Free Hollywood Confessions by Gemma Halliday Page A

firm shake. “Allie Quick.”
    “ The girls are in the rehearsal room. I’ll lead you to them,” she said, turning crisply on her ballet flats and leading the way into the dozen’s castle.
    I stifled an impressed whistle as I walked through the doors. The castle theme continued here as rich oriental rungs covered marble floors, a large crystal chandelier hung from the coffered ceiling, and the walls were covered in wainscoting below flocked wallpaper. It felt more like a museum than a home full of rambunctious little girls (And if you didn’t think beauty queen girls were rambunctious, I dared you to watch episode twenty seven where Dori pulled out a chunk of Dolly’s hair over a pink sparkly tutu. These girls were serious about their bling.).
    “ Are the girls’ parents available?” I asked, following Nanny McGregor down a long hallway flanked by display cases. Each was filled with trophies, sparkling crowns and satin sashes—the fruits of their pageant wins.
    “ I’m sorry, did you need them present for the rehearsal?” Nanny asked.
    “ Uh, well, it would be helpful to speak with them about what they expect from the girls.”
    “ I can tell you everything you need to know.”
    “ Hmm. You know, I’d really rather speak with their parents. I, uh, may need them to fill out some liability forms,” I lied.
    “ I’m sorry,” Nanny said, shaking her head. “Neither Don nor Deb is available.”
    “ They’re not here?” I asked, my hopes sinking.
    “ Don is meeting with their publicist downtown, and Deb is just finishing up her book tour.”
    I nodded. Deb had written a how-to book on juggling parenting and pageants, which had quickly catapulted her to bestseller status. I heard her signing in Alabama had a line of housewives around the block.
    Which was good for her, but not so hot for my interviewing plans. On the other hand…
    I looked at Nanny McGregor. Sometimes the help knew more about what went on in a household than the owners. I had a feeling if anyone knew Don and Deb’s secrets, she did.
    I followed her down a flight of stairs to what might have been a basement at one time, but had been converted into something akin to a dance studio. One tall mirror covered the back wall, the floors were covered in polished hardwood, and an iPod dock sat in the corner, featuring speakers half the size of my entire apartment. Along the back wall were all manner of wooden props— including a giant yellow sunflower, a mini convertible car, and a pair of lollipops twice the size of my head.
    Three of the girls stood in the middle of the floor, practicing posing in the mirror. All were identical, save for a pair of pink ribbons tied in Girl Number Three’s blond bob. They did kissy faces, “queen” waves and booty shakes at their reflections. In front of them a line of dolls had been set up, each one with a paper nametag pinned to its shirt. A Bratz doll was “Jax”, a Cabbage Patch with a lopsided haircut “Eden” and a Barbie missing one shoe “Kristen.”
    Pink Ribbons Girl must have seen me staring at them as she explained, “They’re the judges in the Pretty Little Miss pageant next weekend. We’re practicing impressing them.”
    “ Ah.” I nodded.
    “ Kristen is from the south, so she likes lots of glam,” she explained, pointing to Barbie. “Eden is tough on talent and Jax…” She rolled her little blue eyes. “She’s the wild card. If she’s in a good mood, she can be your best friend. But when she’s PMSing, honey, look out.” She did another exaggerated eye roll.
    I stifled a grin. The little girl had to be all of five.
    “ Girls,” Nanny McGregor said, clapping her hands to rally attention. “This is Miss Quick. She’s Donna, Deirdre and Daisy’s new coach.”
    Pink Ribbons pouted. “I wanna new coach too.”
    “ You’re fine with Miss Jamie.”
    “ But I wanna new one!” She stamped her foot, pursing her lips up so her cheeks pooched out like a chipmunk’s.
    “ If