by Vicki Grant
Mom never paid Mrs. Hiltz back. Instead, she sent an anonymous donation of twenty-thousand dollars (plus interest) to one of Mrs. Hiltz’s favourite charities. That’s as much as she could stomach. She knew if she sent the money to Mrs. Hiltz directly, she’d just assume Minerva had stolen it from someone else.
Rosie didn’t win the lottery. Mom just made it look that way. It was her way of saying thank you.
Selena’s university is paid for. Selena doesn’t know it but Anita does. Anita just makes her work so she doesn’t get spoiled. Typical Anita.
Mom’s going to call Rosie soon.
She’s not going to call Percy. Yet.
She doesn’t want to talk about Embree. There’s only so far she’s willing to go.
She asks me to come home with her, but I can’t. Not now anyway. I don’t need to explain why. I introduce her to Levi outside the fish-and-chips joint and she understands immediately.
She looks him over, then says in this big, showy whisper, “Ooooh. Nice catch, darling!” It’s classic Mimi.
I hug her goodbye. I don’t know if it’s easier this time because she’s in Mimi mode or because maybe, a little, we understand each other now—but it feels almost natural.
I wave as she pulls out onto the highway. It makes me nervous—she doesn’t drive a lot. I’d feel way better if Tony were at the wheel but my guess is Ford Fiestas don’t usually come with chauffeurs. I want her to be okay. She’s my mother and I love her. (She’s Mimi and I love her. She’s Minerva and I love her.)
Levi puts his arm around my waist and says, “She’s some character, eh? I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before. What is it you said she does for a living again?”
I look at him and laugh. I’ve got an awful lot of explaining to do.
First, though, I’d like to see how jealous I can make Krystal.
Levi’s okay with that.
54
The Making of Mimi (two-hour special presentation)
This Emmy Award-winning documentary manages to prove the impossible—that the truth about Mimi Schwartz is even more fantastic than anything the tabloids could have dreamed up. A must-see.
Copyright
Not Suitable for Family Viewing
Copyright © 2009 by Post Partum Productions.
Published by HarperTrophyCanada™, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
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Grant, Vicki
Not suitable for family viewing / Vicki Grant.
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EPub Edition © MAY 2010 ISBN: 978-1-443-40013-8
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