Chapter 53
Kirsten
@feministrageclubTX, TikTok
So my question is, why is it always the mom’s fault? Where’s the dad? #findElla
‘Maple!’ I shout as I walk into the house. ‘Get down here!’
‘What’s wrong, Mommy?’
I look into Ash’s questioning face, his worried eyes. ‘Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart,’ I say, trying hard to hide my anger. ‘So what have you been up to this morning?’
‘Um, me and Aspen made lemonade with Maple. It was really fun.’
‘You did, huh.’ Another wholesome activity not captured, not shared. God, this is so frustrating. Maple is sabotaging everything I’ve built over fourteen years, and Garrett is behaving like a dinosaur about the twins. How the hell have we got here?
I look up to the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
‘Yeah,’ Maple says. ‘What’s up?’
What’s up. Like she doesn’t know. Rage bubbles through my every pore.
‘We need to create some content for Maybe Maple,’ I say in my most professional director’s voice. ‘You know, the channel you’ve been dedicated to your whole life? We haven’t put a video up since Dylan left, which is so off-schedule I can hardly bear to think about it.’
‘I’ve been busy with my new channel.’ Maple’s voice is quiet, but there’s a steeliness there I don’t like. ‘And keeping up with all my new followers on TikTok. I hit half a million this morning.’
I waver. Those kinds of numbers are what we’ve been aiming for since Maple joined TikTok a year and a half ago.
But what’s the point of popularity when the content that got her there also got her fired from our PR agency?
It’s like me being approached by a journalist from a national newspaper; it should be something to celebrate, but it’s not.
‘Even more reason to show them the real you then,’ I say. ‘You don’t want to only be known as the girl who brought down the Harts.’
‘Ella’s missing, Mom. Can’t you be proud of me for trying to find her?’
‘I’m proud of you, Maple,’ Ash pipes up.
‘Go find your sister, sweetheart,’ I say. ‘Before she drinks all the lemonade.’
Ash’s eyes widen as he realizes that’s exactly what Aspen would do, and he scuttles off toward the kitchen.
‘I know you think you’re helping,’ I start. ‘But Ella Hart isn’t a girl, she’s a nineteen-year-old woman. And she’s not your problem. Why would you ruin your career for her?’
‘I’m not ruining it,’ Maple mumbles. ‘I’m evolving it.’
‘Well Maddie called yesterday. She’s fired you.’
‘Huh?’
Maple looks so shocked that I feel the slightest ripple of guilt for breaking the news so bluntly. But this is her doing; why should I sugarcoat it?
‘Yep. Which means no more modeling work with Azione.’
‘Okay.’ Maple drops her gaze to her feet, and I sense an opportunity.
With gargantuan effort, I soften my voice. ‘Listen, we’ve been working with Maddie for a long time. I’m sure I could get her to change her mind if you dropped this “find Ella” stuff. And Azione did love you, didn’t they? It feels a shame to miss your big chance.’
Maple looks up. ‘But I’m doing something good, Mom. And all the comments we’ve had point to Ella being in real trouble. I can’t just abandon her now.’
‘Of course you can!’ I take a breath. ‘I mean you’re not a detective, or a social worker, or even a friend of Ella’s. And you’re a kid. Your content should be about having fun, showing your followers how awesome the world is, not how scary it can be.’
‘But that all feels so fake now.’
‘Oh, Maple!’ I wail. ‘We’ve been over this! Brands don’t want regular or normal. They want thrill and pizzazz, just dressed up as authentic.’
‘Like Dylan and me supposedly kissing, you mean? Pretending we’re dating when it’s all complete bullshit and the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever had to go through?’
‘Exactly!’
The sound of the study door slamming open against the wall grabs both of our attention. Then Garrett appears in the hallway, his fists clenched.
‘What’s happened?’ I ask.
Garrett scowls. ‘Who the hell is Meg Jackson?’