Viv’s thoughts were still stuck on her conversation with the Diego and the unique dynamics between twins. About the insecurities that constant comparison could bring.
She’d never forgotten what Duke Benton—the only identical twin she’d known before having her own—had said on the topic.Once people put you in a box, it’s hard to climb out of it.
A hot sting pricked a tiny corner of her heart at the recollection. At the end of their freshman year at Stanford, Duke had thoroughly broken her heart, proving just how difficult breaking out of that box really was.
“So who are you going to be interviewing next,Veritå?” her mom asked as Viv joined them in the front room. Mom used her pen name when asking questions about her job as a freelance writer.
Viv opened her mouth to answer the question, but stopped short as the name escaped her. She thought back on her conversation with Riley Shay fromSlipper Magazine,still unable to recall it.“You know what? I’m not sure that she told me.”
“When are you going to interview Batman?” Dante asked.
“Batman’s not real,” Diego said.
“I mean the actor whoplayedBatman,” Dante corrected.
“Shedidinterview one of the men who played him,” Mom chimed. “Right, hon?”
“Yep, I did.” Viv led the crew into the kitchen, still perplexed about her upcoming interview. “How could I have not asked who I was interviewing?”
“I want you to talk to thenewBatman and get a picture with him,” Dante continued.
“Maybe someday I will.” Viv stepped over to the butcher block, a gorgeous custom piece that wheeled over to the window to double as a breakfast bar, and snatched the ring of times tables cards from its nook. “They’re doing eights right now,” she said to her mom.
Mom’s eyes lit up. “Oh, eight? That’s how old you guys are.”
“Until next month,” Diego said.
“That’s right,” she agreed. “You guys have a birthday coming up.”
“But we get to go to Disneyland first,” Dante cheered.
That they did. Viv’s mom and dad were taking the twins to celebrate over spring break. A fact they talked about at least three hundred times a day. Viv had chosen to stay back and refinish the deck, something that might not happen if the interview took her out of town.
“You really don’t know who your interview’s with?” her mom asked again.
Viv shook her head. “I know, it’s weird.” Sure, she needed the money; half of what she’d made on her last house was in a savings bond and the other half was dwindling fast with the renovations for this one. But accepting a job without knowing her subject? She’d never done that before.
“You know what?” she decided while hurrying over to the fridge and snatching a cheese stick from the drawer. “I trustSlipperthat it’ll be somebody worth interviewing. I think she said he’s getting like a twelve-page spread with a photo shoot, the works. Sounded like I might get to travel to someplace exotic for the shoot during the process.”
“Oooh, that would be neat,” her mom said. “So it’s ahenot ashe?”
Viv shrugged. “That’s the impression I have.”
“But you’re not sure…” Mom said in her thinking voice.
“Would we get to come too? If it’s somewhere exotic?” Diego asked.
Viv leaned down, captured the little guy’s face between her hands, and planted a kiss to his forehead. “Probably not, mio caro.”
She did the same with Dante. “I better get going.” She tossed an arm around her mom and gave her a squeeze. “Thanks again for helping with the boys.”
“It’s my absolute pleasure,” Mom cooed. And well Viv knew it. Thank heavens the twins had such loving, involved grandparents. Viv couldn’t imagine playing the role of single mother without them.
Mom followed her through the dining room and toward the front door. “So, are you going to meet him today? The guy you’re interviewing?”
Her mom was a real fan girl of several of Hollywood’s finest. Already, Viv had interviewed one of her favorites, which said something considering Viv’s unique specialty. She only interviewed high-profile people whose reputation had been soiled in some way. Those needing redemption.
“I bet it’s one of three people,” Mom said. “Thomas Findsley from all of those soap operas.”
