those photographers before Saturday? She needs to be
prepared
for that kind of crazy frenzy.”
Molly swallowed hard. “So what
is
happening on Saturday, exactly?” she asked.
“Only the biggest social event of your life. Let’s see, we’ll have the entire junior and senior classes, some industry people,
and a bunch of photographers that we invited to help celebrate my sixteenth birthday.” Brooke beamed. “Daddy spared no expense.
He even got Fall Out Boy.”
“I spared
some
expense. She asked for Coldplay.”
“
Anyway
,” Brooke plowed ahead. “There’s an interview with
Hey!
, and everyone will be staring and taking pictures and watching everything we’re doing all night long. It’s kind of like being
on the biggest stage imaginable.”
Molly almost dropped her fork. “An
interview
?”
Charmaine would faint with joy at the idea, but Molly just wanted to faint, period. No wonder Brick hadn’t wanted to lay this
on her in the car. He hadn’t wanted to freak her out in a confined space.
Brooke reached across the table and squeezed Molly’s hand, which was slightly awkward because Brooke had to pry loose Molly’s
fingers from her water glass to make good on her gesture.
“Molly, if you’re not ready for this, maybe it’s unfair of us to ask you to come,” Brooke said, her voice oozing concern.
“Nonsense! She’ll be fine!” Brick insisted. “It’s just a fewsnapshots and a quick chat with a reporter. No big deal! I was going to tell you all about it after dinner.”
“Daddy, if she’s not ready to be quoted in a major national magazine that’s read by millions of people who will be dying to
see what she’s wearing, we shouldn’t push,” Brooke scolded, releasing Molly’s hand so she could gesture wildly with her own.
“Um, well, except it’s kind of not that simple,” Brick hedged. “
Hey!
is sort of insisting. I guess we got a little overzealous trying to get in front of the story. Trip Kendall loved it so much,
he told me that unless he gets an exclusive on Molly, he’s nixing the whole thing and writing a piece about how Laurel died
poor in a shanty.”
Molly gasped. “But that’s a lie!”
“Trip is ruthless, which is why he runs the best tabloid in town,” Brick explained. “I was worried he’d exploit you unless
I gave him access, and now… I can’t afford to sue him with
Avalanche!
coming out next year.”
Molly felt sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to be interviewed by any magazine, especially not one that would take advantage
of her mother’s death. How had she not seen any of this coming?
Brick sighed. “Molly, I’m sorry. This is why I don’t usually deal with these bastards. When it comes right down to it, I’d
love to show you off to the world and give you a chance to say great things about Laurel. But Brooke is right—it’s a lot to
ask. So all you need to do is say the word and I will cancel this entire thing.”
“The entire thing? Like, the whole party?” Brooke all but shrieked.
“The whole party,” Brick confirmed. “It’s just not worth it if my daughter is basting in the juices of her own agony.”
Looking impressed with himself, Brick pulled out his BlackBerry again and started typing.
“Daddy, don’t be so melodramatic,” Brooke snapped. “All I meant about Molly being unprepared is that it was mean of you not
to tell her sooner. But she seems, um, smart, and I bet we could whip her into shape in no time.”
“We?” Molly asked. She felt numb.
“Of course! You don’t think I’d let Daddy send you out there unprepared, do you?” Brooke chirped, her tone so cheerful it
could sell tampons to a priest. “It’s what sisters are for!”
“Well, that is what every father wants to hear!” Brick brightened. “It would be so wonderful to see the fruit of my loins
come together in the same bowl.”
“Trust me. Just do everything I tell you, okay?” Brooke cooed supportively.
prepared
for that kind of crazy frenzy.”
Molly swallowed hard. “So what
is
happening on Saturday, exactly?” she asked.
“Only the biggest social event of your life. Let’s see, we’ll have the entire junior and senior classes, some industry people,
and a bunch of photographers that we invited to help celebrate my sixteenth birthday.” Brooke beamed. “Daddy spared no expense.
He even got Fall Out Boy.”
“I spared
some
expense. She asked for Coldplay.”
“
Anyway
,” Brooke plowed ahead. “There’s an interview with
Hey!
, and everyone will be staring and taking pictures and watching everything we’re doing all night long. It’s kind of like being
on the biggest stage imaginable.”
Molly almost dropped her fork. “An
interview
?”
Charmaine would faint with joy at the idea, but Molly just wanted to faint, period. No wonder Brick hadn’t wanted to lay this
on her in the car. He hadn’t wanted to freak her out in a confined space.
Brooke reached across the table and squeezed Molly’s hand, which was slightly awkward because Brooke had to pry loose Molly’s
fingers from her water glass to make good on her gesture.
“Molly, if you’re not ready for this, maybe it’s unfair of us to ask you to come,” Brooke said, her voice oozing concern.
“Nonsense! She’ll be fine!” Brick insisted. “It’s just a fewsnapshots and a quick chat with a reporter. No big deal! I was going to tell you all about it after dinner.”
“Daddy, if she’s not ready to be quoted in a major national magazine that’s read by millions of people who will be dying to
see what she’s wearing, we shouldn’t push,” Brooke scolded, releasing Molly’s hand so she could gesture wildly with her own.
“Um, well, except it’s kind of not that simple,” Brick hedged. “
Hey!
is sort of insisting. I guess we got a little overzealous trying to get in front of the story. Trip Kendall loved it so much,
he told me that unless he gets an exclusive on Molly, he’s nixing the whole thing and writing a piece about how Laurel died
poor in a shanty.”
Molly gasped. “But that’s a lie!”
“Trip is ruthless, which is why he runs the best tabloid in town,” Brick explained. “I was worried he’d exploit you unless
I gave him access, and now… I can’t afford to sue him with
Avalanche!
coming out next year.”
Molly felt sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to be interviewed by any magazine, especially not one that would take advantage
of her mother’s death. How had she not seen any of this coming?
Brick sighed. “Molly, I’m sorry. This is why I don’t usually deal with these bastards. When it comes right down to it, I’d
love to show you off to the world and give you a chance to say great things about Laurel. But Brooke is right—it’s a lot to
ask. So all you need to do is say the word and I will cancel this entire thing.”
“The entire thing? Like, the whole party?” Brooke all but shrieked.
“The whole party,” Brick confirmed. “It’s just not worth it if my daughter is basting in the juices of her own agony.”
Looking impressed with himself, Brick pulled out his BlackBerry again and started typing.
“Daddy, don’t be so melodramatic,” Brooke snapped. “All I meant about Molly being unprepared is that it was mean of you not
to tell her sooner. But she seems, um, smart, and I bet we could whip her into shape in no time.”
“We?” Molly asked. She felt numb.
“Of course! You don’t think I’d let Daddy send you out there unprepared, do you?” Brooke chirped, her tone so cheerful it
could sell tampons to a priest. “It’s what sisters are for!”
“Well, that is what every father wants to hear!” Brick brightened. “It would be so wonderful to see the fruit of my loins
come together in the same bowl.”
“Trust me. Just do everything I tell you, okay?” Brooke cooed supportively.
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