California Natural by Angela Hynes

Author:Angela Hynes [Hynes, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Rick and Virginia were already up, eating toasted muffins and apricot jam when Brighton padded into the kitchen in a bathrobe and a pair of socks. "Need to get an early start," she mumbled, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"We're ready to rock and roll," Rick said. "You're holding us up." Brighton grunted and took her coffee into the bedroom.

Once they were all ready, they worked out a plan of action. They'd go back to Virginia's place to get her stuff and Rick's rental car. Virginia agreed to leave her old Pontiac up there, as Rick promised that the show would send someone to bring it back down to L.A. for her the following week. When Virginia had packed, she and Brighton would follow Rick to drop off his rental, then they'd all head down together in Brighton's car.

On the way over to Virginia's place, Rick warned that there might be some media people hanging around. "They've had 12 hours to get up here," he said.

"How would they know where to go?" Virginia asked.

"Five minutes after our broadcast last night, I guarantee every news organization in Southern California got tweets from people in Big Bear saying they knew you, sold you milk, whatever. We had some ourselves. I found out when I checked in before I went to bed."

"What should I do?" Virginia asked anxiously.

"Just smile and keep quiet. I'll be there, so take all your cues from me. And wear your Full Disclosure cap. The competition will hate to put that on the air."

Brighton was already wearing hers. She hadn't taken time to dry her hair, and just pulled her pony tail through the cap's back opening. Virginia put hers on, too. Rick grinned. "My girls," he said.

He was right about the media. Both Channel Five and Channel Nine had crews set up outside the cabins, and there were several still photographers and reporters as well. Neighbors had come out to swell the small crowd, and some were giving interviews as Brighton drove up.

"Shit," Brighton muttered. She drove off the road and onto the rough ground in between the cabins, getting as close to Virginia's unit as she could. But it was still some distance. The reporters rushed at them, yelling, as they ran for the door, Rick and Brighton on either side of Virginia.

"Who are you?" a vaguely familiar brittle blond said, aggressively thrusting a microphone in Brighton's face. Shiloh, probably thinking she was attacking them, snarled. The reporter retreated quickly, stumbling over a large pine cone.

Virginia fumbled with the lock and they tumbled inside, Shiloh on their heels.

"Is this what it's going to be like?" Virginia sounded alarmed.

"For a while," Rick said. "You can handle it. And remember, you only need to talk to me. That can be your excuse for blowing them off."

There wasn't that much Virginia needed to get. She managed to fit all her belongings into two brown paper grocery sacks. She looked somewhat wistfully around the shabby cabin that had been her home, albeit briefly.

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