"No. Nick has a strong case of emotional outbursts, most of them angry. He has a strong case for screwing Playboy sluts. When it comes to Tyler, the only strong case he has is the fact that he’s related to him by blood. He’s been gone for the last year. He never called."
"Nick’s prepared to increase both his child support payments, which he has been paying voluntarily, and his personal allowance checks to you, Miss Garrett. Which we know you’ve been cashing."
The nerve of the man. "Writing a check does not make this man a father. It makes him rich. I’m not signing anything. Let’s go, Jess. This meeting is over." We stood up and headed for the door.
"I have a right to be with my son, Layla," Nick said, standing up.
I turned to look at him. "Have I moved in the last year? Has my phone been disconnected? No. You’ve had plenty of opportunities to see your son and you made zero. Don’t insult me by dragging me to my lawyer’s office and giving me this insane and absurd trash about you wanting to suddenly be a father. You had your chances. You fucked up. You’ve always been welcome to visit our son. It was your decision to go back into music. It was your decision to move out of my house. It was your decision that your career was more important than your son. So as far as I’m concerned, you can go straight to hell. David, I’d like to file a restraining order against my ex-husband. I don’t want him anywhere near my property. Or my son. I’m done. And I’m leaving."
I stalked out of the conference room, Jess by my side.
"Layla!" I heard Nick shouting after me. But I kept walking and pressed the button on the elevator so hard I broke a nail. "Layla!" People were turning around and staring.
"How dare you?!" I spit at him. "Who the hell do you think you are dropping that on me?"
"He’s my son, too!"
"Well if you had made any attempt to see your son or talk to me within the last year you and I might have been able to reach an agreement on our own. But to insult me by calling your lawyer and drawing up paperwork is absurd. As far as I’m concerned you don’t have a place in my son’s life."
The elevator doors opened and Jess and I entered. I slid on my Chanel sunglasses and looked at Nick as the doors closed, hiding him from my view.
"Well that was...." Jess started. She sighed and offered me her hand. "Are you okay?"
"I think I might throw up actually."
"What are you going to do next?"
Chapter Thirty-Nine
It was never-ending. The press kept calling every fifteen minutes, there were paparazzi outside my house and every five minutes it seemed like I was given something new to stress about. It’s amazing how fast the world knows about your public life when your ex-husband is in the very public eye.
Jess, bless her heart, had taken the day off to keep me occupied as I contemplated boarding up the windows to my house so those scumbag lowlifes with cameras couldn’t peak in anytime they wanted.
"I’m considering moving."
"Really?" Jess placed a Diet Pepsi down on the coffee table and joined me on the couch. "Out of Santa Monica?"
"I hear Calabasas is nice."
"Do you think that’s wise? With everything that’s been going on lately?"
"Well as much as I hate to think of these people driving me out of my home of the last few years I have to think about my future, about Tyler. I want him to grow up living a normal life, no matter who is father is. The nerve of that man."
"Yeah that was quite unexpected. I wonder what persuaded Nick to do such a thing?"
"I don’t know. I’ve been on tour with Nick. He barely had time for me. I mean, what makes him think he’ll have time to tend to Tyler?"
"They’re getting louder!" Jess moved to the window and pulled back the curtains. "Oh my God. Layla, you better prepare yourself."
I looked up and immediately saw the ripple of concern on her face. "Why? What’s going on?"
"You have company."
The doorbell rang. "Who is it?"
She turned and gave me a grave look. "I’ll give you one guess."
I opened the door and was only half surprised to see Nick standing behind it. "Are you aware that you’re in violation of the T.R.O.? I could have you arrested right now."
"Go ahead. In any case I’m coming in." And come in he did. I slammed the door behind him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded.
"I’m here to see my son."
"Well that’s just too damn bad because Tyler isn’t here."
"What? Where is he? Where’s my son, Layla?"
"Oh, cut the crap, Nick. You obviously came here for a reason so just say what you want and then leave. You have five minutes and then I’m calling the police."
"I cannot believe you filed a restraining order against me, Layla. Of all the low things to do."
"Well you’re the expert on low things. You’re trying to steal my son from me."
"I am not trying to steal your son! Damn it, Layla he’s my son too!"
"Oh yeah? Well you haven’t been much of a father to him lately have you, Nick? You think just because you send me a check for a few thousand dollars a month that it entitles you to be father of the year? Think again."
Nick looked at Jess. "Could I have a moment with my ex-wife, please?"
Jess looked at me and shook her head. "Layla, if you need an alibi...."
"Thanks, Jess, but I’ll be fine. Nick will walk out of here with all of his limbs in tact."
"Call me if you need anything."
A minute later she was gone and it was just me and the bastard. "What do you want Nick? What is this really about?"
"It’s about us. I want you back."
I burst out laughing. I don’t know what came over me but all of a sudden I just started to laugh hysterically. "Lord have you become the comedian! You want me back? As what your trophy wife? Is there an awards show you need to attend? No, thanks. I’ve been there and I’ve done that I will not go down that path again."
"I'm going on tour in Europe and I want Tyler to be there with me. But I want you to be there, too. As my companion. One way or another, Layla, my son will be going with me."
"Oh shut up Nick. I’m not blind, okay? I read the entertainment magazines, I watch the TV shows and I go on the Internet. I know how and with whom you’ve been spending your personal time with for the last year and believe me, I’ll rot in hell before I’ll be the follow up act to some brainless, idiotic moron sex tape whore or some Playboy slut. I’m better than that. My son deserves a better life than that."
"Damn it, Layla, for the last time he is OUR son."
"Yes, he is our son and I have full custody over him and that will not be changing. And I will not give in to you blackmailing me. If you think that’s going to somehow win me over then you’ve grown into quite a stupid person."
"I know I’ve made mistakes this last year. And believe me I regret them. But I want to put all of that behind me. I want us to start anew. I want you to be with me again, Layla. I want us to be a family."
"Then you have a very morbid way of demonstrating that desire, Nick! Sitting in that conference room and listening to your scumbag lawyer serve me legal paperwork is not my idea of you wanting me back. And furthermore, what makes you think that I’d even want to be back in your life in that capacity?
"I'm sorry about him and that scene. That wasn't my idea at all. I just didn't know what to do to tell you I wanted you back."
"Really, after everything you and I have been through what notion could you possibly have that I would want to be romantically involved with you ever again?"
"Because I know you still love me."
"Yes, Nick. I love you. And there will always be a part of me that will love you until the day I die. But that doesn’t mean we’re meant to be together."
"I think we are, Layla. I think we are meant to be together."
"I’m sorry, Nick. I just don’t feel the same way."
"Yes you do." He took a step towards me.
"Just for your information, Nick Hudson, I am not in a position where you can seduce me into coming back to you. I won’t fall for it this time."
"Layla I’m ready. I am one hundred percent ready to be the husband I promised you I would be the day we got married."
"Yeah well in case you’ve forgotten Nick, we’re divorced. And we’ve been divorced for quite some time now."
"I’ve done a lot of soul searching in the last year..."
"Oh soul searching? Really? Is that what you call fucking every wannabe socialite who looks good in a skirt?"
"That’s in the past, Layla."
"And so are we."
"Then tell me what I have to do to win you back."
"I’m not a prize to be won, Nick! There is no ‘winning’ me back. I’m not a trophy wife. I’m a person. I have feelings. I have a heart. A heart that’s been broken ten too many times by you."
"Then tell me what it is you want me to do! I will do anything you ask of me, Layla. But I want you in my life. I want you to be my best friend, my lover, my partner and my wife. So you tell me what it is I need to do for you to come back to me. And I’ll do it. Whatever it is, whatever the cost."
"All right. You want to know what you have to do?"
"Yes. Anything."
"You need to let me go. You need to move on."
"I can’t."
"You have to."
"No. It’s not an option for me Layla. I need you in my life. I want my family. I want it more than I’ve ever wanted it before in my life. I am begging you. With everything I am as a man I am giving you my heart, my soul and my life. All I want is for you to take it and be with me. And I promise you, it will be different this time."
"Different?"
"No cheating. No lying. No separations. Just you, me and Tyler. Our family. I cannot have anything less. I need to have it all."
"Well you’re not going to get it by carting us all over the world. I have a life here. Our son’s life is here. And more than anything Tyler needs a stable upbringing."
"Tyler needs his father, Layla."
"Well then be there for him!"
"That’s what I’m trying to do!" he yelled at me.
"No, Nick, that’s not what you’re trying to do! You’re trying to just put everything back together. To fit us into some mold that you’ve made of what you think your family should be. That’s not the way it works! I’ve lived the life of the wife to a pop star and even in secret it wasn’t made for me. I’m sorry, Nick."
"Then let’s start over."
"We’ve tried that already. Remember? It didn’t work."
"From scratch this time. We’ll completely erase the past and start over right from the beginning. Come on Layla, what do you say? Will you give me another chance?"
I sighed and looked away from him. "What is it you’re hoping for?"
"I’m hoping for hope. Hope that one day you and I will be what we are meant to be. Husband and wife. Father and mother to a beautiful son that we both created. And we’ll go back all the way to the beginning. Just say that you want me."
I looked at him. "Okay."
"Really? Are you saying yes?"
"No." His face fell. "Life doesn't work this way. I'm not just going to start over like that. I'll think about what you've said and I'll let you know."
He looked confused. "You’ll think about it?"
"Yes. Go on your tour, do your job and when you come back we'll see how things are."
"Layla that’s months away!"
"Well if it’s what you want Nick then it’s just going to have to suffice."
"Why can’t we start right now? Have dinner with me!"
"No."
"No?"
"No! Because then you’re going to take advantage of me. You’ll find someway to get back into my bed and convince me that everything is back to normal. I don’t want that."
"You just said you wanted to be with me."
"No I didn’t. I don’t know if that’s what I want. I said I still love you. I never said that we're getting back together. We'll always be in each other's lives but it may not be in the capacity you desire. You need to get used to that."
"I won’t try anything. We’ll just have dinner at a nice restaurant and then I’ll take you home. Think of it as our first date."
"I told you I would think about it. That’s all I’m capable of giving you right now. In a few months when you come back then maybe I will have some kind of answer for you. Can you respect my wishes? Please?"
There was a really long silence and for a brief moment I thought Nick was going to cry or break out in a terrible rage. I knew what he wanted but I also knew what I wanted. But it’d have to be on my terms, and I wasn't ready to get back into a relationship that had ended so tumultuously so many times. Truth be told I think I've always been waiting for him to be serious and to tell me he wants to make things right. I've just never truly believed him before.
"So you want me to wait for you to decide if you want to start over with me? With the possibility that you’ll say no?"
"That’s right."
"Can I touch you?"
Wait. "What?"
"You heard me."
And then I knew what he meant. "Come here." He stepped into me and we embraced in a deep hug. I had almost forgotten what it was like just to be in his arms. Such a simple gesture meant so much.
"I love you, Layla," he whispered into my ear. "And I’ll wait for as long as you need."
"Thank you, Nick." He leaned in to kiss me but I held him at arms distance. "I’m not ready for that," I whispered.
"Okay." Instead he kissed my forehead. "Can I see our son before I leave?"
I nodded. "On one condition."
"Name it."
"Stop this legal proceeding. Go on your press tour, by yourself. I want you to call at least once a week. But not just for me, for our son. And when you come back I’ll have my answer for you."
"Okay."
"Okay. When are you leaving?"
"In two days."
"Tyler will be back tomorrow afternoon. You can stay in the guest room and be with him for as much as you want until you leave."
"But I can’t even kiss you?"
"I told you Nick that I’m not ready for that. Not right now."
"Layla I’ve never not been able to kiss you before."
I laughed. "For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. You’ve told me what you want and I’m considering it. Until I’ve made my decision if I give in and kiss you... I don’t want to lead you on Nick."
"No, I understand. I’m going to go check out of my hotel and bring my things back here."
"Okay. You know where the spare key is so you can let yourself in."
"Where will you be?"
"I’m going to stay with Jess until Tyler is home. I don’t want to be alone in the house with you."
"You don’t trust me?"
My eyes searched his. "No. I don’t trust myself."
Chapter Forty
"Well Layla it is a very big decision to make. Have you thought this through?"
"Honestly, Jess, I don’t know what to do."
"Well I’m glad that you called me. It’s important to have friends in times like these."
"It just all happened so quickly, you know what I mean? There’s Tyler who’s growing up right before my eyes, plus closing escrow on the new house. I mean, I just feel like this is one too many stressful items on my to-do list."
"Just calm down, sweetie. Let’s reassess the situation, shall we?"
"We shall."
"Okay now from the top to the bottom, what’s the issue?"
"Well, it’s basically this.... In the new house there is a built-in closet connected to the master suite. My problem is, when I was going around making measurements to make sure all my furniture would fit in just the right places, I realized that I’ll have to build an entirely separate closet for my shoes. So what I’m thinking is, why not use one of the thr
ee other bedrooms and convert it into one gigantic closet? That seems to just save so much time and space right there. And then I can take the actual closet and convert it into something else entirely. What do you think?"
"Well it’s a lot of work. It sounds to me like you’ve got the whole thing sorted out already."
"Mmm. Oh, I’ve got another call coming through, I’ll call you later okay?"
"Okay, bye!"
"Bye." I switched over lines. "Hello?"
"Hey, um. What’s going on?"
"Who is this?"
"Um, it’s Nick?"
"Oh! Why do you sound like Darth Vader?"
"Apparently I have strep-throat."
"Oh my God!"
"Yeah I guess I caught it from a fan or something. They’re sending me home."
"Are you okay?"
"No, but I’ll live. I just don’t like feeling like I've let people down."
"Oh I’m sure they don’t feel that way at all Nick. They understand."
"We'll have to reschedule a lot of shit. Thank God I don't have to do that personally."
"So, they’re sending you back to the States?"
"Yeah, I’m on my way to the airport now."
"So.... where are you going?"
"I'm not sure. I think some sunshine would do me some good right about now."
"Oh. You can come out here if you want?"
Nick and I were the king and queen of long silences. "You’re inviting me to your house?"
"You say that like you’re surprised."
"No. I mean, yes. I am surprised. I thought you wanted like, space or something?"
"No, I never said that. Besides I’m a mom. I can take care of you. I’m actually getting pretty good at it. Tyler just had his first ear infection and his pediatrician named a chair in the waiting room after me."
I could hear a slight, hoarse chuckle come from Nick. "How’s the little guy doing now?"
"Fantastic. Although tired. He’s going through his first move."
"His first move?"
"Yeah I’ve sold the Santa Monica house."
"Wait, what?"
"Bought a house in Calabasas. We’re closing escrow right now and I should be able to start moving in by the end of the week."
The Romance of Nick and Layla (Parts 1-3) Page 21