OCTOBER

Never trust other women… lesson learned

Oct 14, 2016 Part 8

Weight: 119

Ate: a blueberry scone that still sat in my full belly

Drank: nothing else

Sex: Maybe not tonight

I returned with my blueberry scone to my two old friends who were still talking. I overheard them whisper my name though and my skin grew prickly. My hair stood on its ends and I sighed, interrupting the two of them and asked, “What about me and Peter, Victoria?”

Vicki’s dewy perfectly white face with clear blue eyes made her the ‘All American’ pin up, as she dropped Alice’s hand and her face turned red with her blush as she said, “Jennifer, I love my brother, and I want you both to find your happiness.”

So I clearly can’t depend on friendship. Not with these two. Got it. My pulse raced and my voice went up up an octave as I spun on my heels away from them. “You don’t know anything.”

Customers tried to pass them in the book store. I headed to the door and hoped to get air.

As I made it to the door, I glanced across the street and saw the Italian man, Mr. Charming. He was eating breakfast in one of those cafes.

Vicki and Alice tugged on my arm and I turned toward the two women. Alice then said, “I thought we came here today to see this store Vicki wants to open.”

Fine. I ignored the zap in my veins that wanted to lash out and pasted a smile on my face. Vicki was Peter’s beloved little sister.

Vicki took a minute to scan the street, probably for whoever followed her and then said, “Okay, I think the coast is clear.”

As we stepped out I saw the dark haired Mr. Charming. He stared at me as we headed down the street. Alice joked, “You sound like your brother, the FBI agent, with that sentence.”

Wait. I stopped and spoke in unison with Vicki as I asked, “John was in the FBI?”

I hadn’t thought John Morgan would do Rafe’s original dream in high school before he ended up on Miami PD to stay and keep his family safe.

My mind buzzed. I needed to call him already, but then Alice with her blush said, “You didn’t know? Vicki, he’s your brother.”

Maybe John would have been an easier mark. Either way I loved Peter. He was my reason for living. So I kept my mouth shut as Vicki said, “I love my family. But I’ve been M.I.A. for a while now.”

Right. I shrugged my shoulder and added, “Peter never said anything.”

Alice then gave me a hard stare and then quipped, “‘Friends with benefits’ doesn’t exactly inspire communication.”

Clearly we weren’t going to be friends. Got it. My skin buzzed like she’d slapped me. I rolled my shoulders like I would playing one of my diva characters and said, “Like you have any answers, Alice. I don’t remember anyone ever finding you the least bit interesting.”

Vicki crossed her arms and turned toward me. “You’re both my friends, so stop that.”

And Alice was clearly the preferred friend right now. I kept my mouth shut as Alice said, “Okay, let’s go.”

High school was a long time ago. I shook my head, but said nothing else. Instead all three of us walked outside and a few minutes later, they stood in front of an empty building on the Miracle Mile. Alice asked, “Is this where you want your shop?”

My mind raced. Tomorrow I needed to film scenes and tonight I’d run lines.

I practiced how I’d personally used the stage for movement in my mind as Vicki smiled at us and nodded her head. As Vicki just stared in an empty window, I shrugged. “I don’t get what you want a shop for.”

Alice opened the door for them to go inside as she said, “This place has potential, Vicki. All the brides will want to come to you.”

Brides? Wait Vicki wanted to open a shop. Wasn’t that middle class of her? Huh?

“Come.” Vicki rifled through her pocketbook and found a key. She unlocked the door and as she threw it open to the sunshine of the morning, she said, “I bought this place yesterday to be the base of my fashion empire. The address is perfect.”

Empire. That made more sense. 

The Morgan were the House of Morgan and I intended to be Queen of the universe.

I needed to find Ms. Bad Underwear and get rid of her. Then I’d tie Peter to me, forever. Mr. Charming back there didn’t matter. The three walked inside, and Vicki locked the door right behind them. 

I’d continue this pretend friendship, work on my telenovela lines, call my agents for movie gigs and work until I earned my diamond tiara. Then I’d be set for life and no one would stop me. Ever.

The House of Morgan