Page 20 of The Sisters
Violetta groaned. Spencer had said there was no way out of her contract short of her disappearing in a mysterious Bermuda Triangle, and even if she did resurface they would still own the rights to her story. The schedule for filming was rigorous and unrelenting. Adam had fought Jeff over the camera being allowed at the hospital but Jeff had stood firm, much to Violetta's relief.
Telling her sisters was another matter though. Carlotta had avoided her calls for three days and Grace had shrugged and given her the look of disappointment that she had inherited from Birdie.
‘You do that look very well,’ Violetta had said when she met Grace for lunch at the hospital café.
‘I don’t want to make you feel bad, I can tell you regret it Letty, but TV? It’s so base,’ said Grace, turning down her perfectly upturned nose.
‘I know, I know. It seemed so exciting at the time,’ Violetta tried to explain.
‘And who else is participating?’ asked Grace, the word ‘participating’ sounding like the most vile word she had ever uttered.
‘CeCe Porter, Sabrina Russo and Maisie Zefferman have all signed on.’
Grace raised an eyebrow. ‘Them? I’m sorry but they are way out of your league. I know I sound like a snob but they are all new money.’
‘You do sound like a snob,’ said Violetta, tearing apart her bread roll.
‘Well, they are all so gauche. You wouldn’t find the likes of Marina or Aerin doing this in their day,’ Grace said.
‘I know, I know. I consider myself admonished and tarred and feathered once it comes out.’
‘When does it come out?’ asked Grace.
‘That’s the thing. It’s so fast. They shoot one week, edit and then it’s on air the next. Something about trying to keep it current.’
‘Well, how are you going to cope with work? We are supposed to be starting at Pajaro in two days.’
‘Oh, they loved the idea of work. You know, a socialite with a job. Very au current,’ said Violetta, in a flawless French accent.
‘I think reality television is de mode,’ said Grace, in an equally flawless accent.
The sisters laughed at each other and for a moment it felt like they were almost eight years old again.
If Grace forgave her then Carlotta would eventually too, but then again, Grace forgave everyone, thought Violetta.
Now the shooting began and Violetta wanted to curl up in her Hastens bed and wait till they went away but she knew that wasn’t going to happen. Pulling on her sweat pants and an old T-shirt she buzzed them up to her apartment. A cameraman walked in with a young woman with blue glasses and a shaved head and a sound recordist with a microphone on a stick. Violetta held out her hand to them. ‘Hi, Violetta de Santoval.’
‘I’m Lesley, the producer and this is Sam and Todd,’ said the woman with a shaved head, gesturing to her team.
The men stuck out their hands to Violetta and she shook them warmly.
‘So, where are you off to today?’ asked Lesley, opening her notebook. ‘I still haven’t got your schedule.’
Violetta paused. ‘I have to go into work and then I’m on duty to sit with my mom at hospital this afternoon.’
‘Work? Right,’ said Lesley, writing it down. ‘Where do you work?’
‘My family’s company – Pajaro,’ answered Violetta, feeling strange saying it.
‘Great, but I understand we can’t shoot you at the hospital.’
‘That’s right,’ said Violetta, suddenly feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for Jeff.
‘But we can shoot you at the front of the hospital,’ said Lesley, checking her notes.
‘Really? Do you have to?’ asked Violetta.
‘Sorry, Adam’s orders,’ shrugged Lesley, making an apologetic face at Violetta.
