Jenalyn: Disconnected (#5) [Complete]

Chapter 12: Hayden

Mon. 12/29/08 • 2:23 P.M. EST

Mama Gold told me that this trip to New York was strictly vacation time; She said I didn't have to take part in any of the pop-up interviews that would surely be around due to the number of celebrities staying at the Hyatt for the New Year's party at Bar 54 tomorrow night. She didn't send me out here with my publicist or any management, so I'm sure a majority of her reasoning is based around her lack of trust for me to interview without their jurisdiction.

That's the only thing I can think about as I stand here across from a woman holding a microphone. She only asked for a few moments of my time, and Ty was distracted trying to check us into the hotel- so I figured, why not?

"Wow, Hayden Gold! You weren't on the list of performers scheduled for tomorrow night! What're you doing out here?" she asks as soon as she signals for her cameraman to film. She doesn't allow me any time to respond before firing off her next question. "We haven't seen a lot of Hayden lately; We all thought you'd given up on stardom! What's the deal? Just dealing with being a new mommy?"

I quickly run through all of her questions in my mind before responding, a tactic the Golds trained me in to ensure that I respond to all questions during an interview. "Oh, I'm not performing! I'm just vacationing with Ty! It was a Christmas present from my mom, actually!" I respond after a moment, sure to keep a warm smile plastered across my lips. Only as I start to respond to her question about where I've been for the past 4 months do I begin to realize why Mama Gold might not have wanted me to do any interviews. We've never discussed what we'd tell the media about my most recent stay at Miermont. "I've just been... being a mother! Busy with the baby!"

The woman nods her head, responding almost immediately with little regard to the actual content of my words. "Aw! So cute, so cute!" she exclaims, her smile just about as fake as the one I wear. "You've been so low-key lately!! You haven't even shared the baby's name! It's a girl, right? You think you might share her name with us today?! In Christmas spirit?!"

I can tell she's getting excited. She's right; We haven't shared any information about the baby with the media aside from her gender. Mama Gold was sure to keep it on the low considering the circumstances in which I brought the baby into this world. I constantly saw stories questioning why I'm so secretive, when did I give birth, is my baby even alive, or was this whole pregnancy just a publicity stunt? Only recently has the paparazzi been able to catch pictures of the baby while out with Ty and his sister, and even so, they really only snapped shots of the back of her pink hood.

A lot of news sources would pay a ton of money for the privilege of announcing Hayden Gold's daughter's name! I'm sure this woman would love it! Hell- she's got me standing in the lobby of a hotel I'm checking into! Completely unplanned! It'd be a jackpot!

"Hmmm..." I hum, raising my thumb and index finger to my chin to visibly contemplate whether I could do it. I keep a playful smile present on my face, staying true to Hayden's bubbly playful personality. "I don't know... this whole experience is pretty personal, you know? I haven't decided how or when to announce something like that!"

The woman looks disappointed but persists with a quick laugh. "You've got to give us something, Hayd! All your fans have been dying to know!" she pleads, jutting out her bottom lip. "Consider it a Christmas gift! For all your fans! For loving and supporting you on your journey to stardom! C'mon Hayd! Do it for your fans!"

Oh God, she's pulling the fan card! It's no secret that Hayden has a soft spot for her fans. She was just a fan of Harlee Gold before becoming a Gold herself, after all! Mama G can't blame me for giving in; I'm sure she's only been putting it off for my sake and well- I'm ready.

"...Oh, okay! For my fans?" I exclaim with a small laugh, peeking over her shoulder to check Ty's status at the front desk. I know that what I'm about to tell the world is wrong, but for the first time in almost a week- it's starting to feel right. "McKaiden Rose! My baby girl's name is McKaiden Rose."