One of the shorter chapters, but I think the last 3 are on the longer side, so...enjoy!
Chapter 7:
"Now, are you sure you know what exactly you're going to say in the interview?" Niles asked from the bench outside the café CC was meeting the journalist at. Brighton and Grace were on either side of him, Grace reading a chapter book and Brighton tossing his baseball in the air.
"Niles, this is not my first rodeo," CC said pacing, too distracted to realize she'd just set the butler up perfectly.
"Well, I know that," Niles said. "Everyone knows your Mr. Sheffield's prized stallion."
She stopped for a moment to glare at him and then continued pacing. "I just need to spin this so that I'm not a complete monster."
Brighton looked up at the butler. "You gonna let that one go?"
"Too easy," Niles shook his head and waved him off. "Besides, she's in work mode. She's not really listening – she's too 'in the zone' right now. And it's only fun if she hears what I say."
"Okay, I'm ready," CC glanced in her reflection in the window of their parked car. "God, thankfully there's no photographs for this interview. I can't even touch up my lipstick."
She spun around, trying to get a look at her backside. "Did I get all the flour off me?"
"Your dress is white," Niles pointed out, though that didn't stop him from a cursory glance at her bottom. "So, yes, you got all the flour."
"Good. Okay, here I go." She nodded determinedly, smoothing out her dress. She turned and marched towards the café, her heels clicking on the pavement confidently
"Knock 'em dead," Niles called. "Wait, no, don't do that. You've already done that today. Just…good luck!"
CC paused, shaking her head, and Niles knew she was rolling her eyes at him. She took a deep breath and entered the café.
"Think she'll be okay?" Brighton asked.
"She can handle herself," Niles said with a nod. "Though if the interviewer pisses her off, I hope there are no pieces of plywood nearby to hit her over the head."
"Or anything nearby to push her into," Grace added, not looking up from her book.
Brighton and Niles looked at the giant, plate glass window in the front of the café and exchanged worried glances.
Niles shook his head. "Oh what am I saying? She'll be fine! Come on, let's toss that baseball around so you're ready when we get to the game."
The two boys got up and spread out on the sidewalk, giving the window one more worried glance before they started playing catch.
CC scanned the café and spotted the famous Broadway journalist, Melanie Parker, sitting in a quiet corner next to the front window. She smiled and made her way over to the table.
"Melanie, hello," she greeted warmly.
Melanie stood up, smoothing out her tan blazer and matching skirt, her dirty blonde hair reflecting in the light from the window. She smiled and held out a hand, and CC shook it. "Hello, CC, it's been a while."
"It has," CC agreed as they took their seats. A waitress came to the table to take their order.
"I'll have a cappuccino," Melanie said.
CC would have done just about anything for a jolt of caffeine, but Niles still had the leftover change from lunch in case of an emergency. She didn't want to stick Melanie with the bill; she was already going to look bad enough as it was. "Just a water, thanks," she said with a forced smile that came off more as a grimace.
The waitress left and the two women sat in silence, as Melanie usually waited til their orders arrived before starting the interview. CC drummed her fingers impatiently on the table and looked around. A flash of blue caught her eye, and she looked out the window, spotting Niles chasing after a baseball. Brighton chased after Niles while Grace watched from the bench, their hysterical laughter reaching CC even through the plate glass window. A smile tugged at her lips.
The waitress brought their drinks. Melanie took a quick sip of her cappuccino, and dove right in. "So, CC, tell me about Jack Taylor."
CC reluctantly turned away from the window and looked at the woman bemusedly. "Who?"
"Jack Taylor," Melanie repeated.
CC stared at the journalist blankly, wracking her brain trying to figure out who Jack Taylor was. "I'm sorry, am I supposed to know who he is? The name doesn't ring a bell."
Melanie looked at CC incredulously. "He's the set designer you sent to the hospital. Twice actually, if the rumors from today are true."
CC was not a praying woman, but in that moment she prayed that she would spontaneously combust. She closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose, knowing there was nothing she could say to fix the situation. She'd always just known him as the set designer! "Right, sorry. It's been a long day."
Melanie nodded, jotting something down on her legal pad. "It sounds like it, considering what a disarray the theatre was in when I stopped by. Is it true you took the day off? So close to opening night?"
"Well, I was there this morning, but after the events that transpired, I decided I needed to get away til Monday. Have a nice, long weekend, you know?"
"Yes," Melanie nodded. "Why don't you tell me about the events that transpired this morning, CC? Actually, why don't we start with the first event, the one that led to Mr. Taylor making a statement to Playbill that you're the Bitch of Broadway?"
"Okay," CC said, taking a long sip of her water to buy her some time. "We had a disagreement over the way the scenery was looking for Sheffield Production's next play: The Sound of Music. Mr. Taylor said some very inappropriate, disgusting, disrespectful remarks to me, and I…well, I hit him over the head with a piece of plywood."
"I see," Melanie frowned. "Mr. Taylor led Playbill to believe your actions were seemingly out of nowhere and that he was completely innocent."
"He said WHAT?! That's a load of bull-" CC started passionately, before collecting herself and taking a small sip of water. "I mean…what I meant to say was, that is entirely untrue."
"I'm glad to hear that. I didn't think you were the violent lunatic he was trying to paint you out to be," Melanie said sweetly, and CC would have been relieved if she didn't know the woman's penchant for luring her interviewees into a false sense of security. Melanie took another sip of her drink and proved CC correct. "But then…the same thing happened today, so it seems like there is a pattern with you, doesn't it, CC?"
Another flash of blue caught CC's eye, and she looked outside. Niles ran back with the baseball, and Brighton and Grace were trying to tackle him to the ground. He gave in, dropped the ball, grabbed both children, and began tickling them. Their squeals of laughter were infectious, and CC couldn't help but laugh softly.
"CC?" Melanie asked.
CC tore her eyes away from the window and looked at the woman regretfully. "I'm sorry, I can't do this. I have to go."
"What?" Melanie cried in disbelief. "CC, this interview is supposed to go out in two days! My deadline is tonight!"
"I know, I know. Write whatever you want. Paint me as a monster, I don't care," CC shrugged nonchalantly. "The truth of the matter is Jack Taylor is a misogynistic asshole who got what he deserved. I don't have time to defend myself for that. I am babysitting two children today – they're outside right now. See them? The little girl was with me this morning, and Mr. Taylor tried to strike her when we disagreed over his hideous designs. That's why I punched him. And now, because I'm in here trying to make myself look better - for something I'm actually quite proud of doing, mind you - that little boy out there is going to be late for his baseball game. And I'm his good luck charm. So I'm leaving now so he can make the game on time and I can cheer him on. Thank you."
Melanie's jaw dropped, and she merely stared at CC completely dumbfounded as CC slid her chair back and got up. "Sorry, Mel. You're a good writer. You've got this. I'm sure you'll be able to put something together for Playbill." She strode out of the café, wishing she had sunglasses to slide on for such a badass moment.
Niles and the kids were still laughing on the ground when they heard the familiar clicking of heels on the pavement, and then a shadow loomed over them. All three of them looked up at the same time to find CC leaning against the car.
"Let's go! We have a baseball game to make," she said with a smug smile.
"Yes!" Brighton cheered, shooting up off the ground and hugging CC. She looked startled for a moment, but then she relaxed and pulled the hat off his head, ruffling his hair.
"Did you beat up the interview lady?" Grace asked, still in Niles lap. He burst into laughter at the question and tickled Grace again.
"No!" CC said, teasingly indignant.
Niles and Grace stood up. He unlocked the car, let the children in the back seat, and shut the door. "What did you do?"
"Nothing. I told the truth," CC said with a shrug.
"You blew the interview so that Brighton could attend his baseball game on time?" he asked.
"Well, yeah, that's one reason," she nodded. "And I was tired of acting like I needed to feel ashamed for what I did. That guy said some truly disgusting things about me. That's why I hit him the first time. And then today I was protecting Grace, so of course I don't regret what I did."
"What did he say?" he asked, a hint of anger in his eyes.
"Just…I don't know," she blushed. "Stuff about just how exactly I worked my way to the top, if you know what I mean."
"In that case, maybe later on I will pay him a visit," he said.
"Why?" she rolled her eyes, already guessing the punch line. "So you can salute him for getting some good insults in on me?"
"No," Niles shook his head, the anger now evident all over his face, and he gave her a heated look. "So I can hit him over the head with an even bigger piece of plywood."
Whatever CC had expected Niles to say, that wasn't it. "Oh," she said quietly.
"No one insults CC Babcock but me," he said passionately. "And I'm sorry I teased you all day for hitting him twice."
"It's okay," she said a little breathlessly, and she had a sudden desire to fan herself off. Niles was never protective of her. She didn't hate it.
They stared at each other for a while, until CC shook herself out of it. "Um, the game! We should get going."
Niles' eyes widened. "The game! Of course, you're right. Let's go!"
He jogged around to the driver's side and she opened her door and slid into the passenger seat. He started the car and pulled out into traffic, and they discussed baseball strategies with Brighton, CC stealing curious glances at Niles the whole drive to the baseball field.