by Nikki Ashton
“And I heard a crock of shit. Now, one more time, tell me who my fucking kidney was for.”
“Okay, okay,” she said, rubbing a hand up and down her arm. “It wasn’t for anyone.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “It wasn’t for anyone.”
She looked at Grantley and swallowed. “I put it on Craigslist.”
“What?” Grantley bellowed. “Tell me you’re fucking joking.”
“What’s Craigslist?” I asked.
“I needed the money,” Sue-Ann cried.
“You tried to sell your own son’s kidney in a damn paper?” Grantley grabbed at his hair, almost pulling it from his head. “You’re insane.”
“It wasn’t in the paper, it was on the website,” she countered ridiculously, like that made it any fucking better.
“What the hell is Craigslist?” I asked again, a little louder this time.
Grantley swung around to me. “Fucking Ebay for those with more money.”
My eyes went big as I looked at Sue-Ann. “No way, you didn’t?” I gasped.
Sue-Ann started to wring her hands together, her eyes shining with tears. “Please Grantley, you don’t understand.”
“I know I don’t,” I yelled. “How can you do that, to your own son?”
“Because I’m fucking desperate,” she cried back. “I need the money.”
“I offered you fucking money.” Grantley turned, picked up a mug, and threw it at the wall.
“It wasn’t enough. I needed more.”
“I offered you a blank check. You only had to name your price.”
Sue-Ann started to cackle out a laugh. “Hah, and how much would you have gone to? A few grand, not a million that’s for sure.”
Grantley stopped pacing. “A million dollars. You need a fucking million dollars?”
Sue-Ann hung her head, and I damn hoped it was in shame because this was the most ridiculous and evil thing I’d ever heard.
“Please,” Grantley said with a burst of laughter. “Please tell me this is a damn joke. That I’m being punked and a camera team is going to jump out of that fucking closet.”
He pointed to the wardrobe where he kept his own clothes, his eyes still on Sue-Ann.
“Well!”
“No, it’s not a joke,” she whispered. “I figured I’d get a nice sum for a movie star’s kidney.”
“Please tell me you haven’t listed it as mine,” Grantley cried, looking as though his eyes were about to pop out of his head.
“No, of course I didn’t.” Sue-Ann snapped her head up. “I listed it as the kidney of a famous PI who likes to drive a Jenson Interceptor.”
“What the fuck?”
“Oh my God,” I groaned. “You didn’t?”
From her description it was obvious it was Grantley. Addison Yates was a Private Investigator who drove a classic, pale blue, Interceptor.
“Fuck my life,” Grantley muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “How much interest have you had?”
Sue-Ann bit her lip.
“Well?”
“None,” she whispered.
Grantley let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”
He moved over to a safe, unlocked it, and took out his phone and started tapping away.
“What are you doing?” I asked, glancing at Sue-Ann, wondering if she might bolt.
“Getting Marcia to take the fucking listing down.”
“But I need-.”
“Don’t you bloody dare,” I yelled. “How dare you expect him to go through with it. Are you actually crazy?”
“But you have no idea-.”
“No, don’t even speak.” I pointed at Sue-Ann. “You’re not having his fucking kidney and if you need money do what everyone else does and get off your bony arse and get a job, instead of drinking your damn life away. Just a suggestion, but your wardrobe already screams hooker, so you’re half way there.”
Sue-Ann watched me with her mouth open, while Grantley gave me a huge and gorgeous smile.
“Shit, you rock,” he said, pulling me in for a quick kiss.
“But what about my money?” Sue-Ann complained.
“For fuck’s sake.” Grantley and I chimed in unison.
An hour later, after Alexi reluctantly agreed to call it a day, Sue-Ann had been taken back to the hotel to pack by Marcia and Barney, and Grantley and I were driving one of the studio’s cars to take me home. Marcia had taken the listing down and Sue-Ann had finally confessed she had no plan. There was no clinic as she was hoping that Grantley would have arranged one once she had a buyer for his kidney. She also told us she needed money to pay off a dealer, but the other nine hundred and ninety four thousand dollars that she hoped to get was for her. She didn’t see why she couldn’t enjoy the good life, because in her words ‘People can’t believe my son is movie star, when they see how poor I am’. At that point, I feared for the drinking glasses that were stacked in the dressing room. Poor Grantley, he just couldn’t get her to see that while he was successful and had a decent amount of money, he was only just starting on his career. Addison Yates may well be a prestige role, but he was still a relative newcomer and wasn’t quite commanding the huge, multi-million-dollar fees just yet.
“You know, all this with Sue-Ann,” Grantley said, bringing my hand to his lips. “It’s pretty funny if you think about it.”
“It is?” I raised by brows in surprise. “How do you work that one out?”
Grantley paused as he manoeuvred into the next lane.
“Because she had no idea what she was doing. She thought she could list it and that would be it. Never once did she think about how it got from me to its new owner. Was she just going to shove it between a six pack in a cooler and deliver it?”
“It’s not the best plan, I’ll admit, but I wouldn’t say it was funny.” I reached up and brushed the hair from his forehead. He may well be laughing, but the whole episode had given him another insight into what an awful mother Sue-Ann was to him.
“Farcical then,” Grantley replied. “Farcical, idiotic, and so fucking Sue-Ann.”
“Thank goodness you went to see Trent. Imagine if you’d gone ahead with it, believing your dad didn’t want to know.”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “And then I would have still been gloriously in the dark about the fact he’s not actually my dad.”
I watched his profile and saw his nostrils flare and his jaw go tight.
“And you would still be alienated from each other.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “So there’s your silver lining. And the fact that when you get back tomorrow, she’ll be gone.”
“If she gets on that flight.”
“She will,” I said with confidence. “She’ll be too scared that Marcia will give her another black eye.”
Yes, Marcia kind of lost it when she arrived at the studios.
Grantley smiled and gave my hand a squeeze and I knew then that I was falling deeply for him. Despite everything I’d ever thought about men, this one had most definitely got through to my heart, but soon he would be gone from my life.
Thinking about our impending separation and wondering how I was going to cope, I was shaken from my thoughts by my phone ringing out ‘Sisters Are Doin’ it for Themselves’.
“Hey Beth,” I chimed. “We’re just on our way back. I’ve missed you.”
“We’ve missed you too. So, how far away are you?” she asked.
I looked at the scenery outside. “About twenty minutes. Why, have you made something nice for dinner?”
“I-I…well, no not yet…I.”
“Beth, what’s wrong?”
She sighed deeply and then said. “My results are back. I have the letter in my hand.”
As nausea threatened to overcome me, I turned to Grantley.
“Grantley, put your foot down. We need to get to Beth as soon as possible.”
Phoebe
“Beth!” I called as I burst through the front door. “Where are you?”
&nbs
p; Beth appeared from the kitchen, putting a finger to her lips and pointing at the lounge.
“The boys are watching TV.”
“Hey Beth,” Grantley said, wrapping an arm around my chest from behind. “You okay?”
“Hi, Grantley. Did you have a good trip?”
“Yeah, it was great, thanks, but what’s going on? All Phoebe would say is that we had to get back here.”
Beth sucked in her bottom lip and placed a hand at her throat, her fears stemming the words she wanted to say.
I turned in Grantley arms. “I just need some time with her,” I whispered.
Grantley nodded and kissed the top of my head. “How about I keep the boys occupied, while you two talk.”
As he walked away, I caught hold of his hand.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure, pretty girl.”
As Grantley let himself into the lounge, a snippet of noise burst through the open door, only to be silenced as soon as it closed again. I smiled as I heard, “Dick, you’re here”, shouted from the boys, and walked down the hall towards my sister.
“I thought they were going to take a couple of weeks.”
“That’s what the hospital said.” Beth shrugged. “Maybe this means it’s bad news.”
“You won’t know until you open them.” I said, following her into the kitchen.
“I know.”
Beth chewed on her lip as she looked down at the envelope that was shaking in her hand, so I held my hand over it, to stop the trembling. As Beth looked up at me, she took in a deep breath.
“I’m petrified.”
“Open it,” I said. “Whatever it says, we’ll cope.”
She nodded, glanced at me with tear filled eyes and ripped it open. Clearing her throat, Beth unfolded the letter and read it. I watched her eyes as they moved across the words typed on the paper, my heart beating rapidly, as Beth showed nothing on her face.
“Well?” I asked.
Beth looked up at me and held a hand to her mouth.
“No.” I shook my head. “Please tell me it’s not bad news.”
“No, it’s not,” she whispered. “It’s all clear. It says it’s a cyst and I’m to contact my doctor to discuss my options.”
“Really?”
Beth nodded vigorously. “Yes, really.”
“Oh thank God,” I breathed out.
“Shit, Phoebes, I have never been so scared.” Beth flung her arms around me and hugged me tightly. “I am so relieved.”
As we hugged it out, I heard Grantley clear his throat behind us.
“Hey ladies, sorry to interrupt but the guys wanted a drink. I said I’d get it, I kind of figured something was going on in here.”
Beth let me go and wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “Of course, I’ll sort it.”
“Is everything okay?” Grantley asked.
“Everything’s fine,” I replied, gazing up at him. “Beth just had some test results back, and it’s good news.”
“Well that’s fantastic, Beth.”
“Thanks, Grantley. It’s been a really worrying week or so, I’m just relieved it’s all over.”
Grantley leaned forward and gave Beth a kiss on the cheek. “You’ve had a rough time, eh?”
Beth nodded. “Just a bit, but it’s all good now.”
Grantley looked at us both and then smiled. “Hey, how about I treat the two of you to a spa day somewhere this weekend?”
“No, you don’t have to do that,” Beth protested.
“I want to.”
I watched Beth and I could see the glint of excitement in her eyes. She desperately wanted to say yes, but was too proud. We both were, but if it meant my sister was pampered for a day then I’d let my pride go, for her.
“If Grantley wants to, you should accept his generous offer, Beth.”
Beth glared at me. “Phoebe, we can’t accept it. It’s far too expensive.”
“Beth,” Grantley said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Please, it’d be my pleasure.”
Opening the cupboard door, she pulled down a couple of blue plastic beakers and carried them over to the fridge, where she took out a carton of fresh orange. Pouring some into the beakers, she then added some cold water. All the time, Grantley and I remained silent, watching and waiting for my sister to agree.
“What about the boys?” she asked, turning around holding the drinks in both hands.
“I’ll look after the boys.”
Beth and I both turned to stare at Grantley, who was grinning widely.
“You?” I asked.
“Yeah, why not? Shooting has a rest day on Sunday, so I’ll book your spa for then. Barney and I can come around and keep them entertained.
Beth and I exchanged surprised looks.
“Are you sure?” I asked tentatively. “You don’t have to. I’m sure Wendy would have them, Beth.”
“She’s still on holiday,” Beth replied, staring at Grantley. “Really, you’d do that for me, for us?”
Grantley nodded.
Before I knew what was happening, Beth had handed me the drinks and thrown her arms around Grantley, hugging him tightly.
“Thank you, Grantley,” she said against his broad chest. “You are a very special man.”
Grantley looked at me over the top of Beth’s head and smiled.
Oh shit, I’m most definitely falling for him.
Grantley
As I watched Phoebe sleep, I gently pushed her hair from her face. She’d just about made it through dinner before practically falling asleep at the table. As I carried her up the stairs to her room, Beth followed and insisted that I stay the night. She was right, it wasn’t safe for me to drive feeling as bushed as I did. I’d ridden out the jet lag, but at almost eight pm, sleep was dragging me under.
“Goodnight, pretty girl,” I whispered against Phoebe’s cheek.
“Hmm, night, night,” she muttered, snuggling against her pillow and throwing an arm around my torso. “That’s nice.”
I smiled as she dropped a sleepy kiss to my bare pec. If I hadn’t been so tired, or in the room next to the boys, I would have kissed her back and initiated sex, because I had to be honest, sex with Phoebe was fucking amazing. My pretty girl could be wild between the sheets and I fucking loved it.
Sex was just one part of being with her that I loved. She could be funny as fuck and feisty as hell, and I adored spending time with her. I couldn’t imagine not spending time with her, but filming would be drawing to an end in a few weeks, which meant so would my time with Phoebe. I really had some thinking to do, not least of all, what the hell was I going to do with two six-year olds for a whole day?
Grantley
“Are you sure about this?” Phoebe asked, as she packed her cosmetics bag into a duffle. “They can be a bit of a handful.”
“I’m sure. We’ll have a blast and you’ll be back for us all to eat dinner together.”
She bent over to check her purse and I got a fantastic view of her peachy ass. It looked damn good bare and a little pink from me spanking her, but in tight, figure hugging jeans, it was totally awesome. I was beginning to question my idea of sending her for a day out on our day off. We could have spent the day in bed, eating junk food, watching movies, and making love.
Making love - woah, and where the fuck did that come from?
“I’ve got the troops coming to help, anyhow.”
I swallowed hard, trying not to think about the words that had just flashed into my brain. That was a brain dump for another day, not today, when I had two six-year-olds to entertain. I needed my head in the game.
Phoebe rolled her eyes. “And what a great idea that is, letting Marcia loose on a couple of kids.”
“She needs to talk to me about a couple of films that I’ve been short-listed for. She’s going home in a couple of days, and I’ll be busy filming, so it has to be today.”
“Well on your head be it,” she said, leaning in to kiss me. “Have a great time, and th
ank you again for today. Beth is really excited.”
The quick peck wasn’t enough, so I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in for a longer, deeper kiss.
Phoebe sighed, her eyes closed and her face tilted up toward me.
“That was lovely,” she whispered.
“I know, and there’ll be plenty more when you get back.”
And there fucking would be. I couldn’t get enough of her.
“Dick, Dick,” the boys yelled, “it’s your turn.”
I dragged a hand through my hair and looked to Barney who was laughing silently. “Fuck off,” I mouthed, giving him my middle finger.
“Come on Dick, it’s your turn,” he said with a shit-eating grin.
“Okay, okay.”
I heaved myself out of the armchair and stood in front of the fireplace, took a deep breath and started to tap dance. I knew how to step, ball change, shuffle and single buffalo, but that was the sum total I’d learned for an advertisement I’d done in my early days in LA. After only about a minute, I knew I’d lost my audience.
“That’s rubbish,” Mack groaned, looking decidedly bored.
“What’s he doing?” Callum looked to his brother, who shrugged.
“It’s not the same on carpet,” I complained, stopping with my hands on my hips. “It’d be much better if I was doing it on a stage, or even a metal serving tray. Does your mom have a tray?”
Considering I’d been dreading my turn at ‘America’s Got Talent’, I was now enthusiastic to show the boys my dancing skills. Barney had told jokes about poop that had the boys in stitches, so how the fuck was I supposed to compete with that? What six year old doesn’t find shit hilarious? At least I wouldn’t come last, I was pretty sure Marcia had that position sewn up. She could barely crack a smile, never mind entertain kids.
Where the hell was she anyway?
“I’m sorry, Dick,” Callum sighed. “But it’s a no from me.”
“Yeah, sorry Dick, but you’re rubbish.” Mack then pushed on the air horn that was sitting on the couch between him and his brother. “Next.”
“I think that’s your cue to get off, brother.”