The Bad Twin (2 page)

***

She threw the magazine on the counter feeling disgusted. “David! David! Can you believe the trash Violet said about me in this article?”

David’s eyes shot up from reading the paper with a look of disgust on his face. “Rose, what did you expect?”

Rose stood with her hands on her hip and a frown on her face. “You always take up for her. I should have known you wouldn’t understand. Your perfect little Violet mentioned your name in her interview. Now what do you think of her now?”

David continued to read the newspaper. He didn’t look up as he responded, “Whatever Violet said is more than likely the truth. I accept it, and so should you.”

Rose couldn’t stand it. “Can you try to show sympathy for me once in your life?”

David put the paper down and stood face to face with Rose. “I have all the sympathy in the world, but for Violet.” He walked around Rose and out the door.

Rose yelled, “David! Don’t walk away from me. You always do this. Why do you even stay?”

David didn’t come back. Rose sat down at the kitchen table feeling empty. She picked up the article again and began to fume over what Violet had revealed.  Instead of facing the truth and consequences of her previous actions, she decided to lash out at Violet. She picked up the phone and dialed her number. Violet’s answering machine picked up on the third ring. “Violet. I know you’re there. Pick up the phone. Okay. Now you want to play the disappearing game. Well, I got the little article you did. If my reputation is ruined because of what you said, you will have hell to pay.  How could you do this to me?” 

The answering machine clicked off, but Rose called right back. “I don’t appreciate your answering machine hanging up on me either. You need to get with the program and get voice mail, like the rest of us.  Call me as soon as you get this message.” Rose slammed the phone down.

“How in the world could she do this to me! She knows how hard I’ve worked to maintain my image. She has me over here stressing.  I need a massage or something. I feel a migraine coming on.”

VIOLET

Rose had the nerve to call and leave me a nasty message. Now she knows how it feels to be betrayed by someone who supposedly loves you. Do I regret revealing our issues to the reporter? Maybe. I probably should have kept some of the information to myself, but I feel so much better. It was like years of frustration were released when I gave the interview.

In her message, she mentioned she would make me pay for what I said. She must have forgotten about the years of heartache she caused me. I only spoke the truth, but I can’t say that about her. She’s lied on me, to me, and about me, all of our lives.

I sat down to read the article after receiving her message. The interviewer was careful with her words, to avoid slander charges. Her chosen title impressed me and now I have a new theme song, “Roses are Thorns, Violets are True.”

***

Violet’s phone rang. Her mom’s number flashed across on the caller ID so she answered.
“Hi Mom.” Violet sat on the bed prepared for a long lecture about keeping family business within the family.

“I was calling to see how one of my favorite girls was doing. If you called me or came down to Louisiana to see me more often, I wouldn’t have to wonder.”

“Mom. I’m doing fine as usual. Don’t worry about me,” Violet responded.

Pearle updated Violet on what was going on in Shreveport. Before they finished talking, Pearle’s phone beeped. “Hold on dear.”

Violet held on and wondered why Pearle was taking so long. She stretched out across the bed and waited. If it had been anyone else on the phone, other than her mama, she would have hung up five minutes before.  She hated being put on hold for long periods of time. She had few pet peeves, but this was one of them.  She started to doze off, when she heard Pearle yelling, “Violet! How could you?”

Violet sat up fully prepared for the backlash. “Mom.  I was told the interview was her idea in the first place.” She continued on, playing the dumb role, and said, “I assumed she would want me to tell the truth.”

Pearle scolded her to a point where she felt regret for doing the interview. “Violet, I expect that type of behavior from Rose, but never from you. You have always been the sensible one. You were wrong dear and you should apologize to your sister.”

Violet began to feel numb. “Whatever you say Mom.”

“Violet don’t get smart with me. When will you girls start acting like sisters?”

Violet not wanting to tell Pearle off, tried to end the conversation. “I think I hear someone at my front door. Mom, love you. Got to go.”  She hung the phone up and continued to lie across her bed.

***

My mom knows how to make me feel like a little girl. She has me feeling bad for what I said.  She’s probably right, but I don’t feel like being the sensible twin right now.

ROSE

Shortly after Noir Magazine’s
Sisters in Hollywood
issue hit the stands, Rose’s phone constantly rang off the hook. David was tired of the phone calls and decided to check into a hotel so he could get some peace and quiet. Rose allowed all of her calls to be picked up by her voice mail and Tina, her personal assistant, spent many hours clearing out the messages.

Tina stated, “Rose, I think you need to call your agent.  Carmen has left at least ten messages.”

Rose, carrying a frozen raspberry margarita in one hand, and her cell phone in the other, went out on her patio and looked out towards the ocean.  This was the one place she felt relaxed. She purchased the house because of its location and the ocean with its clear, blue-green water, rushing up to the sandy shore provided a breath-taking view.  There was something calming about the tranquil waters. Being in the limelight was beginning to stress her out more and more. She took a sip from her margarita, sat in her reclining patio chair, leaned back and made her dreaded phone call.

Her agent, Carmen Karo, had been very supportive and took a chance on her when no one else would. Carmen picked up on the first ring. “Rose, dear, why are you just now returning my calls? I’ve been calling you all week.”

Rose knew she was in for a lecture.  She continued to sip on her drink and listened. “Are you through?”

Carmen sounding displeased with Rose’s attitude asked, “Rose. How am I supposed to beat off the press hounds, when my own client won’t return my calls?”

“Okay. You’re right. I’m sorry. I thought if I didn’t do anything, this thing would blow over soon.”

“I have all of the major television stations and print magazines calling me; and let’s not forget about all the tabloids. I am bombarded. This thing is not going away.” Without giving Rose a chance to respond, Carmen continued. “I got a phone call about the role you wanted.”

Hearing those words sent a feeling of excitement through Rose.  “Really so when do we start filming?”

“Hold on. I said I got a phone call. It’s not good news. Your image is being questioned now and the producer wants someone with a little less drama going on in her life.”

Rose sat straight up and said, “What does my personal life have to do with portraying a character in a movie? Not one thing. That’s bull.”

Carmen in her calming voice said, “I know. You know how they can be. It’s not fair, but it’s their choice.”

Rose was never one to show weakness. She was livid. “So what’s next? Am I supposed to just sit here and not do anything?”

“I have a couple of things in the works for you. Right now, we need to do some damage control. I’ve setup an interview with one of Noir magazine’s competitors.”

“Who?”

“Channel Magazine. One of the editors and I have known each other for years. She’s setting up an interview with one of her best writers.”

Rose took the last sip of her margarita. “Carmen, whatever you feel is best. I trust your judgment. Just let me know when. And Carmen.”

“Yes.”

“Thanks for everything.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

Rose, not usually sentimental, said, “You know sometimes I feel like you’re more like a friend. You know more about me and spend more time talking to me than anyone.”

“Well you’re not so bad yourself. Rose, dear, I got to go. Turn your cell phone on. I’ll call you when I hear something. Stay strong.”

When the call ended, Rose decided to go for a stroll along the beach. The hypnotizing sound of the waves was calling her to the ocean.

***

The walk is exactly what I needed to clear my head.  My phone keeps ringing off the hook. Everybody has called me, except the one who started all of this.  I really wanted the role in the movie The Future Mrs. Wallingford.  I’ve always loved the story and it was a dream come true to be considered for the part and now because of her, I didn’t get it. I might need to pay my sister a visit.
Violet you can avoid me, but you can’t hide forever.

***

Rose took less than thirty minutes to change into one of her many designer outfits. Today she opted to wear a short black denim skirt and matching silk blouse with a frilly collar. Instead of her signature pumps, she wore a pair of flat black sandals with a golden buckle across the toe.  She had no plans on stopping anywhere but Violet’s place, but she could not be seen in public looking any kind of way.

VIOLET

Violet got home just in time to catch her favorite game show.  She loved to answer the questions along with the contestants.  If it weren’t for the fact she and Rose looked exactly alike, she would have gone on one of them a long time ago.  As soon as the last commercial played, she heard a knock at her door.

She wasn’t expecting anyone, so when she looked through the peephole, she was surprised to see her own reflection staring back. In a hurry, she fixed her clothes and smoothed stray hairs along her ponytail, because being around Rose always made her feel less beautiful.

“Hi. Rose. What brings you out this way?” she asked.

Rose sashayed right past Violet into her living room. “I can’t stop by to check on my only sister?”

Violet riled that Rose was violating her space, responded, “We both know this is no social visit. So please get straight to the point.”

“Yes, I missed you too and yes, I think I will have a glass of wine.”

Violet stood there with her hands on her hips. “You’ll never change. How are you going to come into my house and demand I serve you? B-, I mean Rose.” She held one of her hands up in the air as she said, “See you almost made me call you out of your name.”

Rose looked at Violet over the rim of her shades. “I am a guest, so why don’t you be the gracious hostess I know you can be.”

Violet tried not to lose her temper. She smiled and responded, “Rose darling, have a seat and I’ll be right back.”

Violet stormed into the kitchen. She took two clear glasses out of the cabinet, one trimmed with gold, the other plain.  She put the glasses and the wine on a tray and poured some wine in each glass.
Let me take these drinks out there. Because the sooner I see what she wants, the sooner I can get the heifer out of my house.
A thought crossed her mind and she thought about Rose’s attitude since entering her home, so she kindly bent down and spit in the gold trimmed glass. She got a spoon and stirred it up, so it wouldn’t be noticeable and with a plastered smile on her face, she went back to the living room.  

ROSE

My dear sweet sister has a backbone. I was wondering when she was going to start using it.  If I weren’t reaping the repercussions of her tongue, I would applaud her.  She must be making more money than I thought. I didn’t know working at a community center would provide the type of income to support such lavish things.  Hmm. Impressive, these are nice Oriental and Egyptian artifacts. I better stop picking up her stuff; the last thing I want to do is break one of her precious pieces.  Now where is she with my wine?