Page 67 of The Princess and the Paparazzi
“Right … let me check.” I picture Carlos peeking out from the back room.
“No, he’s not here, but half of Ephron is. How fast can you come?”
“Ten minutes,” I assure him, reaching for the barista apron hanging over a chair.
* * *
Carlos was not exaggerating. The line is backed up past the Celestial Pets store. My “pal,” the paparazzo, is standing in the line outside the door. He shakes his oversize camera at me as I pass, still clueless about who I really am.
“Nice tip about the cast trip to Vancouver,” he snarls.
“Oh, they weren’t there?” I feign innocence. “I must have heard wrong. Gosh, I’m so sorry. I hope you didn’t go out of your way.”
“It was fine,” he grumbles. “I went whale watching. I got some great shots of a humpback.”
“Good for you!” I laugh.
“I just wish I’d been able to bring my granddaughter. She’s down in LA. I’m flying down for her birthday this weekend. But I’ll be back. Don’t you worry.”
“Counting on it.” I wave and head into the diner.
“Orders up!” the cook yells, placing more paper bags in the lineup in the window behind the counter.
“Oh, thank God you came,” a beleaguered Carlos says. “I was ready to ask my wife to come help out.”
“You could still ask her,” I shrug.
“What’s gotten into you, Kenna?” Carlos looks at me. “Does it have anything to do with the potential buyer coming in later?”
“Of course not,” I reassure him, thinking that itiskind of sad that Kenna’s uncles are planning to sell this place. It’s grown on me.
Then I stand on a chair and do the New York cabbie whistle I learned for theMoxie in Manhattanspin-off movie.
“Oi! Everyone. Settle down. The espresso maker is out of order, so drip coffee is on the house this morning, and Carlos will write you an IOU for a free, fancy coffee drink if you were going to order one.”
“Uh … you sure about that, Kenna?” Carlos looks nervously at me, and in the moment, I see how old he is. Gotta be late seventies. Young in spirit, but not so much in the flesh. His hands have a slight tremor, and it’s clear the problems this morning have been a strain for him.
“Don’t worry,” I say, patting him on the back. “I got this.”It’s nothing a large check can’t fix, and Lord knows, I can afford it.
kenna
I fall back asleepafter speaking with Lorelei, but not for long. Georgia’s texts wake me back up.
Disneyland?
Kenna!
Answer me!
Where are you?
I’m here.
Xander said something about you going to Disney, but when I tried to pump him for more, he clammed up. All he’d say is “scary NDA.”
I shoot back a smiley face.
It’s true? Why didn’t you tell me right away?
