by Carlyn Cade
When Stacia had finished, Josie was silent.
Well, what do you think they mean?”
“You’ve whizzed past me a bit with all of this, but I suspect it’s something to do with past lives. You wanting to learn meditation and accepting it means you have a need, and you’re ready to explore deeper. If you’re free next Sunday, we can go into some other areas of meditation?”
“I’d like that.”
“You remember my mom’s a hypnotherapist, right? She also believes in past lives and regresses people to see if they can remember any of theirs. The more you learn about meditation, the easier she can help you. We could work together, and if you find the need to go farther than I can take you, we’ll call in the big guns, okay? The main thing is for you to try to meditate each day. By next Sunday, it’ll be easier for you.”
“I can work in meditating between scenes. I have some free time then, and most of it I spend thinking of Clay.”
“Is he coming back soon?”
“I didn’t want to say anything to you or Ryan, but Clay says he’s ready to move on with our relationship and I’m not.”
“And is this true?”
“In a way, yes. I feel as if I’m stuck somewhere, and until I resolve some of the issues churning around inside me, I can’t move on. I also have this idea I think about a lot. A feeling I can’t get married, that destiny won’t allow me to.”
“Oh, Stace, you really do need help, don’t you?” Josie reached over and gave her a quick hug.
“I feel like you’ve helped me already.”
“We’ve only just begun, but we’ll travel this path together if that’s what you want.”
“I do, Josie, I do.” Stacia’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m in love with Clay, you know.”
“I think it’s more than that,” Josie said. “I think your past with him is catching up with your present with him.”
“And what about our future?” Stacia asked. “Do we have one of those together?”
“Patience, Stace, patience. Fate will answer your question in its own time.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
…Victoria visited Dean in the hospital each day. As part of her ritual, she placed his hand on her stomach, hoping he could feel her continued growth. “Feel the life, Darling, and come back to it,” she pleaded, even though consultation with the doctors offered no new hope.
Finally the time came for Victoria to give birth. Later, when she was settled in her hospital bed, she cried bittersweet tears as she snuggled with her sleeping baby lovingly. If only Dean could see his new daughter.
Suddenly, a nurse opened her door. “Someone wants to see you. Are you up to having company?”
Victoria nodded.
The nurse guided a wheelchair into the room. “This guy just woke up,” she said. A wide smile covered her face. “He’s still kind of groggy, but he kept murmuring, ‘my baby...my baby,’ so I thought I’d better bring him in to see her.” She wheeled Dean closer to the mother and infant.
Victoria leaned over and kissed him. She motioned to the nurse to give Dean the baby. The nurse complied and supported the baby in Dean’s arms.
His face lit up. “I love you,” he whispered to his baby and then Victoria.
“And tell me, you two proud parents, have you decided on the baby’s name yet?”
“Her name is Lily,” they both replied together.
The End.
♥♥
The following day at home, Stacia decided she’d practice meditating like Josie had instructed her to do, and she’d just arrived at her serene spot next to the waterfall at SwissDen when the phone rang, breaking into her focus. She let her machine pick up, but when Helen’s voice came through, she answered immediately.
“We haven’t talked for a while,” Helen began. “I know you’ve been busy with the movie, and I’ve been busy with –”
“Sam, right?” Stacia asked, unable to restrain from interrupting her friend.
“You know?”
“Just what Hal told me when he visited me on the set, and I asked about you.”
“I wanted to thank you, Stacia, for bringing us together.”
“I don’t deserve the credit. It was Clay’s idea.”
“But you thought of me. Neither Sam nor I were aware we had a void in our lives until we began to see each other all the time. Now the hours we’re apart are empty and lonely. I only wish things had turned out the same for you and Clay as well.”
“How is he?”
“He’s pretty much in seclusion at SwissDen, according to Sam who calls him a couple times a week. He’s not accepting any requests for his ice sculpture exhibits at the present time.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Why don’t you call him, Stacia?”
“He’s the one who made the decision to stop seeing me. It’s his place to call first.”
“Does it matter who calls who if you’re both in love?”
“No, but...” Stacia couldn’t think of one reason to back up her negative answer, so she decided to change the subject. “What have you and Sam been doing?”
“We went to Clay’s exhibit in Kentucky, and then went to New York to catch all the hit shows. I hadn’t been to New York for years, so it was fun sight-seeing too. Sam travels constantly, and I’ve stayed home forever, it seems. He says he enjoys introducing me to the world, and he has been all around it. I feel as if I’ve been in a mad whirlwind, and I’m ecstatically happy every moment we’re together.”
“It sounds as if you two are getting serious. Is there a wedding in your near future?”
Helen laughed. “According to Hal, he’s ready to give me away.”
“I know,” Stacia agreed. “I had the same conversation with him.”
“Is there any message you want me to deliver to Clay? Sam and I are going to London for a few days, and then he’s taking me to SwissDen. He’s worried about Clay.”
“Clay will be fine as long as he’s home,” Stacia said confidently. “SwissDen is another name for Camelot, or Brigadoon or...paradise. You’ll see why when you go there.”
“A forever paradise with your prince. That doesn’t sound too bad to me.”
“I wish it was that simple,” Stacia said sadly.
“Isn’t it?” Helen asked.
“On the surface, maybe.”
“How’s the filming coming?”
“Good, until today. We were doing the car scene where Victoria and Dean make love for the first time. I kept blowing my lines for some reason. This was the first time I’d seen a close-up of Dean, or should I say Mark’s face, and being on a large screen, it was big. Anyway, every time I looked into Mark’s eyes to say my lines, I’d see Clay instead, and I’d start crying. Then makeup had to come, etc. Finally, we did so many takes, Nathan said we’d shut down for the day. He ordered me to go home and rest. Otherwise, I’d have missed your call.”
“And why do you think you kept crying?”
“Because I miss Clay, and I love him.” And I know he’ll never get his second chance.
“Perhaps the two of you are both feeling the same way. My prescription for both of you is to call each other and get together somehow, even if it’s just to talk.”
Stacia smiled. “Okay, doctor. I’ll have to see what I can do about filling that prescription.”
“And so will I,” Helen said softly.
“Have a fantastic trip with Sam, especially at SwissDen. And tell the queen and the king hello for me.”
“And Clay?”
“Yes, Helen. And Clay too.”
♥♥
When Stacia returned to work the next day, she was positive she was through crying.
Nathan started the scene showing Dean’s car cruising down the road to his grand-mère’s house after Victoria’s and his intimate dinner. A path came up in his headlights, and he pulled onto it and shut off the motor.
Stacia prepared to be photographed as a close-up of Mark’s face appeared on the sc
reen, except his face again turned into Clay’s. She started crying.
“Cut!” Nathan yelled. He walked over to her. “What’s wrong, Stacia? Why can’t you get through this scene?”
“I can,” she said, smiling through her tears. “See? I didn’t cry so hard this time. I’ll do it right next time. I promise.”
“Okay, Stacia,” Nathan said quietly and then raised his voice. “Pick up the scene from before with Mark Bennett’s close-up,” he instructed his crew.
Once again Mark’s face appeared, and the screen became alive and real as Clay gazed into Stacia’s eyes with tenderness and love.
“This is bad timing, and I shouldn’t do this, but I can’t go another minute without giving you one kiss.”
Stacia closed her eyes as Clay gathered her in his arms.
“Forgive me, Darling,” he said as he began to kiss her.
She kissed him back...a long caressing kiss, reminiscent of the one she and Clay had shared at the London airport.
“Tell me to stop, and I will,” he said.
“I never want to stop with you.”
He kissed her again.
“Cut!” Nathan’s voice commanded. “You did it perfectly that take, Stacia. Great job.”
She opened her eyes. The movie screen was black. Mark was gone. Dean was too.
And so was Clay.
♥♥
After completing the love scene so successfully, Mark Bennett and Dean Fulton were replaced permanently by Clay in Stacia’s mind. She didn’t know why Clay’s face started to appear to her in every scene from that time on. Was it the actress in her using experience to make her job more effective? Or did she miss Clay so much, she was ready to accept an image of him when she couldn’t have the real man? Or had she taken on Victoria’s life as her own, as she knew happened all the time in the acting profession? At least, that way she’d be assured of a happy ending in her life.
♥♥
Days later, after executing this acting change, she arrived at the studio and found everyone on the set whispering and talking among themselves. Her curiosity piqued, she asked Nathan what was going on.
“You haven’t read the newspaper or watched TV today, have you?”
“I didn’t have time.”
“Well, London Affair got some great unexpected publicity,” Nathan exclaimed, his excitement echoing in each word he spoke. He shoved a newspaper under her nose.
The headline read, MARK BENNETT’S JOURNAL FOUND...
Starlit Studios announced today that Mark Bennett’s journal had been located several weeks ago in their vaults. The studio claimed ownership of the journal after Bennett died, saying he left no family. When the police officials closed their files on the case, they agreed to turn the journal over to the studio.
Starlit Studios also released the information that prominent Beverly Hills attorney, Linda Montgomery, has purchased the journal on behalf of an anonymous buyer, reportedly for millions of dollars.
When questioned, Montgomery confirmed the purchase of the journal for an interested buyer. She would divulge no further details.
What happened after the release of the original London Affair in 1949 has always been shrouded in secrecy. It seems the mystery still remains some sixty years later while Nathan Sterling and Arthur Keyes are busy filming their remake of this classic.
Stacia put the newspaper down and walked over to Farrell who was enjoying a cup of coffee and a roll.
“Do you know anything about Mark Bennett’s journal being sold?” she asked.
“Not a thing,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee.
“I thought you might because you seemed to know so much about it when you did that interview on ET.”
“You forget, Stacia, studios were different fifty years ago. I was privy to more information then as a producer. Today, my value is extremely less.”
“Who do you suppose would want Mark’s journal?”
Farrell shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe someone’s hoping it’ll be worth more than they paid for it when the remake is released.”
“Can you tell me what’s in it?”
“I’ve always treated that information as being confidential.”
“I’m sorry,” Stacia apologized. “I wasn’t being nosey, just curious.”
“I know, but Mark was my friend, and it was his diary...” He hesitated before continuing. “I don’t like to talk about it.” He bowed his head.
“I understand. I really do. I’m sure everything the three of you went through had to leave permanent scars on you. Helen told me the story of what happened to Audra and her.”
“She did? You can consider that a high compliment if she would confide in you about the details.” He bowed his head and muttered, “It was horrible and unbearable to live with.”
“I don’t know how Helen survived at all and turned out so healthy and happy.”
“The young are very resilient,” Farrell commented.
“You know she’s seeing Sam Prescott,” Stacia volunteered. “They’re very happy together.”
“Good for them,” Farrell said.
“I’ve got to get back on the set. Nathan’s motioning to me.” Stacia waved back to her director. “It’s nice having you here, Farrell. I enjoy talking to you, and I feel we have a lot in common. I admire you for how you’ve had the courage to turn your life around. I hope you’ll always be my friend.” As she said the last sentence, the same déjà vu feeling she’d had before when she talked to him, swept through her again.
♥♥
Stacia’s cell phone was ringing when she entered her dressing room at lunch break. She grabbed it off the table and collapsed on her sofa as she answered it.
“Hi, Stacia,” her assistant said.
“What’s up, Jamie?”
“The media has gone crazy again just like when you were in London. Ever since the story broke about Mark Bennett’s journal, they’ve been calling, wanting an interview with you, or at least some type of statement. I’ve logged them all on my computer and sent them to yours.”
“Thanks, Jamie.” Stacia stood, picked up her laptop and sat back down on the sofa. “I’ll call you when I check the messages over and see what I want to say. My first instinct, however, is to tell them they know more about the journal than I do.”
“I’d recommend another route, but I’ll go with whatever you decide, of course.”
“Why don’t you write up something for me, and you can read it to me when I call you back? Okay?”
“I’ll do my best.”
Stacia laid her phone down, took a sandwich off the lunch tray the studio had delivered and turned on her computer.
She wondered who the anonymous purchaser of Mark’s journal was. Maybe it was the same person who was the mystery backer of London Affair. If he had enough money to finance a movie, he’d certainly have plenty to buy the journal. But why would he want it?
Jamie’s list of callers popped up on the screen. As Stacia scrolled through them, she discovered there were fifty-one calls. And what could she say to this assorted group of newspapers, TV programs, radio stations and magazines about the journal?
She only knew what she’d heard. Helen had said it was filled with love letters to Audra, and also included Mark’s thoughts while he was dying. She couldn’t release any of that information to the press. Farrell wouldn’t say anything to her about the contents, and even if he had, it would also be confidential.
The old standby “no comment” sounded too cold and uncooperative. It would be bad publicity to give out to fifty-one different kinds of media.
One thing was certain. She didn’t want to do any interviews about the journal. So her only alternative was to issue some sort of statement. And Jamie, who was also her publicist, was well-equipped to come up with the right thing to say.
Feeling exhausted after the morning’s takes, Stacia decided to meditate to relax. She went to her special place at SwissDen...and promptly fell asleep.
She was being carried over a threshold into a rustic cabin. She looked up into Mark Bennett’s face. They were both laughing. He set her down on her feet, and they kissed.
“Now you’re officially Mrs. Bennett,” he said. “How about some champagne to celebrate?”
“A sip, maybe. I don’t want anything to dull my senses on our wedding night.” She walked over to the fireplace, and Mark followed her with the champagne and two glasses. He set them down on the end table and lit the wood in the fireplace. Soon, the fire was blazing.
“I hope we did the right thing,” Audra said. “Sneaking away like we did to Nevada, especially when we’ll be married in a big church wedding in just a few weeks.”
He took her hands in his and pressed them to his lips. “I’d marry you a hundred times, anywhere or anytime you want, but I wanted our first wedding to be private between you and me only.”
“Don’t forget our great disguises.”
“And how you couldn’t stop giggling when we put on those wigs and glasses, not even in front of the Justice-of-the-Peace. I love you, Mrs. Bennett.” Mark locked his arms around her.
“I especially liked your mustache and beard. They tickled when you kissed me after he pronounced us husband and wife.”
“Husband and wife. I love the sound of those words connecting us together.”
Stacia heard someone knocking at their cabin door. The rapping continued, and she woke up. “Yes,” she called out, still not quite awake from her dream.
“You’re wanted back on the set, Miss Saunders,” a female voice said.
♥♥
He smirked, although he was only vaguely aware his jaws had clenched. His newest scheme fueled his passion. He had become a stalker. Add that to his resume as a hit man, and he knew he was an oddity, as only a small number of hit men had crossed this line and possessed this double-edged sword.
His victims were many during his reign as an assassin – too many to remember – yet, too few to regret.
This special project was his revenge for fate’s cruel twist, the payback of a lifetime and a death. It required a special talent – one that proved he wasn’t too old to learn new things. It heightened his desires, sexually and diabolically, and he knew he’d soon claim his reward…