Mia Thornton and Karen Huger in North Carolina driving to Lake Norman for a fun girls’ trip/Wendy Osefo’s birthday. The conversation turns to Karen’s DUI and she says, “I broke and I’m not ashamed of that.”
Mia takes that as Karen owning up to her mistake only to be told, “I’m not saying I effed up yet. I want you to wait for that. I’m not admitting anything, okay?” She continues, “This will show me who my real friends are.”
At this point, Karen is like Teflon, letting all the responsibility slide off her like a pair of sunny-side-up eggs. Mia is understandably disappointed. Talking about deflection, Karen brings up how Jacqueline Blake told the ladies she got a phone call from a very drunk Grande Dame. “That is a lie,” she declares.
In the other car, Jacqueline brings up the drunk phone call to Gizelle Bryant and Wendy Osefo. Gizelle wonders why it’s such a big deal when Karen apparently drunkenly calls them all the time. “Karen is not in the car to defend herself,” Wendy tells them.
Gizelle is still upset that Karen hijacked her charity event but Wendy asks her not to bring it up on her birthday because she wants the day to be all about her. Just in case you didn’t know, it’s Wendy’s birthday.
The sidekick competition has begun
The “RHOP” cast arrives at Lake Norman and Mia has gone all out with butlers and a private chef. Wendy thinks it’s because of her birthday and gives a toast to herself. Karen, whose recent birthday was marred by her DUI is jealous at all the fanfare. “No more celebrations of Wendy,” she announces.
Everyone gets assigned rooms and they’re all happy … except for Kiearna Stewart who is apparently at a sleepaway camp and has to sleep in a bunk bed. “What the hell is this?” she asks.
Mia reveals that she put Kiearna and newbie Stacey Rusch together because they’re in “girlfriend BootCamp,” whatever that means.
Wendy gets a grand reveal to her room, which is decorated with balloons and streamers for her birthday. She loves it but Karen’s bitter reaction especially sends her into hysterics. Love the haterade!
Jacqueline still doesn’t have a room and she’s wandering around like a lost sidekick until she finds out that she’s sleeping with Mia.
During lunch, she informs the ladies that she’s not a sidekick and says, “I am giving full-bodied everything, honey.” It’s not very convincing, even when she gets up to twirl.
She and Jassi Rideaux start arguing about who is Mia’s best sidekick and it’s like they never considered themselves to be Batman, only Robin.
Karen Huger makes Jacqueline cry
Ever since Jacqueline told the “RHOP” group that Karen called her drunk, she’s been on the outs with the self-proclaimed Potomac Grande Dame.
During lunch, Karen says, “I have been nothing but a friend to Jacqueline and I feel that she is not a friend.”
Karen says of the conversation, “No one was drunk at that phone call,” she declares. “I see you.” Gizelle tries to defend Jacqueline but Karen immediately puts a stop to it.
“You’re lying. You’re a liar,” Karen tells Jacqueline. When Jacqueline tries to defend herself, Karen just steamrolls over her and yells, “Shut up! Don’t f*ck with me, okay?” This is when Jacqueline starts to cry.
Two things are happening here: Karen is trying to get the heat off of her DUI and deflecting any allegations that she likes her drinky-poo. Jaqueline is unable to handle any heat from the “RHOP” ladies which shows that she is ill-equipped to be a full-time cast member. Mia’s sidekick she will be forever.
Stacey Rusch is not boring, dammit!
While on the way to Lake Norman, Mia had shaded Stacey as boring. At the cabin, Karen tells her friend to step it up or else she’ll get fired from the show the other girls won’t want her around.
Stacey is aghast and thinks it’s a dig against her chipper personality. “I know it’s different for people to take it all in,” she tells Karen.
The ladies go on a little boat ride around the lake and Stacey calls Ashley out for telling the group about her boyfriend. Ashley had no idea it was such a secret and Stacey explains that it felt like she was taking something special and making it seem like a tawdry fling.
Stacey also tells Ashley that she didn’t appreciate her putting her bunions on her fancy marble countertops. Fair enough.
She’s on a roll and asks the group who called her “boring.” Girl is trying to earn her peach. Mia admits to calling her “uninteresting” and Stacey is unbothered. She’s just a beacon of light and positivity amongst a group of jaded reality television stars. *Sparkles*
Karen Huger gets put on the spot … twice
It’s dinner time and Gizelle finally confronts Karen for inviting the “RHOP” cast to her award ceremony at the same time as the charity event dedicated to her late father, who died of a brain tumor. “You knew how important the event was to me and Ashley and I feel like I’m being of the utmost friend to you and I’m not getting it in return.”
Karen responds by saying, “I needed my friends too, that day.” Okay, Kuurrrrn. You get a DUI and it’s the same as Gizelle raising money for brain tumor research. She also says that she didn’t know their events were on the same day but a flashback shows that she knew and had every intention of showing up for Gizelle.
“I do really regret that I was not there for you in memory of your father,” Karen finally admits. Of course, there’s a “but.” She adds, “However, I do not take responsibility for your behavior. I raised you better than that.”
At the end of the day, Gizelle is trying to be there for Karen and wants to feel that it’s reciprocated. Karen says she’ll try so one feud is settled.
During dinner, Mia has all her friends go around and tell funny stories about her because why not make her the center of attention? As she and her friend Joy recount an evening out with Karen, Mia reveals that the Grande Dame butt-dialed her.
Mia’s face turns an evil kind of gleeful as she says, “And you said … You were with someone else and you said, ‘Those girls think I’m with Ray.'” Everyone looks shocked and Karen mutters, “I don’t remember.” Try to deflect that, Ms. Huger.
