Chapter 63
Kirsten
Y’all can say what you want. Selena Hart is a good Christian mother, and those two teenagers will go to hell for making up shit about her daughter
I was so excited when we moved into this house.
It was beautiful, of course. Spacious and light.
But more importantly, it represented how successful we’d become.
Well, me; it was my hard work that got us here.
But the house was also about the future.
A palace fit for a family of YouTube millionaires.
With a mortgage to go with it.
So what am I going to do? The twins’ channel is dying from lack of content. Maple’s isn’t far behind. And no one has made me a dollar since that Azione check came through.
I eye the store cupboard. I have never sneaked a sip of wine before lunch, and I will not start now.
I have standards. But God, how nice it would be to take the edge off.
To be able to forget about the outstanding bills, the anger and impotence frothing under Garrett’s skin.
The twins acting like they don’t have a care in the world, and Maple refusing to leave her room.
I wouldn’t let loose like I did on Sunday, of course, recklessly drinking, acting like a woman with nothing left to lose.
I was lucky to get home without a DUI, luckier still that Garrett was already asleep, and that he preferred to give me the silent treatment on Monday morning rather than ask why I slept in the guest bedroom.
Stu Miller turned out to be a good call too, I think.
In fact, the only fallout from my boozy night was that message exchange with Blake.
I may be overthinking this, but I feel a bit uncomfortable about sending those holiday snaps now. Especially with all these rumors flying around about kids’ photos getting onto the dark web. But I’m sure it’s nothing like that. It’s about bone structure.
My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter. I assume it will be another call I don’t want to take, so I only glance at it. But shit no, it’s Maddie. I grab it.
‘Hey, Maddie.’
‘Oh hey, Kirsten. How are you?’
‘I’m good, thank you. Great. Life is great.’
‘Yes, I imagine things must be very exciting for you right now,’ Maddie says.
‘All this change. Maple making waves on TikTok. I saw that she forced a reaction from Selena and Bodi Hart too. That’s impressive.
Although Selena is a pro, isn’t she? She might just have done enough to turn the tide. What do you think?’
I close my eyes and visualize the bottle of wine behind the potatoes. ‘Did you want something, Maddie?’
‘Oh yes, sorry. I have a brief for you—’
‘You do?’ Desperation spills out before I can stop it.
‘Yes, and it’s a good one too. Quite heavy content requirement, but they’ve got a lot of money to spend.
’ The words have a soothing effect, a bit like wine.
‘It’s for an outdoor activity brand,’ Maddie goes on.
‘They like how the twins are into camping, and swimming, and handling dead fish and stuff.’
‘Wait, it’s for the twins?’
‘Yes, who else would it be for?’ Maddie asks, genuinely confused, like she’s already forgotten she represented Maple for eight years.
‘Right, of course. They’d love that, Maddie, thank you,’ I say, pushing thoughts of Garrett’s diktat away. We need this. ‘So what’s the schedule?’
‘Oh, I’m so pleased. If you could send over a ninety-second showreel by three today, I’ll put the twins in the mix, and we’ll confirm by close of play tomorrow.’
‘Wait, this isn’t a done deal?’
‘Don’t worry, Kirsten. You get the twins doing something cute in that gorgeous pool of yours, and they will totally be the front runners.’
They’ve got a lot of money to spend.
I hold my tongue, finish the call and check the time. Four hours to create a winning reel. ‘Aspen!’ I call out. ‘Ash! Get down here!’
Half an hour later, the twins are in the pool, the tripods are in situ, cameras recording, and I feel like I’ve returned to my natural habitat.
‘Okay, kids, get back on the float; I want to see that paddling move again; it’s so cute when you do it in synch. Hey Aspen, take the goggles off, they make you look like a snake.’
‘But my eyes are stinging!’
‘It’s one take, Aspen. Quit being a princess. Okay, Ash, listen up. You’re going to fall off, then I’ll throw the crocodile float in, and I want you wrestle with it until Aspen comes and flips it off with her paddle, okay? Hey, not yet, Ash!’
‘But I fell in, it’s not my fault!’
‘Wow, you guys do not make this easy. Quickly, climb back on.’
‘But I’m tired. And hungry.’
‘And my eyes are still stinging,’ Aspen adds. ‘Can we do this later?’
‘You’ve been in the pool for twenty minutes!’ I shout. ‘You usually spend hours in there! Are you doing this to spite me? Is that it?’
Aspen screws up her face. ‘What?’
‘Well, I have news for you two. I’m in charge here. And you will damn well climb back on that float. Quit crying, Ash!’
The crash of a door slamming makes me jump.
‘What the hell is going on here?!’ Garrett shouts.