The Nearness of You: A British celebrity, standalone love-at-first-sight romance

by K. G. Fletcher

  The little girl giggled. “Yes. I love pink. It’s my favorite color.” Her tiny foot kicked at his chair.

  Furrowing his brow, David looked around before he leaned toward her. “Where is your mummy and daddy? Are you here all alone?”

  She shook her head. “I’m waiting on my nanny. She’s paying for something at the front desk downstairs.”

  “Oh, is that so?” He clasped his hands in his lap. “Let me guess. Are you a fan of ‘Eloise’?”

  Her eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly. “I’m staying in the Eloise Suite. It has pink walls and a chandelier!”

  “A chandelier? Really? My room doesn’t have anything like that.” He over-accentuated a big frown making her laugh.

  The two chatted about the adventures of the Kay Thompson fictional character, Eloise and her presence in the Plaza Hotel. David’s heart strings were pulled by the little princess and he found himself suddenly wishing for a daughter of his own. Her accent was adorable and her imagination was vivid. An older woman wearing a black trench coat suddenly approached the table.

  “I beg your pardon, sir,” she offered breathlessly to David before turning to the little girl. “I’ve been looking all over for you! We’re going to miss our Eloise tea time appointment in the Palm Court if we don’t skedaddle.”

  The little girl nodded and displayed a wide-mouthed grin.

  “Well, it was nice meeting you,” he said holding his hand out for her to shake. “My name is David. Can you tell me your name before you go off on another wild adventure like Eloise?”

  She grinned from ear to ear revealing a space where her two front teeth used to be. “I’m Rosie!”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  David looked at his watch for a third time and frowned. Being out of touch all day with Lauren felt odd, and he wondered if Sabrina had couriered his cellphone back to the hotel yet. Signing the tab for his drink, he then strolled down the dramatic staircase into the lobby of the hotel. The concierge on duty looked up from his post and immediately greeted him.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Randle. How can I help you?”

  David shoved his hands into his pockets. “Good afternoon. I’m expecting a package to be couriered over from my assistant, Ms. Sabrina Watson. Do you know if it has arrived?”

  The older gentleman smiled. “Let’s check with the front desk.”

  They walked over to the massive marble front desk where a petite woman wearing horn-rimmed glasses greeted them. No phone had been delivered, but the woman remembered taking a call from someone trying to get in touch with him.

  “Do you remember who it was?” David asked.

  She quickly looked through some papers. “Yes, Mrs. Catherine Brady.”

  “That’s my sister,” he offered.

  “We keep notes on who calls for our special guests in case they don’t get the message. Let’s see,” the woman peered at her notes again. “She’s called several times and was transferred directly to your room.”

  David was perplexed. “Did she leave a message?”

  “I’m sorry, sir. We don’t have access to the voicemail system from the front desk. If she left a message, it will be on your private suite phone.”

  “I understand. Thank you.”

  “I’ll let you know right away when your package is delivered.”

  He nodded and headed toward the bank of elevators. Standing alone in the compartment, he wondered if the girls decided to continue their shopping spree and were wanting to meet him later. Not having his phone irritated him. Sabrina would have some explaining to do.

  Flicking on a lamp, he sat at the antique writing desk where the suite telephone was located. Sure enough, a small green light was blinking indicating he had a message. He followed the instructions and was shocked to learn he had not one, but six missed messages.

  “Six?” he said out loud, perplexed.

  Pressing the appropriate number on the keypad, he listened to the first message from his sister, Catherine. All the color drained from his face and he bolted from his seat leaving the phone dangling by its chord, swinging back and forth like a pendulum on a giant clock.

  ***

  David ran down the hallway of the hospital, aware of the staff watching him. The paparazzi was camped out in front of the hotel and several of them followed him to Presbyterian Hospital. The not knowing was the hardest part. Catherine’s message indicated Lauren had been in an accident and he needed to come immediately. The call came in hours ago. If he had only known…

  He spotted his sister standing against the wall near the waiting room with her phone to her ear.

  “Brian, he’s here. I’ll call you back.” She shoved the phone into her purse and put her hands on her hips. “Where the fuck have you been?” Her face was pale and her dark hair was a mass of out-of-control curls. It appeared she’d been crying.

  “I don’t have my cellphone. I left it in the conference room with Sabrina and it was supposed to be couriered to me. Where is she? Where is Lauren?” He spoke as quickly as his mouth would allow. His sister was seething, which wasn’t a good sign. “Bloody hell, Catherine! Where is Lauren?”

  Quickly grabbing his elbow, she brought him into the far corner of the waiting room space and sat down. She tilted her head toward the empty seat next to her as an indication for him to sit as well. His heart was pounding.

  “Well?”

  Catherine leaned in shaking her head. She took in a deep breath. “We were in Lower Manhattan shopping. Lauren went outside for a minute and apparently, a paparazzi photographer began assaulting her with a barrage of indecent questions and started taking photos of her up close.”

  David gritted his teeth knowing Lauren wasn’t trained to deal with those scumbags. His heart sank, knowing she was probably scared to death. He should’ve had someone accompany them. No… he should have been with her.

  “She walked away from him. She even walked across the street, but he followed her. She tried to ditch him in the subway tunnel but slipped on the stairs and fell.”

  His heart lurched, and he grabbed his sister’s arm. “Is she all right? Was she injured?”

  Catherine’s eyes pooled with tears. “She fell on her stomach and bruised her cheek. David…” She swallowed hard. “You need to speak to the doctor. Lauren’s spotting and they can’t find the fetal heartbeat. She may be having a miscarriage.”

  He collapsed against the back of the plastic chair, his breathing shallow and uneasy. Bringing his hand up to his mouth, he pulled on his lips. “What?” His whisper was barely audible.

  “I’m so sorry, darling.” Catherine was openly crying running her hand gently along his arm.

  He stared at the floor, his mind reeling. How could something so devastating happen in just a matter of hours? If only he hadn’t gone to the PR meetings and had been with Lauren instead. This was his fault. He should have been near her at all times.

  Bile rose into the back of his throat as he stood. “I’ll be right back.”

  Catherine stood and watched him turn and leave. “Where are you going? Lauren’s waiting for you!”

  “I said, I’ll be right back.”

  David forced the glass doors of the hospital entrance open with both hands and was greeted with a group of paparazzi flashbulbs. He blinked in the bright light adjusting his eyes and looked around menacingly at the motley crew.

  “Who did this?” he yelled fisting his hands at his side. Anger surged through his veins.

  The group looked around at each other as if uncertain what he was asking.

  David deliberately walked down the steps and approached one of the men grabbing him by his shirt. “Was it you, Felix?” Felix was a regular fixture at all the events celebrities attended in New York. He’d been doing it for so long that many knew him by his first name, including David.

  The man’s eyes became wide with fear. “I don’t know what happened. That’s why I’m here, to get the story, man!”

  David shoved him back into the
crowd, his chest heaving with fury. “When I find out who it was, you better believe I’m pressing charges.” He turned and took the steps back up to the entrance two at a time. The air erupted in clicks and flashes capturing David Randle’s famous backside reentering the hospital.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “This could have already been happening before her fall in the subway. In the first trimester of pregnancy, the baby is protected by the amniotic fluid which absorbs shock. A fall or a hit to the stomach during the first trimester will not usually result in a miscarriage.”

  “But it could…” David was wide-eyed taking in every ounce of information the doctor offered. He was ready to throw the book at the paparazzi and make them pay.

  “I suppose it could, but again, it’s very unlikely. If a miscarriage is going to happen, there’s not a lot you can do to prevent it. It’s usually the result of a glitch in the genes of the fetus. Miscarriages are completely random and more of a mystery if anything.” He grasped David’s forearm in reassurance. “Odds are Lauren will be able to get pregnant again. She’s young and healthy. I really am sorry you have to go through this.”

  David ran his fingers down his cheeks trying to process everything. “Is she in pain? What’s going to happen now?”

  The doctor explained that Lauren was already experiencing vaginal bleeding and cramping and how her body would naturally pass some tissue. He referred to it as a “heavy menstrual cycle.” He also indicated that the emotional trauma would be harder than the actual expulsion of the pregnancy.

  “We’ll give her some medication to ease the pain of her cramping. There’s really nothing else to do but comfort her and make sure she gets plenty of rest. I’ll send in a nurse with her discharge papers and you can take her home.”

  David nodded and inadvertently wondered where their home really was. He thanked the doctor profusely and watched him leave the waiting area. Catherine had been sitting quietly by his side. She put her arm around him.

  “You need to go in and see her now. She’s been waiting for you.”

  He nodded, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I know. I just don’t know what I’m going to say to her. I feel awful for not being here sooner. The thought of her scared and hurting in the dirty subway… I had no idea. I should have been with her.”

  Catherine shook her head. “You can’t dwell, darling. These circumstances were out of your control. Just go in there. Reassure her that the reason you proposed is because you love her, not because of the pregnancy.”

  “What?” His stomach free-fell into his knees as he looked at her. “Is that what she thinks?”

  She nodded slowly. “Lauren believes your relationship is over, now that there’s no baby….”

  David stood quickly and gripped the back of his neck. “Bloody hell, Catherine! That’s a lie! I proposed because I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her!”

  Catherine stood and clasped her hands in front of her, a loving smile blossoming across her pale face. “Then go and tell her.”

  David quietly opened the door to Lauren’s room and entered. He stood for a moment, watching the bleached sheet slowly move up and down across her chest with each breath she took as she lay in the bed with her eyes closed.

  A chair had been pulled up next to her, and he walked toward it, easing himself beside her. Her cheekbone was stained with a large black and blue bruise and her mascara was smeared beneath her eyes, probably from crying. Shaking his head, he was overcome with emotion, wanting desperately to take her into his arms and cradle her close to his heart. She needed to know what his intentions were. She needed to know he truly loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

  Placing his forearm on the mattress, David laid his head across his arm allowing silent tears to flow down his cheeks. With his other hand, he lightly touched her fingertips feeling the warmth of her skin. When she gripped his fingers in her own, he lifted his head.

  “Lauren…,” he whispered hoarsely.

  She looked at him and offered a sad, tired smile. He immediately cupped her cheek.

  “I’m so sorry.” Warm tears trickled down his face. “I didn’t know what happened until I received Catherine’s messages on the hotel phone. I don’t have my cellphone. Sabrina was charging it for me and forgot to give it back before we all left for the day. I had no idea. I came as soon as I knew.”

  Lauren said nothing and started to sit up in the bed. David sat back in the chair and sniffled, wiping his cheeks with his shirt-sleeve. His heart was reeling as he waited for her to say something—anything. He watched her adjust the sheet across her lap and sigh heavily. Their eyes met again and his heart lurched with sadness for what she was going through.

  “It’s okay, David. I understand.”

  “Understand?” He held his breath.

  She swallowed, averting his intense gaze. “I’m never going to have full access to you.” She shifted uncomfortably on the mattress. “Our first weekend back together was a wakeup call. If I can’t get in touch with you during a crisis, what makes me think I’ll be able to get in touch with you during a normal day to ask when you might be home or what you might want for dinner?” Her voice was tinged with emotion as if she knew life with a supermodel would be anything but normal.

  “Darling, I promise, you will always be able to get in touch with me. Today was a fluke. I need to give you other contact numbers in case my cell is in my bag or being charged or….”

  Lauren interrupted him. “It’s not going to work, David. Can’t you see? I know the only reason you proposed was because of the pregnancy. I get it. You’re a good man and you always do the right thing.” She paused, her voice becoming quiet. “Now that there isn’t a baby, you can move on and not worry about the responsibility of a wife and a child hindering your career.”

  David watched in horror as she slowly removed the diamond engagement ring from her finger and laid it gently on the mattress. They both looked at it for several seconds not saying a word.

  “It’s over, David. There’s no need to drag this thing out. I’ll be fine.” Tears streamed down her determined face as her chest heaved as if trying to keep it together.

  David blinked back his own tears and sat up straight, his eyes fixated on the beautiful ring. He reached his hand out to take it before he stood and turned his back to her, bowing his head in defeat.

  His mind was reeling as he fingered the expensive diamond in his hand, trying very hard to maintain his composure. He had to make her realize she was wrong; to convince her that she was the most important person in her life.

  “Very well then,” he mumbled, wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand. “When I proposed to you, there was indeed the issue of your pregnancy and I admit, I wanted to do right by you and our child.” Turning to her, his face softened. “Now that there is no pregnancy, I should like to propose again for the sheer reason that I love and adore you.”

  Lauren pursed her lips and closed her eyes as if in pain. He sat back in the chair and clasped her hand in his. She opened her eyes and watched his every move. Sliding the ring back on her finger, he looked at her with intensity, determined to make her understand.

  “You are the best… the best thing that has ever happened to me. Not my career or the awards or the money or even a baby. It’s you, Lauren. I need you and I can’t live without you. Please reconsider.” He held her hand up to his lips and kissed her skin tenderly. “Please, marry me.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  The hospital staff managed to help David and Lauren escape the building unnoticed out of a basement entrance where deliveries were made. They left in the wee hours of the morning in the hopes they could lose the dreaded paparazzi. David was desperate to protect Lauren from the feeding frenzy of media that had exploded, and he hired extra security to get them back to the Plaza Hotel in the shroud of darkness, undetected. He managed to get her settled in the king-sized bed but was too wound up to sleep himself.
Sitting in a chair by the window, he stood watch over the love of his life by the light of a hazy moon, his mind swirling with anticipation of her final answer to his second proposal. She told him she needed time to think about it. How much time, she didn’t say. David hoped she wouldn’t take too long, the agony of waiting and wondering almost too much to bear.

  He mulled over the doctor’s comments that it probably wasn’t the fall that caused her to have a miscarriage. Still, he seethed with anger knowing a scumbag photog had frightened her, sending her into the subway where she had slipped and fell. What if she had broken her leg or received another concussion? It seemed as of late, he brought her nothing but physical pain and emotional trauma. He was the cause of her pain.

  David began to mull over the unthinkable—perhaps she was better off living her life without him. Life in a fishbowl was unpredictable and often dangerous. He was used to it after a decade of learning. Would she be able to adapt, especially now that his career had taken off? It was only going to get worse.

  As he watched her sleeping in the shadows of the night, his heart surged with revelation. He wasn’t going to give up on her. He was willing to do whatever it took to keep her in his life, even if it meant giving up his own career.

  ***

  Lauren looked at her reflection in the opulent bathroom mirror and sighed. Her appearance was absolutely awful. A sinister purple bruise stained her cheek, looking like she’d just been in a dreadful street fight. She felt awful too. Popping two more pain pills into her mouth, she bent over the sink and drank directly from the faucet. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she splayed her other hand across her tummy and felt… nothing. What was wrong with her? Did she have no maternal instinct what-so-ever? Would she ever grieve the loss of what might have been? She didn’t have the energy to figure it out in that moment and tiptoed back into the luxury suite.

  David was slumped in a chair next to the bed, sound asleep, his gorgeous profile highlighted from the shadows of the moon. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she nervously fingered the large diamond on her left hand and stared at him, reflecting on their intense love affair.