Part 16 (1/2)

”Good point,” Rhiannon adds.

”How do you know what's right or wrong for me?” Eliza challenges.

”I guess I don't,” I admit. ”But you seem unhappy to me. And that makes me wonder if you're heading the wrong way.”

”So you're saying that the things I want are wrong?” Eliza points to Paige now. ”I mean, you get to be the star of your own show.” She points to Taylor. ”And you're turning out to be a supermodel.” She points to Rhiannon. ”You're getting to design like you wanted.” Then she points to DJ and just frowns. ”You don't even try and you always seem to land on top.”

”That's not true,” DJ tells her.

”But no matter what I do or how hard I work, I'm always getting beat out by someone else. It's just not fair.”

”Maybe G.o.d is trying to tell you something,” DJ says quietly.

Eliza just rolls her eyes. ”Here comes the sermon.”

”Maybe you should listen to the sermon,” Taylor tells her. ”It might answer some of your questions.”

”Because you're living an Eliza-directed life,” DJ points out. ”And you're going after what Eliza wants without any regard for what G.o.d might have for you.”

”And what G.o.d has for you is so much more,” Rhiannon adds.

”I agree,” I say cautiously. ”I'm trying to live a G.o.d-directed life too. And I'm not saying I do everything right, because I definitely don't. But I try to trust G.o.d and I pray for him to show me what's best for me. And, right now, I'm getting to do this TV show with Paige-which by the way, wasn't something that I originally wanted to do. But the more I do it, the more I realize that G.o.d wants me to be with my sister...to help her in whatever way I can.”

Paige gives me a tolerant smile. ”I'm sure G.o.d knows just how desperately I need your help too.”

”But I'm not the star of the show,” I say to Eliza, ”and that's just fine with me. I wouldn't even want to be the star. For me it's more fun helping someone else to s.h.i.+ne.”

Rhiannon nods. ”That's how I feel too. I mean, I love to design, but the really cool part is watching someone else wearing the clothes I made. Not everyone can be the star. At least not all the time.”

”But I want want to be the star!” Eliza insists. ”Why is that wrong?” to be the star!” Eliza insists. ”Why is that wrong?”

”Maybe G.o.d doesn't want you to be the star,” I suggest. ”Maybe he has a different, better kind of plan for your life.”

”But how will you know if you don't ask him?” DJ adds.

We talk about this for about an hour and although Eliza can't seem to let go of wanting stardom, I think maybe she's considering what we're trying to tell her. And I think maybe Paige is too. Because in some ways, Paige and Eliza are similar, except that I think Paige's motivation is about more than just being a star. She genuinely loves what she's doing. And I'm guessing that's why it's working for her.

Chapter 17.

On Monday, we return to Taylor and Eliza's apartment in time to see them getting up in the morning and having breakfast, although Eliza barely eats and Paige makes a comment about it, which makes Eliza mad. Then after they're dressed and ready for the day, we head out, tagging along as they go to the modeling agency. Eliza's apartment in time to see them getting up in the morning and having breakfast, although Eliza barely eats and Paige makes a comment about it, which makes Eliza mad. Then after they're dressed and ready for the day, we head out, tagging along as they go to the modeling agency.

”I know it's more than your typical day,” Fran tells them as we ride in the town car, ”but viewers will appreciate seeing the inner workings like this.” So we do some filming at the agency and Taylor and Eliza pick up their go-see information. And then we follow them to their appointments, both for print ads. Taylor gets a callback, but Eliza is still waiting. And she seems to be smoldering a bit. Something about her att.i.tude reminds me of my best friend...or my ex best friend. I'm not really sure anymore. But after our workday is done, I decide to give Mollie a call.

She doesn't answer and, as usual, I get her voicemail. ”Hi, Mollie,” I say as cheerfully as I can. ”I hope you're over the flu now. I was just thinking of you and missing you and wanted to say hey. I'll be home by Wednesday and maybe we can get together. Later.”

As I close my phone, I wonder if we really will get together. And if we do, will Mollie continue with her chilly jealousy act, or can we make an attempt to just be honest and talk about this?

Then I get what I think might be a good idea. Remembering Blake's invitation to go out on Valentine's Day, I wonder if we could go on a double date with Mollie and Tony-just like we used to do. So I call Blake and tell him about it.

”Let me guess...you're worried that things will get too serious if it's just you and me alone, right?” he asks in a teasing tone.

I just laugh. ”No, that's not it. I'm just feeling like Mollie and I are growing apart. And I don't want that. Besides, remember how much fun we used to have going out with them together? I miss that.”

”Yeah, it does sound good. I'll call Tony and see what he thinks. And now, tell me, how was the slumber party?”

”Fortunately, it was a tiny bit more mature than middle school. Although one of the girls, Eliza Wilton, is kind of the jealous type. At first she seemed to set her sights on Paige, but I think she's mostly jealous of Taylor.” Then I tell him about our plan to go to Couture Couture tomorrow. ”It sounds like Eliza wants to come too, but I think that's only going to make things worse. She's got this att.i.tude-and it's weird because she's really pretty and her parents are like billionaires, but she's got this obsession with being a star, and I honestly don't think she's got the right stuff.” tomorrow. ”It sounds like Eliza wants to come too, but I think that's only going to make things worse. She's got this att.i.tude-and it's weird because she's really pretty and her parents are like billionaires, but she's got this obsession with being a star, and I honestly don't think she's got the right stuff.”

”Maybe she can buy her way to stardom.”

”Maybe.” We talk awhile longer and I suddenly realize that I'm homesick. I miss Blake and Mollie and my mom. So I give Mom a call too, and she sounds like she misses us even more than we miss her.

”It's really given me a taste of empty nest syndrome,” she admits. ”And I'm not sure I like it.”

”Well, it's not like we've moved out, Mom,” I remind her.

”But it is just a matter of time...one day you will.”

”Not any time soon.”

”No, of course, there's no hurry. But I should tell you what I already told Paige.”

”What?” Suddenly I'm alarmed. Surely Mom's not going to make us move out.

”Well...Jon and I...it's getting more serious. I just thought you should know, Erin.”

”You're not running off to Vegas to get married, are you?”

She laughs. ”Oh, it's not that serious. Not yet anyway. And definitely not to Vegas. We wouldn't do it like that.”

”But you're actually thinking of marriage?” I feel stunned.

”It's hard not to think think about it, Erin. Jon is a wonderful guy. And, for the first time since losing your dad, well, I feel happier than I ever thought possible.” about it, Erin. Jon is a wonderful guy. And, for the first time since losing your dad, well, I feel happier than I ever thought possible.”

I try to absorb this. My mom is falling in love?

”I don't want you to worry, honey. I just want you to be on the same page as Paige.” She chuckles at her little play on words.

”Thanks...I appreciate it.”

”And I know you'll be happy for me if Jon and I take our relations.h.i.+p to the next level.”

”Sure.” I try to sound convincing. ”Of course.”