Tori looked at me in sympathy as Shirley grabbed the vodka. Gigi joined us and they followed us out.
"I can't keep up this pace," Shirley said, huffing behind us. "I might have to retire after this, Lowell. You might be my last client."
"Nah," I said, "you're too good at what you do. Plus, you'd get bored."
We rounded the corner to find my mother standing on my steps, her face fully made up. She was wearing a cashmere T-shirt that had probably cost a thousand dollars and was gesticulating wildly.
Shirley let out a low whistle. "Bored sounds pretty good to me right now."
"Me too," I whispered as I watched in dread.
"My daughter has been taken hostage from me," my mother said. "This new boyfriend of hers, this Kyle, has emotionally blackmailed her. He's turned her away from me. He has Lowell under his control—like a puppet. I fear for my daughter's safety."
"Do you have any evidence of abuse, Mrs. Barton?" one of the reporters called.
"'Cause that's a pretty harsh claim."
My mother was the picture of righteous indignation and unnaturally smooth skin. "I knew him when he was growing up. He was a bad boy then—very irresponsible. I don't know what sort of trouble he's dragging my daughter into now."
I took a deep breath and gathered what was left of my strength.
"I think she's been brainwashed," she said. "If anyone wants an exclusive interview with me, for all the gory details, I'm accepting bids now."
"Okay! That's enough," I said, coming around the corner. I looked at my mother accusingly, but she just squared her shoulders and stood her ground, as if daring me to contradict her. I pointed at my mother and faced the press. "This woman is my mother, and I love her. But she's having a temper tantrum right now because I've chosen to be with Kyle against her wishes. What she's telling you is a lie." I turned back to my mother. "It's time to get off the podium, Mother. Your mascara's running."
She quickly ran her fingers underneath her eyes. "Is it better now?" she whispered. I just blew out a deep sigh and nodded.
"If you guys want to know the real truth about my relationship with Kyle, make sure to tune into the Entertainment network tonight at seven. Jose said it was the interview of a lifetime. He got the real scoop." I looked at my mother, though I was still addressing the press. "All of it."
She paled beneath her makeup.
"Ladies, gentlemen, we're going in now, but I'll be back this afternoon if you want to take some pictures then. Anybody thirsty or hungry?"
Some of them yelled yes.
"I'll send out lemonade and cookies." I waved to the photographers, and they waved back. Then I grabbed my mother's elbow and hustled her into the house.
"You're quite the actress." She sniffed.
I just rolled my eyes at her, finally loosening my hold when we got inside. "You've got some nerve. I'd say I was surprised, but I know by now there's no bottom to how low you'll go."
She shot a look at Kyle. "You either, apparently."
He smiled at her and winked, which made her flush a deep, angry red.
"I won't have you ruin my daughter's life—"
"That's enough," I said, cutting her off. I wanted to tell her the specifics of the interview that was going to air tonight, just to rub her face in it, but I couldn't. I couldn't risk her running out the door and selling the story to the highest bidder.
She had to stay. Here. For now. As if she were… a prisoner.
"Tori… Shirley… Gigi… my mother needs to stay here. Probably locked up. At least until the interview airs."
"Locked up?" My mother whirled around. "You've gone completely crazy. Under no circumstances will I stay in this house. Not until you apologize to me and do something about him." She jerked her thumb toward Kyle.
I crossed my arms and smiled at her, my real smile. "But I'm not sorry, Mother. So I don't actually owe you an apology. I love Kyle, and we're getting married, and I'm not supporting your bony ass anymore. So when you're done being locked up here, go get a job. Or a husband."
I thought I saw Tori and Shirley high five in the background, but I was so focused on my mother that I couldn't be sure.