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Chapter Eighteen:
This week's theme was: "Meet the Parents." Reid would have a day to get to know the families of each of the remaining women.
Ava's family had an older brother and younger brother. They were both muscular and imposing in their own way. Reid wasn't so much as threatened with violence but with the belief that "what goes around, comes around," if their sister was treated poorly.
Mel's family was friendlier. She had one older brother and two younger sisters. The father had kind eyes and asked if Reid want his blessing on a marriage proposal.
"I'm not sure I'm ready for that step," Reid said. "But I promise to take care of your daughter in the event I choose her."
"Then you have my blessing upon that promise," he said contentedly.
Macy looked disgusted by the whole thing.
"How many of these people know exactly what they're putting on a show for?" she asked out of the corner of her mouth. They knew they were being monitored in the war room so she chose her words carefully.
"None of them," Faye whispered into her coffee.
Leah's family arrived the next day. She was an only child. Her father was a factory worker and her mother was a secretary. Reid felt uncomfortable as her father stared him down.
"What could you possibly see in my daughter?" he asked harshly.
"She's very kind and easy to relate to," Reid said anxiously.
"What's relatable about a girl who abandons her family to pursue getting her face plastered on magazines?"
Macy smiled. "Finally! Some drama I can cheer on."
"You are evil," Faye said.
"I know what good TV looks like."
"Daddy it's not like that!" Leah pleaded. "I think I'm falling in love with him."
"You said that about the talent agent too," he countered. "But he refused to get you any auditions, so you dumped him. She's only in it for the fame. Are you?"
"No!" Reid said.
"Then you're stupid and shouldn't want my daughter who is obsessed with herself."
"Momma!" Leah pleaded.
"Your father's right," she said sadly and turned to Reid. "You look like a sweet boy. I'm sure the other girls you chose are much nicer."
"I think you should leave," Reid said wrapping an arm around Leah.
"Don't you want my blessing?" he asked sarcastically.
"No," Reid said firmly.
"I wouldn't give it anyway," he said and turned around with his wife.
Reid guided Leah back into the house. She broke down and cried as Reid held her.
Faye shook her head. "I hate my job."
…
"You need to eliminate Leah," Faye said two hours before the elimination ceremony.
"Why would I do that?" Reid asked. "Mel is nice, but I don't feel anything like the way I do with Leah and Ava."
"Leah has problems you can't fix," Faye said. "She's grown up despised by her family and latches on to men for emotional support until she leeched them dry."
"It won't be like that with me," Reid said.
"How do you know?" Faye asked.
"Because I know what she needs."
"Which is?"
"A friend, a partner, and a love interest."
"You can't be all of those things," Faye said.
"Why not?"
"Because you don't have all of those things to give enough of. She needs real help."
"You think she's psychotic, don't you?" Reid said accusingly.
"I think she is addicted to people like you. People who have soft spots for people who need more than just a comforting arm around the shoulders."
He looked at her closely.
"What aren't you telling me?"
"If I am being brutally honest, I don't see a future for you with her where you won't be dogged by photographers. I don't see a future you'll be content for the rest of your life with her."
"What about the others?"
"Give Mel another chance and Ava seems like the real deal."
"Okay then," Reid said.
Faye looked taken aback. He watched her.
"Really?"
"I trust you completely Faye. I'll eliminate Leah."
"You're doing what is best for her."
"If you think so," he said.
"I do," she said. "With all my heart."
…
Leah sobbed through the ceremony. Her producer had prepped her to be eliminated but that didn't stop her from howling when, Mel was invited to stay after Ava.
Reid tried to console her but she literally pushed him away and ran to the limo.
Even Macy cringed when she saw Leah's makeup leak down her face as she declared how much she hated herself. She hated Spencer for keeping her around for so long.
Macy turned off the monitor for the limo.
"I hope we know what we're doing," she said.
"Me too," Faye said. "Me too."