Rolo's dad has changed into trousers and a smart long-sleeved top; he stands to carve the turkey and grabs his glass of wine.
"I would like to say happy Thanks Giving to you all. It's lovely to see a full table and I personally am thankful on this day ... that I managed to get out of the cooking." He gives his wife a cheeky grin before raising his glass.
There is a chorus of laughter and shouts of 'cheers!' as we share in his toast.
The chatting and laughing continue all through dinner but I can see Izzy has sneaked her phone under the table and is taking frequent peeks to read something and comment whilst trying to keep her eyes above the table. I look and her and wink when she gazes up for the third time to check no one has twigged. She smiles and places a finger over her lips. The chatter continues until dessert when I see Izzy's face change. Her eyes widen and her mouth drops before she catches herself and looks up. I look at her and quietly ask if she's okay.
She nods. I can see she is concerned about something so I excuse myself from the table hoping she will follow.
"I'll show you where the bathroom is," Izzy says pushing her chair away from the table too.
I wait for her in the hallway and she points upstairs so I follow her to her bedroom.
"Are you alright, Izzy? I noticed you look a little worried about something."
"I was telling my friends on Twitter about you having dinner with us; don't worry I didn't say anything about Ethan, Rolo said I had to ask him first, anyway one of my friends sent me this link." Izzy holds her phone up to show me an article on Celebrity Goss e-zine; the follow up of last weeks article about Tiger Training but this time the claws are aimed at me. I begin reading:
Who is Wanda Mikos; celebrity trainer and inventor of Tiger Training? And what has brought her from London to our sunny climes? Unfortunately, Miss Mikos refused an interview when I asked about her experience in the fitness industry but as my readers know, I cannot let a mystery go unsolved. You may be surprised to find out that Miss Mikos has about as much experience in the fitness world as I do! Recently a student in Briford, England, Wanda entered a competition with Move Makers for a chance to be a Personal Trainer here in LA. You're thinking she won the competition; she didn't. No, Miss Mikos has worked in the fitness industry teaching classes and the occasional personal training session for exactly four months! So how has she had time to invent a whole new training strategy and how is someone so inexperienced allowed to preach the virtues of diet and training to LA royalty Madeline Harvey and new star on the block Ethan Caldwell? I am currently awaiting an interview with the owners of Move Makers, Patsy Cosby and Rae Flynn, so keep signing in readers and as ever I will keep you up to date with the latest from the celebrity world. The full article on Miss Mikos will be published in the next Celebrity Goss; plus look out for further news on the also-mysterious Ethan Caldwell.
I finish reading and look up at Izzy. "This isn't good."
"Is it true? I thought Rolo said you won the competition, that's why you were here."
"No, my boss won it actually, I got a call from Patsy to ask if I wanted to come over with her for a month as they liked me and thought I was a good trainer."
"Oh, does Ethan know?"
"Nope." I look up at the ceiling and sigh.
"Are you qualified to train someone?"
"Yes, of course, I went to University; I have a degree in Sports Science."
"Oh, well that's alright. Don't tell Ethan, this is not really a big thing, it's just Alison's blog really. She has a huge following on Twitter though because she seems to get all the gossip before anyone else and she doesn't care how she gets it."
"Or if she gets it right. She makes it sound like I have no qualifications or experience but this is not going to look good on Move Makers. I should ring Patsy."
"You should do her interview or she can diss you all she wants."
"I didn't refuse to do an interview, I told her she would need to run it by Patsy first."
"Why is she saying Ethan is mysterious?"
I look at her and decide to lie. "No idea."
"Are you going to tell Ethan you've only been a trainer for six months?"
"I think I'm going to have to."
Izzy makes a grimacing face and we make our way back downstairs.
The laughter in the kitchen can be heard all over the house and I decide to tell Ethan later; the later the better, maybe just as he's leaving, or maybe after he has left and can't hear me.
"There you are young lady, I thought you had left. What have you two been up to?" Ethan says as we enter the kitchen.
Izzy and I glance sideways at each other before announcing, "Nothing!"
Martha and Elise are clearing away some of the dishes whilst Rolo is checking everyone has a drink.
"Hey Ethan," Mason calls above the din, "want to see a classic Mustang? I think the washing up will begin soon and I find it best to be somewhere else."
Ethan laughs and they make their way out of the French doors to the garage. I grab Rolo and pull him to one side to tell him what Izzy found. I find it on my phone and he reads it before asking, "Are you going to tell Ethan?"
I shrug my shoulders. "I think I'll have to before someone else tells him; I mean it's not like I beat up a post office employee is it?"
"Harsh but true. Anyway, I thought you won that competition in England."
"No, that was my boss, Karen Lester."
"Where is she then?"
"Went home, thought it was too fake here."
"Oh, I don't remember her. Anyway, what do you think ABS is going to print about Ethan?"
"Don't know it depends on what she found out I suppose."
"You gonna tell him about that too?"
I tuck my hair behind my ear and think for a second. "I can't tell him we've been doing a Sherlock Holmes on his life but let's face it if we have, she could have too."
"Yeah, especially if that was Alison who found Jimmy Hagen."
"It's only fair to warn him I think."
"Yep, you're right. Good plan. Good luck with that."
"Why don't we tell him together?"
Rolo suddenly looks past me, "Sorry Ma what was that? You need my help in the kitchen? No problem. Must go wand'." With that he speeds off toward Elise and his mum. Some bestie he's turning out to be.
We spend the next couple of hours playing various games and drinking concoctions made by Rolo. Ethan is sitting close enough to keep casually touching my knee and Martha is telling stories about when Roland used to play with her make-up.
It is almost midnight when Ethan's phone beeps. He stares at it, eyebrows pinched then swallows hard before announcing he had better make a move and asks if I would like a lift.
A car arrives fifteen minutes later and we say our goodbyes and thank Rolo's mum for a wonderful day.
"I have to say I had a great time," Ethan says squeezing my hand.
I smile back at him but say nothing. I need to tell him about the Alison thing but don't want to spoil the day. Plus something in that last text must have bothered him but I'm not sure whether to ask him about it, so I decide to recount some of the funny stories of the day until we pull up outside my apartment building.
"Would you like to come in for a coffee?" I ask feeling like I just dropped the biggest cliché line of all time.
"I would love to honestly, Wanda, but I think I'd better get back. Another time though eh?"
"Yes of course. I could use some sleep anyway." I lean in closer and lower my voice. "Is everything okay?"
Ethan glances at the driver before nodding. "Aye, I'll call you in the morning."
He kisses me on the cheek before I exit the car. I know something is going on but I'm not sure what.