving the house. Something that likely wouldn't happen. Unless forced.





Chapter Nineteen


“Captain Wentworth, Miss Elliot has arrived. And she has a guest. A man by the same name,” Mrs. Humboldt interrupted us as I was about respond to the proposal.

She held the library door open, expectantly.

“Of course. Excuse me.” He bowed and hurried from the room.

I slumped back in the chair, the wind sucked from my sails.

I wanted so badly to say yes but I wanted that moment to last forever.

I left the library after a minute of pouting, and sauntered to the front door. As I expected, Anne was early. As predicted, she couldn't stay away.

When I got to the door Mary was gushing over some man, a very handsome man. He had dark hair and was as tall as Wentworth and Charles, both tall men.

“And this is our cousin, who you must know quite well, Miss Jane Dalrymple.” Mary held a hand out to me.

I made eye contact with the man, of course knowing him exceedingly well. I recalled him and all our shared memories that had been written into the storyline as I blinked once. “Cousin William. How are you?” William Elliot, our dreaded cousin, who had always been a social-climbing and money-grubbing letch, was with Anne?

What a turn of events.

Clearly, the unfortunate Mrs. Smith hadn’t had time to warn Anne.

“Jane, what a pleasant surprise!” William exclaimed and pulled me in for an embrace. We knew each other well. Quite well. I patted his back and pulled away, earning myself a rather scandalous stare from Wentworth and Anne.

“Cousin Anne, I am so pleased you have returned.” I embraced her also. “I was sad to hear of your friend’s passing. I am so sorry.”