Catch Me, Maybe のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

The following evening, Riley walked into the dining room—and stopped.“...Isn’t that a lot?”There were forks and knives spread across the table.Plates.Glasses.And even small cards.“Did the knives multiply again?”“You’ve seen this before,” Vivian said.“I thought we were done with them.”“At regular dinners, yes.”“So this isn’t a regular dinner?”“It’s a rehearsal for the gala.”“Dinner has rehearsals?!”Grant was already sitting at the table.“I just found out too.”“You’re a victim?”“Probably.”“What are the two of you talking about?” Vivian asked.Charles was clearly enjoying himself.“Is this the same food we’ll have at the gala?” Riley asked.“Something similar,” Charles said.“Same amount?”“Smaller portions tonight.”“Good.”Riley sat down.“It’d be weird to get completely stuffed during p

The day before the gala.After breakfast, Riley looked across the table at Charles, who was drinking tea.“Grandpa.”“Yes?”“About what we talked about yesterday.”“Which part?”“The part where you announce my existence to three hundred people.”“That sounds a little dramatic.”“There are three hundred people.”“That’s true.”“Then dramatic is accurate.”Charles laughed.Riley straightened slightly in her chair.“I thought about it.”Vivian and Grant looked up too.“You can introduce me.”Charles’s expression changed slightly.“Are you sure?”“Yeah. But—”Riley held up one finger.“I am not going up onstage.”“All right.”“Definitely?”“Definitely.”“You’re not suddenly going to say, ‘And now, my granddaughter Riley!’ and hand me a microphone?”“I won’t.”“No speech?”“No speech.”“No singi

The day of the gala.One in the afternoon.“...Isn’t this a little early?”Riley asked as she sat in front of the mirror.“The gala starts at six thirty, right?”“I explained this yesterday,” Vivian replied.“I heard you. It still feels early.”“That’s why we’re taking breaks along the way.”“The fact that getting ready requires breaks is the problem.”Behind her, Claire was arranging her tools.Helen was giving the dress one last inspection.And the table was covered with more makeup than Riley had seen at any point during the past week.She pointed at a thin brush.“What’s this?”“Eyeliner brush.”“And this?”“Lip brush.”“This one?”“Concealer brush.”“They’re all brushes!”“They serve different purposes.”“Can’t you just use one for everything?”“No.”Claire’s answer was immediate.“See? This is why I like you. St

Charles began his remarks.At first, Riley listened seriously.The foundation’s work.The organizations receiving support this year.Education.Healthcare.Community programs.Five minutes.Ten minutes.“...Isn’t this kind of long?” Riley whispered.Grant kept his eyes forward as he answered.“This is about how long it is every year.”“He said it would be short.”“By Charles standards.”“This family has way too many different standards.”“Quiet.”Vivian, on Riley’s other side.Riley stared at her.“You can hear me?!”“You’re sitting right next to me.”Riley closed her mouth.◇Then—“Lastly,” Charles said.Riley’s body reacted instantly.Her back straightened.Grant glanced at her.“Here it comes.”“You don’t have to say that.”“Mental preparation.”“I’m doing that right now!”

“Just borrowing it.”Riley said it quietly.To no one in particular.“I’m putting it back.”In front of her—a spare black service jacket.And a long black apron.“So it’s not stealing.”She heard herself say it.“...Who am I even defending myself to?”Riley looked around.The staff were busy.Nobody was paying attention to her.Now or never.“Okay.”◇First—she took off the blue pendant.“This is absolutely not getting lost.”She tucked it safely into her small clutch.Next, the black jacket.“Big.”It was a little oversized.Which actually helped.It covered almost the entire top half of her deep blue dress.Then the long apron.Riley gathered the front of her skirt slightly and tied the apron over it.She checked her reflection in a glass panel.“...Waitress?”Close enough.