by Lisa Smartt
He whispered, “Thank you.” And then he turned and walked toward the elevator.
I told Doug to go on to the hotel with Dave. I would help Ashley get her stuff together and ride with her in the car the studio provided.
“Carlie, just let me get my bag and I’ll be ready.”
“I’m in no rush.”
Ashley had been nominated for an Academy Award. But she looked troubled. Sad. We walked out front without saying a word, which was unusual for the two of us. When we got in the limo I looked straight into her eyes and said, “Spill it, sister.”
“Spill what?”
“You know what.”
“What? That I didn’t win? I told you I never expected to win. I’m not disappointed. Just tired, I guess. Plus, I’ve got to get up in a few hours and do some of the morning show interviews. I thought if I lost I’d be done with the media, but evidently they love the losers as much as the winners. Especially a loser wearing a cheap dress. Crazy, huh?”
“I’m not talking about the Oscars, Ashley.”
“Then what are you talking about? I mean, that’s what this thing was all about, right? I mean, we’re all out here because of this crazy awards show.”
“No. I don’t think that’s why we’re all out here.”
“Then what? What could have drawn all my relatives and your relatives to California? I mean, yeah, the weather’s good, but this was an expensive trip, if it was just for some sun. ”
“I think we’re here for something else entirely. And I think you know it.”
She removed a bottle of water out of the fancy cooler between the seats and said wearily, “Well, by all means, fill me in. Tell me the sovereign plan.”
“I’m not claiming sovereignty. But I think you’re interested in someone. And for the record, I think that someone is interested in you too. Let’s at least be honest about it.”
Maybe it was the lack of sleep or maybe the up-do had given Ashley more stress than she could handle. She broke down and started crying. I handed her a hotel washcloth that I had put in my purse for just this kind of emergency. Of course, I was going to put it back in the bathroom. I’m not one of those crazy authors who steals washcloths from hotel rooms and ends up on Judge Judy.
“Ashley, look, I’ve known for a while. I have. I knew at the Christmas party at Uncle Bart’s house. I knew at Thanksgiving even. It was the way you looked at him when he told the funny story about playing a pilgrim in the third grade play. The way you got tears in your eyes when he mentioned Shannon’s first pumpkin pie which looked like soup. It was the way you got up early and got completely dressed when you knew he was dropping Collin off at the house the next morning. What I can’t figure out is why you haven’t talked to me about it. I thought we were friends. We are friends, right? I mean, this has never just been a business relationship.”
Ashley’s make-up was on the move. Marjory had given us both the full pancake press…and now the batter was running onto the $276 teal dress and even a hotel washcloth couldn’t help. I felt sorry for Ashley. My words had opened a floodgate.
Finally she said through the tears, “He can’t.”
“Why can’t he?”
“You know why.”
“You’re right. You’re not her. She was a tremendous and beautiful person, one of my very best friends. And yes, he was absolutely over-the-top crazy about her. He was. He probably still is. But Shannon’s dead, Ashley. I’m sorry but that’s the reality. She’s not coming back to earth. She isn’t. It’s been more than a year. Dave’s lonely. Collin needs a mother. And I’m sad about it. I am. But my sadness won’t bring her back.”
Ashley just cried harder and said, “I’m too tired to talk about this right now. Can’t we just wait until tomorrow?”
I scooted over close and held her hand. “We can. We can wait till tomorrow. Right now we need to get this pancake mess off your dress.” I smiled and grabbed her hand. “If we do, you might be able to wear this dress again next year.”
She laughed out loud and squeezed my hand. “Oh now that would give them somethin’ to talk about, wouldn’t it?”
Chapter 6 CARLIE: The Beauty and the Buick
Doug, James, and I met Dave and Collin for breakfast at 10:00 in the lobby. Collin was full of life despite the loss of sleep. “Aunt Car-wee, I got a bunny.”
“Yes, you do. Can I hug your bunny?”
His chubby little hands held it out for me to inspect. I noticed his blonde hair was getting darker. But his blue eyes were as big and bright as ever.
“This bunny smells good, like your grandma. Did Grandma give you this?”
“Uh-huh.”
James smelled the bunny and said, “Your gwandma stinky.”
Dave wasn’t listening to any of us. He was watching the TV in the lobby with great interest. The TODAY Show had just played Julia Roberts making her acceptance speech and now they were showing the interviews. Dave interrupted the bunny conversation. “I think Ashley is up next. They said she’s in the California studio. Did she stay up all night?”
“I think so. She said she’d have to get up early to be ready for the interviews.”
Dave stopped pacing when Al Roker said, “Now Victoria will introduce us to one of the brightest new faces in Hollywood, Ashley Harrison.”
A perky blonde correspondent said, “Thanks, Al. Ashley, the Oscar wasn’t yours last night, but it was still a great night for your career. I take it you’ve been getting a lot of studio calls since the announcement of your nomination, yes?”
“Yes. It’s definitely been a career boost…and an honor. I mean, I lost to Julia Roberts, Victoria. A chubby southern girl can’t cry too hard about that, can I?”
“Definitely not. There was quite a stir here in Hollywood about the now famous dress you wore last night. Are you tired of fielding questions about it?’
“No. I’m fine. It was a pretty dress, a dress I liked. I’m happy with it. The only reason I’m not wearing it right now is because I got make-up on it early this morning.”
I watched Dave as he watched the TV. How I wanted to tell him that he was the reason, the reason Ashley had to change. She changed because his presence and my awareness of his presence…had made her cry.
Victoria spoke again. “Ashley, there was also quite a stir about your date last night. Why did you choose to bring your mother?”
“That’s easy. She loved me before I was in a movie. She loved me when I worked at a diner. She loved me when I was an ugly eighth grader and couldn’t get a date to the school dance. She loved me always. So, no. It wasn’t hard to decide who to invite.”
Dave put his hands in the pockets of his faded jeans and smiled. Collin pulled his arm and said, “Daddy, I want a waffle!” But Dave didn’t hear him. He was staring at the TV with such intensity, he could see or hear nothing else. Nothing but her.
I put my arm on Dave’s shoulder. “You watch the interview and I’ll take Collin to the restaurant, how ‘bout that?”
“Yeah. That’s good, fine.”
Doug had a table ready for all of us. “Where’s Dave?”
“He’s watching the TV in the lobby. They were interviewing Ashley. I didn’t have the heart to tell him we’ll be able to watch that any time we want. We’ll get press copies, plus it’ll be on YouTube within five minutes. But he seemed like he really wanted to see it live.”
Doug said, “Okay. He can order when he gets here.” Doug was clueless. Smart, handsome, kind, faithful…but clueless when it came to matchmaking.
“Doug, you understand what’s going on here, right?”
“Yes. Collin and James want waffles. I’m going for something a little more protein-packed myself. We’re ordering breakfast.”
“No, Honey. You and me? We’re on a mission. A matchmaking mission.”
“Matchmaking?”
“Yes. Matchmaking.”
Just about that time Dusty and Clara walked up to the table. Dusty had on old blue jeans and a red cowboy
shirt unaware of any fashion expectations the Hollywood Hilton might have subconsciously placed on his Tennessee shoulders. Thankfully, he lived in the real world, not the subconscious one. Clara had on a beautiful blue dress, the same dress she wore to church the day that Dusty could hardly speak because he was so smitten with her. They’d been married for more than two years now and he was still smitten. The way he pulled her chair out. The way he smiled when she spoke. The way he chose to love her like she was the only woman in the world.
Dusty and Clara pulled up two chairs and Dusty patted Doug on the back. “You guys put on a quite a party last night, man. That was some spread too. An ice sculpture shaped like the state of Alabama? That was classy, Doug! Real classy! Clara and I were still laughing about it this morning.”
I thought back on Dusty and Clara’s romance. They were both limping when they met. Injured. Hurting. But it worked out. They embarked on a journey toward healing. Together. Why couldn’t the same be true for Dave? I felt confident it could.
Dave walked up to the table but he didn’t look as optimistic as he had earlier.
I chose to be cheerful. “How did the interview go? Did our girl make us proud?”
“She did great. Funny. Down-to-earth. She’s really throwing a wrench in this Hollywood lifestyle, y’know? I mean, I guess we could call her a rebel with a cause.”
I spoke confidently, “For sure.”
Dave poured a cup of coffee from the carafe in the middle of the table and sat next to Dusty. “Yeah. That Victoria lady just announced that Dan Dubois has a crush on Ashley. She asked if Ashley had heard about his interview on NBC Sports. She turned all red and said she hadn’t. According to Victoria, Dan told Bob Costas, ‘Ashley Harrison is the kind of beautiful southern girl a man like me needs to meet.’”
“Well, Dan Dubois is proud and arrogant and I don’t like him. He can forget meeting her. It’s not gonna happen.”
Doug piped up. “How do you know he’s proud and arrogant, Carlie? You don’t even know him. None of us know him.”
“Well, right. But the way he does those Buick commercials. I don’t know. The way he winks at the scantily-clad bar tender…I don’t trust him, people. I don’t.”
The whole table started laughing.
Dusty spoke up, “Carlie, no offense, but I think they actually tell him what to do on the commercials. I mean, I don’t think we can know anything about him from watching a Buick commercial.”
“Maybe so. But still. I don’t trust NFL players. Plus, a lot of them make all that money and then end up broke. Why? Because they’re sorry. That’s why. Ashley needs to stay away. And I’m sure she knows that too.”
Dave cut up pieces of Collin’s waffle while wiping syrup off the bunny’s ears. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that. He’s meeting her tonight.”
“Tonight? I thought she was emceeing that Children’s Hospital Benefit tonight.”
“She is. Victoria said Dan Dubois donated $200,000 yesterday to get to co-host the event with Ashley.”
“That is ridiculous. And she’ll see straight through that too. Dan Dubois doesn’t have a chance.”
Dave tried to make us all think it was nothing to him. “I don’t know. He’s probably pretty charming.”
I wiped syrup from James’ face. “You were a preacher, Dave. Surely you read Proverbs. Charm can be deceitful, remember?”
Dave looked down at his coffee, shook his head, and smiled.
Chapter 7 CARLIE: Tuxedos, Tacos, and Turning Corners
I didn’t like where any of this was going. I didn’t like Dan Dubois coming to town. I didn’t like Dave and Collin flying back to Tennessee this morning. I had a plan if people would just let me execute it. I knew Ashley was tired and needed rest. But I called her cell phone anyway.
“I’m Ashley. Leave a message.”
“Ashley, you’re probably napping or interviewing or taking your dress to the dry cleaners. But stop whatever you’re doing and call me back. Seriously. I need you to call me back as soon as you can. No. Not as soon as you can. Right now. Call me right now. No, I’m not dying or anything. I just need to talk to you. If my dying would make you call faster, I am feeling a bit faint. Oh gosh, I’m perishing. Call soon before it’s too late.”
Doug and I took Dave, his mom, and Collin to the airport. I followed Doug’s wise counsel and remained silent about Ashley.
We told Dave we’d see him in a few days. We also asked him to check on Michelle and the animals at Uncle Bart’s house. Uncle Bart and Aunt Charlotte were planning to take the bus through Colorado Springs and it would take more than two weeks to get home. Aunt Charlotte said they would ride the tram to the top of Pike’s Peak. Well, I think she called it a cable car, but I knew what she meant. Uncle Bart said, “Only if I’m in a dad-gum pine box will I be ridin’ that thang.” I felt fairly certain Aunt Charlotte wouldn’t kill Uncle Bart just to get to ride the tram to the top of Pike’s Peak. But I reminded her that Doug and I were planning to give them a lovely 50th anniversary party in a few years and they both needed to remain in good health.
Collin was carrying a Spiderman backpack and grasping the big patch pocket on the front of Dave’s khaki pants. Dave’s blue oxford shirt was wrinkled and there was a tiny hole in the top of his tennis shoes. Just another reminder that Shannon was gone. He was incredibly handsome but his face looked like a man who’d worked one too many night shifts. Watching them wave good-bye, all I could think about was beautiful Shannon. She had reached out to me with kindness when Doug and I first met years ago. She had given me confidence to believe that Doug could love me. She had helped Dave with his job, his life, his everything. She had rejoiced over every milestone with Collin because she was his mom and she loved that. And now she was gone. I missed her terribly. I couldn’t imagine how much Dave missed her. I never wanted to know that agonizing feeling.
Driving back to the hotel from the airport, I got a call from my agent asking Doug and me to travel to Spain for a week in March to do some promotion. Spain? Si! This time we wouldn’t invite the whole family though. I just don’t think the Spaniards are ready for Uncle Bart’s overalls. And even though Aunt Charlotte’s hammer toes wouldn’t offend the TSA personnel, it’s probably best for her to remain grounded. James would accompany us along with someone to help care for him while we did the promotional work. His first trip to Spain! And ours too!
It was early afternoon and James went down for a nap without much struggle. But Ashley still hadn’t called. I knew she was busy, tired, and now having to get ready for tonight’s benefit. Doug and I didn’t have tickets for the Children’s Hospital Benefit as they’d been sold out for weeks. It’s funny how that works. If all the “special people” want to go to something, then “everyone who wants to be special” wants to go too. Why don’t we all just write a fat check and save the ice sculpting dude and the Botox man the trouble? But, no. That’s not how things work in Glitter Town.
Doug and I desperately needed to get to that event. But not because we were special and not because we wanted to be special. No. We were on a mission of mercy to keep Ashley Harrison away from a famous flirty Buick salesman. If only I had the southern charm and ingenuity to find a way into that event. Yeah…if only.
Chapter 8 CARLIE: You’ve Got a Friend
Dusty and Clara only had one more night in Hollywood, but they volunteered to keep James so Doug and I could wiggle our way into the benefit and keep Dan Dubois from doing that flirty winking thing he does to women. Dusty said they wanted to just walk around and look at the sidewalk stars anyway. Pushing James in a stroller would be no trouble at all. Clara spoke up, “Does Ashley know you’re coming, Carlie? I mean, to the benefit?”
“Oh no. It will be a surprise. Think how happy she’ll be to see us.”
Dusty looked suspect. “Or I guess she might think you’re trying to interfere. That’s an option too, right?”
“Oh, I’m definitely trying to interfere. I’m not one of those passive-agg
ressive people who says, ‘I don’t want to interfere…but…’ Oh no. I’m all about honesty. I do want to interfere if my interfering will keep her from a haughty soon-to-be-washed-up quarterback who thinks he’s all that and a Buick salesman to boot.”
Dusty and Clara laughed as they rolled James’ crib down the hall and into their room. Their suite had a separate living room and I explained they could put him down in there at 8:30 and they wouldn’t hear a peep out of him all night. I was thankful that unless he was sick he’d always slept well. They agreed it would be perfect as they needed to go to bed early anyway because of their early flight to Nashville. I told them I would be at their room at 6:00 am to retrieve him.
I cradled my chubby little charge as he grabbed the sunglasses off the top of my head. “Mama loves you, James. You get to stay with Uncle Dusty and Aunt Clara tonight. Isn’t that fun? You get to have a party with two of your favorite people.”
“Aunt Cw-ara make noodles?”
“No. Aunt Clara’s not going to make noodles tonight. She doesn’t have a kitchen. But she can buy you a taco? How ‘bout that?”
James smiled. He was one of the few two-year-olds I knew who loved picante sauce better than applesauce. I handed Dusty a roll of bills.”
He handed them back.
I handed them back to him.
He handed them back to me.
Finally I spoke, “Look. I don’t have all night. We would normally hire a babysitter for tonight. We would pay an inordinate price for a person who wouldn’t be half as wonderful as you two. I doubt she’d understand James’ love for picante sauce or how much he needs his yellow blankie. So please don’t make me stand here all evening. This is just taco money and maybe a little ice cream money. It’s not going to buy you a summer home in Colorado.”
I kissed James’ head and handed Clara his bag. I was to meet Doug in the room at 5:00. He’d been down in the lobby on some conference phone calls with the bank. I just told him we were going to have a very interesting date night on our last night in Hollywood and I would have his clothes laid out and ready. I brushed off his Oscar tux and ironed a clean white shirt for him. I laid out a black formal dress I had brought in case I tore my Oscar dress. I was glad I’d brought a back-up dress as it would be perfect for tonight’s gala.