Chapter 5: Three Hundred Thousand

I watched my sister turn the doll in her hands on a white couch on national TV.

The host pressed the heart.

A man's voice came out. "Hey, sweetheart. I'm right here."

Colby's voice.

The studio audience said "aww."

I sat down hard in a plastic chair.

Fletcher came out of Gus's room and stopped.

He looked at the TV. Then at me.

"That's your doll," he said.

"That's my doll."

"I saw a box of them in the shop. Same heart. Same everything."

"Same everything."

On the screen Gracie was laughing. "It launches at Toy Fair in New York in February, and every one comes with a signed bookmark."

The segment cut to a car commercial.

I picked up my bag.

"Where are you going?" Fletcher said.

"Scottsdale. Brightwater's headquarters."

"Now?"

"Now."

He looked at my hands.

I looked at them too. They were shaking so hard my keys rattled.

He took the keys out of my fingers.

"I'll drive," he said.

"You don't even like me."

"I don't like you driving like that either. Dad's asleep. Come on."

His truck smelled like pine boards and coffee.

He didn't talk on the freeway.

I liked him a little better for it.

Brightwater's building was all glass and green lawn. A giant plush bear sat in the lobby wearing a tie.

I gave the receptionist my name.

"Tell Colby Farrington that Elsie Calvert is here. He'll see me."

He saw me in four minutes.

His office was on the top floor, a glass box looking at the mountains.

Six of his team were around a table in front of it, mood boards and coffee cups everywhere.

Colby stood up and spread his arms.

Golden hair, navy suit, the same easy white smile I used to think was only for me.

"Els! Look at you. You haven't changed at all."

"You stole my doll."

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