Reuniting Reality

by Nikki LeClair

  “Don’t think so,” Diana says with a small laugh, “it doesn’t sound like me.” She stabs some mango slices on her fork and I have to stop myself from smiling.

  “Why would Tilly lie?” Jill asks Diana. “She has no reason to lie.”

  “I never spread a rumor,” Diana declares sounding bored with Jill’s accusation. “She must be lying, sorry.”

  “She wouldn’t lie!” Jill’s voice raises, she’s visibly annoyed. “You started that rumor on purpose, I don’t know why but I know you did it.”

  Diana leans over her salad, and narrows her eyes at Jill. “Why would I care about you and your stupid company? It doesn’t make sense that I would start a rumor like that.”

  Jill slams a hand on the table and it makes me jump a bit. “You did it and I know it!”

  “You’re crazy,” Diana remarks cocking her head back. “You’re nuts.”

  “Okay everyone, let’s calm down” Brooke steps in quickly, be it nervously and she raises her wine glass. “Let’s have a toast. To a fun reunion trip!”

  Reagan is the only one who says “Here, here!” as she raises her glass. We awkwardly clink our glasses together and have a drink. Slowly I pick up the spoon in my soup and lift the contents towards my mouth, from the corner of my eye I see Diana stuff her forkful of salad into her mouth.

  It’s hard for me to hide a smile as I slurp my buttery soup. She puts another forkful into her mouth but makes a face this time.

  “We should hit the slopes tomorrow,” Reagan says as she cuts into her steak. “It’s going to be a gorgeous day.” Diana begins clearing her throat, softly then loudly that we all stop eating and look over at her.

  “Sorry,” she apologizes after a sharp cough. Then reaches for her wine and takes a long sip. “Hit a bit of salad with too much chili.”

  Brooke looks across the table at Reagan. “Skiing sounds like so much fun! I haven’t—”

  Suddenly Diana coughs out the bit of salad and it flies to the centre of the table. I smirk loudly, but the other girls stare at her in disbelief. Her face has become beat red and she wipes a sudden surge of sweat off her forehead.

  “Diana? Are you okay?” Reagan asks.

  “No I’m not okay!” She blurts out. She snaps up her fabric napkin and starts to dap it against her forehead. “I’m boiling up! Those idiots in the kitchen drenched my salad with chili sauce.”

  I slurp a spoonful of my soup, “This is really delicious.”

  Diana throws down the napkin into her salad and looks over at Oscar, “Stop filming!”

  I look up at her and notice a line of sweat coming down her thin nose, and dropping onto her salad. Brooke gasps out and points at Diana’s fingers. “Your fingers!”

  I can’t help but let out a laugh, hidden behind my hand, as I spot Diana’s thin fingers getting plumper. Her engagement ring cutting off the circulation.

  Diana screams and jumps up from her chair, pushing it to the ground just as Oscar yells a panicked “CUT!” A few patrons look over at the noise as the camera crew gets out of the way.

  “I want the chef fired!” Diana screams as she hides her hands behind her back. “I want them fired and thrown out now! Where is Armin?” She turns full circle in her place, eyes shooting across the room. “ARMIN!”

  Damn it. I don’t want anyone to get fired.

  “It was obviously an innocent mistake, Diana,” I say loudly.

  “Shut up,” Diana barks as she throws me a nasty glare. “Where the hell is Armin?!”

  An hour later, I’m sitting in a chair in my suite, near the window so the camera man in front of me can get a nice view of the part of the mountains that are lit up for the skiers. I’m still in the same outfit at dinner, and I’m due to speak to the camera.

  Oscar stands behind the camera man, going over once again what I’m to speak about. “Seeing Diana walk in, the awkwardness between you and Reagan, the shock of Brooke’s weight gain—”

  “I’m not mentioning that,” I tell him.

  “Jill already did so you must,” he repeats with a sigh. “Talk about how you wish Adam will never show up—”

  “Is he suppose to?” I demand sitting up in my chair.

  “No, no,” Oscar assures me. “Comment on Diana’s chili reaction—”

  “Okay, okay, let’s just do this,” I interrupt for the third time.

  My mic is double checked and then the camera rolls.

  I take a breath and smile. “I’m most excited about seeing Reagan again. I know we had a falling out but I’m hoping we can put the past behind us. Mend our friendship.” Oscar gives me a thumbs up. “I’ve missed her, I’m hoping she missed me...we’ll see.” I end my words on a shrug and then wait for Oscar to signal me to go on. After a few seconds he does.

  I make a face. “Brooke definitely looks different…” After a five second break, Oscar signals me. I think back on the way Reagan greeted me today and frown. “What was that? Reagan barely looked at me. All I get is a measly ‘hi.’? I get that she’s hurt and I’m going to apologize but the cold shoulder is a bit much, no?”

  Except the cold shoulder is exactly what I deserve, maybe.

  Oscar nods and gestures for me to continue. I master a deep frown and angry pout. “Are you kidding me? I can’t believe she had the nerve to show up last minute and act like everything is normal and okay! Is she crazy? What kind of person has an affair with someone’s husband and flaunts it in everyone’s face? I always knew she was a heartless monster but Jesus…”

  “The chili now,” Oscar reminds me.

  I don’t even have to fake my laughter. By the time Diana ran out of the restaurant, both hands had swelled up and her chin started to look puffy. She looked like a marshmallow. I end up covering my face with my hands for a second as I laugh and look at the camera, “I’m sorry but...come on, it was funny!”

  Chapter Six

  I slept like a baby that evening, a change from the first night here. I awoke with a happy, positive attitude. While washing up, I decide that today is the day I make a real effort with Reagan. I’m going to find some time to apologize and fix what we had.

  We were set to meet downstairs for breakfast, un-filmed, as we discuss the day’s events. I threw on a pair of my leggings and a tunic sweater, hardly looking film ready anyway with my hair up high and a sweatband through it.

  I leave my room yawning a little after ten am, with a cup of coffee from my room’s coffee maker. I shut the door to my room just as Declan is about to pass it, he stops when he sees me and smiles.

  “Morning.”

  I groan loud, “It was.”

  “Actually, I’m glad I ran into you, I want to talk to you about something,” he says, walking next to me now. I give him an uninterested once over, he’s in jeans and a black sweater but smells shower fresh.

  “I’m guessing it isn’t my opinion about this new beatnik look you have going on,” I mutter as I look at his five o’clock shadow.

  He touches his scruff and smiles, “Hardly beatnik.” His hands go into the pockets of his jeans and he goes on. “No, this is kind of personal and I thought it would give you some clarity about the whole Adam—”

  “Stop.”

  The mention of Adam’s name from his mouth sends the coffee in my stomach bubbling up, and I stop in my tracks. “I don’t want to talk about your best buddy, or anything involved with your best bud. I don’t care about him, you or what happened anymore.”

  Declan has turned to face me and now bears the same abrasive look I do. “Best bud? Adam and I are not friends—”

  “Oh, why?” I fake my shock badly, on purpose. “Is that because after what you did, he turned his back on you? How sad.” I take a drink of my coffee for good measure and Declan frowns at me.

  “What are you talking about? I never did—”

  “I don’t need you to apologize to me, or give me an explanation,” I reply, eyes in front of me. “I�
�m over it. Honestly, really. I have moved on and left it all in the past. Adam, Diana, what they did…” I cast him a fleeting glance. “You.”

  What I really mean is that one night, and from the way he shakes his head slowly, I think he knows it.

  He gradually looks into my eyes. “Look. I don’t know what you exactly think about what we did but I never met to—”

  I can feel my heart begin to race at the tender turn of his voice and I hate it.

  “This is a personal conversation,” I interrupt. I make sure to sound as annoyed as ever. “Isn’t it against rules for the show runner to get personally involved with the film crew? With the talent? Shouldn’t it be all business?”

  He looks irked again, and finally realizing he won’t get through, he runs a hand through his hair frustratingly. “Okay, fine. You want to talk business? Great, I know it was you who added chili sauce into Di’s salad.”

  How could he possibly know—Oh, oh, he’s bluffing. Obviously.

  “I did no such thing,” I smirk confidently as I take a slow drink of my coffee.

  “A chef saw you in the kitchen just before the meals were brought out,” he tells me, “and he says they know how to prepare that salad for Di because she’s been ordering it for every dinner that she’s here for.”

  Every dinner? It can’t be that good.

  I stare into his eyes, as he stares back into mine.

  “Just because I was in the kitchen, doesn’t mean I did it,” I say casually. “I was there because a waitress needed my help opening the door.”

  Declan rolls his eyes and shakes his head, “You were there to mess with Di’s food.”

  “You have no proof,” I rebuttal with a cool giggle.

  Declan steps up closer to me. “I don’t need it. All I have to do is mention that you were in the kitchen before the food came out. I could only imagine how Diana would use that information. Would make for good TV, eh?”

  I narrow my eyes at him as my jaw clenches and he just chuckles, before turning and walking away from me.

  I hate, hate, hate him!

  We meet downstairs in the private room to a platter of fruits, bagels, cooked eggs and various fried meats. Everyone is present but Diana, which brings me hope that maybe her poisoning has her so distraught she quit.

  I make my way towards Reagan, who sits on the left side of the table, right where Oscar, Declan and a few crew members stand whispering among themselves. I lock eyes with Declan for only a minute before, lifting my chin and turning my back sharply on him as I sit down next to Reagan.

  “Morning,” I say to her as I pull my chair closer to the table. I give her plate a look, where she cuts into a piece of fried ham. “Is the ham good? I didn’t try it yesterday.”

  “I thought you don’t eat stuff like this anymore,” Reagan dully responds. She doesn’t take her eyes off her breakfast.

  Damn it. Why did I have to go and brag about being all healthy?

  “Right, well I don’t,” I say, “I just meant, I missed it during my cheat meal.”

  “Hmmm,” is all that Reagan says.

  I ignore her chilly demeanour and reach for a spoonful of fruits from the fruit platter. “Hey, know what might be fun? I saw on the brochure in my room that they have a spa here where you can have a bath in beer! That could be fun.”

  Reagan scrunches her nose and shakes her head of shiny, long black hair. “I don’t like that.”

  “Oh,” I keep my disappointment down. “We could get massages! Or our nails done?” I glance at my cuticles and make a face. “God knows I could use it…”

  She shrugs, picking up a piece of toast off her plate and biting into it. “Maybe.” She’s clearly as interested in a massage or manicure as I am in being here. This is harder than I thought it would be.

  Across the table I can see Jill and Brooke watching us. I pop a strawberry in my mouth and chew it a few times before deciding maybe starting with an apology is the better option. I lower my voice as I lean towards her ear. “Reagan, I know you’re angry at me. I know what I did was wrong, so, so wrong. I was in a bad place and it doesn’t excuse what I did to you. But I just want to say sorry and—”

  “No apology needed,” she interrupts with a matter of fact tone. Finally she looks at me but remains emotionless. “I get it and I’m over it. Really.”

  Before I can call her out, Diana enters the room, perky and dressed to kill in a knee length pink skirt and white cashmere sweater. “Morning, everyone! Good news, I survived my horrendous ordeal last night.”

  “Whoopie,” I mutter under my breath.

  “That is good news,” Brooke proclaims loudly. “You look great.”

  “Thanks,” Diana takes a seat at the head of the table and leans back into her chair, glancing over at me with small eyes. I frown back at her and she starts drumming her fingers against the table.

  Why is she looking at me like—did Declan tell her?

  I bet he did. After all, he did say it would make great TV…

  He probably texted her the second we had our little spat in the hallway.

  “My mom was so sweet.” Diana peels her eyes off me as she looks around the table. “She sent me some flowers this morning, and a nice gift basket after my ordeal last night.”

  “Isn’t that nice,” Brooke smiles as she looks down on her plate.

  “Actually, the gift basket had some Duncan Chocolates in them,” Diana says, but she doesn’t look at me. She keeps her eyes focused on pouring her coffee. “I’ve never had them before, so yank open the box and try the peanut clusters. I have to say Julie, I’m happy your mother gave up the company. Their chocolates are a bit dry, over hyped if you ask me.” She gives me a small chuckle as she adds cream to her coffee.

  Yeah, right. She knows very well my mother sits on the board and the company is still family run. When I first started the show five years ago, she asked me if my mother wanted a spokesmodel for the chocolates.

  “My mother didn’t give up the company,” I retort. “She just retired. She’s still on the board. My cousin runs it.”

  Diana’s face scrunches and she hisses through her teeth, “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean that, well, you know. It’s really just my opinion, there’s a reason Duncan Chocolates are famous.”

  “Maybe you tried a bad batch,” Brooke jumps in gazing from me to Diana. “It happens.”

  “Or your fat tongue affected your taste buds,” Jill mutters.

  Just as Diana is about to snap at her, Oscar calls out to us. I can feel him step up behind Reagan and me. “Good morning, everyone! Today we were scheduled to hit Dirhurst for a shopping adventure but I decided to take Reagan’s suggestion about hitting the slopes!”

  Wonderful. I can’t ski or snowboard.

  The other girls exclaim loudly with joy, Diana remarking a “How fun!” and Jill noting how excited she is to finally use her All-Mountain Skis, whatever those where.

  “And,” Oscar’s voice hauls with his own excitement. I suddenly feel his strong hands on my shoulders. “And I’m sure Julie will give us a refresher course.”

  I frown at Jill and Brooke, before looking up at him, “I will? Why?”

  “You must have learned something from your Olympian man friend,” Oscar laughs overhead. “You can teach us some new moves.”

  My breath catches me as I resist my urge to gasp.

  Oh. My. God.

  Why, why did I make up a boyfriend?!

  Okay, it’s important not to panic right now. It’s important to figure this out.

  I shift under Oscar’s hands, “Oh, well. Simons doesn’t really teach me—”

  “You must have picked some cool moves up though,” Diana interrupts with a bright smile. She reaches for the platter of fruit as her eyes peer into me. “I mean, being a dutiful supportive girlfriend of his career. I would imagine you cheer him on at the finish line.”

  “We haven’t been dating long,” I reply looking
over at Jill and Brooke.

  “But you told us that he takes you away on the weekends to ski,” Oscar says.

  I did say that, didn’t I? Ugh, why, why did I have to go into so much damn detail on the phone with fake Muffy?

  “Umm...well, we don’t ski much.” I pull my eyes down, hoping they catch on to my phony embarrassment and only Brooke lets out a laugh as she points at me.

  “Fun off the slopes, eh?”

  “How long have you been dating?” Diana asks quickly. Her eyes bore into me suspiciously.

  “Just uh, few weeks—I mean months,” I answer. “Not long.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Simon.”

  “Where did you meet?”

  “At a charity auction.”

  Diana’s eyebrows rise. “What auction?”

  “Jesus, what are you? A cop?” Jill moans at Diana.

  Diana shrugs as she looks back at me. “I’m just trying to be friendlier.” I roll my eyes bluntly and Diana clears her throat to speak, “Well I’m glad you have someone. Adam and I thought that what we had done to you sent you down a path of wretched, lonely singleton, it broke my heart honestly.”

  Like hell it did.

  “I’m glad you’re back on the dating horse,” Diana gives me a wink.

  “I was never off it,” I smile back as viciously as I can gather.

  “Well, I for one, am excited to see what you can teach us,” Diana states leaning back into her chair. “I’m sure we’ll learn a lot from you, and your Olympian boyfriend, Simon.”

  “Why would you lie about that?”

  “Fin. I had no idea that at the time the stupid reunion would be at a ski lodge!”

  “Couldn’t you have said that you misspoke on the phone with fake Muffy and you meant to say, he was an Olympian swimmer or something?”

  I pause, and stop pacing in front of my bed. “I never thought of that.”

  “Jesus Christ, Julie. Where’s your head?”

  “Hey!” I snarl. “You’re lucky I don’t fire you for what you left out in my contract! It’s your fault that I have to deal with Diana so to make it up to me, you should be as helpful as possible.”