“I have bad news,” I say.
Both parents look at me. “I have to go back to L.A. this afternoon to meet with Alfonso. I just spoke to Sandy.”
My mother nods. “I know—she called us.”
“What?”
“Sandy used her telephone to call our telephone.” My mother pantomimes. “Jeff, is it one hundred degrees in here, or is it just me?”
My father chuckles and takes off, presumably in pursuit of the thermostat or some ice water.
“She calls you?”
“Of course she calls me,” my mom says. “I’m your mother.”
“I didn’t know.”
My mom reaches out and gently grazes my cheek. “I know I said that stuff to you about coming home, but that’s just because sometimes I want you here, where I can protect you. It’s harder when you’re out there—” She gestures with her hand. “But I want you to know that just because I’m not there doesn’t mean I’m not doing what I can.” She taps my nose with her index finger. “No matter how far away you are, I’m still always your mother.”
I don’t say anything; I just fold into her. “Ouch,” she says. “Watch the head.”
I pull back and raise my eyebrow. “I’m guessing Dad is going to drive me?”
My mom sits back and closes her eyes. “If he even so much as turns on that engine loudly, God help me, I’m getting a divorce.”
Dad drops me off. “Take care of yourself,” he says.
“I will.”
“Don’t let anyone tell you who you are, okay? You know all of that. Your mother taught you.”
I smile at him. “You didn’t do such a bad job, either.”
“Maybe not,” he says, hugging me close.
I wave good-bye as I go to check in. The airport is way less crowded than LAX, and I board in relative peace. A few camera phone pics, but at least I’m alone. I have on the baseball hat I found in the three musketeers box yesterday, and I pull it down over my eyes the way I’ve gotten used to.
I sleep the whole way there. Cassandra kicks and Jake snores, so last night was a wash and I’m exhausted. I only wake up when I feel the wheels hit the runway.
I go directly to meet with Alfonso the next morning. A car arrives to take me at eightAM. To my surprise and delight, Alexis is there when I get to the studio. She’s lounging in the office of one of the studio execs, Meredith.
“Paige,” she says. “I’m sorry you got called back early.”
“You too,” I say. “Was Georgina upset?” I think about their plans for upfronts.
Alexis rolls her eyes. “She’s back in love with Blake; she barely noticed I was there, let alone that I left.” Alexis wraps her long arms around me. “Besides, I think you might need me right now more than she does.”
“Hey, Paige.” Meredith waves from her desk. I let go of Alexis.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
Meredith sighs. “I’m getting exercise tips from Twiggy over here. So you can imagine.” She winks at me.
“It really is all about the core,” Alexis says, employing a little more accent than usual and lifting up her sheer white tank top.
“Please put those away,” I say. “I haven’t even had coffee yet.”
“That part we can fix,” Meredith says. She calls in her assistant, who comes back five minutes later, juggling Starbucks cups.
