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“Oh. No wonder you’re so excited. I was just here three months ago for a pediatric influenza conference. I’m here all the time. This is not the neighborhood I would stay in, if I had my choice, of course.”
“How do you find your way around? I don’t imagine you speak French. I do, you know. Since I’m Canadian,” said Alanna.
“Yes, I noticed you speaking it at the airport. It was a shame the man working there looked so confused and cut you off and started speaking to you in English. I’m sure he was just a little confused by your Canadian accent,” said Vanessa.
“He understood me perfectly. French is not my second language. I have two first languages. A concept you people from the States can’t comprehend. Don’t feel bad; it’s just a cultural difference. I think what happened with that guy at the airport is that he wanted a chance to practice his English. These Europeans are always trying to practice their English.”
“I know that,” said Vanessa. “Like I said, I’m here all the time.”
“Ta da!” said Deb, already dressed in the bathrobe. It billowed out over an old brown leather belt. Cowboy boots were on her feet. Her hair was in a side ponytail tied with a leather cord. She was carrying a brown bag that looked like it was from Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman. “How do I look?”
“Oh, Debbie,” said Alanna. “You’re a vision.”
“I told you guys that I know fashion! Vanessa, can I borrow that magazine?”
“Go for it,” said Vanessa, tossing it to her.
Deb sniffed through it, finally settling on a perfume sample on a pure white page. “Ooh, plain white. Boldly simple, like a snow princess,” she said.
“Those samples are full of carcinogens,” said Alanna. “That means they cause cancer.”
“That’s not true. They don’t really cause cancer,” said Vanessa.
“Even if it is the truth, I don’t care right now,” said Deb. “This date is way too important to worry about catching cancer.” She rubbed the page up and down her wrists. “This smells subtle, like how I want to be. It smells like a Parisian lady. A Parisian snow lady!” She rubbed it on her neck until her skin was flaming pink.
“I think that’s enough,” I told her.
“Today’s the day I’m going to tell him my secret,” she whispered, tossing the spent
page to the floor.
“What secret?” asked Vanessa.
“Well, I’m not sure I want to tell you guys before I tell him…”
“You can tell us, Debbie,” said Alanna.
“Great. Now I’m itchy. An itchy snow princess. Darn it! Am I still pink? Never mind, it will fade,” she said, examining her reflection in the cloudy antique mirror hanging on the wall.
“Debbie, tell us your secret,” Alanna pressed on.
“It’s really not that big of a deal. Have you guys told him your secrets yet?” asked Deb.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Before we came on here they said that it is good to share something big, like a big secret, with Bellamy. To open up to him, and to help us get bonded together. Didn’t they tell you this? Didn’t you guys prepare a secret?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Vanessa.
“I’m pretty sure this conversation happened,” said Deb. “Yeah, for sure, I remember it. We’re definitely supposed to have a secret. The producers told me this way back during interviews.”
“They never told me that,” I said.
“Come on you guys,” said Deb. “We’re all supposed to have a secret we unload on him. It’s supposed to help love grow. You guys better come up with one if you want him to fall in love with you.”
“We will,” said Alanna. “So tell us yours, Debbie.”
“Ugh. I’m not sure.”
