Queen of Hearts

by Sheryl Wright

  “Are you kidding?” the helmswoman replied under her breath. “I’m going for the short one. I think I’ve got a better shot with her. Everyone is going for Rene’s money or Pamela for…well, look at her. That’s something we all want to get with.”

  Wrong! No way do I want to get with Pam. Yuk. I mean…she is smart, and she is beautiful, and she is…my boss…yuk!

  Tommy took his second mark, announcing the stakes to the camera. “Tonight, ten of our wonderful contestants are going home. Our queens will each choose six of the contestants they want to get to know better, but unlike other shows, we have a little twist. As the Queen of Hearts is all about choice, both for our queens and our contestants, we are going to share with our viewers at home just how each woman voted when it came to her interest in our queens. But that’s not all we’re going to do. Tonight, when a queen names a woman she wants to present with her silk scarf, the woman can accept it from the queen who invites her up, or…yes, we have a very big or…

  “Tonight, when a woman is named, she has three choices: join the queen calling her name and accept the silk scarf she presents, pass on the invitation and hope to be selected by another, or…or bypass the queen who named her and join the queen she wants most to get to know. Yes, folks! Forget about the one who brought you. Now, just a little warning to our women vying for the heart of a queen. If you should decide to join a different queen than the one who selects you, you will join her group, but you will not receive the scarf of your selected queen. That means that while you will go into this second round of the competition with a disadvantage, you will proceed at the side of your favorite queen. Is everyone ready?”

  Erin wasn’t. And the choice to accept or walk on by irked her. Who would do that? At least she knew Pam would select her. That was the agreement. She would hang around until, as Pam described it, the next cull of the dating pool. She wasn’t surprised to see Pam pick first, and her first choice was no shocker. She picked the prettiest woman in the group. That was just like Pam, thinking with her vagina again. Erin could only hope some of her other choices were about more than sex. As much as Pam thought that was all she wanted, she needed a partner. Someone willing to take a backseat to her career and be happy to take care of all the little things. In a way, she could imagine Pam’s wife dropping by the office with lunch. They would enjoy it over her desk while they discussed Pam’s work or their social obligations for the week.

  She had no idea what Rene or Ally would need. They both seemed so independent. And they both had business partners who could jump into the fray to pick up the slack here and there. Not like Pam. Right now, without Erin, the woman would be lost.

  Pam was down to her fifth choice. She grinned before she picked up her second-to-last red silk scarf. “Sandra.”

  Behind her the helmswoman’s friend squealed her delight, trying desperately to pull herself together as she tried not to run to Pam’s side. Pamela, all formal and debonair, draped the scarf around her shoulders ever so slowly, before giving her a warm, welcoming hug.

  Erin was starting her feel her anxiety rise. Nothing like leaving her to the bitter end. She watched Rene and Ally make their fifth choices. There were some subtle differences, but she was too wound up to try and make sense of it right now. She held her breath as Pam picked up her last scarf. She was playing this to the hilt. Looking to the cameras as if this last name was going to be one of the most difficult choices of her life. “Summer.”

  Erin almost choked. What the fuck? This was all Pam’s idea, and here she was leaving her on the slab like the other losers standing with her. She was so bound up in her confusion she almost didn’t hear Allyson call her name. She looked up to see the woman watching her. There was something in her eyes. Was she trying to explain something? Pam hadn’t been able to meet with her privately before the ceremony. Maybe this was all planned. So far, no one had passed on an invitation, nor had they walked past the inviter to join another queen. That must be it. Connie must have planned this with Ally and Pam. Not wanting to hurt Ally’s feelings, but sure this was part of the script, Erin sucked in a deep breath and walked toward the place Ally was standing. For a split second, she questioned what she was doing. Just in case, she avoided Ally’s eyes. Even if this were scripted, it would still be hard to just walk by Ally. Poor Ally. Of course, she gets this job. What a good sport.

  The room erupted as Erin nodded her head in Ally’s general direction, then walked right past her to join Pamela. Pam grinned and gave her a big hug. From there the cameras followed the action of the ten women now eliminated, and of course, as the five contestants named by Ally gathered around her, looking to offer sympathy or who knows what. As far as Erin was concerned, she didn’t mind the role she was playing, but would have appreciated a heads-up. Still, she didn’t quite understand why she couldn’t bring herself to look at Ally. She didn’t know what she expected to see. Maybe Connie had directed her to act angry or maybe sad. Either would upset her. At least she could content herself with the fact it wasn’t true. If she understood what Pam had insinuated, Ally was set next for elimination, and that would be the end of her part.

  * * *

  Ally escaped, first chance she could, to the lounge and a waiting bottle of premium booze and some good old-fashioned privacy to lick her wounds. No wonder Connie was so surprised earlier when she mentioned Erin’s name. She must have known the woman was for Pam and Pam alone. Shit!

  She grabbed her drink and walked to the other side of the room to a set of wingback chairs in front of the windows. They faced the grand lawn, and the landscape lighting had been left on all night as a security measure with her Huey still parked there. She was just contemplating her second sip when the door flew open, and Rene marched in. She was alone, thank goodness, and stopped to pour a drink. She sampled it right on the spot, something that reminded Ally of her grandfather, then strolled over doffing her jacket and flopping down to roll up the sleeves of her purple paisley shirt.

  “That was harsh, man. You okay?”

  “Yeah.” She appreciated Rene’s sensitivities. Something she knew her cousin lacked. “I had a feeling it would go down like that. Still…”

  “Yeah, still.” Rene sipped more of her drink, finally offering, “Let’s talk business instead of this… this. How about you tell me what your reservation system is facing, and I’ll run a few solutions by you?”

  That was the first thing anyone had said to make Ally feel better. She thought she and Erin had made a connection. Yes, she could see she had it bad for Pam too, but she’d bet Erin would see through Pam, especially when Pam didn’t pick her. Frankly, Ally had wanted to pick Erin first, but Connie had ruled that out. She assumed it was a strategy thing, wanting Erin to know Pam wasn’t going to call her. It was hardly the first time a woman had chosen Pam over her. But for some reason, knowing Pam had used up her six choices and hadn’t picked Erin, and Erin still went to her… Who does that?

  Rene lifted her glass. “I hear your pain, buddy. Here’s to good booze and better women. May we one day lift the one to toast the other.”

  “Hear, hear.”

  Chapter Nine

  Ally woke with the hangover of the century. She hadn’t tied one on, she never did. With zero tolerance, two doubles of the premium booze was all it took to knock her off her feet.

  “Wake up, you lazy bugger!” Pam called with joy, stepping up on the bed and jumping up and down.

  That was all it took. Ally rolled out of bed, wrestling with the bed linen as she did so. Face planted in the carpet, her boxer-covered ass in the air, she swore at her cousin, “You are so lucky I can’t lift my head…”

  “Yeah, yeah. You would kill me, right?” Pam laughed. “You never change,” she said, climbing down from the bed and flopping down to sit on the edge. “Poor baby. Does your hair hurt too?”

  Ally rolled over, slowly sitting up and kicking the blankets away. “To what do I owe the pleasure? And yes, the pleasure is all yours.”

  Laugh
ing at their old joke, Pam kicked her feet out from the high bed, toeing her high heels against Ally’s bare feet. “You’re not mad, are you? I mean about last night?”

  She shook her head. “My ego took a bruising, but it’s what I expected, so no, I’m not mad.” Watching her cousin carefully, she noted dryly, “But that’s not why you’re here. Go on, Pammy. Spit it out. What do you want now?”

  “Only if you’re sure you’re okay?”

  “Are you kidding?” Ally tried to toss the bed linen at her as she crawled to her feet. She stood for some moments, letting her body find its equilibrium. “Look, I promised you and Connie I was in for whatever you two cooked up. So, I’m good. What do you need?”

  Pam offered her most charming smile. “Ally…”

  “Oh boy. You do remember that doesn’t work on me? Now spit it out. I hear the shower calling my name. That and some serious breakfast, like steak and eggs.”

  “Uh, you might want to go easy on the breakfast if you’re going to be flying.”

  “Flying? Ooooh!” Ally grimaced to no effect. If Pam wanted her to fly them somewhere, then Pam would get her to fly them somewhere. “Fine. What time and where?”

  Pam was on her feet. “Perfect. I’ll tell Connie it’s on. You’re going to be flying me, and my group, for a tour of Niagara Falls them drop us off on the roof of Casino Niagara.”

  “You do know, in the executive configuration, I can only take five passengers and one person up front. Where are you going to put your other two contestants much less the production crew?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve already got everything organized. The production crew packed up and left an hour ago and I called KC to talk about the seating issue, and she told me she could stop in and drop off the utility seating after her morning traffic report.”

  Trapped, Ally just nodded. “I take it you have your return trip all scheduled too?”

  “No worries there. Connie’s laid on two limousines for the trip back. Most of the women will ride in one and two she chooses will go with me. And they will film everything. They’re down in the yard right now, adding cameras to your chopper. Now chop, chop. We want to take off in an hour and twenty minutes,” she explained, heading for the door. “You still want that big breakfast?”

  Ally groaned. She was feeling a little light-headed from the tornado that was Pamela Parker. “Ask catering if they can rustle up toast and poached eggs.”

  Standing in the vacuum left by Pam, she grumbled to herself, No problem Connie, whatever you need, Connie. Sure Connie, I’m here for you, Connie. Yes, Connie. You can count on me, Connie. Oh, I’m an idiot! See, this is what I get for buying her that stupid videocamera when she was nine.

  Dear Goddess of the Universe, I think I hate me today! Please protect all those smarter than me. Goodness knows that must be ninety-nine percent of the world right now!

  * * *

  It didn’t take long to get them all strapped into the big helicopter. Erin was one of the lucky ones, given a headset. The director wanted them to fly with the doors open and low out over the lake. Another helicopter had landed, and it was parked on the grand driveway with its tail out over the lawn. The way it sat hadn’t prevented the limousines taking Rene and her group to Mosport for a day of race-car-driver training. It was surprising to learn the smaller helicopter could take four passengers. Right now, it was being rigged with a large camera under the nose, and PAs were securing monitors and other equipment in the rear passenger area.

  Belted into the door seat of the other helicopter, the big one, Erin watched as Ally addressed her passengers, explaining what to expect during the flight and what to do if they were feeling sick. She was ordering hair be tied back and giving the women who didn’t score headsets hearing protectors that looked very much like the headset she held in her hand. Ally, she noted, never shied from her as she explained the safety rules and what they needed to do in case of emergencies. This was one flight safety briefing where the passengers did listen. And it was different having the pilot stand at the door and deliver it. Everything about this was different.

  Up front, Pam made herself at home in the left-hand seat. Erin, a little confused, thinking the captain always sat on the left, noted that the other pilot at the smaller helicopter, KC, whom she had just learned was Ally’s business partner, was loading the assistant director in the left seat of her helicopter too. Maybe that’s how it’s done. Erin watched KC with interest. She was a striking woman even in the unattractive flight suit she sported, a match of the one Ally wore. Watching KC flirt with both contestants and crew, Erin couldn’t help but wonder if there was anything between KC and Ally. Were they lovers? Had they been? The lesbian community was notoriously collective.

  Over the noise-canceling headphones, Erin could hear the hum of the engine start. It took longer than she expected, but finally the big main blades began to move, slowly building momentum. It was interesting. The tip of the main rotors were painted bright yellow, making it easier to pick out the arc of the blades. She watched as the arc climbed from lower than she thought safe up to a nice level. It was like a Frisbee spinning high overhead.

  Over the intercom, she listened as Ally and KC, all business, repeated their flight strategy and the KC woman doled out orders. “Call sign for the duo portion of our flight is Film Flight One. Sierra Echo Zulu, you are Film Flight Suez, and Gulf Tango Bravo will act as Film Flight Lead. In flight, you will also hear from the unit director. Her designation is Film Flight Director. Follow my lead. Our flight window is three hundred feet to five hundred on the shoreline and from the deck to five hundred once we’re five hundred feet out. Suez, you lift off first… Belay that order. Film Flight Suez, stand by while Film Flight Lead takes position for the first shot.”

  “Understood, Film Flight Lead. Suez standing by and ready for takeoff.”

  Erin listened as another voice explained what she wanted from Ally as they sat watching KC’s Bell Long Ranger hover, then climb into place for the opening shot. Once she looked to be in a fixed position, the camera attached under the nose moved through a series of positions, finally looking like it had zeroed in on them. Over the intercom, Pam’s voice rang out. “Here we go, women. Let the fun begin!”

  “Suez, Flight Lead, climb straight to thirty feet ground radar, then pass us at ninety degrees. And don’t go far in case we need to do it again.”

  She listened as Ally’s voice came back, “Suez climbing to thirty indicated.”

  The big helicopter felt a bit like an old bear lumbering to life. First one side lifted off then the other, but the back of the skid seemed to drag as if it were slightly arthritic. In the air, she behaved much more smoothly, climbing to the requested height and slowly turning to pass in front of the smaller machine operated by KC with the film crew.

  Erin held her breath, secretly worried she would be one of the women Ally had prepared to feel a little disoriented or even nauseated. Instead, it took a second to realize she was feeling the exact opposite—this felt truly freeing! While either the director or KC ordered them to fly this way or that, she was overwhelmed by the rush of the experience. Yes, she acknowledged to no one but herself, the rush was probably adrenaline or maybe even pheromones, but even so it was fucking awesome!

  Flying along the edge of the lake, ripping over empty beaches and startling bluffs, Erin enjoyed the morning sun on her face and the fresh air while protected from the slipstream even with the huge side doors open. For a moment she understood why her brother and his friends would spend weekend after weekend in the basement watching Apocalypse Now and a host of other similar movies. It wasn’t a guy thing; it was a better than chocolate thing. Now that’s something!

  Before she realized, they were setting down on the roof of Casino Niagara. A film crew was on the roof along with what looked like hotel security and management. Yep, everyone wanted their fifteen minutes of fame. Ally had turned the big machine’s feet before setting down so the cameras would capture Pam and the women exit
ing from the left side. With her flight helmet on, no one would even know it was Ally doing the flying. Erin wanted to say something to her over the intercom, but she couldn’t think of a damn thing. Maybe it was knowing KC and the camera crew were circling the landing pad, listening in as they recorded what they called B roll.

  When the last passenger, Erin herself, didn’t immediately climb out, Ally looked back to be sure she wasn’t trying to exit on the side furthest from the camera and away from the reception group. Erin scooted forward, wanting to catch her eye. The moment she did, Ally’s face seemed to brighten. “Hey you,” she said quietly over the intercom, “looks like you have to follow the pack and pretend a casino is fun.” Erin’s throat felt constricted like someone or thing was preventing her from speaking. It was worse than one of those dreams where you know you’re about to be killed and can’t scream to save your life. Ally, her eyes clear with concern, like she understood, told her, “Not my idea of fun either but… this is what we signed up for. Why don’t you go ahead, hang, have fun, and enjoy all the freebies they’ve got going? I would try the prime rib. It’s to die for and then when they drag you down on the casino floor, how about you try twenty bucks in the big machine for me?”

  Erin nodded. Then pulled off the headset as Ally mimed for her to do, and hung it where indicated.

  Pam was waiting clear of the helicopter along with the hotel staff. She had that grin on her face she got when she thought she knew the other lawyer’s strategy. Plus, she had that irritating raised eyebrow too. What does she know? I’m just trying to be nice to make up for having to snub the woman yesterday!