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“Hey, baby, can I see that for a second?” I ask Nora, taking the magazine out of her hands and opening it up. I scan the table of contents, find the page number for the article, and stop in my tracks.
Skimming the page, I keep mentally processing the name Penelope Maxwell.
Maxwell hasn’t been seen in two weeks, since the news of her fiancé Drew Henry’s affair. Penelope hasn’t posted on social media, and most recently, her ex-fiancé is newly engaged. Now, we know that Maxwell is hiding out in a small Vermont town.
When will she return to New York City?
My heart stops.
I don’t understand. This must be some kind of mix-up. Has she been lying to me this whole time?
“Dad, I want to be in a magazine too!” Nora says, taking the tabloid back from my hands and admiring the photos of Penelope.
In some of them, I barely recognize her. The woman I know is down-to-earth, naturally beautiful, and wears a smile that lights up any room she walks into.
The woman in these photos has more makeup on than I knew existed, clothes that show off more skin than not, and a smile that doesn’t even show her teeth.
All of a sudden, moments come crashing into my mind. That first day at the diner, Sally said she thought she recognized her from somewhere. And at the bar last night, Penelope had seemed unsure in the crowd, especially when everyone was staring at her. Even Dom and Sally thought she looked like someone famous. I can’t believe she doesn’t just look like that actress, sheisthe actress. Did other people know she was a famous actress? I’m guessing someone recognized her. That must be how this trashy tabloid knows where she is.
I’m the biggest idiot. Here I am, thinking I’ve met someone special, someone who I really like and who my daughter adores. But the whole time, she’s been keeping a huge secret.
Would I have cared that she’s famous? Maybe at first, but not once I got to know her.
To me, she’s just Penelope. I don’t care what her last name is or what she does for work. But tolieabout it? Even after we got close?ThatI’m not okay with.
I grab two more magazines off the rack and add them to my cart. My head is spinning, and I need to figure out what’s going on. Wiping my sweaty palms on my pants, I try to act as normal as possible, so Nora doesn’t realize something is amiss.
There’s still two people in line before us. One of them is Miss Emily and I know she likes to chat, so it’ll be a while. I take out my phone and send a text to Dominick. I need his help to make sense of what I am seeing.
Me: You home?
Dom: Yeah man, just doing some work in the office. What’s up?
Me: Mind if me and Nora stop by? I need to talk to you.
Dom: Sure. I’ll make some coffee and a grilled cheese for the kid. When will you be here?
Me: We’re in line at the grocery store then coming over… that cool?
Dom: See you then
“Hey Nora, wanna stop by Uncle D’s before we go home? He said he’ll make you a grilled cheese sandwich.”
“Yummm. Uncle D is the best,” she says with a huge smile on her face.
“Hey, I thought you said I was the best,” I tease.
“Ummm, you both are, duh.” She makes me laugh even when I don’t want to, like in this moment.
If Miss Emily could hurry up, that’d be great. I need to get out of here and talk this out.
Finally, after what feels like forever, the line starts moving and we unpack the cart onto the belt. I hope I can pay for the tabloids without anyone noticing.
“Hey Mr. Harrison, hi Nora, long time no see,” the young kid at the register says. I recognize him from here at the store. “Doing some tabloid reading, Mr. Harrison?”
Of course he noticedandasked.
“Yeah, sometimes these magazines suck you in when you’re standing there waiting,” I say.
