Chapter 8 #2
“Since you’re not on camera anymore, you can live a little, right?
Which brings me to the other reason I’m here.
I’d like to do a feature on you for the morning show.
Talk about your career, and now your move home.
A feel-good people piece. You know what I mean.
I’m sure you’ve done tons of interviews.
What do you say? We can film it tomorrow, if you like. ”
Cat couldn’t think of anything she wanted to do less. She didn’t want the attention. She’d had plenty of that in the past, and frankly, it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. She’d been hoping to slip back into her hometown without much fanfare. Nice and quiet.
She’d had to learn the art of saying no early in her career. Whether she liked it or not, putting up boundaries had been a necessary evil. Otherwise, she would have been walked all over like an entryway rug.
She had a distinct memory of her first roommate - also a model, but more experienced - telling her that no one could walk all over her unless she lay down and let them do it. Those words still rang in her ears fourteen years later.
“I don’t think that’s something I’m looking for right now,” Cat replied, pasting on a bright smile that would hopefully cushion the refusal.
“I’m still getting used to being home with my mom.
I’m looking for a house and to get settled, not to mention what happened to Tyler.
But I thank you for the invite. It’s thoughtful that you wanted to welcome me back like this. ”
“I just hope that when you’re ready to talk, you won’t give the story to anyone else.”
Marnie’s posture had gone stiff, her lips pressed together tightly. Clearly, she wasn’t thrilled at being put off.
“That definitely won’t happen,” Cat assured her. “I have no plans to book with anyone else.”
If I have my way, I’ll never give another interview for the rest of my life.
People weren’t exactly knocking down her door to interview her. There was always a fresh, new face to take her place. She didn’t kid herself that she would be missed in the industry. There wasn’t anything wrong with that. It was simply the nature of the beast.
“That’s good,” Marnie said with a relieved smile. “I assure you that it would be a collaborative process. We could highlight your new plans. What are you going to be doing now that you’re back?”
It was an innocent question, but Cat didn’t have a clear answer. Not yet.
“I watched you on television yesterday,” Cat replied, hoping to change the subject. “You were great. You made your guest feel right at home. It was good information.”
Marnie had interviewed a local contractor who discussed home maintenance—what homeowners could do and what they should hire a professional to do.
“He was a great guest,” Marnie agreed. “He’s been on several times. He always has helpful information. Speaking of information, have you heard any news about Tyler since this morning? Is he out of surgery yet? No one has called to let me know anything.”
“I haven’t heard. I assume Josh or Rachel will call when they can. I’m sort of hoping that it’s a case of no news is good news.”
“You’re probably right,” Marnie replied. “This is just all so awful. You must be devastated.”
“I think everyone is after what happened.”
“I’m just saying…you and Tyler looked to be quite close at the party last night.”
“We were just chatting,” Cat said. “I haven’t spoken to Tyler in years. Not since Rachel and Josh’s wedding.”
“Oh, it sounded like you both frequented some of the same places.”
Cat and Tyler had spoken last night about their travels. Had Marnie been listening in?
“We have, but never at the same time.”
“He never visited you?” Marnie pressed. “You never ran into him?”
The conversation had taken a strange turn. It was as if Marnie didn’t believe her.
“No, I haven’t seen anyone from the friend group for many years.”
“I just heard that you two were close,” Marnie replied with a shrug.
“From whom?”
Cat was puzzled. What did a person have to gain by spinning a story?
“I don’t remember. People were talking about it at the party. That you’d kept in touch with Tyler.”
People had been talking about her at the party? And Tyler, too? Was someone trying to stir up gossip?
“Well, I didn’t. I’m not sure why anyone would say that,” Cat responded.
“Maybe I’ve got it confused or something.
” Marnie’s phone buzzed, and she checked the screen.
“Damn, that’s my producer asking questions about one of tomorrow’s segments.
I need to call him back. Can you or someone else call me if you hear any news about Tyler?
I won’t be able to concentrate on anything until we know how the surgery went. ”
“I will,” Cat promised. “I hope everything is okay at the station.”
“It will be fine. Sometimes they panic a bit.”
Cat walked Marnie to the door, waving as the woman drove away. Her mother must have heard the front door as she came downstairs to join Cat.
“What did your friend want?”
“An interview,” Cat replied. “I made an excuse. I don’t want any attention, if you know what I mean.”
“I understand. This is a big change for you.”
“You know, she mentioned that people at the party talked about me and Tyler. They were saying that he and I kept in touch over the years. Why did they think that? Do you know why they would say that?”
“In this town? I have one word. Gossip. Everyone wants to have the best story. If they don’t, some don’t mind embellishing things a little. Or a lot. Just ignore it. Eventually, they’ll talk about someone else. Do what I do. Stay boring.”
Good advice. Stay under the radar. Don’t be interesting.
The town would move on to the next thing, and the next, and so on…
But right now? A shooting was going to be front and center at least until it was solved.
Who on earth would want to shoot Tyler or Josh? It didn’t make any sense.