SondraBeth blanched. Her demeanor suddenly changed and she became frosty. “Why did you even tell me that?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think—” Pandy broke off as Doug stepped in.
“I’m sure she didn’t mean it,” he said. He and SondraBeth locked eyes and held each other’s stare for several seconds; long enough for Pandy to wonder if they were engaging in some kind of Star Trek mind meld.
Pandy suddenly felt like she no longer existed.
SondraBeth blinked and once again, her mood inexplicably shifted. “Of course you didn’t mean it, Peege,” she said, her voice full of understanding. “How could you? I mean, how could you possibly know what it’s like to be an actor?”
“She can’t,” Doug said fondly, reaching for Pandy’s hand. “That’s what’s so great about her.”
Pandy glanced up at Doug gratefully while SondraBeth looked on, a strange half smile frozen on her face.
“SondraBeth? They’re ready for you.” A PA appeared to lead SondraBeth away again.
“I love you. I’ll call you,” SondraBeth mouthed, raising her outstretched thumb to her ear.
Pandy blew a goodbye kiss, then fell back against Doug. “I didn’t mean to make her upset. I swear.”
“Forget about it,” Doug said. “She’s an actress. All actresses are unpredictable.”
They were interrupted by one of the producers, who came over to say hello.
“You must be so thrilled about Monica. And the mayor,” she gushed to Pandy.
Pandy shook her head and laughed, having no idea what the woman was talking about.
“The party the mayor’s throwing in honor of Monica?”
Pandy’s smile stiffened. “Oh, yes,” she said quickly. “That party.”
“What are you going to wear?”
Pandy’s head was spinning. There was a party for Monica? Given by the mayor? And she hadn’t been invited?
“Chanel is going to dress SondraBeth for the party. They should dress you, too,” the woman continued blithely. “After all, you’re the original Monica, right?”
Pandy’s smile grew larger as she dipped her head in acquiescence.
“What the fuck?” she hissed to Doug as the woman walked off. “Let’s go,” she snapped.
“I don’t get it,” Doug drawled, dawdling behind her as she marched furiously ahead to the street. She looked back over her shoulder and sighed in annoyance. Reaching for her cell phone, she called Henry.
“Hello,” Henry said brightly.
“Do you know anything about a party the mayor is throwing for Monica?”
Henry paused. “Actually, I don’t,” he said, sounding distracted.
“Well, apparently he is. And I haven’t been invited!” Pandy’s voice rose to a shriek.
“Why not?” Henry asked.
“You tell me,” Pandy stormed. “Christ, Henry. This is the kind of thing you’re supposed to know about.”
“I thought parties were your department.”
Pandy held her cell phone away from her ear; she was so enraged, she considered throwing the phone down and stomping on it. She took a deep breath. “Can you find out about it? Please? And call me back?”