These past few days had been hell. I basically had to quit my job because my boss got annoyed with all the reporters, and I couldn’t go outside because the paparazzi were hounding our gates. It was like these people had nothing better to do. I even had to send security to the shelter to keep them out of it.
According to my dad, if I wanted to divorce William, they had to terminate the contract. Unfortunately, the contract was airtight, so it was hard to find a loophole to get out of the marriage, but my dad’s attorneys were working on it.
In the meantime, the rest of us were working on restraining Alex from leaving the house. He was planning on beating the crap out of William, so we knew if we let him leave, that was where he was headed. Not that I had a problem with him doing that, it was just that my reputation was shattered, and I knew William would use any leverage my family gave him to show they were just as bad as me. I couldn’t let them ruin their reputations for me.
At the moment, I was lying on my bed, trying to get some sleep, but it was pretty much hopeless. My mind was busy churning with ideas to get back at William or at least resolve the situation. There had to be some way to calm the chaos.
Suddenly, a thought hit me—what if I did an interview with the same news channel William talked to? That way, I could get my statement out publicly and bring a sort of closure to this mess.
I hopped out of bed and raced downstairs. “Mom! Dad! I have an idea!”
They walked into the living room quickly and looked around sleepily.
“What is it, Booboo?” My dad yawned.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize it was so late. But I came up with an idea to help work out this mess. What if I did an interview with the same news channel William talked to? I could talk about what he said and at least give my input.”
They looked at each other and nodded slowly.
Mom smiled. “If you want to do that and feel comfortable, then why not?”
“I’ll talk to the news channel later and see if we can get you the interview first thing tomorrow,” Dad said, yawning again.
“Thank you. I know these past few days have been hard, but I really appreciate your efforts to help me,” I said, pulling them in for a group hug.
“Now how about we all go to sleep? You need to be wide awake for that interview.” Mom yawned.
After so many hours of thinking, I finally felt fatigue wash over me. “Right. Night, Mom. Night, Dad.”
Once I got back under the covers, I closed my eyes and smiled.
I finally had a plan, and hopefully it wouldn’t backfire.
***
“Anyone want waffles?” I asked as I finished making the batter.
“I do!” Alex called out as he washed the coffee cups. He was dressed casually in a blue flannel shirt and black jeans. That was odd, he usually wore a suit to work.
“Alex, aren’t you going to work today?” I asked.
He grinned. “Nope, I’m accompanying my little sister to the news studio for her interview.”
“Oh my God, you got me the interview!” I shrieked, almost dropping the bowl.
“Yep, now go change. You look ridiculous. I’ll finish making the waffles,” he said, grabbing the bowl and pointing the spoon at my outfit.
I glanced down at my penguin-covered pajamas and smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, good point.”
***
The TV studio was about a fifteen-minute drive from home, and I could feel my pulse accelerating as we approached the building. After Alex parked, we walked inside the lobby, where the receptionist instructed us to the third floor.
“Ah, Heather Solace. Welcome, welcome! Have a seat on the couch. We will be starting the interview shortly. My name is Katy Johnson and I’m the host,” a blonde woman said as she approached me. She looked to be in her mid-thirties and had kind, warm hazel eyes.
That was good sign. At least she wasn’t grumpy and mean.
I smiled politely and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Johnson.”
She beamed and showed me the filming area where there was a couch and a chair in front of it, which was probably where she would sit. We took our seats and Alex stood behind the cameras.
“We’re live in three, two, one!” the cameraman whispered loudly.
“Hello, my lovely audience, and welcome to The Twelve O’Clock Newshour. We have a very special guest in our studio, Heather Solace, who is here today to talk about her husband’s statement from a few days ago. But before she speaks, let’s have a replay, shall we?” Katy said to the viewers.
After the video, she turned to me. “So, Mrs. Solace, what are your feelings or thoughts on your husband’s comments?”
I smiled. “First of all, please call me Heather. Secondly, I would like to address the last accusation he made, which is my main concern at this point, the children’s shelter. I’m wondering how he could call it a dump when he knows that many people have found it satisfactory and very safe! He himself has visited the shelter with me, and I didn’t hear any concern for the foundation of the building and the way we run it, which prompts me to believe that he just said that to cause unnecessary concern in the community. If anyone doesn’t believe me, they can check it out for themselves. I have no problem with it, and I’ve already asked the kids if they would be okay with it, and they are. I also have paperwork that certifies that the building’s foundation is secure and stable, so that is definitely not a worry.”
Katy smiled. “The shelter definitely sounds fine, and I myself have heard great things about it. I think Mr. Solace was trying to evoke negative emotions about the shelter to close it and ruin your image at the same time. We are very sorry that he did that to you. How about the other statements he made?”
Gosh, I loved this woman.
“As for the first kiss thing, he was my first kiss and he knows that. Also, if he feels that I am an embarrassment, then shouldn’t he have tried to divorce me before, or even now? I don’t think I would have objected, especially at this stage. He had that choice as well, so the blame isn’t completely on me. We got married on mutual consent, and if he wasn’t comfortable, he could have and should have said no. What do you think, Mrs. Johnson?”
She smiled politely at me, but there was this mischievous twinkle in her eye. “I think you have made some very good points. I hope everything works out for you. “
“Thank you, Mrs. Johnson.”
“Now, if there was anything you would like to say to Mr. Solace, what would it be?”
I grinned and turned to the camera. “If you’re watching this, honey, I just want to say two words.”
This was going to be my completely unprofessional, immature, but favorite part. “Fuck you!”
With my last statement, the camera turned off and everyone applauded.
Katy gave me a shocked look and glanced at the director before walking off cautiously.
I shrugged and exited the studio happily with Alex, who was still choking on his laughter.
Let’s see how William reacts to this.