“Hey, Dad,” she said, sitting down at the kitchen table.
He took a seat across from her. “What’s up?”
“Matteo and Ella,” she began without preamble. “Lola knew their names. She also knew we hadn’t seen each other in half a year.”
Arlen’s heart thumped. “Yeah …?”
“She knows our story,” Katie stated bluntly. “You told her our story. You never tell anyone our story.”
“She’s my boss.”
Katie snorted. His daughter actually snorted at him.
“You told your boss our story?”
“I … um ...”
“I’m not blind, Dad. I saw the way she looked at you. The way you looked at her.”
“Katie—”
“Is she your girlfriend?”
He sighed with relief at such an easy question. “No.”
“Why not?” she fumed, springing up in agitation. “You guys like each other, right? So why aren’t you together?”
“Katie.” His voice was soft. God, he couldn't stand to see her upset. Especially not when he was the cause. “Katie, please. Sit down.” He looked right at her. “Please. I don't know if I'll tell you what you want to hear, but I'll tell you the truth.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Katie sat down.
Arlen didn't say anything.
“Well?”
Arlen took a deep breath. “I—”
Katie waited. “You what?”
Arlen looked at Katie. Suddenly he felt so tired of how screwed up everything had gotten. “I'm crazy in love with Lola Scott.” He said it calmly, without much inflection. It just was.
Katie's face lit up, then creased, then crumpled, then sparked back to life. “You love her?” Her eyes looked around wildly, as if answers papered the walls. “Are you not with her because of Mom?” Her voice cracked, slicing into Arlen's heart.
“What?” Arlen reached out to take her hands. “No.”
“Because of the will.” Tears splashed down her face. “You’re still mad because she didn’t leave us kids to you. That’s why you never have a girlfriend.”
Arlen shook his head, trying to make sense of what she was saying. The will? The will? It wasn't the will. The will, his anger at Rachel, his fury at the injustice of the world—everything that had been holding him down for years—none of it was keeping him back from Lola. He wanted Lola in his life. God, he wanted her. Only Lola was getting in the way of his being with Lola.
“It’s okay,” Katie said, sniffling. “I’m mad at her, too. How could she do this to all of us?”
Arlen looked at Katie. He knew with iron-clad certainty that he could not let his daughter sail into adulthood blaming her mother for something they would never fully understand.
“No, no, Katie,” he crooned, squeezing her hands in his. “Rachel didn’t do anything bad to any of us.”
“But you’re our Dad,” she argued. “We should have stayed with you.”
“Jon’s your dad, too,” he said.
“But you were her husband.”
“So was Jon. Once. If she'd given me custody in the will, she would have been taking it away from Jon. I think she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. She never gave up on him.”
“But she was supposed to love you,” Katie insisted.
“She did, Katie. Believe me, she did. She made me the happiest guy on the planet. She did.” Arlen paused, his voice getting quieter. “But I think she also loved Jon.
“I don’t get it,” Katie said, wiping her face.
“Katie, I wish like hell things had turned out differently for all of us, but—” Arlen had to convince her. “Look at your mom’s life,” he finally said.
“What do you mean?”
“Your mom loved Jon, but he left. What was she supposed to do? Wait forever? She had a life to live. She had three amazing kids to love and take care of.” He smiled, but he could feel himself shaking. This was true.
“We met,” he continued, “and we fell for each other. She took a chance with me. She loved me, but she wasn’t ever going to give up on Jon. Not mentioning me in the will left it up to him. And we worked it out. We did. Yes, I wish I had you all year and he only got to see you twice a year. But I didn’t lose you guys. And Jon found you.”
Katie sniffled again. “You know,” she said. “When I told Mary Lou about us, she said it just showed you how awful love could be. How scary it was. How it could ruin your life.”
Arlen just looked at her, feeling the pulse beat in his throat.
“But she was wrong,” Katie said. “Love isn't awful. Love is you and Matteo and Ella and Mom and Nana. Love is the good stuff. But then Mom died. And Jon took us away from you. It's not being with the ones you love that really hurts.”
Chapter 62
ARLEN
It was the middle of the night and Arlen couldn't get to sleep. He stretched out beneath his cool, crisp sheets and looked at the dark ceiling. Katie's words kept echoing around in his head. Her questions, his answers.
In the wake of all the history and trauma that had been dragged into the light recently, what he and Lola were doing seemed downright lame.
It's not being with the ones you love that really hurts.
None of it made much sense. She was Lola Scott. If anyone ever found out about them, he had no doubt she could spin any media fallout into gold. And with Wendy riding shotgun, any publicity trailing from the show would turn into a windfall.
Go be with your kids.
Lola had moved heaven and earth to get him back his kids, but then she disappeared into the mist. Why? Why was Lola always backing away when it came to being with him and Katie, Matteo, and Ella? Christ Almighty, the answer was so fucking obvious it made his guts churn. Just because she could write kick-ass scenes for and about kids didn't mean she wanted any in her life.
Could Lola the Great really be that repulsed by the thought of his kids getting all up into her grill? It just seemed so impossible to compute. Was Lola such a control freak that in her universe, she couldn't stand the thought of children, unknown quantities that they were? And what about him? Was loving him too impractical to consider in a world that she needed to command?
Arlen flipped over in bed and punched his pillow a few times. It didn't make sense. Yet, it made perfect sense—Lola fit the bill as an anti-kid dynamo. But it didn't work at all, not if you knew Lola. Not if you'd been close to her spark, her warmth, and her connection to the world that stretched and clung like so much cotton candy.
Why was Lola holding back?
In the darkness of his room, Arlen felt just the tiniest trickle of dread … dread that Lola's icing him out actually did have everything to do with the kids.
Chapter 63
LOLA
I'm going to see him tomorrow. That's so not why I've been doing Hip Hop Abs workouts twice a day for the past week. Hardly. I need to be in top form as the show starts production, that's all. It's not like I'm trying to impress him or anything. Starting tomorrow it's go go go. First the table read for episode 2. The follow-up to the pilot is a crucial show to nail. But I'm not even the littlest bit nervous about that.
It's shooting the interstitials that has me so jittery.
Arlen's going to hate it. Just looking all carefree and windblown as we film quick shots to play along with network branding in between commercials.
But at least Katie's going to be there, with Mary Lou, so the day won't totally suck for him. It must have been awful for him a week ago when Matteo and Ella left. We had no communication then. I mean, nothing was going on with the show that he needed to be a part of, so I wasn't there. I wasn't with him. So I don't know how much it hurt him to say good-bye.
Yes. I do. I swear I felt it. I counted. I knew the exact day they must have left. Just like I know Katie and Mary Lou will be leaving next Thursday.
So I don't blame Arlen for wanting to spend every possible second with them. He asked if
they could be around for some of the time this week, “Just until they get bored.” That's what Ray said Arlen said. Because he'd gone through Ray to get Katie and Mary Lou onto the set. I'm fine with it. I really appreciate, actually, how he communicated with Ray and kept me out of it. Just like I'd requested. I told Arlen I wanted us to stay away from each other, and he's on board. That's really nice of him.
It's just what I fucking asked for.
Twelve hours later, I suck down my hand-delivered mocha java and think about the table read this morning. There were a few glitches in the script that I'll have to tinker with later today, but the vibe of the show is strong. Everyone in the cast is mixing and gelling exactly the way I want. And the linchpin in it all is Arlen.
I look across the set at Ray, who's bustling around, making sure everyone is doing what they need to be doing. Ray Collier. Ray Collier, the man who actually found Arlen.
Ray! Get me someone to work on my house. One guy, maybe two, tops. I don't want a whole crew traipsing around! And make sure he knows how to work with tile. The tiny kind. My pool is practically a historic landmark.
I smile as I watch my whirling dervish of an assistant. Securing the gigantic raise for Ray hadn't been easy. But Tom finally caved when I connected Wendy's ease on set directly to everything that Ray did for Arlen. Tom would have approved the raise a lot quicker if he weren't so gaga over Ray, but really. I'm not about to start chastising anyone for getting all swoony over someone at work.
I know Ray doesn't think I have a clue. And I have to give him credit. He never gave a damn thing away. But jeepers, does Tom light up like firefly whenever Ray is around! But I must admit, I was even totally obtuse about that for a while. At first, I thought Tom just got watts brighter in my office because he was involved with the show that brought the lucrative Wendy Hunter to his studio. But it hadn't been Wendy with all her ratings and riches that had been putting that sparkle in Tom's eye. It had been Ray. It still is Ray.
Do I worry that Tom will make Ray an offer that will whisk him away from me? Away from the show? Sure. Am I concerned that Tom will end up pulverizing Ray's heart? Yes. Derailing Ray's career? Yes. Should I really be thinking about any of this stuff? No. But I do. As terrifying as it all is, it's better than thinking about Arlen.
But for right now, I have to think about Arlen. Mackie's ready to start.
An hour later, Mackie catches my eye and I send him a huge smile. Giving the assistant director the chance to test his directing wings for this shoot is paying off—for everyone. Mackie's presence is so relaxing that he gets the very best performances out of the entire cast. The footage of the kids by themselves and with Arlen is golden. And Wendy surprised everyone with her jocular shots with the kids.
But now it's time for the shots of Wendy and Arlen. Saving the best for last. But I'm starting to sweat. Why am I sweating? Arlen already nailed the pilot. Why should I be nervous?
Because everything's different.
Arlen hasn't looked at me today. Not once. Not when I was talking to him during the table read. Not when he was talking to me. Not across the set. Not before a take or after a take. He's cut me off completely, just like I asked him to.
And it's making me feel all untethered.
“Cut.” Mackie's voice is strong and clear. “We're going again.” But he says this more quietly.
Oh, no. This is more takes than anyone else needed. Something's wrong. I thought maybe I was imagining it, but Mackie's seen it, too. Something's missing, not connecting.
Arlen and Wendy can nail the playful looks, the sizzling looks, but that crucial combination of hot and goofy isn't there. But it's that kind of chemistry that can hook viewers in the blink of an eye as they're surfing channels.
And I know exactly how to fix it. Wendy needs to tickle Arlen. Nothing over the top, or anything. Just a finger traced lightly along his hip bone would do it. But how can I tell Wendy or Mackie? How does the showrunner know her leading man is ticklish and how the hell does she know exactly what it will do to him?
“Okay,” Mackie calls. “Five, four—”
“Wait!”
Everyone looks over to Katie. She's not even supposed to be here, technically, and she is supposed to be as quiet as a rock and as unobtrusive as a cockroach. And then to make things worse, she bolts right into the set. Before anyone can stop her or even say anything, she goes right up to Wendy and whispers something in the star's ear.
Katie disappears in a flash, but I see security moving in on her. Before Arlen can tackle anyone, I step up to Katie and Mary Lou.
“You guys are great,” I tell security. “But I've got this.”
I look to Mackie and nod. The slate snaps and the camera rolls. The wind machines kick in and Mackie calls out moves like he's a fashion photographer. When he tells them to bring on the heat, my mouth drops open when I see Wendy's fingers curl around Arlen's hip ... and she tickles him. Just a touch, but the effect loosens up Arlen enough to capture the array of chemistry bubbling between them. Mackie does a few more takes. As Wendy subtly threatens with more and more tickling, the shots get better and better.
“Cut!” Mackie's smile is gorgeous. “That's a wrap.”
I turn to Katie. “What did you say to her?”
“I just said, 'Tickle him.' With Dad, it always works.”
She keeps looking at me and I keep looking at her. She takes a breath. “And I knew you couldn't tell her.”
She says this so quietly I wonder if I heard her right. But I know from the frozen-in-the-glare-of-a-spotlight look on Mary Lou's face that I did.
I nod, giving her a look, not quite a smile, suffused with gratitude. “Thanks.”
She nods back, then she and Mary Lou head across the set to talk to Arlen.
Chapter 64
ARLEN
Wendy arranged her face into a sympathetic-adult look.“Divorce sure sucks.”
“Yeah, it does,” Katie said. “But Dad and Mom never got divorced. Mom died.”
Wendy's brows dented and her mouth dropped open a tiny bit.
“Car crash,” Katie said quietly. “Then my biological father, who'd never really been around, showed up and took us all away from Dad.”
Arlen noticed Wendy struggling to keep her face picture perfect as her eyes looked like they were rattling around. She turned to him but he could see that she was utterly without words.
“When I married Rachel,” he told her, “the kids were a lot younger.” He smiled as he tousled Katie's hair.
“I was six the day I met you,” Katie remembered. “Seven at the wedding.”
“Wait,” Wendy said, trying to catch up. “Arlen … so you don't actually have any parental rights? You get to see your kids because this guy, this deadbeat dad guy, lets you?”
“Jon Robin,” Katie confirmed. “He moved us all to Tacoma. And he told Dad if he didn't follow us, he could see us at Thanksgiving and in the summer.”
“Well,” Wendy said quickly, “I'm very glad you're here now. Excuse me.” And she scurried off set.
Arlen watched her go. He knew she was about to cry. And Wendy Hunter did not cry in public unless she meant to. He looked at Katie and kissed her on the top of the head. “I'll be right back.”
When he knocked on Wendy's trailer door, she didn't answer. He knocked again. Nothing. He tried the door. Locked.
He took out his phone and texted Wendy. Just let me in. I know how to pick locks.
Wendy opened the door. As he walked past her into the trailer, he saw that her eyelashes were wet and her nose was a tiny bit red.
When she shut the door he turned to face her. “Wendy—”
“I'm sorry,” she said, cutting across his words. “I owe you.”
“No, you don't. You've already done so much.”
“What? That picnic in your back yard? Please. That was nothing.”
“I don't mean that.”
“Then what?”
“When Jon saw the picture he called me and told
me the kids couldn't come. I went to Lola and quit. She flew up to Tacoma that day and made Jon change his mind. She used you and your clout to blackmail Jon into sending the kids.”
“What? How?”
“He works for Palm Leaf Beauty. Lola told him that if he insisted on fucking with Wendy Hunter's co-star, then Palm Leaf's biggest rival was about to get the spokeswoman of the century: you.”
“Lola did that? She flew up to Washington and threatened your wife's ex-husband? And she got your kids back for you? Using me as leverage?”
“Yes.”
Wendy nodded. “Nice.” She looked up at Arlen. “No matter what happens with this show, Arlen, I've got your back. He ever tries to pull anything like this again, you let me know.”
“Wendy—”
“Please, Arlen. Promise me you'll let me know.”
“I promise.”
“Thank you.”
Wendy laughed. “Lola can be seriously bad-ass.”
“Yeah ...”
“So, are you happy you didn't quit?”
In answer, Arlen hugged her and kissed her on the top of her head.
As he loped out of Wendy's trailer a minute later, he took a second to marvel at Katie's chutzpah. His sixteen year-old daughter had just warned off the most famous woman in America. Wendy Hunter's publicity stunt had messed with Katie's life and Katie was making damn sure she knew it. So that Wendy Hunter would think ten or twenty or a thousand or a millionty-seven times before ever doing something like that again.
Why hadn't he just done that in the first place? Gone to Wendy to explain what she'd done and demanded she fix it?
But instead he'd gone to Lola. And she'd saved him.
So he'd let her in.
And now Arlen felt an ever-present chill of fear. Because he was pretty sure that Lola was going to decimate him.
Maybe it was time he just told her what she was doing to him. What she was doing to his life.
Chapter 65
LOLA
This time I'm knocking on his door. No cloak and dagger under the tree in his front yard. I'm just going to hand him the new pages. Wave to Katie and Mary Lou, and take off. No big deal.
Queen of the Universe (In Love in the Limelight Book 2) Page 18