Chapter 5

For a month after my departure, nobody came looking.

I found out later how Mom answered relatives who asked where I was.

"Claire's making a fuss. We wanted her to change bedrooms, and she took off to frighten us. When she gets bored with this, she'll be back."

Dad was just as unconcerned.

"She hasn't found work. A little time trying to survive on her own will teach her something. She'll come home when she sees what life costs."

Luke told them I was doing what I always did.

"Leave her alone. When nobody comes running, she'll come back and say she's sorry."

Mason said I wasn't the girl I used to be.

He told them I had once been sensible and understanding. Now I'd caused all this trouble over a necklace.

None of them asked where I'd gone.

They were waiting for me to reappear, apologize to Sophie, and settle into the storage room.

A month after I left, Sophie reported for her first day at Fairmont Technologies.

Mom and Dad went with her. So did Luke and Mason.

In the lobby, Mom adjusted the collar of Sophie's new suit, beaming at her.

"Fairmont, your very first job. I knew you'd make it."

Then she sighed, apparently remembering that she had another daughter.

"And there's Claire. No work, no idea what she's doing. We don't even know where she is now."

Luke held Sophie's expensive tote.

"Probably sleeping on somebody's couch to make us feel bad," he said. "Who would have hired her, anyway?"

Mason stayed quiet.

Most likely, he still thought that receptionist opening was the best chance I had.

Dad walked Sophie over to his college friend on the other side of the lobby.

David Turner was Fairmont's HR director. He also supervised staffing for their new aerospace materials project.

He was the friend Dad had phoned to get Sophie in the door.

"Here's Sophie, David," Dad said, bringing her forward. "First day. Look out for her, okay?"

Sophie smiled at him.

"I appreciate the chance, Mr. Turner. I'll make sure you don't regret it."

David smiled back.

"Your interview went well. I think you'll get comfortable here pretty quickly."

Mom looked even more pleased.

"She's always been ambitious. She knows exactly what she wants."

She shook her head.

"Her twin couldn't be more different. Claire didn't get a job. We gave her some sensible advice, and she ran off."

Dad sighed.

"I said she couldn't afford to be choosy. With that degree, she needed to take what she could find. But she never listens."

David stopped smiling.

"Did you say Claire hasn't found work?"

Dad waved off the question.

"She's barely out of college. What would she have found?"

David looked at him.

"You don't know where she works?"

Dad's face changed.

"What are you talking about?"

"We're competing for a major contract with Evergreen Advanced Materials Institute," David said. "Claire Hayes is the technical liaison handling our proposal on their side."

Nobody spoke.

Then Dad let out a quick, incredulous laugh.

"Different girl. Same name."

"I talked with her at the project review last week. She's a materials engineering graduate. Your daughter's university. Your hometown."

Dad kept shaking his head.

"Claire couldn't get a job at Evergreen. I know my own daughter's abilities."

David watched him for a moment.

"You couldn't do enough to get Sophie hired here," he said softly. "But you have no idea what your other daughter does for a living?"

The last of Dad's smile disappeared.

David brought up the project's contact directory on his phone and showed him the screen.

There I was, photograph and all.

CLAIRE HAYES

EVERGREEN ADVANCED MATERIALS INSTITUTE

PROJECT REVIEW AND TECHNICAL LIAISON

"Look, Robert."

"Is that your daughter?"