Something Better

by Gail R Delaney

  Jake squirmed, but took the cup and knocked back the goo, following it up with a drink of water. David slid off the bed and headed to the door, leaving Jake with Maggie with a final wave and promise to be back for a rematch. As he stepped into the hall, Maggie called his name and he waited for her to join him.

  "Is Andi downstairs?" he asked, pointing in the direction of the stairs with his thumb.

  "Yeah. Boner called." Maggie didn't even attempt to hide the disgust in her face. Course, David doubted Maggie ever tried to hide her true opinion of anything.

  "Oh." The immediate need to get downstairs hit David, and he turned to go.

  "David," Maggie called again and he pulled up short. She took the step needed to reach him, her arms crossed over her body. She stared up at him, lips set firm, for several moments as he waited for her to say whatever it was that was obviously on her mind. "The verdict is in," she finally said.

  David drew in air through his nose and pulled his shoulders back. "And?"

  "I don't know if you deserve her or not, that's something you've got to know for yourself, but you've earned her. So far."

  He swallowed, forcing himself not to ask what had convinced her. Instead he just nodded and cleared his throat. "I'll make sure it stays that way."

  "Good." She turned to go back into the bedroom.

  "Why do I feel like I just got parental approval?"

  Maggie laughed over her shoulder. "Big Jake and Erica Parker are nothing compared to me, boyo."

  David took the stairs that led directly into the kitchen, and heard Andi's voice as he neared the bottom of the steps. "I told you last week that you have to call two days in advance."

  As he took the last step onto the kitchen tile, she turned to see him, offering a tight smile. Then she shook her head and dipped her chin, sighing.

  "That's just too damn bad, Lawrence. And keep in mind during your extended stay in California, that school starts in a week and a half and you're not going to have the option of taking him during the week."

  David crossed to her and leaned into the corner of the counter where it turned into the breakfast bar. From there, he could watch her without hovering, and he could know if the conversation took a turn he didn't like. Her eyes flicked to him for a moment and she pressed her lips together.

  "No, that won't work." Pause. "No." Pause. She huffed. "How many ways do you need to hear it, Lawrence? No!"

  David hated watching her when she spoke to her ex husband. Her entire body changed, curling like a bowstring that's been tightened too far. Much more and she'd snap. She walked around the bar to the other side and sat on one of the tall stools, her forehead held in her hand.

  "Fine, you want a reason? I'll give you three. One, if you'd thought to check before you pre-purchase tickets you'd know that we took him to the aquarium today. Two, he hurt his ankle playing and needs to be off it for a few days. Three -- and here's the big one, Lawrence -- I told you very clearly and precisely that you must ask forty-eight hours in advance if you can see him. Last I checked, calling me at five o'clock on a Monday night to take him on Tuesday does not constitute two days notice."

  David followed her path around the bar and stepped behind her, laying his hands on her shoulders. In less than fifteen minutes, tight knots had taken over her shoulders and neck. He pressed his thumbs to the base of her skull and ran them down the side of her spinal cord, beginning the slow process of easing away the tension. Unfortunately, what took a quarter hour to cause would probably take an hour to work out.

  Standing this close, he heard Larry Bonherre's voice through the phone, not as clearly as he'd heard in the restaurant a week earlier, but clear enough to hear Bonehead's arguments.

  "I don't understand why you're being so difficult about this, Andrea. I'm trying very hard to build a relationship with my son, and if I didn't know better, I would say you're sabotaging my attempts."

  "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're purposefully ignoring my specifications just to anger me and make me appear difficult," Andi snapped back.

  "Why would I want to anger you, Andrea, when I've made it quite clear since I arrived that my primary goal is to bring us together again as a family?"

  David's hands stilled. Andi hadn't said anything about Bonherre's wish to reconcile. For a moment, a flash of panic hit him that she might actually consider it. Then she leaned back into him, resting her head against his chest, and tilted her head so she could see him. He didn't have to look very deep to see in her eyes that there was no chance that she would go back to Bonherre. David smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead, urging with his touch that she face away from him again so he could work the knots from her shoulders.

  "Andrea? Are you going to answer me?"

  "No, Lawrence, because I gave up trying to figure out any of your motivations over six years ago. The answer remains the same. No to the aquarium and no to tomorrow. In fact, just to make it clear, Jake won't be able to go anywhere until later in the week when I am convinced his ankle has had sufficient rest. Beyond that, maybe."

  David heard Bonherre's sigh. "I would like to take him Friday night."

  Andi rubbed her forehead, and under his constant massage, David felt the tension pull again at her neck. "Just overnight," she finally answered. "I want him back by noon on Saturday. I have to take him to finish his school shopping."

  "Thank you, Andrea. I appreciate your willingness to allow me this time--"

  "Noon on Saturday, Lawrence. You can pick him up after five on Friday."

  Andi hung up the phone before Bonherre could say more, slamming the handset down on the granite countertop. She groaned and held her head in both her hands. Almost as quickly, she moved to stand.

  "I need to check on Jake."

  David held her in the chair, wrapping one arm around her to keep her from standing. "Mags is upstairs with him. He's fine. Apparently isn't a fan of liquid medicine--" Andi chuckled and he smiled, wrapping his other arm around her. "But, he's fine. Just sit for a minute and let me work at those knots."

  She relaxed in his arm and he went back to work on her shoulders. Andi let her head drop forward, stretching the long column of her neck. She groaned when he found a particularly tight area and pressed his thumbs into it. After a few moments of quiet as he worked, she finally spoke in a low voice -- so low he almost didn't make out everything she said.

  "He didn't ask how Jake hurt his ankle."

  David had realized as much by listening to the conversation, but had no idea what to say when she pointed it out. He just kept working, moving down her spine as far as he could with the barstool back in the way. Andi raised her head and released a long breath, her shoulders slumping a little.

  "You wanted to take him to the ER," she continued, a small chuckle that lacked any humor following her statement. "You carried him so he wouldn't have to walk on it. And you never once told him to stop crying about it. His father didn't even ask what he did or how bad it was."

  Larry Bonherre is an ass.

  That was the simplest explanation, but David figured Andi didn't need him to confirm anything to her about her ex husband. So, he kept rubbing and working at the tension the man created instead. Maggie came down, glanced at them, and went to the refrigerator for the milk. She opened a cupboard and took out a package of cookies, putting four on a plate, and poured a glass of milk.

  "Same old crap from bonehead?" she asked as she put the milk away.

  Andi nodded. "He wanted to take Jake tomorrow. To the aquarium of all places."

  Maggie snorted and kicked the refrigerator door shut as she picked up the milk and cookies. "Loser," she mumbled as she headed back up the stairs.

  "You're filming tomorrow," she said, not really asking.

  David knew she kept track of the filming schedule, and grinned because he remembered Andi's ranking system Maggie had explained to him. "Tomorrow is what... a one or a two?"

  She chuckled. "A two. I planned on being there."

  Davi
d leaned down and kissed the small hint of skin at the base of her throat where it curved into her shoulder. "Good."

  "I might have to bring Jake with me. I don't want to leave him on his own with a hurt ankle."

  "He can hang out in my trailer if he wants."

  "I've got a trailer, too, you know," she said, looking over her shoulder at him.

  "Yeah, but does your trailer have a Wii system?" Andi's eyes popped open, and David laughed. "One of the perks I guess Maggie forgot to get in your contract."

  "I'm going to have to talk to her about that..." She folded her arms on the counter and slumped forward, resting her head on her arms. A low hum shifted through her, vibrating against his hands.

  After a couple more minutes of massage, David cleared his throat. "Did Larry want anything else? Other than taking Jake?"

  She nodded against her arms. "Yeah, but I wasn't paying much attention."

  He stopped the massage and stood beside her stool, leaning on the counter. "Can I ask you a question?"

  Andi turned her head on her hands so she faced him, a lazy, relaxed smile on her lips. "Of course."

  "Does he want to reconcile?"

  Andi sat up and set her elbow on the counter, bracing her head against the heel of her hand. "He wants to, yes. He told me that last week when he came to pick up Jake." She shook her head against her hand. "He's had this epiphany -- he says -- about how much better his life was when we were married. It would seem that Leslie, his wife -- and the woman I caught him cheating with, by the way -- has turned the tables on him."

  "She had an affair..."

  "Yep." Andi sat back, rolling her head. "He still hasn't taken any of the blame for our life falling apart, but he's convinced getting me back will..." Andi trailed off, her eyes darting to him. Before she said anything more she reached out and curled her delicate fingers into his shirtsleeve, pulling at him until he unfolded his arms and turned to her. "It's not going to happen in this life time, or any other."

  David took her face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her. He stroked her hair from her face when he pulled back, looking into her eyes. "I didn't think so, but it's nice to hear it."

  She shook her head in his hold. "Even if you and I weren't together, he'd have a snowball's chance in hell of getting me back. David..." Andi raised her hand and touched his face, her lips ticking up in a small smile as her gaze skimmed over him. "You've done more for Jake and I in less than a month than Lawrence has done in eleven years."

  David leaned in for another kiss, but before his lips could touch hers, Maggie shouted down the stairs. "Hey, boyo! Jake is waiting for his rematch!"

  David tilted his head toward the stairs and arched his eyebrows. Andi smiled and nodded. "Good luck. You're going to need it."

  Chapter Fifteen

  DANDI TAKES A FAMILY OUTING

  David Bishop and Andrea 'Andi' Parker -- the hottest, freshest, most adorable couple to hit the Hollywood Radar -- were spotted earlier this week spending what appeared to be 'family' time with Parker's son at the Aquarium of the Pacific (Top Left Inset). First reports of the Rise of Dawn set romance surfaced just three weeks ago after Bishop suffered an on-set injury and witnesses reported he asked for Parker while being treated. Since then, Bishop and Parker have made little or no attempt to hide their relationship, and Bishop confirmed in an interview with Brooke Halle that they were dating -- although, he refused to comment further about the seriousness of the relationship or if they were exclusive (Center).

  One on-set insider stated that they believed the affair didn't exist prior to a 'staged' kiss the two shared while filming a scene. The insider reported that the supposedly 'for demonstration only' kiss was intense and "very real", and Parker immediately excused herself to her trailer... Bishop following not far behind. It was the following week when rumors of their romance surfaced, and the quoted insider went on to say "We were all witness to their first kiss. And if that was their first kiss... wow... I can't imagine what followed it up!".

  David Bishop, 31, is six years Parker's junior -- which, when considering the age gaps that have occurred in Hollywood, is nothing. What has intrigued some 'Bishopites' is Parker's divorced status and the fact that she is the single mother to an eleven year old boy. Parker has also shared a home with another woman -- Margaret Connelly, her literary agent -- since her divorce six years ago. Many have questioned whether Bishop is seeking a pre-fab family after rumors spread from his break-up with Josie Connors just over a year ago. Some reports said the break-up was a result of unfaithfulness in the relationship, while other rumors implied Bishop wanted a family and Connors was unwilling to put her career even temporarily on hold to have a baby. Still others question the schematics of a relationship that may include Bishop, Parker and Connelly.

  Most anyone who has seen the couple out and about only comment that they appear exceptionally happy in each other's company, and their affection is enough to give just about anyone the 'warm fuzzies'. After all, the first public photos of the couple involved a heated kiss against Bishop's car (Below right). After that, who wouldn't feel all warm and fuzzy?

  *****

  STEP FATHER POTENTIAL?

  In a city where most well-known actors go out of their way to hide from the scrutiny of the public eye -- David Bishop doesn't seek it, but he certainly doesn't hide from it. In fact, he doesn't even acknowledge the stalking paparazzi or curious eyes as he goes about his life like your average, every day man.

  This past weekend, David was once again spotted with his near-constant companion and girlfriend, Andrea Parker and her son. This time, Bishop and young Jacob Bonherre -- Parker's son from a previous marriage -- were seen playing against each other on a massive video gaming system on display at the local Best Buy. Between shouts, challenges, and laughter, neither seemed to care that nearly every move was being caught on camera (See images above).

  After finally being gently scolded by 'Mom', the three left the store together after Bishop ordered the entire system. As they crossed the parking lot (See lower left image), they looked like any typical family... Dad walking with his arm around his wife and his hand on his son's shoulder.

  Which inspires the question... is David Bishop applying for the roll of stepfather? Coming from a broken home himself -- his father and mother divorced shortly after he began acting at the age of 10, and his mother went on to marry his manager; the sordid details of their malfunctioning relationship were revealed when David turned 18 and fired his manager/stepfather -- and having been a bachelor for much of his adult life, is David ready to settle down and be a family man?

  Representatives for both David Bishop and Andi Parker have declined comment.

  *****

  BISHOP FINALLY SNAPS AT PAPARAZZI

  After weeks of effectively ignoring the paparazzi that stalk his every move when out with his girlfriend -- novelist Andrea Parker, creator of the Rise of Dawn series in which Bishop stars in the movie adaptation -- David Bishop finally lashed out at a photographer who got a little too pushy... and a little too personal.

  Sunday evening, Bishop and Parker attended a private party at the home of Baxter Benton, award-winning director of the film Rise of Dawn. Many of the key players in the making of the film were in attendance, including producers Jerry Henton and Hellene Stanwick, co-stars Taylor Reise and Ellen Rothschild, and several other backers and contributors to the film.

  At the end of the evening, as Bishop and Parker left the mansion, an un-named photographer leaped from the hedges to snap photographs of the two in what has come to be known as their usual heated embrace. As the story goes -- based on eye-witness accounts -- the photographer startled Parker, causing her to stumble backwards and nearly fall down the marble steps leading down to the driveway. Bishop caught her; however, he immediately turned on the photographer. Witnesses also say the photographer provoked Bishop by making a lewd comment about Andrea, at which point David Bishop seized the man's camera equipment and tossed it into a nearby fountain
. No blows were exchanged, but the photographer was heard shouting threats of legal action as Bishop and Parker continued down the steps to their waiting car.

  *****

  DANDI BABY BUMP?

  Three months into their relationship -- and yes, David Bishop and Andrea Parker have openly and verbally admitted that they aren't just casually seeing each other, that this is a serious relationship -- could that be a baby bump on Andrea Parker? With the filming of Rise of Dawn coming to a close, perhaps there will be a new Bishop by the premiere? (See image left).

  "Are you kidding me?" Andi held the paper closer to her face, tilting it slightly sideways to get a different angle on the picture. "That's my purse."

  The magazine disappeared from her hands with a snatch as David tossed it over his shoulder. The pages came apart and fluttered around him as he grinned and looked down at her. "Move over, sweet cheeks."

  Andi squealed and laughed, clinging to the edge of the hammock as David practically threw himself into it, the ropes creaking precariously with the sway. They nearly flipped twice by the time he settled beside her, throwing the blanket over them he'd gone into the house to retrieve. Once the sun went down, the October evenings had a definite bite.

  They swayed like babies in a cradle and Andi smiled, nuzzling her nose against the side of his throat. She pulled back, focusing on his face in the semi-darkness. "Did you just call me sweet cheeks?"

  "Yep. I'm trying it out... sweetheart is so... bland," he said, frowning.

  "Sweet cheeks isn't happening."

  "No?"

  Andi shook her head. "Not unless I get to call you stud muffin."

  David tilted his head, seeming to consider the name. "I could live with--"

  She cut him off with a tap to the chest, and he grinned before pulling her closer to kiss her. Andi didn't wait for the intensity of the kiss to build, but opened up to it and slid her hands beneath his shirt to feel his warm skin. It was a dangerous game they played. He hummed against her mouth.