The interview left me emotionally exhausted even though I’d barely done any of the talking.
I didn’t think I’d see Eleanor again after she’d dropped her costume off, but she found me in my dressing room while I was recovering from our interview.
Even though the door was open, she knocked. “Have you got a minute?”
“What’s up?” I asked.
She didn’t seem to mind that my parents were there, too. And surprisingly sitting beside each other on the sofa without trying to punch or otherwise maim each other. I wasn’t sure if it was because Moxie was between them or not.
Eleanor stepped in and closed the door, leaning against it with her hands behind her. “Did you ever find out who leaked the story?”
“No.”
She lowered her head. “I think I might know.”
Eager and anxious to hear what she said, l leaned forward. So did my parents.
“I think one of my children heard me talking to my husband. And leaked the story out of jealousy.”
My dad was so silent I thought steam was going to come out of his ears.
“How certain are you?” asked my mom.
“If I didn’t think it was true, I wouldn’t have told you.”
So even though I’d never spoken to my half-siblings, they were jealous enough of me to try to ruin my career? Wow.
“Unfortunately, I tried my best, but some children feel the need to rebel no matter what you do. And she saw a nice pay check for an exclusive story.”
“So my life is just a way for her to buy a nice pair of shoes, is that it?” I said.
“I’m sorry. I really am,” said Eleanor. “Believe me, I didn’t want this to come out either.”
“Why? Because it isn’t a story that you can control?” I growled.
“That’s not—”
I stood up. “Save it. Everything you’ve just said shows me that you don’t care about family and you never will. You can’t admit your mistakes, or accept you can’t control what other people do. Instead, you blame other people. Every time. I appreciate that you helped give life to me, and I’m grateful for what you did today, but you can go now.”
I don’t know where that bravery came from. But saying how I felt relieved me of pent-up anger I hadn’t even known I was holding on to.
Eleanor bowed her head, leaving me alone with my parents.
My real mom stood up and walked over to me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m just glad it’s over.” I leaned into her, resting my head on her shoulder. She put her arm around me. My real mom wasn’t perfect, but I wouldn’t have the life I did without her and my dad adopting me.
And, while they’d lied about it for so long, they’d also protected me from a horrific story that, while they hadn’t known, had caused me so many problems I needed to move on for the sake of my mental health. I just hoped that everyone else would let me.
*
Once the interview was over, I wanted to forget about it.
Francis had warned any future interviewers I wouldn’t be talking about it. It was Eleanor’s story, not mine. I didn’t have anything else to say. That didn’t stop people from asking about it anyway.
But, this time, Francis supported me. If someone looked like they were veering into questions we’d vetoed, she cut them off. If they kept going, she ended the interview.
I liked that she was in control of it; she took the blame. To the press, she was a faceless member of my team. Which meant I didn’t get the blame for ending the interview, and she didn’t get negative press coverage because nobody cared who she was.
About a week later, I had a few days off, so I went down to London. Jack was out of rehab and helping care for Astin. I hadn’t seen either of them in weeks, but it felt like an eternity after everything that had happened.
Leaving Moxie with Maddy, I went to see Jack in his hotel room.
He opened the front door wearing a pair of shorts and nothing else. When he saw me, he grinned, leaning in to kiss me. I kissed him back, falling into his arms after too long away. We were taking things slowly—it was hard not to when I was traveling so much—but I liked the direction things were going in.
He closed the door with his foot, pulling me on to the bed before I could even speak. There wasn’t anything to say, though. I was right where I wanted to be.