Chapter Ten
Still ten weeks ago...
Once Mel had explained that she didn't cook very well, Angelo decided, as it was their first night, that he would go out and get a takeaway. Ruby had convinced him that Xavier could come round for dinner too and now the four of them were seated around the kitchen table, tucking into their food. Mel felt a little nervous and out of her comfort zone but she thought everyone seemed nice so far. She was grateful to have been spared cooking, although she knew she would have to tackle it sometime, probably tomorrow. Ruby was painfully aware that her mother was gone and was trying not to sulk or worry about it. She couldn't help but wonder if her Mum was okay and if Mel's family would be treating her well.
"What's your partner like?" she asked.
Mel smiled.
"She's amazing," she said. "Have no doubt that she will be treating your Mum like a Princess."
Ruby couldn't help but smile. She liked that idea immensely. For a long time, she hadn't believed that Angelo treated Charlie the way she deserved so to think that someone else would spoil her a little could only be a good thing.
"She does all the cooking and cleaning and everything at home," Mel explained. "So Charlie won't have to lift a finger unless she chooses to during the rule change."
Charlie, Joey and Sam all sat around the table.
"This is gorgeous," Charlie enthused.
Joey beamed at her. Usually Sam and Mel just ate the food and didn't comment. It felt nice to receive a compliment.
"Thanks," she said.
"So, do you really do all the cooking?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah," Joey nodded.
"So do I," Charlie admitted. "But we take the rest of the household chores in turns."
Sam looked appalled and immediately began to worry about what kind of rules Charlie would bring in next week. She had got used to not having to do any housework and she wasn't keen for it to change.
"Well, if you want to offer me a break during rule change day, feel free!" Joey chuckled.
Before the camera crew left for the day, Angelo, Mel and Ruby were taken aside to give interviews on first impressions.
"She seems okay," Ruby said. "Although I get the feeling she's a bit spoilt. I'm not sure how well she'll take to working hard like Mum does."
She shrugged, wanting to give her the benefit of the doubt. Eager to get to bed, she saw the camera crew out of her room, closed the door, wished she could call her mother to say goodnight and began to get ready for sleep. The crew headed in to see Angelo.
"She's pretty hot," he said. "Not that that's important but I can't say it would be a trauma to be her husband for the next two weeks. Although I'm not entirely sure how useful she's going to be around the house and work... work will be interesting to say the least."
The crew thanked him and then headed in to see Mel, who was already changed into satin pyjamas, although she still had her make up on and her hair up.
"He is gorgeous!" she announced enthusiastically. "I think I might have to find out if he and Charlie are set on being monogamous because... wow! Seriously!"
She laughed and offered a devilish grin at the camera.
Charlie sat on the edge of the sofa bed. She was sleeping in what she presumed was Joey's study and the bed seemed to be fairly new so they had obviously provided her a sleeping space at the last minute.
"I think I'm going to get on well here," she said. "I'm not completely sure about Sam but Joey is lovely. She's so kind and easy to talk to. I really like her."
She beamed at the camera.
"I think we're going to get on well."
The crew headed in to see Sam who didn't seem particularly enamoured with Charlie and expressed concern that she would soon have to do housework and such things, which she hadn't been used to doing for a number of years now. They then headed in to see Joey who only had compliments for her new wife.
"She's beautiful, she's funny, she smart, she's kind," she said. "I really like her. I think she's awesome."
Next time... the reality stars continue to watch themselves on television...