Part 2
Hearing a noise at her bedroom door, Caroline looks up in surprise. "Mom! You're home early." Caroline rises to kiss her on the cheek.
"Yes, well, Bobbsey, I wanted to talk to you." Caroline watches curiously as her mom sits on the bed. Caroline reseats herself in front of her computer, minimizing the article she's working on.
The day had whizzed by at the newsroom. Andy had taught her so much. Before the interview, Andy had given her some pointers on what to look for in body language. Whenever the person had begun to tap a foot, cross arms, or turn to the side, Andy would ease back, joking and making small talk. Once the person seemed more comfortable, Andy would begin again with the harder questions. Caroline was astounded by Andy's ability to get the answers. Caroline hadn't any idea that asking the right questions was only half the battle. To actually get the answers, it was important to make the person feel comfortable. That whole trust issue Andy had talked about earlier made a lot more sense.
Looking at her mom, she can see something is bothering her. "What's wrong, Mom?"
"I received an interesting phone call this afternoon. It seems you were not at that camp you begged me to let you attend." Her mom stares at her. "Where were you?"
No time to prepare, then. Caroline takes a deep breath and exhales. Gathering her courage, she starts to explain. "I'm sorry, Mom. I was going to tell you tonight. I'm afraid you aren't going to like this." Caroline holds her hands tightly in her lap. "The truth is I won an internship. That's where I was today. It is something I really want to do, and I wanted to do it on my own."
"What internship?" Glancing at her mom, Caroline can see she's already half-guessed. Those narrowed eyes and controlled voice tell it all.
Oh, boy.
"At the New York Mirror." Caroline can't help but grin at her mom's gasp. "You picked my essay, Mom."
"That internship is for students who do not have the privilege or connections you have. Really, Caroline, how could you think this is acceptable?" Caroline watches her mom rub the back of her neck.
"I know that now. I'm sorry for deceiving you. I just wanted to prove to you that I can do it." Caroline searches her mom's eyes, looking for some sign that she isn't going to be disowned. "It's true that if I could have gotten away with it, I would have finished the whole week without telling you. Andy made me promise to discuss it with you, though. She told me that a journalist's reputation is based on not only getting to the truth, but also in telling it." Caroline doesn't dare break their eye contact even when she sees disapproval clouding her mom's eyes.
"Andy?" her mom questions. Caroline can't help but be curious about the strange look she witnesses.
"Yes. Andy Sachs is my mentor. She figured out right away that I had lied on the application. My clothes." Caroline feels a little bit of hope flutter in her chest at the smirk that wiggles onto her mom's face. "She's offered to let me finish the internship. She spoke to her boss, too. That way another student can be named to win it."
Watching her mom's thoughtful gaze, Caroline wonders what she's thinking. "I need to talk to her," her mom says.
"Oh, I have her number." Caroline jumps up to dig into her jeans pocket for the card. Handing it over, Caroline says, "I really want to do this. I'm willing to work hard. I promise not to lie again. Please let me do this."
Her mom nods. "We'll see. I'm not happy that you lied and took another student's spot. Yet, I can appreciate your wanting to prove yourself." Glancing at the business card, her mom dials the number. "Andrea."
Caroline starts to fidget. She really hopes her mom won't be mean to Andy.
"I understand my daughter has come clean regarding her duplicity, and you have graciously offered to continue mentoring her." Caroline watches with interest the emotions crossing her mom's face. She seems intense and pensive. Softer and animated.
"Yes, well, I'd like to discuss this further. Are you free tonight?" Her mom's lips tighten.
Uh, oh.
"Surely you'd rather have grilled salmon instead of Ramen noodles. It's one of my cook's best dishes." Her mom's face relaxes into a triumphant look. "It's no trouble. I want Caroline to be present during our conversation." Her mom nods.
Phew.
"I'll send the car now. Don't be absurd, Andrea. There is no reason in the world for you to sit in a filthy taxi or urine-stained subway car when I have a perfectly clean, comfortable car on standby. Your address, Andrea?" Caroline watches her mom write it down and hang up.
A short while later, Caroline opens the door, noting how Andy's eyes sweep the area before settling on her. "Hi. Thanks for coming. I promise not to send you upstairs again," she jokes as she closes the door. Their grins fade as they hear a gasp. Oh, crap. Turning her head, Caroline notes the shocked look on her mom's face. Damn, I'm just having a stellar day.
"What do you mean by that, Caroline?" Before she can try to find a shovel to dig herself out of yet another shit-filled hole, Andy comes to her rescue.
"Oh, that's water under the bridge. Hello, Miranda." Andy steps past Caroline with a smile while she squeezes Caroline's arm in warning. Painfully. But Caroline gets the message. No more stupid comments. Check.
After a pregnant pause, her mom seems to forget Caroline's lame joke. Instead, she seems more interested in staring at Andy. Weird. Caroline finally notices that Andy has changed into designer clothes. She looks good. Beautiful, even. Huh.
"Hello, Andrea." Oh, wow. Caroline hasn't heard that tone of voice in forever. Andy's face reddens as a wide smile blossoms. What is that all about? "I see you haven't forgotten Runway's lessons entirely." Caroline is a bit taken aback by the obvious way her mom's eyes rake over Andy. Geez. Turning from them, her mom leads them into the dining room as she continues. "In fact, Caroline tells me you knew she was an imposter just by her clothes."
Andy shakes herself. Literally. Then, she takes long strides to catch up, Caroline right behind her. "Yes. No inner-city kid has the money to dress in designer brands."
"Mmmhmm." After they are seated, Caroline watches her mom put on the charm. She directs the conversation, getting Andy to talk about her work, her family, everything. By the end of the meal, it's pretty clear to Caroline that her mom is much more interested in Andy than in Caroline's deception. More startling is how much her mom reveals to Andy. It is as if they're interviewing each other or something. And the way they keep staring at each other like they're hungry, even though they've been eating dinner. Caroline can't quite figure out what's going on. She knows it's been five years since they have seen each other, but it's not as if they were friends or anything.
"So. How do you think we should handle this situation with Caroline?" Her mom's voice is all business now. Crap. She watches as Andy's face becomes serious. Andy pauses, tilting her head toward Caroline while she thinks.
"Well. I have to tell you, Caroline worked really hard today. It is obvious that she wants to do this, and she has talent." Andy switches her gaze to her mom. "That said, she did not deserve to win the internship. That needs to be rectified. I talked to my editor, and he has agreed to let Caroline remain under my care while a new student is awarded the internship."
"Why are you willing to do this, Andrea?" There's that odd tone of voice again. Caroline studies her mom's face. She seems bewildered and…happy?
Andy shrugs. "There are several reasons. Her desire is apparent, just as are her reasons for lying on the application." Andy looks down shyly. "It is also an opportunity to do something for you. After all, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be working at the Mirror. I have never forgotten your part in getting me that job."
This is news to Caroline. She supposes it makes sense since her mom always reads the Mirror.
"Oh, I see." Caroline looks up, startled by the brittle tone of voice her mom uses. "You want me to owe you a favor."
"No! Miranda, I don't want anything from you." Andy's face flushes as she looks away. "The fact that Caroline is your daughter is just fortuitous, a wild coincidence." Andy looks back earnestly. "I am doing this because Caroline deserves a chance, just like the chance you gave me. I may not have used that opportunity in the best way, but I can guide Caroline so she will not make those types of mistakes."
Caroline watches her mom wave a hand tiredly. "We both made mistakes, Andrea." What the hell are they talking about? Obviously, it has to do with when Andy worked for her mom. Caroline holds her breath while attempting to not draw attention to herself. Finally, her mom says it. "Very well. Thank you, Andrea." Oh, okay. Wow. A thank you.
Caroline cannot remember the last time she heard her mom say that to anyone outside their family. This is big. Looking at Andy, Caroline notices that Andy understands the momentousness of the comment, too. She seems shocked. And happy. Caroline is surrounded by happy people. Weird.
"Caroline, I'd like to talk to Andrea alone for a few minutes. Why don't you say goodnight before going upstairs." Okay, then. Caroline gets up quickly.
"Thanks, Andy. I'll see you tomorrow." Caroline waits for a nod of agreement before crossing to her mom. Kissing her cheek, Caroline whispers, "Thanks, Mom." Astounded by her mom's smile, Caroline nearly misses her response.
"I am the one who should be thanking you. I'll look in on you later." Caroline is pretty intrigued by that response. Taking her plate, she beats a hasty retreat to the kitchen and then hurries up the stairs. Instead of going into her room, however, she steps just out of sight and waits for them to exit the dining room.
After about ten minutes that feel like ten years, Caroline hears their shoes clacking against the hardwood floors. "Thank you for dinner." That's Andy. Caroline smiles. She really likes Andy. She is kind and smart, funny and honest. A great role-model.
"My pleasure." Hearing them stop near the front door, Caroline peeks over the railing. She sees her mom's hand on Andy's arm as they stare at each other. Geez, not the staring thing again. "I would like to see you again. Perhaps Thursday?" Caroline sucks in a breath. Is Mom asking Andy on a date?
"I would like that." Caroline watches in fascination as they seem to drift toward each other. Andy likes Mom? Mom likes Andy? What the hell? They haven't seen each other in five years! More importantly, since when does Mom like other women? Maybe that's why she hasn't been dating anyone.
How interesting. How cool.
Andy kisses her mom on the cheek before stepping back. "See you." That elicits a quirk of the lips.
"Yes. I'll call you." Andy freezes at the words and gives her mom a megawatt smile. Nodding, Andy opens the door and steps through. Caroline watches as her mom closes the door gently and leans against it. A wide smile lights up her face as she shakes her head. Holy shit! Caroline can't help but smile, too. Wait until she tells Cassidy.
Caroline quietly beats a path back to her room. Sitting at her desk, she pulls up the article she had begun working on today. Andy encouraged her to research whether privileged teenagers really do get the shaft with scholarships, grants, and internships. Andy told her she'll need to look at hundreds of sources, then whittle everything down to support whatever conclusion she reaches. This will be an editorial, so Caroline can give her own opinion. She must to be able to support it, though, with hard facts.
Andy helped Caroline map out what the main points of the article will be and gave her some ideas of where to look for information. Caroline spent most of the afternoon calling sponsors to find out their qualifications. Surprisingly, many of the programs she followed-up on do allow for rich kids to apply. Figures. Caroline just hadn't cared to do the research earlier. When she had seen her mom's name and where the internship would be, she had just taken it for granted that all internships would be for financially struggling high school students.
Learning how to find information and pull it all together excites Caroline. She might not have gone about it the right way, but getting this internship is the best thing she has ever done. To Caroline's great relief, Andy hadn't seemed to mind that Caroline peppered her with so many questions. She has learned so much just on the first day.
Hearing a throat being cleared, Caroline looks up. Mom is watching her closely. Caroline feels a wave of déjà vu overtake her. "Hi, Mom." Caroline saves her writing and turns back to see she has seated herself on the bed. "Thanks for letting me continue with the internship."
"Yes, well, I may not agree with your methods, but your motivation is pure. Next time, Caroline, I expect you to come to me, even if it is to ask me not to help you. I will not tolerate subterfuge in my own home." Her stern voice makes it clear that she'll behead Caroline if there is a next time.
"I'm sorry, Mom. You're right. I shouldn't have gone behind your back." Caroline feels awful. Mom seems hurt. "It's not that I don't appreciate your help. I just want to do this on my own."
"I know, Bobbsey. However, you need to understand that having connections doesn't make a difference if your work is shoddy. Connections merely get your foot in the door. You still have to walk through it." Mom sighs as she looks away. She seems lost in thought. Caroline tries not to fidget. She loves her mom. She really does. But she wants to get back to the article.
"I promise I will come to you in the future," Caroline says. "If it makes you feel any better, Andy is making me write an article on whether scholarships, grants, and internships are available to privileged high school students. I have to track down hundreds of leads. All I did was research this afternoon." Caroline sees a twinkle in her mom's eyes and a slight smirk gracing her face. Guessing Mom approves of Andy's methods, Caroline shrugs. After all, she knows she deserves it. Allowing a few minutes of silence to pass, Caroline asks, "Is there anything else, Mom?"
"Hm? Oh, no. Well. You might want to thank Andrea. She is the only reason I have agreed to allow you to continue with the internship." Caroline nods her head in agreement.
"I'm really glad she's my mentor. I can learn a lot from her. I am already." Worrying her lip, Caroline asks, "Since when do you like women?"
Her mom's head shoots up as her eyes widen. "Whatever are you talking about, Caroline? Really."
"You know what I'm saying, Mom." Caroline stares at her mom, daring her to deny it.
"I do not like women, as you have so inelegantly phrased it," her mom huffs.
"What about Andy? I was with you at dinner, not that either of you noticed."
"Enough of that," her mom says in a frosty voice as she purses her lips. Caroline practices her mom's raised-eyebrow look and waits. Eventually, her mom looks away as she mutters, "Andrea, it seems, is an exception."
Caroline is barely able to contain her "Yes!" exclamation. She does, though, because her mom looks very uncomfortable. Caroline gets up to kiss her mom good-night. "I love you, Mom."
"I love you, too. Don't stay up too late." Caroline watches her mom leave before pulling up the article once more. Caroline grins before refocusing on the task at hand. Andy may be attempting to make a point by assigning this article, but Caroline intends to do her best. She'll show everyone that she is serious about becoming a reporter.