Page 51 of The Prince's Game
After two weeks in Jamaica, we were down to three girls and switching locations again. Evan warned me about the next phase this time, giving me a chance to hide my phone before my bags were packed by the show’s staff. The three of us were headed home to introduce the prince to our families. For me, that meant a trip to Indiana.
My mom met Brenda, the makeup artist, and me at the airport with a hug and several kisses, praising me in a mixture of Spanish and English. “It’s about time you came home to see yourmamá, Sarah.”
“I was just home for Christmas,Mamá.”
“Pssh, that was monthsago.”My mom was a gorgeous woman, measuring five foot two with all-natural curves. With her tan skin, long dark hair, and brown eyes, she resembled an older sister more than my mother. She was nearing fifty but didn’t look a day over forty. “And who is this?”
“Brenda Kroger, meet Estrella Summers. Mom, this is Brenda, my babysitter. The show sent her along to watch me and make sure I don’t contact the media.”
“Actually, I volunteered for the part.” Brenda smiled. “They asked who wanted to go to Indiana and I said, ‘Why not?’?”
“I hope you like corn,” I muttered. Because Indiana was full of it.
My mom’s foot tapped in irritation. Not a good sign. “You have a lot of explaining to do, Sarah. In the car.”
“Uh, actually we need to get the rental . . .” Brenda trailed off at my mother’s raised eyebrow. “Right, your car is just fine.” She leaned in to whisper, “Your mom is terrifying.”
I grinned. “Yeah, she’s amazing.” We left our bags for the other crew members who followed us to Indiana, and followed my mom to the car. I was staying in a Mershano hotel downtown with the RNW staff, but my mother insisted on picking me up at the airport, and Brenda offered to tag along. She was my volunteer shadow.
Evan and his parents would be here in four days. They were headed to Virginia to meet with Tiffany’s family first, and then they were going to Charleston for Amber. That gave me plenty of time to bring my mother up to speed.
“Is this Bob’s car?” It was not her blue sedan but a sporty, red death trap. The flashy paint was too much for my sister, leaving my mother’s boyfriend as the likely candidate for ownership.
“Sí, mine is in the shop again.”
I sat in the front bucket seat, while Brenda took over the back. “Maybe it’s time you get a new one, Mom.”
“You say that every time you visit,mi tesoro.”
“Sí, porque es viejo.” The car was twelve years old and falling apart. She needed a new one.
“Hush.” She went on a rant in Spanish that had Brenda’s eyebrows hitting her brown hairline and me laughing.
“Te amo, Mamá.”
“Sí, sí.” She waved a hand and focused on her steering. Driving through Indianapolis was different than driving around my hometown of Fishers. “Now tell me about this reality show and why there’s a cleaning crew in my house. Because you know how I feel about strangers in the home, Sarah. Your papa is not going to approve.”
I grinned. She believed my dad’s ghost haunted the house I grew up in, which was why she never moved. He was her one true love, and she refused to remarry. Bob and her previous boyfriends were just men she used to keep her company and pass the time until she could be reunited with my dad again.
“You didn’t tell your mom about the show?” Brenda sounded incredulous. “Where does everyone think you’ve been?”
“Working,” my mom replied for me. “Apparently, it’s not true according to the man who called last night. Start explaining,niña.”
My shoulders fell. It was going to be a long afternoon. “Mamá, I’m on a reality show calledThe Prince’s Game. Evan and his family are coming over in a few days to meet you, and it’s going to be on television.”
“What is the game? What do you win?”
“I really wish Paul was here for this. He would be losing it.” Brenda’s backseat commentary wasn’t helpful.
“I win a husband, I guess.” I cringed at how stupid that sounded. “Have you heard of Mershano Suites?”
“Sí, por supuesto.”Yes, of course.
“Evan is a Mershano. He’s sort of the heir to the empire, and he’s looking for a wife.” Not exactly true, but I couldn’t admit that with Brenda in the backseat. “So . . .” I cleared my throat, continuing. “I’m one of the, uh, contestants, and I’m sort of in the top three.”
“It’s a dating show?” She looked ready to crash the car.
“Uh, yeah, where thirty women try to win the prince’s heart.”
