Un-Nappily in Love

by Trisha R. Thomas

  We talked on the drive back home. Eventually I had to bring up the last and final subject. The one we both had been avoiding.

  “So what about Christopher? You did promise to take him and Mya to the aquarium.”

  He pulled into the driveway. “Yeah, well, I don’t think that’s going to happen.” He pushed the button and the top on the convertible pulled back. The black sky and stars glittered overhead. Jake took my hand. “Sirena told me if I left the film shoot, I could forget about having a relationship with Christopher.”

  “I’m sure she was just angry because you were chasing after me.”

  “Sirena has to be in control. I was a fool to think I’d be able to have him in my life without her calling the shots.”

  I stayed silent. Determined not to pass any judgment.

  “Regardless, I’m glad it went down now instead of after I got attached to him.”

  Still silent. Too late for that. Jake never made a decision lightly. Putting his heart and mind into every move. He wouldn’t have taken the chance to bring Christopher home with him, if he hadn’t weighed it carefully. He wanted a son, simple as that. No one understood more than I.

  “Maybe she’ll come around.” I leaned over and kissed him. “I did.”

  “Yeah, but my magic mojo only works on you.”

  I shook my head. “If that were true, you wouldn’t have so many fans. There’s a light about you. I’m going to have to get used to sharing that light.”

  Hide and Seek

  The next evening Jake was picked up in a town car. He came down the stairs wearing a crisp midnight-blue shirt unbuttoned at the collar over black slacks. He broke into a smile the minute he saw me and Mya waiting by the door.

  “I hate to leave you two.”

  “Daddy, when you coming back?”

  “In a week or two, baby.” He picked her up. She smashed her face into his neck and held on tight while he twirled her around. “I will call you every night, sweetpea.”

  I waited my turn. I scooted against him and felt all the anxiety dissipate. We were a family just like we’d always been before this huge movie business, before the Big One. We’d survived.

  Mya took one hand, I took the other. We walked him out to the car. The driver held the door open.

  “Hold on, wait a minute.” Pauletta rushed outside with a bag of her homemade cookies. “In case you get hungry on your flight. Oatmeal cranberry, with that organic sweet syrup you like.”

  “Agave. Thanks, Pauletta. Not just for the cookies, for taking care of my family.”

  My mother beamed as if she’d been given the highest compliment. “Thank you, sweetie. It was a pleasure. But I won’t be here when you get back.”

  As soon as the car was out of the driveway, Pauletta leaned against my shoulder. “You’ve got a special man right there.”

  “Yep, I know. And so do you.” I looked at my dad, who was still waving at Jake’s moving car. “I’d say we’re both pretty lucky.”

  “I know that’s right,” Pauletta agreed. My father had finally won her over. I would miss her for sure.

  Champagne Wishes

  The film had wrapped and Sirena was feeling proud as a peacock. The director popped the cork of the champagne and the cast and crew celebrated on the set.

  She peered over at Jake, who managed to keep his distance unless the camera was rolling. Otherwise he barely looked in her direction.

  So be it. This was the movie that would put her on the map. The real map, not just as a popstar celebrity, but a real actress. If he didn’t want to come along for the ride, it was his loss. She still had Earl Benning, one of the most influential men in the business. In fact, he should’ve been there celebrating with them. She peered over her shoulder, checking the entrance.

  That’s when she saw a few of the extras holding the magazine, gathered around and gawking at her. One of them didn’t bother trying to hide her smirk. Goose bumps rose on Sirena’s arms, the knowing feeling something was wrong.

  “The film is slated for release next summer. I know it’s going to be a huge success and you all will be dying to work with me again.” The director laughed at his own joke. The basic rumor on the film set was that he’d been an impossible jackass and if anyone ever saw him again, it would be too soon. “To all of you for putting up with me.” He held up his plastic champagne glass. “Cheers.”

  Sirena marched over to the commoners and didn’t have to ask. The one holding the magazine handed it over and scurried off.

  The cover headline nearly made her fall backward. baby brother actually sirena’s son. There were three pictures Photoshopped like they’d been torn apart, then pasted back together again: her, Christopher in the middle, and a shot of Jake. She flipped it open to the article.

  “Did I leave anything out?” Melba Dubois stood close to Sirena, reading over the article with her.

  “You lying bitch. You said you were going to write something to make his wife run for the hills.” Sirena shoved the magazine at her. “How dare you?” They’d gone way back. Melba had always been her inside woman. Now she had betrayed her.

  “I’m reporting a story. I used everything you told me.”

  “I didn’t tell you about Christopher. No one knew about him.”

  “Your father. Forgetting about him?”

  “You went to my father while he’s in a hospital room? What kind of scavenger are you?”

  “Same kind you are. Everyone wants to be on top of their game, Sirena. You’re the one told me to trust no one—whether you’re a street sweeper or the CEO of a company, everyone wants to be better than their competition. I scooped this story. I worked hard for it and I got it.” Melba’s raspy voice went lower. “It was bound to come out anyway. Trust me, I was kind. I told of an innocent young woman who was torn between an abortion or keeping her child. All those pro-choice groups will be new fans.”

  “What you did was make me out to be a selfish fame climber who would give up her own child for her career.”

  “If it quacks like a duck—you know the rest.”

  “Get out of here. If I see you anywhere near me, I’m going to smack that permanent smirk off your face.”

  Melba rolled her eyes toward Jake. “If things had gone the way you had planned, we’d be having an entirely different discussion right about now. But face it. You’ve lost him for good this time. No long-lost child is going to bring JP running into your arms.”

  That was the final straw. Sirena lunged at Melba. The two women scratched and pawed at each other until they were pulled apart. Jake had grabbed Sirena by the waist, and Quincy had Melba.

  “I will sue you and your lying tabloid,” Sirena huffed. “When I get through with you, you’re going to have to move back to the slums in London where you came from.”

  Melba backed out, putting her extended pinkie and thumb to her ear and mouthing the words, call me to Sirena. Only making her more enraged.

  Jake held her arm. “Calm down. Stop it.”

  “Oh Jay, she’s told the world. Now everyone knows about Christopher.” She tried to sob into Jake’s chest but he kept her at an arm’s distance.

  “Then now you can be his mother. That’s all it means.”

  That’s all you have to say to me? Sirena moved the hair out of her face. “Yeah, I guess that’s what it means.” She glared at him, then pushed him aside and marched to her trailer, glad to be on to the next project. Her life held possibilities that these silly little people couldn’t even imagine.

  She threw her personal notions in her bag. The knock at her trailer was followed by Earl’s voice. “Open up, it’s me.”

  “Thank God,” she sighed, falling into his arms. “Did you see that Life ’N’ Style article? Can you believe what that tramp wrote about me? I have been nothing but good to her, giving her exclusive interviews every damn time she asked … I can’t believe she did this to me.”

  Earl came inside. His dark suit hardly had a wrinkle after a four-hour flight f
rom Los Angeles. He took a long hard breath. “Sirena, this is bad, very bad.”

  “I know it’s bad. Don’t you think I know that? I need to tweet a heads-up to my fans, so they will feel empowered with information instead of feeling like I was hiding something.” She paced, then sat down to zip up her boots. “I can’t wait to get out of here. Relax on your private jet and head to Saint-Tropez.” She looked up. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Christopher.”

  “I’m sorry too.” He was still standing. He turned his back to her, seemingly looking for the right words. “We’re going to have to postpone our nuptials. This thing needs to blow over. I have a lot to do, a lot of damage control. Now’s just not the right time.” He grasped his hands, then rubbed them together like he was washing himself of her and the mess she’d made.

  “Damage control … what are you talking about? I’m still the hottest game in town.” She stood up, putting her finger in his face. “You’re playing dangerously close to me walking out of this relationship.”

  Another deep breath, as if he was getting closer to his goal. “That may not be a bad idea. Look, a son, you having a child, changes things for us. For me,” he admitted.

  “Nobody asked you to be his daddy,” she spat. “He’s at my house in Atlanta being very well taken care of. What’s that got to do with you, or our relationship?”

  Earl adjusted his sleeves. “We’re getting nowhere and I’m short on time. I have a film that just went overbudget, bringing the production cost to sixty million. I have a star who might now be crowned the worst mother of the year, thereby making that sixty million the biggest loss of the company’s history.”

  “Then wouldn’t it make sense that we got married? You’ll make an honest woman out of me and we’ll raise Christopher, appear to be one sweet loving family.” She opened her arms. “There you go, damage control. I’m going to make you the happiest man on earth. Do you know what any man would give to be in your shoes?” She moved toward him, her perfect bronze thighs bulging under the robe.

  “Just stop. Okay, like I said, we’re going to have to postpone. That’s it. So you play dumb on your own time.” He stormed out and down the trailer stairs in his expensive Ferragamo loafers, taking determined strides out of her life. She would never forget this humiliation. One day he would need her, long before she would need him.

  Sirena crouched down in misery. Humbled to the core, but she wouldn’t stay there long.

  She’d show Earl Benning damage control.

  The next day began with step one: she lined up interviews with every morning show that would have her.

  Step two, she packed up Christopher’s few belongings and drove him to Mr. Holier Than Thou’s residence. Jay asked no questions—in fact, he hardly looked at her, and that was okay with Sirena. Freedom always came at a price.

  Step three, she vowed to work even harder. In her head was a list: win an Oscar, break a record for most weeks on the Billboard chart, make more money than Oprah. Why not?

  Fistful of Fears

  “Open it.” I stood over Jake and waited patiently for him to open his eyes. I placed the small black velvet box on the pillow. Inside could’ve been a bracelet or a watch, but it was neither.

  “Babe, what time is it?” He leaned over and did a one-eyed view of the nightstand clock. “Six forty-five?” His head rocketed under the pillow. It was a Saturday. After having 5 a.m. wake-up calls during filming, and coming home to Christopher and Mya running around the house at all hours, he made it his business to sleep until midmorning.

  I shook him, then kissed him on his chin. “You will love it, I promise. Listen, I gave you a whole fifteen minutes extra, considering it took me that long to find a suitable box.”

  This piqued his interest.

  “Open says me.” I handed him the box.

  He flipped it open. The plastic casing shaped like a thermometer lay faceup. The dashed pink lines glowed miraculously. Jake’s eyes still hadn’t left the box.

  “How … baby?”

  I nodded my head up and down slowly. He reached out, pulling me in for a long kiss.

  “I must’ve used up five tests ’cause I still couldn’t believe it. But it’s true. As for how, I’m guessing it was the wig and stilettos.” I grinned, remembering the powerful lovemaking.

  He pulled me down on top of him. “Baby,” he said, holding me tight, “I got you, I got Christopher and Mya, and now …” He trailed off. He took a deep breath, looking me in the eyes.

  “I’m not afraid. I know it’s going to be okay.” I raised my balled fist, then dumped the imaginary contents. “No more fear. No more bad karma. We deserve every good thing this life has to offer.”

  We cuddled for a good few minutes before Mya and Christopher busted in.

  “We made happy-face pancakes,” Mya said. Christopher was carrying the tray.

  “Does no one sleep around here?”

  “Life is too short to sleep,” Christopher said. “My pop always says, you can sleep when you’re dead.”

  “Oh man, that’s some philosophy.” I kissed him on top of his head. He was such a mature little guy. But a vulnerable child all the same. He missed his pop and we’d already taken him to visit twice. The nurse did say he got better with each visit. Sometimes, people got better when they had hope. I slid my hand over my already rising belly. I would say Christopher had that effect on me too. He gave me hope.