…” Chris starts to mumble when someone interrupts her by yelling out, “This is public property lady. You can’t throw us out of here.”
Ruby takes over and announces, “It is not public property. This is my lodge, it is private property. If you aren’t a guest here and you are not here to dine or have a spa service, then you’re loitering, and I can most definitely throw you out. Who wants to cross me?”
Romaine speaks up next. “I’ll be happy to chat with you all out front. I’ll make a statement as soon as everyone leaves the building.”
As the throng turns to follow his instructions, Romaine approaches Ruby. “I’m really sorry about this. I have no idea who tipped them off that I’d be here, but it wasn’t me.”
Ruby eyes the rock star, actively trying to discern if he’s telling the truth. She decides he probably is before answering, “We aren’t equipped to deal with a commotion like this, Mr. Choate, and I don’t want my other guests disturbed.”
He nods his head. “You’re right. It isn’t fair to you or them. I’ll do my best to keep them outside. If I can’t control them, I promise to hire additional security.”
Ruby mumbles under her breath, “Why did you come here?”
Romaine gives her a questioning glance before walking out the front door to talk to the paparazzi.
James
I take Tara’s hand and pull her along into Uncle Billy’s cabin. The place looks exactly like the glamping brochure its pictures were used for. I lead Tara to the kitchen table and pull out a chair for her. “Sit down and I’ll pour us some coffee.”
“James,” she starts to say, but must think better of it because she doesn’t continue.
I pour the coffee and put a cup down in front of her. Deciding to ignore the whole Romaine situation for the moment, I ask, “What’s going on with you today? You were downright weird during our interview with Rachel this morning.”
She releases a pent-up breath before answering, “I’m not sure Rachel buys our being a couple.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because she said as much after our shoot at the falls.”
“Really?” I mean, what else can I say? We were faking it.
With her elbows on the table, she rests her head in her hands and continues, “I told her we were taking things slowly, that I didn’t want to ruin anything between us by rushing into something too quickly.”
“What do you think she’s going to do with that information?”
She shrugs. “Who knows? I thought she understood and would be cool with it, but what if her meeting with us was all a setup for whatever comes next?”
“What do you mean by that?” Panic pushes its way up my throat.
“For some inexplicable reason, Romaine is here. What if Rachel knew he was coming and was trying to trap me into something?”
“Trap you into what? You’ve already broken up with the guy.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Who knows? Maybe they want pictures of us together. Maybe they’re hoping for a reconciliation. The press is notorious for manipulating stories so they can tell the version they think will sell more papers. And after handing over so much money to talk to us, they’re going to be very motivated to sell papers.”
Why did I take that money? It felt wrong doing it, but I figured I was going to help Tara either way, so why not get something out of it for myself? And by that, I mean my plumbing. “Maybe you should call Rachel and talk to her,” I suggest.
“James, I know this all seems insane to you, but during the three years I spent with Romaine the press up was in our business every chance they got. They flew over our house in helicopters to take pictures when we had parties, they tried to try to take pictures through our windows. They reported I was pregnant no fewer than six times and I’ve never been pregnant. They’re more annoying than a rabid bat infestation.”
“You’re right. I don’t understand,” I tell her. “But I do understand basic human decency and I figure that as long as you don’t have anything to hide, they can’t hurt you.”
“Oh my god, James, haven’t you ever seen Notting Hill?”
“I’ve never been to London,” I tell her, wondering what that has to do with anything.
“Not the actual place,” she says in an exasperated tone. “The movie. With Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.”
“Never saw that one.”
“Julia plays this huge Hollywood star, and Hugh owns a