The Naked Truth (The Honeybrook Hamdens)

"I'm a fraud. Look, I didn't know anything about this show until the day that news article came out. Troy only did all this to make me look bad."

"I don't understand. I thought you and Troy--"

"We're over. He...I broke up with him and he tried to ruin my career. Which he'll probably succeed in doing. I should have called before you got on the train and told you not to come. We can have a good day in the city tomorrow, but I'm not going to the show. I can't do that."

"Julie, you have to."

"Mom, you don't understand. These designs…they’re all mine. And I’ll be letting him take the credit for everything. It’ll be the most humbling moment of my life.”

“Well, Julie, I’m sorry girl, but I have to go. I’ll be sitting there seeing what my daughter could do in the span of two weeks. The fact that you have anything is incredible. I'm so impressed."

Julie blinked, then glanced at Amy, who was sitting with her mouth half-opened.

"How could someone do that to you?" Amy asked at last.

"What do you--"

"Why would he try to humiliate you so publicly? That's awful."

"What I want to know is why you didn't tell us, sweetie. We would have come and helped. I know you had Chase helping, but--"

"I couldn't tell you. You were so proud of me finally making it in the city. How could I tell you I got fired?"

"Honey, everyone has been fired."

"I once got fired from a secretarial job." Amy nodded, then sipped her drink. "My boss told me I wasn't as fun as he thought I'd be."

Their mother nodded, too. "I got fired from a retail job after a customer tried to steal my purse. These things happen. No matter what, though, I'll always be proud of you. You're my dreamer. You're my fighter."

For a moment, Julie thought she caught a hint of envy behind her sister's eyes, but just as quickly it was gone.

"I just always sort of thought I was the family screw up." Julie shrugged

"No, dear, that's your cousin, Darla," her mother said. Amy nodded in solemn agreement.

"What would make you think that?" Amy asked.

"Well, I was always getting in trouble in High School and--"

Amy rolled her eyes. "High School. High School doesn't count for anything. We all know you're not afraid of taking risks. That's what we think of when we think of you."

"Absolutely. Now, once you girls are finished with your drinks, why don't you come up to my room and we'll all watch a movie?" Their mom slid off her stool and made for the elevators without another word.

Once she'd gone, Amy sat there, staring at her drink with an unreadable expression. “It’s funny how people see things differently, you know?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

After another long pause, Amy took a swallow of her drink and added, “Were you going to tell us about Chase, too?”

Julie blinked. “I…how do you know about that?”

“Please, I’ve always known about that. Sisters know.”

"But...why didn't you out me?" Julie blinked.

"It wasn't my place. Besides, I thought if anybody was going to out you, it'd be Luke."

"Luke?" Julie practically choked on her drink.