THAT RING

by Dodd, Jillian

  “Troy, I shouldn’t be the reason you go to rehab. That should be because you want it for you.”

  “I do. I want it for both of us.”

  I swallow hard. Here he is, down on his knee in front of me. Something I wanted for so long.

  But I can’t lie to him about this. It wouldn’t be fair.

  “I can’t agree to marry you, Troy. I’m sorry. I appreciate everything you said. And I know how much the ring means to you—”

  “That’s what Jason said you would say.” He snaps the lid shut and stands up, looking pissed. “Why can’t you just fucking forgive me? I’m pouring out my heart to you. What more do you want?”

  “You write songs, Troy. They’re just words until someone sets them to music.”

  He strips his jacket off. He’s sweating, and I can tell he needs a fix. “Are you saying that I need to write you a song?”

  “I’m saying that you can’t ask me to commit to any of those things until you can prove that you’re in a place to be making those kinds of promises. Go to rehab.”

  “You bitch,” he says, and I know what’s coming next.

  “Avocado!” I scream.

  Troy grabs a handful of my hair, pulling me toward him. “I’ve had enough of this shit. We’re getting back together. We have to announce it, so they will sign me.”

  “That figures,” I say softly, refusing to get worked up. I know all that will do is elevate his anger. “In other words, you still don’t love me the way I deserve to be loved. Let go of me.”

  He doesn’t. He gets in my face and yells at me more, spittle flying from his mouth. I can’t even tell you how ugly he looks right now.

  “Get your hands off her,” one of the security men says, coming up the back stairs.

  “This is none of your business,” Troy fires back. “Get off my property, or I’m calling the cops.”

  “And we’ll have you arrested for domestic violence,” the man says.

  “We? You think she is ever going to say that to a policeman? She loves me. She’ll do anything for me. Won’t you, Eddie?”

  “Tase him,” I say to the other man who Troy has no idea is standing behind him. “He’s about to get more violent.”

  So, he does.

  And I have to say, I kind of enjoy watching Troy writhe in pain.

  The second I’m out the door, I call Jason. Of course, he doesn’t answer, so I call his assistant.

  “Is he in the office?” I ask.

  “Yes, ma’am, but he’s with a client, and he cannot be disturbed.”

  “Bullshit,” I say, hanging up and getting in the car.

  I give my driver for the day the address to Jason’s office and tell him to go there. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind and let him know that Troy is all his. I’m completely out.

  I then decide to call my realtor. If this visit with Troy has solidified one thing in my mind, it’s that I do want to buy a house. A big house with land and privacy and lots of bedrooms for friends and family.

  We’re nearly to Jason’s office when we drive by the street where my psychic lives.

  “Stop!” I tell the driver. I instruct him to make a quick U-turn and pull up in front of the house she rents.

  When I walk in, she says, “I’ve been expecting you.” Which I guess shouldn’t be a surprise, but it is. “And you want to talk about love.”

  I nod my head and take a seat at Serena’s table. It’s covered in a blue velvet cloth with little silver stars. The walls of the room are painted violet, and the space is the definition of gypsy boho.

  She takes my hand in hers and closes her eyes. “It’s said that we really only fall in love with three different people in our lifetime. I believe this is a way in which the universe guides us, for each love teaches us something. Consider your first love. You dated him in high school. It broke both your hearts when you left for LA to follow your dream.”

  I nod somberly, remembering how traumatic our breakup was.

  Serena’s gaze meets mine. “In this type of love, how others react to the love is more important than your true feelings. I’m sure all your friends thought you were the perfect couple.”

  “Yeah, I mean, he was a great guy and sweet, and I loved him, but—”

  “In love, there should be no buts,” she says in a lyrical way. Serena has a soft, hypnotic voice. “A person’s second love is their difficult love. It is a love that hurts. Troy lied to you, manipulated you, and caused you pain. But, hopefully, he taught you an important lesson, Jennifer. What often happens is this second type of love becomes a cycle of finding someone with the same issues, each time thinking the outcome will be different. In your case, you loved the same man, but each time you tried to love him, it ended up worse than before. Trust me, if you go back to him, things will continue to deteriorate. The cycle will not be broken. This is an unhealthy love, one where trying to make it work becomes more important than the love itself.”

  “I’m not taking him back. I don’t want to be in that cycle ever again,” I tell her.

  “That’s good to hear because it means you are prepared for your third love.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The kind of love you never see coming. Not everyone is lucky enough to experience this type of love, but it is what I see in your future. This love will come to you so easily that it doesn’t seem real. You will have the kind of connection that is so intense, so right, that it will shake you to your core. This is love that fairy tales are made of. I believe you have met this man in the past. And I believe it is the same man that first brought you to see me years ago.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “It is my gift. And I can see it in your eyes. I’m not saying that it will be an easy journey. I do see a few roadblocks ahead—and I see a snake in your future. One with two heads that will rise up to keep you apart. But in the end, if you open your heart to him, this man will show you that true love exists. And, Jennifer, my dear, when you find that kind of love, you don’t let it pass you by. Especially if you were lucky enough to cross paths for a second time.”

  “Fourteen years ago, I fell hard. Fast. But he was married. Had a new baby. He chose them. It destroyed me.”

  “You still had lessons to learn.”

  “So, I should be with him?” I ask, desperately waiting for her answer.

  “You should follow your heart,” she says in a way that sounds more cryptic than I hoped.

  “But he lives in Kansas City. I live in LA. It’s where my work is.”

  “I happen to know that not every working actor lives in LA. In fact, I believe you know someone who uprooted his life for love.”

  “Knox Daniels,” I mutter.

  “Yes,” Serena says. “When was the last time you spoke to your old friend?”

  “It’s been a while,” I admit.

  Serena nods her head toward the door, suggesting it is time for me to leave.

  I decide to hell with Jason and have the driver take me to my garage. It’s not a typical storage facility. It’s got space for my cars along with a place to store the clothing that my stylist has retired. I glance at my watch. It’s eleven, meaning if I leave now, I could be to Asher Vineyards before seven this evening. Earlier if I drive fast. Now, which car do I choose?

  One immediately catches my eye. The car Riley Johnson sold me. The Bentley he once let me drive on this exact trip many years ago.

  I get in the car and go before I have time to change my mind.

  I think about Keatyn, Riley, and Knox. I first became friends with Riley Johnson, who was CEO of Captive Films, at a boring industry party when I flirted and then left the party with him. I was young, bold, and unstoppable. When I wanted something, I went for it.

  I had heard through the grapevine that Captive Films was getting ready to cast a role that I was dying to play. Riley and I had a little fling, but it was pretty much a disaster before it started because he was in love with his high school sweetheart, Ariela Ros
s, who had just come back into his life. I got the movie role regardless, and I about died when I learned that one of my costars would be Knox Daniels, an actor I had crushed on for years. I’ll never forget our screen test. No one recorded it, as it was totally on the fly, taking place in Keatyn’s office. Our chemistry was off the charts, both on- and off-screen, but we were destined to just be friends.

  It’s been a long time since Captive Films moved their headquarters to Sonoma County, where award-winning actress and screenwriter, Keatyn Arrington and her husband, Aiden, own a successful vineyard. Knox and his wife, Katie, moved out there as well along with Riley and Ariela, who are now happily married.

  I first met Troy at Keatyn and Aiden’s wedding, and I haven’t really talked to Knox since he won an Academy Award that following year. Keatyn and Troy were good friends when they were young, but she put distance between them due to his behavior and lifestyle—and that included me. Even though the role I had done for Captive was a huge success, I was never asked to be a part of their other projects. Of course, that might have been because we had to shut down filming for two weeks when I had to be with Troy the first time he fell off the wagon, which was very early in our relationship. I should have known then.

  I must be crazy, but I’m going anyway. I’m drawn back to them like I’m drawn to Danny. The question is, which one of them should I call? I contemplate that for the entire drive.

  In the end, I find myself pulling into the winery. The parking lot is full, and there are numerous couples having picnics on a large veranda.

  If I didn’t have to pee so bad, I’d probably turn around. I spot someone leaving, pull into their vacated stall, and race to the winery to use the facilities.

  But when I get back out to my car, someone familiar is leaning against it.

  “Jennifer!” Riley says, rushing toward me and pulling me into a hug. “I knew this was my car.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s been my car for quite some time.”

  “It will always be my car,” he teases. “What are you doing here? Actually, I shouldn’t have asked that. We heard about what happened with Troy. Seriously, how are you?”

  Tears flood my eyes, and I launch myself back into his arms.

  “I’m thinking, not so good,” he says. “Why don’t you come with me?”

  He leads me to a tricked-out golf cart.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere other than here,” he says, eyeing the people milling about, who have definitely recognized us both.

  “I probably should have driven the Prius.” I laugh.

  “Screw that,” he says as he takes off down a cement path.

  We drive for quite a few minutes before he pulls up to a building out in the woods. One I’ve seen pictures of, but whose location is supposedly a secret—Captive Films’ studio.

  “I can’t believe you built all of this out here,” I say in awe, taking in the whole spread, which even has outdoor sets.

  “That’s not why I brought you here,” he replies. “I just ran to the vineyard to take my beautiful wife some flowers.”

  “That’s so sweet. She has her event planning office there, doesn’t she? I read about it in a magazine.”

  “Yeah, she does.” He leans in and whispers to me, “No one knows yet, but she took a test this morning. She’s pregnant. It’s very much an oops baby. Our son, Mason, just turned thirteen, and our daughter, Emerson will be twelve next month.”

  “Congratulations, Riley. I’m so happy for you,” I say sincerely, my eyes filling with tears again. I so wish I had a family.

  “Look who I found at the winery,” he announces as we walk into the studio. “She even drove my car.”

  “You know what that means, don’t you, Jennifer?” Keatyn says, standing up and heading my way. “He’s going to want to take it for a spin.” She gives me a hug. “I’m sorry about what happened with Troy.”

  “Thanks,” I say. A moment later, I’m face-to-face with Knox Daniels, who also gives me a hug.

  “It’s been too long, sugar. You finally come to your senses and leave the idiot?”

  “Knox!” Keatyn chastises. “Don’t be so insensitive!”

  Knox raises an eyebrow at me in question regardless.

  “Yes,” I say.

  “So, what brings you here?” Keatyn asks. “Come, sit down.”

  I follow them into a lounge and plop into a comfortable suede chair. “I’m not sure why I’m here,” I answer. “Actually, that’s not true. I need to know how you did it.”

  “Did what?” Riley asks, handing me a glass of chilled chardonnay.

  “Left LA. Like, is it working for you? I mean, that’s a stupid question. Of course it is. You swept the Academy Awards with your first project filmed here. You’re still making major motion pictures, but you’re not that far from LA. Like, a quick plane ride, and you can be back. What if you had moved farther away, like, say, somewhere in the Midwest? Would you still be able to make movies? Are you glad you did it? Do you like the lifestyle? Is it slower, better? Do you have time for your families? Like, could I have time for that sort of thing?” I word-vomit.

  Keatyn taps her finger on her lip, studying me. “What’s in the Midwest?”

  “Honestly, someone you know. Someone I met at one of your parties a very long time ago.”

  “Danny Diamond?” Aiden asks from behind me. I didn’t hear him sneak in.

  “Danny Diamond?” Keatyn repeats. “But he’s married.”

  “Well, technically,” Aiden replies.

  “Are you having an affair with him?” Keatyn asks.

  “No, she’s not,” Aiden says to his wife as he sits down next to her. I assume Aiden is one of the few people Danny told about his impending divorce.

  “I guess we all need to be filled in on the situation,” Knox says. “Danny’s a good guy. Heck of a quarterback.”

  I immediately spill my guts, telling them everything that has happened—from when I first met Danny, to when Jadyn texted me, and to the psychic reading that led me here.

  “I believe that,” Keatyn says. “About the love part.”

  “Me, too,” Riley says as Knox raises his hand in agreement.

  “That’s why I came to talk to you. He has two kids that he can’t uproot. I’m trying to figure out how we could make it work, logistically.”

  “Jennifer,” Riley says, “how’s your financial situation?”

  “Good. Really good. I mean, I could live very comfortably for the rest of my life on what I’ve earned so far.”

  “Then, why are you even questioning it?” Knox asks.

  “Because I love my job,” I fire back. “Would you give up doing something you love for love?”

  “In a heartbeat,” they all say, causing themselves to laugh.

  “But the point is,” Knox says, “we didn’t have to. Neither do you. You only take roles that fit into your new world—or better yet, you start a production company and create the roles you want.”

  “Or you work with us,” Keatyn says. “A long time ago, you told me you had a drawer full of scripts that you’d never let anyone see. Maybe they have been waiting for this moment.”

  “Like write scripts and not act? I’m not sure if I could do that,” I say.

  Knox waves his hand at me. “The script I wrote that went on to sweep the Oscars was supposed to be set in New York.”

  “And I suggested that we change the setting to somewhere closer to our studios,” Keatyn adds. “You could do the same thing. Set the movie where you want to be and star in it yourself.”

  “But I don’t really know how to do that. Like, I don’t know anything about the business side of it all.”

  “I think Keatyn’s point,” Riley suggests, “is that it’s possible. If the script is right, maybe we could team up. Trust me, love and happiness are worth it. Hell, I can’t even hold it in any longer. Ariela’s pregnant. We just found out this morning.”

  “Oh boy. That’s a b
ig surprise,” Keatyn says with a laugh. “How does Ariela feel about it?”

  “She cried. Cursed. Decided she was incredibly happy. Cried and cursed some more. It’s safe to say, she’s a tad emotional,” he says. “She’s just still in shock. Literally, last night, she was talking about how different our lives will be once our oldest goes off to boarding school.”

  “I still want to have babies. Do you think I’m too old?” I ask, wondering what people would think about me just getting started.

  “Of course not,” Keatyn says. “I’ve actually been thinking about it a lot lately myself. If I’m ready to be done.”

  “Oh no,” Aiden says with a laugh and a beaming smile.

  It impresses me with how in love they still seem.

  “You’d think with five children already, it would be enough,” Keatyn says. “A woman’s body can be so frustrating. We got pregnant with the triplets so easily, had a miscarriage in between our fourth, and another one before our fifth. But, Riley, I have to admit, you just made my day. Now, I can enjoy the pleasure of having another baby around without having one myself.”

  Aiden dramatically wipes his brow.

  My heart feels full when I’m around them. They give me hope that maybe I could make it work, but one thing is eating at me. “I gave up so much of myself to be with Troy. Would I be doing that again if I was with Danny?”

  Keatyn takes my hand. “You know what? Why don’t you see this in action? I need to go up and check on my babies. Join me.”

  “Okay,” I agree.

  “And while you ladies go do that, why don’t you give me your keys? Us boys need to go drive my car,” Riley says.

  “My car,” I stress, handing over the key fob.

  Keatyn and I get into another golf cart, and as she winds through the trees, she gives me a tour, pointing out Knox and Katie’s house, Riley and Ariela’s, and her grandparents’. Pretty soon, she parks in front of one of their guesthouses that I remember from the last time I was here.