“I just can’t believe it,” AJ sighed to his mother. “It’s… it’s…”

“It’s a bad idea,” she finished. “Sweetheart, I did the whole pageant thing when I was younger. I got out okay, but I’ve seen what these things do to girls. I don’t want that to happen to my granddaughters.”

“It doesn’t seem to be affecting them much,” Tiffani remarked. “I mean, Leah is still climbing trees and playing hopscotch and jumping rope and all those other normal things kids do. She hasn’t started dressing in skimpy clothes or tried borrowing my makeup.”

“And your other two?” Mrs. Desjardin asked.

“Jane? Well, she’s… she was into the whole fashion thing well before this, and as for Eva… well, she’s still more interested in books and science than clothes and makeup.”

“I’m just worried. Not just me, but your sister, AJ. She’s the one who told me about this in the first place.”

“She’s always been kind of worried about the state of the world, though,” Tiffani interrupted. “No offense, but sometimes I think she’s always on the lookout for material for that next prize-winning article or book.”

“She does care about your kids, though,” Mrs. Desjardin responded firmly. “Please, just… don’t make this a regular thing. I’ve always thought--”

Just then, the doorbell rang. AJ and Tiffani exchanged looks of concern, and Tiffani rose to answer the door. She peered through the small peephole, then hissed at her husband, “It’s my mom. What should I do?”


“Tiffani Michelle Royale, you will let me in,” Elizabeth Royale declared through the door. “I know you’re in; all of the cars are in the driveway.”

“I’m married, you know; next time, remember the ‘Desjardin.’ And besides, we’ve got company,” Tiffani yelled back.

“Yes, me. Now, let me in.”

“My mother-in-law, also.”

“All the more reason to let me in.”

Madeline Desjardin sighed, then said to Tiffani, “Let her in. It’ll shut her up.”

“No, it won’t,” AJ muttered.

“Well, at least your neighbors won’t be subjected to her yelling.”

“Good point,” Tiffani agreed, opening the door.

Elizabeth Royale was not aging gracefully. Her hair was gaudily dyed, her skin showed signs of plastic surgery in abundance, and she was dressed in a ridiculously young manner. In comparison, Madeline looked quite tasteful and mature.

“Elizabeth,” she greeted the arrival.

“Maddy,” came the smirking response. Then, to Tiffani, she said, “So, I hear from your sisters that the girls are going to be in a pageant. That’s great.”

“You would think so. However, have you considered that perhaps the girls aren’t cut out for that type of lifestyle?” Mrs. Desjardin interjected.

“Of course they are. But then again, not everyone is cut out for that sort of thing, are they, dear?”

“I remember a certain beauty queen, back in my day, who found herself with a bun in the oven and had to leave the state, forfeiting her place. Funny, I wonder what happened to her.”

Mrs. Royale scowled and snapped, “You know good and well what happened to her.”

“Oh, right, that was you. I had nearly forgotten.”


“That’s enough from you. Tiffani, I am prepared to offer money to help fund the girls’ pageant careers, if need be. Just because I failed with you and Emma doesn’t mean that my granddaughters have to go the same route.”

“Failed? How in the world do you think you’ve failed us?” Tiffani snapped.

“Well, what with you marrying that Desjardin boy, and your sister running around with that weird boy from the fashion industry--”

“--Look, first of all, AJ is a good person. He takes good care of all of us. And Nathaniel Foley is one of the smartest and nicest people I’ve ever met. Emma’s lucky to have him. Tell me, Mom, if they ever get married, are you going to more or less disown her the way you did with me?”

“That was for your own good. I couldn’t have the family name tarnished--”

“--Tarnished? For my own good? It looks like the only one you were looking out for was yourself. Get out!” Tiffani shouted. “Out!”

Mrs. Royale glared at her daughter. “This is precisely why I want so little to do with you now.”

“The feeling is mutual, believe me,” AJ spoke up.

Mrs. Royale stormed out. Mrs. Desjardin followed her out and said, “Look, leave them alone. We’ve both made our mistakes in life, but that doesn’t mean taking it out on the kids.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Elizabeth snapped. “Oh, and say hi to George for me.”