trust?”
As she eats her yogurt and apple, I quickly pour out Fran’s sad story, even the part about finding her in such bad shape on Sunday.
“Oh, poor Fran.” Mom shakes her head. “That’s devastating.”
“I know. And I can’t believe she’s trying to work and do her treatments.”
Mom gets a thoughtful look. “Sometimes work can be therapeutic, Erin. When your dad died, it was going to work every day that helped me get through some of the hardest times.”
“I can understand that.” I nod. “But I’m not sure Fran has the physical strength to keep up. The Bahamas trip is less than two weeks away.”
“And Helen doesn’t know?”
“No. Fran made me promise not to tell anyone. In fact, I feel guilty for telling you.”
“Well, Fran should understand that. I’m your mom, after all—I have a right to know what’s going on in your life.”
“But you won’t tell Paige?”
Mom frowns. “Actually, she has a right to know too. But, no, I won’t tell her if you don’t want me to.”
“No, please don’t say anything. And I don’t want you to worry about this,” I tell her. “I mean, you’ve got your wedding to focus on.”
“Fran has put a lot on you with this, Erin. It’s a heavy load to carry.”
I give her a confident smile. “Because she trusts me with it. It’s okay. I’ll figure out how to handle it. I think it’s a one-step-at-a-time thing.”
“Maybe Fran will come to her senses and tell Helen what’s going on soon.”
“Or maybe, like she hopes, the chemo will work and she’ll get better.”
“Yes.” Mom doesn’t look convinced. “Hopefully that will happen.”
“And, believe me,” I say, “if I think Helen needs to know, I will tell her. It wouldn’t be fair to ruin the show or Fran’s health just to keep a secret.”
“Good.” Mom smiles. “I’m glad you can see that.”
“I know you won’t be back from your honeymoon when we’re heading to the Bahamas, but I’ll let you know what’s going on.”
“Yes, we will be like ships in the night. You girls leave in the morning and we get home that evening. But I’d appreciate being kept in the loop. You can always call me in France if you need to.”
I laugh. “Seriously, Mom, what kind of daughter calls her mother while she’s on her honeymoon?”
Fortunately, the week progresses without any complications or new developments with Fran. On Friday morning, when we’re all in the screening room to preview the BBB episode, Fran seems almost like her old self and I’m thinking maybe she’s right. Maybe she is going to beat this thing.
“Well, you girls really knocked that one out of the ballpark.” Helen is beaming at us as the lights come on. “The viewers are going to
love
this.”
“I didn’t realize I looked so awful.” Paige grimaces. “I’m not sure I want that image going public.”
Helen laughs. “It’s a little late for that. Didn’t you see that shot of you on
E!
last weekend?”
“Don’t remind me.” Paige shakes her head.
“Hey, it’s publicity,” I tease.
“And you handled it extremely well,” Helen assures Paige. “You both did. I’m proud of you girls.”
“Do you think we’ll take any heat for dissing BBB?” I ask Helen as we head to the conference room to continue this discussion.
She chuckles. “Well, I doubt they’ll be lining up to be a sponsor, but I suspect we were a little rich for their blood anyway.”
Once we’re resettled in the conference room, Fran opens her notebook. “We still need to get some more monologue critiques from you,” Fran tells Paige. “To go with the actual fashion show.”
“And I can be totally candid and honest?” Paige asks Helen.
“In a dignified, ladylike way,” Helen tells her. “We want to keep Paige Forrester on the high road.”
Paige nods. “This is going to be fun.”
“Maybe you should help,” Fran tells me. “Can you come up with some good comments?”
I grin at her. “Oh, yeah, I had
As she eats her yogurt and apple, I quickly pour out Fran’s sad story, even the part about finding her in such bad shape on Sunday.
“Oh, poor Fran.” Mom shakes her head. “That’s devastating.”
“I know. And I can’t believe she’s trying to work and do her treatments.”
Mom gets a thoughtful look. “Sometimes work can be therapeutic, Erin. When your dad died, it was going to work every day that helped me get through some of the hardest times.”
“I can understand that.” I nod. “But I’m not sure Fran has the physical strength to keep up. The Bahamas trip is less than two weeks away.”
“And Helen doesn’t know?”
“No. Fran made me promise not to tell anyone. In fact, I feel guilty for telling you.”
“Well, Fran should understand that. I’m your mom, after all—I have a right to know what’s going on in your life.”
“But you won’t tell Paige?”
Mom frowns. “Actually, she has a right to know too. But, no, I won’t tell her if you don’t want me to.”
“No, please don’t say anything. And I don’t want you to worry about this,” I tell her. “I mean, you’ve got your wedding to focus on.”
“Fran has put a lot on you with this, Erin. It’s a heavy load to carry.”
I give her a confident smile. “Because she trusts me with it. It’s okay. I’ll figure out how to handle it. I think it’s a one-step-at-a-time thing.”
“Maybe Fran will come to her senses and tell Helen what’s going on soon.”
“Or maybe, like she hopes, the chemo will work and she’ll get better.”
“Yes.” Mom doesn’t look convinced. “Hopefully that will happen.”
“And, believe me,” I say, “if I think Helen needs to know, I will tell her. It wouldn’t be fair to ruin the show or Fran’s health just to keep a secret.”
“Good.” Mom smiles. “I’m glad you can see that.”
“I know you won’t be back from your honeymoon when we’re heading to the Bahamas, but I’ll let you know what’s going on.”
“Yes, we will be like ships in the night. You girls leave in the morning and we get home that evening. But I’d appreciate being kept in the loop. You can always call me in France if you need to.”
I laugh. “Seriously, Mom, what kind of daughter calls her mother while she’s on her honeymoon?”
Fortunately, the week progresses without any complications or new developments with Fran. On Friday morning, when we’re all in the screening room to preview the BBB episode, Fran seems almost like her old self and I’m thinking maybe she’s right. Maybe she is going to beat this thing.
“Well, you girls really knocked that one out of the ballpark.” Helen is beaming at us as the lights come on. “The viewers are going to
love
this.”
“I didn’t realize I looked so awful.” Paige grimaces. “I’m not sure I want that image going public.”
Helen laughs. “It’s a little late for that. Didn’t you see that shot of you on
E!
last weekend?”
“Don’t remind me.” Paige shakes her head.
“Hey, it’s publicity,” I tease.
“And you handled it extremely well,” Helen assures Paige. “You both did. I’m proud of you girls.”
“Do you think we’ll take any heat for dissing BBB?” I ask Helen as we head to the conference room to continue this discussion.
She chuckles. “Well, I doubt they’ll be lining up to be a sponsor, but I suspect we were a little rich for their blood anyway.”
Once we’re resettled in the conference room, Fran opens her notebook. “We still need to get some more monologue critiques from you,” Fran tells Paige. “To go with the actual fashion show.”
“And I can be totally candid and honest?” Paige asks Helen.
“In a dignified, ladylike way,” Helen tells her. “We want to keep Paige Forrester on the high road.”
Paige nods. “This is going to be fun.”
“Maybe you should help,” Fran tells me. “Can you come up with some good comments?”
I grin at her. “Oh, yeah, I had
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