Chapter 50
PETAL
In a kind of sick way, I am looking forward to my in-person interview with Charlotte the perky reporter. I feel like my babbling during our Zoom call gave her an inkling of what’s she’s up against, should she try and push me.
“Hello, I’m Petal Parker,” I say, feeling cute and perky in my Betsey Johnson dress.
Charlotte greets me in the small office where I’ve been told to wait. In her white slacks, a white silk blouse, and tall white pumps, looks like a fashion model. “Petal, thank you so much for coming today. This is going to be fun.”
It sure is, if I have anything to say about it.
I follow her to the studio stage and she sits me down on a chair across from hers. Someone wearing a headset comes and hooks me up with a mic. Charlotte settles in and flips through some large index cards, then looks at someone and nods.
Guess we’re starting.
“You’re on,” someone says quietly.
Wow. That’s how it works.
“Petal, I’m so happy to have you here with us today.”
I glance at one of the cameras. Not sure I’m supposed to do that but they do in late-night TV, so what the hell. “Thanks for inviting me, Charlotte.”
I’m tempted to call her ‘Char’, but that would be taking it too far.
“You’re so welcome, Petal. Congratulations on your marriage to Rake Hanson. You two look very happy together.”
I smile, nodding. “He’s a good guy and loves playing for his team. And they love him too.”
Charlotte snickers, and that’s my first hint that something is not right. What have I walked into? If this goes south, Rake’s agent will have hell to pay.
“When we spoke the other day, Petal, you let me know your ex has not been entirely truthful with the timeline he’s presented to us. He still maintains you threw him over for Rake.”
What the fuck.
“I think we already discussed this, Charlotte—”
She looks around, and someone from offstage comes over with a third chair. With a huge smile, she stands. “I’ve asked Andy Stackhouse to join us today to hash out what really went down.”
Oh God no. This is some sort of trash TV show. I should have known.
Andy comes sauntering out and Charlotte gives him a hug hello. With a shit-eating grin, he looks at the camera and takes a seat next to me. They suit him up with a mic, after which he turns to me.
“Nice to see you, Petal. You look lovely today.”
I just nod, and hope no one notice me gripping the arms of my chair so tightly my fingers are turning blue.
“Now, Petal,” Charlotte says, shuffling her index cards. “Andy claims you left him at the altar.”
Andy says, “She did, Charlotte. It was very painful. Painful for me, my family, and certainly all our friends. But I’m willing to forgive and move on. I’m not a man who holds grudges.”
My turn. “Um, Andy, you know I’m married to someone else now. We talked about that last week in the feminine hygiene aisle of Rite Aid.” I turn to Charlotte. “He followed me there while I was trying to buy tampons. So embarrassing,” I say, rolling my eyes.
This is war.
Andy’s face reddens. “Not true.”
Goddamn, the liar.
“Charlotte, you may not know this, but Andy’s ambition is to be mayor of San Francisco.
He’ll do anything for his fifteen minutes of fame.
Now, as for the timeline of when I ended things with him and met Rake, I will gladly show you an invitation from my wedding, and the invitation from my mother’s charity event.
Or, you can look it all up online. It’s not hard to find, and if you were a decent journalist, you would have already done this.
But since you haven’t, I have the receipts and can assure you I met Rake a good couple months after things went to shit with Andy. ”
They look at me with wide eyes and I look at the camera to see if the red light’s on. It is, so I continue my tirade.
“Andy, stop trying to rewrite history. You’re just making yourself look pathetic. And Charlotte, why don’t you get a real job, because this thing you’re doing now? You’re no good at it.”
I look back at the camera, and the light goes out.
Guess I’m done here.