They hurried to get out of the cold night air and back to the hotel. “David?”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t come and stay with you now? I mean it won’t look good if everyone thinks you and I have something going on.”
David stopped. He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face him. “You’re coming to stay. Maria will agree with me. You can’t let these people run your life. They find scandals everywhere. Please, promise me that you won’t let this change your mind.”
Charity was humbled by his strength. “Okay. I promise, but you have to promise me that if Maria or you ever have any doubts about me coming, you won’t hesitate to let me know.”
David leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Okay. I promise. You are a good friend, and a good person. Come on before he finds some more film, or even worse, the police. I did manhandle him a little.”
Charity looked up at him all wide eyed and innocent. “You did? I didn’t see a thing. All I did see was him dropping his camera and the film falling out onto the ground.”
David chuckled. “Good acting. See if you can remain that calm in front of the police.”
They made it back to the hotel, unmolested, but Charity tossed and turned the rest of the night. It seemed as if she was running from one problem right into the next one, but even with everything else on her mind, sometime during the night, she made the decision to talk to Michael Anderson. She didn’t want to burden her mom any longer with her career decisions. Her mom was happy at home taking care of the house and living the life she loved so much. Besides Charity needed someone representing her who knew the ins and outs of Hollywood.
Overnight everything had fallen into place and her mind was settled as to what her future plans were going to be so at the first sign of daylight she jumped out of bed ready to take on the day. She was going to California and meet up with Michael, and more than anything, she wanted to go see Maria. Whether she stayed at David and Maria’s house was going to be up to them, but she was going to Malibu to see how she was doing. Maria had been there for her during her darkest hour and had listened without feeling like she had to solve her problems for her, but as a friend who understood her pain. It wasn’t that hard of a decision to go and be there for her in her time of need.
Charity met David coming out of his room. He looked as if he could have used a couple more hours of sleep, and she was feeling just mischievous enough to rib him a little. “Hey. How are you feeling this morning? You look a little rough.”
David scowled and muttered. “Thanks.”
Charity threw her hands up in the air. “Hey! Don’t blame the bearer of bad news. I just wondered if you knew you look like you slept on your face.”
David took a swing at her with his scarf. “You don’t look like you got much sleep either. Rhonda is going to have to put some extra time on your face to get it camera ready.”
It was hard to take offense since she had already seen herself in the mirror. “Yeah. I know. I was thinking too much to sleep very well. What’s your excuse?”
David pushed the down button for the elevator. “I guess I was thinking too much, myself. What were you thinking about?”
They both tried to go through the doors at the same time when the doors to the elevator opened. While they both laughed, David remembered his manners and stepped back so Charity could go through, and only after she was in, did he follow.
As soon as the door closed Charity resumed their conversation. “I’m going to give Michael a call. Do you think he will talk to me today?”
David wound his scarf around his neck. “I have no doubt he will be delighted to talk to you today. I’ll give him a call later and let him know. What made you decide to go ahead and call?”
Charity played with the buttons on her jacket. “I need someone who knows what they are doing. If I’m going to really have a career in acting, I need someone who will take charge of my career and lead me in the right direction. You were right last night about this job just falling in my lap. This job came to me. I’m going to have to go find the next one, and you know what? I don’t have a clue how to do that.”
They left the elevator and headed out to the waiting car. The air was brisk, but not as cold as the day before. David and Charity greeted Stanley who was bundled up like it was twenty below outside.
Charity was just about to ask him why he was so covered up when he sneezed. She then noticed his red and runny eyes. “Why didn’t you stay in bed? We could have taken a taxi to the studio this morning.”
Stanley smiled but it did little to cover up the fact he was obviously not feeling well. “Oh, no. I’m fine. I’m just a little under the weather. I just have two more weeks before you have finished this picture, and I don’t want to miss a minute of that time with the two of you. You and Mr. Warren are just the two kindest people in the world. I’m sure Mr. Bennett will be using the two of you in more of his productions, but I don’t want to miss the time we have now.”
Charity was surprised by Stanley’s sudden show of affection, but was also very touched by his devotion to them. She kissed him on the cheek.
He blushed, then smiled big beneath his swollen red nose.
“Thank you, Stanley. You have been very good to me. You don’t know how much I have appreciated everything you have done over these past months, and you did it all without ever complaining.”
David patted the flustered man on the back, and then he climbed into the car. After the door was shut, he said, “You know. We always seem to be rattling him. I don’t know what it is about us, but he seems to lose his cool around us all the time. Charles claims that the man is always steady as a rock around him. I don’t know. I can’t figure it out.”
Charity laughed but hadn’t forgotten their earlier conversation. “So what kept you awake last night? Is Maria okay? What did she say about the photographer?”
David unbuttoned his coat but left it on. “Maria claims she’s feeling better since arriving home, but I’m guessing she wouldn’t tell me even if she was feeling bad. She just laughed about the incident with the photographer. She wasn’t at all surprised by what happened. She just wanted to know if you were alright. I told her what that guy had said about your marriage breaking up. We were lucky she wasn’t there last night, because she would have hit him for certain. I just hate it when the police get involved.”
David stared out the window and didn’t say anything for several moments before finally letting out a long weary sigh. “I couldn’t sleep after talking to her. Even though she isn’t admitting to not feeling well I could hear it in her voice. I know she wants me to finish what I started here but I’m so worried about her. I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that her life is in danger and it’s my fault.”
Charity leaned forward and touched his knee. “You know that’s not true. You had no way of knowing her becoming pregnant was going to do this to her. You need to stop blaming yourself. All you can do at this point is be there for her.” It seemed like a good time to tell him about the other major decision that she’d made in the middle of the night. “I’m coming to Malibu. I want to help the two of you any way that I can. I don’t mind staying at a hotel. That would keep the speculation and the talk down if I didn’t stay at your house, but I need to be there for Maria. I know she needs all the help she can get during this difficult time. I can help her plan the baby’s room and do any of the regular housekeeping duties for her, so she can stay off her feet.”
His face brightened with a large smile. “I don’t care about the talk or speculation. We really want you to stay at the house. Maria confirmed it again last night. I’m so glad that’s settled. I will tell Maria when I call her tonight. She will be ecstatic to have you there to keep her company.”
The two weeks they had left flew by too fast for Charity. Christopher announced to the cast on their last day of filming that they were having a huge party at the Dallas football stadium the next night. All the cast and a
ll the Dallas Cowboy players and cheerleaders were invited. Charity was as thrilled with having an entire day off as she was about going to the cast farewell party. She spent the day sightseeing and shopping. She bought clothes to take with her to Malibu and a formal dress to wear to the cast party scheduled for later that night.
For some reason Charity was nervous about the party. She didn’t know why. She had worked with everyone in the cast for months. The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders had helped her with her training, and she felt comfortable around them. She had met all of the football players. Why she was so nervous remained a mystery to her.
Around eight o’clock Charity heard a light knock on her door. She opened the door and found David dressed in a black tuxedo and blinding white shirt with a black bowtie. His hair was freshly trimmed and combed back. “Wow! Don’t you look smashing? I’ve gotten so used to seeing you in that dirty football jersey. I almost forgot how nice you clean up.”
David took her hand and twirled her in a circle. She had finally decided on a long, dark green gown that was form fitting straight down to her ankles. There was a slit on one side that went about half way up her thigh. The front of the dress was cut high, but the back dipped below her shoulder blades. The dress was daring but still left plenty to the imagination.
David let out a low whistle of appreciation. “Talk about looking smashing! You look fabulous! That little cheerleading outfit you have been wearing these past months has nothing on this dress. You are going to knock them dead tonight. It’s a good thing I’m going to be there to keep the guys off of you.” He looked down at his gold faced watch. “Let’s get this show on the road. With the way you look, and the way I feel, this is going to be a great night!”
Charity took the offered arm. “What’s got you in such a great mood?”
He tapped the back of his heels together as if he was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. “I’ve got my plane ticket so I’m heading home first thing tomorrow morning. Are you heading home tomorrow too?”
“Yeah. Mom cried last night on the phone when I talked about only staying a week before heading out to California. I know she feels like she’s losing her only child. Even though I’ve been out here for so long filming, she thought when this was all over I would be back home until I landed another movie role. She really does understand that everything in my life has changed so much and I need to distance myself from Tennessee and those memories, but she’s going to miss me. I need to take a break, see which direction I want it go right now. I think that means being near Hollywood and closer to the production companies and studios.”
They emerged into the hotel lobby, and people stopped what they were doing just to watch them go by. They almost made it to the door when one woman came rushing up.
“David! David!” She came skidding to a stop, out of breath. She held out a registration form from the front desk. “Can I have your autograph? I just love everything that you have ever been in. I’ve seen several of your movies twice. A lot of them I have seen three and four times.”
David took the offered form and signed his name. While he was doing that, the woman turned her attention towards Charity. She looked her up and down with scorn. David handed the signed paper back to his adoring fan.
As the woman took the autograph, she spoke to Charity. “You have some nerve trying to break up this man’s marriage. Why don’t you try and find someone that isn’t married for a change. If you had tried harder to save your marriage, your husband wouldn’t have filed for divorce.”
The woman took her autograph, turned on her heels, and left. Charity and David watched her go with their mouths hanging open. David made a motion as if he was going to go after the retreating woman so Charity reached over and grabbed his arm to stop him. “Don’t. There’s really no point. After the article in the tabloids a couple of weeks ago, everyone thinks I’m trying to break up your marriage. Of course, after I have already succeeded in breaking up my own. People are going to think what they want to anyway. We can’t do anything about that. I know I’m not the person she believes me to be. For now that’s enough.”
He stared after the hateful woman for several moments before finally nodding. “I’m never going to understand people. You have done nothing to receive all of this hate from so many people.” He patted her hand. “It’s not always going to be this way. You don’t deserve the way the tabloids or fans have been treating you. I’m outraged on your behalf and I have no idea how you have stayed so composed throughout all of this. You are a credit to a good southern upbringing, because most people would have already snapped by now.”
Charity shrugged. “Dad would have loved to hear you say that. He told me a long time ago to smile at my enemies because it only drives them crazy. It really works. People are usually only looking for a reaction from you when they insult you. If you don’t feed into that drama it usually goes away.”
As they headed out of the hotel, David opened the door and held it for her. She could see from his expression, the woman’s rude remark had put a damper on his mood so she winked at him just to let him know she was okay. She didn’t want him worrying about something he couldn’t fix. She relaxed when he winked back. Once outside, he followed a couple of steps behind as they headed out to the limo.
Stanley was waiting by the car’s opened door and smiled widely as they approached. He blushed and stammered, “Mrs. Fields, you are stunning tonight, and if I may be so bold, sir, you clean up rather nicely too.”
Charity decided to just blow off the rude woman’s comments and have a good time at the party. She twirled in a circle before saying, “Thanks, Stanley. I don’t get all dressed up every day and it’s nice someone finally noticed.”
David gave her a playful slap on the back of her head. “Hey! What did I say to you before we came down?”
Charity grabbed the back of her head as if she was hurt, but then smiled over her shoulder while climbing into the car.
David grumbled. “Women. You can never please them. Take my word, Stanley. They are never happy.”
Stanley chuckled and as he was closing the door stated, “Don’t I know it, sir. Don’t I know it.”
Chapter Eight
Any view of the landscape below was blocked by enormous white fluffy clouds, but to avoid eye contact with the woman she was seated next to on the plane, Charity looked out the window in spite of the limited view. It was easier to pretend to be interested in what was happening outside than to listen to another hour about her fellow passenger’s granddaughters. So far the entire trip had been filled with long drawn-out tales of Rebecca and Martha. Not only did Charity now know which musical instruments the girls played in their high school band, but also that the oldest, Rebecca, was a whiz at soccer while the youngest, Martha, was the best little ballerina in the entire world. They each wore braces and were honor students. For the first hour it had been interesting to listen to, but now she had a headache and all she really wanted was some time to sit and think for the rest of the flight to California. As soon as Mrs. Edward’s left to go to the restroom, Charity slipped on a set of headphones to listen to music. As an extra precaution to be certain she wasn’t disturbed when the older lady returned, Charity also closed her eyes. The latest, best-selling murder mystery was tucked in between her and the arm of the seat, and she hadn’t made it past the first three pages because of the over-excited grandmother’s desire to share everything she knew about her beloved granddaughters.
The song playing over the headphones sparked memories of the night before at the final cast party. It had been played by a relatively new band, The Monkees. The four band members turned out to be some of the sweetest men she had ever met before. The lead singer was short but so cute with his shaggy long hair and English accent. After singing a few songs, the band had mingled with the other guests and it been fun getting to talk with each of them. There’d been rows and rows of tables, beautifully covered with silk linens, decorated with flowers and ice sculptures, and heaping with every type
of food imaginable on shiny silver trays. It had not only been the cast members and crew but several famous actors, actresses, and others she hadn’t even recognized. She guessed they were people well known in film making too. Everyone had been dressed in tuxedos and knock-down-dead gorgeous evening gowns. The amount of diamonds and other jewels had been mind-blowing since she had never been around so many rich people in one place before. The champagne had flowed freely. The entire football field had been decorated to look like a fairyland of lights and glimmering decorations.
The moment Stanley opened the limo door for Charity and David, there had been so many camera flashes all at once and it had been blinding. The entire night had seemed like a dream. About halfway through the party, Christopher had found Charity and corned her by one of the huge food tables. He was more than a little tipsy, but by far the nicest he had ever been to her. Charity had just taken a bite into a large shrimp when he leaned over into her face with a big grin on his face.
“I directed you in your first film.”
Charity swallowed the tiny bite of shrimp. She was certain she looked just as confused as she felt. “Yes, you did.”
He jabbed a finger into her arm and then jabbed again. He wobbled a bit but somehow managed to keep his finger in the same spot throughout the entire ordeal. He leaned in closer. Charity felt as if her personal space had been invaded so she’d leaned backward in reflex.
Tiny bits of saliva sprayed out when he spoke again. “No. I mean one day. Soon. You are going to be famous, and then people will want to talk to me about how I felt working with you on your first film.” He leaned even closer and she took another step backwards just to keep as much distance between them as she could without appearing to be too rude. She didn’t feel threatened, but had never liked people who felt as if they had to be right in your face in order to be heard.
Christopher leaned in another inch in spite of how far away she tried to get from him. “Do you know what I’m going to say?”
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