Free Your Perfect Life by Liz Fenton Page A

door too.
    Relieved, I turned to John. “Thank you,” I said as I touched his arm.
    He looked surprised at my gesture. “You’re welcome.”
    Rachel cleared her throat next to me. “Ahem.”
    “Sorry,” I whispered to her. And then when we realized the rest of the family was staring at me, I added, “I mean, sorry, you had to see that.”
    “It’s totally fine,” she’d said. “I’m sure she does it all the time .”
    “I hope not,” I said out loud before I could stop myself. Thankfully, everyone started laughing and I joined in, letting them think I was in on the joke.
    • • •
    In the privacy of the den, I finally get the chance to find out how things went for Rachel at GossipTV . “So, tell me every detail about your day.” I try to sound perky, not wanting to give away the fact that I’m terrified she got me fired.
    Rachel bites her bottom lip and stares off for a moment. “I think I did pretty well. Like you said, it was kind of like riding a bike; it just came back to me.”
    I exhale in relief. “I’m happy for you,” I say, although I’m happier for me. That job is all I have and I can’t afford to lose it. “That must have been fun, to get back out there.”
    “It was,” she says slowly. “It reminded me that I used to be good at something other than being a mom.” Before I can comment, she adds, “Charlie seems nice.”
    “He is. You can trust him.” Charlie and I had worked together for years. He was one of the best producers around and one of the few people on the show who I knew had my back. I decide not to mention our history to Rachel. No matter what happened between us, I know he’ll still look out for me, for her.
    “Why have you never mentioned him?” she asks with a look I’ve seen before.
    “Don’t even go there. Just because he’s the one nice guy who works in the studio does not mean he’s the right guy for me.”
    She laughs. “Okay, okay, I get it. So let’s talk about Fiona then. Oh. My. God. She was so mean today. I know you warned me, but I had no idea how bad it really was.”
    “She wants my job. She’s a barracuda. Be very careful with her,” I say, trying not to think that if Rachel can’t pull this off, if she can’t step into my shoes and do a great job, I could lose everything to Fiona. I don’t tell her this, not wanting to put more pressure on her than I already have. Rachel had always been right at home in front of the camera at our broadcasting stationsin high school and college. I prayed that Rachel was right and that it all came back to her today. We were about to find out. I pick up the remote control. “It’s going to start.”
    Rachel doesn’t seem to hear me. “It just seems like a sad way to be, surrounded by people always wanting you to fail,” she says quietly as she play-kisses Charlotte, who was overjoyed to see her when she walked in the door earlier, confusing John, who made a comment that Charlotte sure seemed unusually excited to see Auntie Casey. Not surprising, considering I can’t remember the last time I’d scooped Charlotte up in my arms before the switch. It was much easier for me to focus my attention on Sophie and Audrey than it was to hold a squirming baby who could always sense I was uncomfortable.
    “I’ve never really thought about it like that,” I say, clicking on the TV. “It’s just the way things are in the business. You can’t afford to think about it too much.”
    “I guess not,” Rachel responds, but I can tell that she doesn’t really understand. The theme music for GossipTV starts playing. “So . . . are you ready to see my television debut?” she asks cautiously and I can’t tell if she’s asking herself or me.
    I don’t answer as the opening credits of GossipTV start and I try not to cringe as I see a version of myself give a megawatt smile and start speaking.

CHAPTER 10
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rachel
    The show starts and as my face appears on the screen, I nervously await Casey’s