But she didn’t make a point of calling me the way Dani did. She hardly called me at all. Not when her show was taping. And when she was finished taping, there were promo requirements.
I didn’t mind it, really. It was good that she had something to keep her busy. Something that finally mattered to her more than making my dad miserable for the way their marriage ended.
And I already knew what she’d say about all of this. She’d tell me they cheat and they lie, and even if he promised me the world, I’d be safer if I kept my expectations small and my attorney on retainer.
“People are sending things,” I blurted out. “Flowers and iPads and stuff. Diamond watches? Ryan’s not here this week. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. I can barely walk through the foyer.”
“We’ll go through it together,” she said. “I can be there first thing in the morning.”
“You don’t need to do that,” I said, and in the back of my head I could hear my mother raging at me about choosingthat common whoreover her. The panicked shakiness I’d always thought of as carbonated bubbles in my blood came fizzing back like I’d never chased it away. “I have to work and—and it’s not a big deal. I’ll figure it out.”
She was quiet for a moment and I worried I’d offended her until she said, “I never doubted you for a second, hon. Don’tforget that Ralston has an entire staff just waiting to make your life easier. I promise you his assistant can get handwritten thank-you notes in the mail by the end of the week if you ask. She’ll have all the addresses you need too.”
Oh—right. Marcie. Why hadn’t I thought of that route?
“Here’s a little tip,” Danielle said. “Have the gifts forwarded to Ralston’s office. His people will know what to do. Don’t give up your foyer.”
I rubbed my forehead. I hated the headaches that followed that surge of panic. It was like being a shaken-up bottle of soda, all those bubbles pressing together at the top. I just wanted to close my eyes and let it all fade away. “Thanks, Dani.”
“Are you kidding me? Thankyoufor letting me talk your ear off.” I heard her moving around, the soft clack of heels against hardwood. “Before I forget,” she added, “your dad wants you to know he won’t put in a competing offer.”
“Okay,” I said at length.
I didn’t know what we were talking about and Ines chose that moment to arrive home and yell at the very top of her lungs, “Emme! Where the hell did the floor go?”
“We’ll talk later,” Danielle said. “I just want you to know I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m happy too.”
The strange thing was, I meant that. I sank deeper into the sofa, wrapped in the blanket and my stress tremors, and I let myself fall asleep while Ines rooted through the gifts.
chapter nineteen
Emme
Today’s Learning Objective:
Students will swim in shallow waters.
Wildcat: Call me when you have some time tonight. I want to run something by you.
Emme: That falls under the umbrella of “we need to talk” so thank you in advance for the anxiety
Wildcat: No anxiety, everything’s fine
Emme: “everything is fine” is just extra-strength anxiety
Wildcat: I swear there’s nothing for you to worry about
Emme: Then run it by me now
Wildcat: Are you free to talk?
Emme: That depends whether it’s something Grace can hear because we’re at her hair and makeup trial
Wildcat: A trial like…a qualifying round?
Emme: Yeah, she has makeup artists competing to see which one can create the best smoky eye in less than 90 seconds
