Red lights illuminated on several cameras.
Think Katherine. Think. “You must be unaware of the paralyzing affect you have on people, Mr. Parkinson.” What a stupid thing to say. So insensitive.
He smiled and walked toward her. “I’m just as in awe of you, as you seem to be of me, Ms. Flannery.” He held out his hands. “My wife has not only given me permission to greet you warmly, but directed me to do so.” Parky squeezed her shoulders and kissed each cheek. “We just might be your greatest fans.”
Katherine shook her head in disbelief. “Just when I thought life couldn’t get more surreal… I’m completely humbled, Mr Parkinson. Thank you for having me.”
“Please, call me Parky. Come, sit down.” He gestured toward a staged lounge area. Walking together, he continued as the cameras followed them. “I have about a million questions for you— mostly from your readers— and only a few thousand or so of mine. If you had the time, I’d keep you here the better part of the day.”
Katherine tried to ignore the cameras, but wondered how she’d look on TV. No one her age should be seen in High Definition, especially with the size of the big screens available today. Vanity, thy name is woman.
Parky waited until Katherine was seated before sitting himself. He waved over a different PA and then addressed Katherine. “As you know, we’re not live and you’ll have final approval on what is aired.”
The PA approached. “How can I help, Mr. Parkinson?”
“Hot tea for me, and Ms. Flannery will have…”
“I don’t suppose you have a Diet Soda?”
“ Not a bother,” The PA said, “I’ll have to put in in a coffee mug, if that’s alright. Wouldn’t want to upset any of the advertisers.”
“No problem.” Katherine looked around the set; tried to focus on her manger. But, the secrets of the people around her kept jumping to the fore: one of the camera men thinks his wife is having an affair. She is. With his sister. The mother of PA she ran past is dying of pancreatic cancer. She’ll lose the battle before Halloween. The young woman who fitted her with the microphone wants to have a baby. She’ll have to adopt— later. With a different man. Chlamydia damaged her reproductive system, and her boyfriend knew he was infected when they started having relations.
The PA returned with their drinks. “Anything else I can do for either of you?” He put the mugs down on a table between them.
Katherine shook her head, then thought better of it. “Just one thing…I’d like to speak with Lydia when we’re done here, if it’s convenient for her.”