Leaving Home by Melinda Brasher

Author:Melinda Brasher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: travel, train, short stories, pirate, dance, flash fiction, fairy tale, lost love, blackmail, czech republic, poland, guatemala, fathers, tikal, cinderella, rapunzel, bridge game
Publisher: Melinda Brasher

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Perfect

"Is your sister a model?" her co-worker asked, watching the slim figure disappear around the corner.

Rose gritted her teeth. She'd even had men she was dating ask that, right in front of her. "No. She's a professional moocher."

Heather took what anyone offered, in a way that made people want to give her more. Their parents had happily shuttled her back and forth for dance and piano and art classes, but made Rose beg to join Girl Scouts. They'd paid for Heather's Ivy League college. She was smart, but not really academic. How had she weaseled her way into such a competitive school?

Heather claimed to be using that expensive education, but Rose had her doubts. Heather was a free-lance consultant, though what exactly she consulted about Rose had never figured out. She still somehow managed to get international companies to pay her ridiculous sums for very little work. Often this "work" occurred in places like Paris and Bali.

Rose worked 50-60 hours a week, and no one had ever bought her a car, or a diamond necklace, or a trip to the Caribbean, like Heather's rich boyfriends did.

Now Heather was marrying a literal prince. Not a crown prince, and not very famous, but still...a prince. Lately she'd been on local news at least once a week.

Fame was a fickle friend, Rose knew. She had a few strings to pull now, after all those years of working like a dog. All it took were the right words in the right ears, and the media jumped on Heather's history of drugs. So marijuana a couple of times in college wasn't exactly a history of drugs, but Rose hadn't lied. Only exaggerated. Then hints of a licentious youth. Netting her first of many rich older lovers at 19 didn't make her a criminal, but it was enough.

Rose watched with satisfaction as the media tore perfect Heather apart. For a week. Then something changed. A teary speech, a few pretty words, and suddenly she was their golden girl again, the victim of vicious slander. The prince stood by her, and after she called him Prince Charming on camera, the name stuck. Their wedding made national news on all the channels.

And Rose sat in the back of the vast European cathedral, packed full of well-wishers, and gritted her teeth.

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