Cross My Heart

by Celeste O. Norfleet

  “Hire them back,” he said. “Send…”

  “I already did,” she interrupted. “And I also sent his assistant on a weeklong vacation to a spa in New Mexico to de-stress. Now, what’s going on?”

  He smiled happily. “I have two sons,” David said, smiling from ear to ear. “You need to see them, Pam. They’re great—well-mannered, funny, joyful and handsome. Brice—he’s the oldest—he’s a natural comedian. He’s three years old and he’s hysterical. He’s always into something. Two weeks ago he caused a riot at the nursery school he attends. You’re gonna love this story.

  “Apparently, he didn’t want to take a nap like all the other kids, so he stood up on his cot and started jumping up and down and calling out, ‘No nap, no nap.’ Pretty soon the rest of the kids followed suit.” David started laughing. “Can you imagine that sight—three-and four-year-olds all jumping on cots in protest?” He laughed again.

  “And then there’s Jayden. He’s handsome. He has light eyes just like Brenda’s. He’s quiet like her, too, but when he gets going there’s no stopping him. He says ‘Dada’ and does belly laughs when you make faces at him. He’s ten months old and he crawls, cruises and even tries to walk. I looked it up—he’s advanced for his age. I can’t believe it. I have two sons,” he said proudly as he walked over to the suite’s refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.

  “No, David, you don’t.” He turned and looked at her, confused by her comment. “David, you don’t have two sons. Natalia Coles has two sons.” She handed him a folded paper. “This letter came special delivery yesterday.”

  David looked at it with suspicion. “What is it?” He took it and quickly read it over.

  “It’s from your attorneys. They did exactly what you wanted them to do. According to the clinic, the judge and your attorneys, you have no formal commitment and/or legal attachment to Brice and Jayden Coles. You’re free, just like you wanted to be.”

  David read the words as Pamela said them. His heart slammed into his chest. This was wrong. “No, wait, what?”

  “It’s what you’ve wanted for the last two months, remember? It’s the whole reason we came down here in the first place. You wanted to legally sever any ties between you and your biological offspring and to make sure that Natalia Coles wasn’t going to be a threat.”

  “She’s no threat,” he said.

  “I know,” Pamela agreed.

  David sat down heavily, realizing that the process he had set in motion weeks ago had now undermined his deepest desire. This wasn’t what he wanted now. Fear and suspicion had blinded him. He had been cynical and skeptical of everyone. Being used by his mother and his family had a way of reinforcing that belief. But there were truly good people who wanted nothing more than to see others happy. Natalia was one of those people.

  She had single-handedly changed what and how he thought. He took another sip of his water then shook his head while staring straight ahead. “I grew up without a father, I grew up poor, we had nothing, most times not even love,” he began, seeming to talk to himself. “There was no role model for me to emulate, no one to go to when I needed someone, no one to say, ‘Good job, son.’ I’ll be damned if I’m going to allow my sons to go through the same thing. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

  “David,” Pam said slowly, “that’s just it. You don’t have anything to say about it. Technically, you’re not listed as the father on the birth certificates. You have no rights, no obligations. It’s what you wanted, remember?”

  He looked at her. “You saw the birth certificates? Whose name is listed?”

  “Apparently, there’s a special classification and notation on the certificate. The father is listed as ‘None.’”

  “I’ll have it changed. I want my family together, living with me in L.A.”

  “I don’t see how. ’Cause it’s not about what you want this time, David. It’s about what’s best for them. They don’t even know you.”

  “They’ll know me,” he said defensively. “In time.”

  “After just one day?” she asked. “A few hours?”

  “They will know me,” he affirmed.

  “You always said that you didn’t want kids, and particularly kids growing up privileged in the L.A. spotlight like the ones you’ve seen. How are you going to keep them out of all that?”

  “Other actors have done it. I can, too.”

  “Sure they do it. Unfortunately, fifteen years later the kids are doing their third stint in rehab,” she said. He looked at her, frowning. “I’m just saying what you already know. You know that scene—drugs, alcohol, pills and partying.”

  “I know what you’re saying, and I agree. It will be difficult. But I’m sure we can do it. We’ll live here in Key West.”

  “We?”

  “Natalia and I,” he clarified. “I told her that I loved her last night and I do. I love her with every fiber of my being. She’s everything I’ve always wanted and much, much more.”

  “I know. I believe you. I see it. I’ve never seen you so happy and content. When you come back from being with her you’re a different man and I’m truly happy for you, David. But you’re not seeing the big picture.” Pam shook her head. “Do you think she’s just going to ante up and share her sons with you just like that?”

  “No, of course not. I need to gain her trust. I’m doing that.”

  “News flash: You love her, but she doesn’t have a clue why you’re really here. You’re not exactly scoring high points in the ‘love and trust me’ column.”

  “I need to talk to my attorney. I need him to petition the court for joint custody today, right now.”

  “You can’t get custody for children you don’t legally have a connection with,” she said, motioning to the letter he’d tossed on the coffee table. “She’s gonna think that you only want her for the children. How do you think that’s gonna make her feel?”

  He sighed heavily, facing facts as he paused to consider his options. There were none. “Is it true that time heals all wounds?”

  “That’s what they say.”

  “And that trust is the cornerstone of love?”

  She nodded. “It’s also true that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and that a mother’s protective nature can move mountains and that…”

  “All right, all right, I get the point.”

  “There’s nothing you can do now. What’s done is done,” she said. He didn’t reply. She watched his expression change from desperate determination to doubtful despair. She hated to be the voice of reason, but someone had to be. “I’m sorry, David.” He didn’t reply. He just continued staring straight ahead. “Are you okay?” she asked. After a few seconds he nodded slowly.

  “I still need to see Natalia.” He stood quickly and headed to the door. An instant later he was in the hall, jabbing the elevator button.

  “Wait. No, you can’t,” she stammered, grabbing the newspaper on the desk and following quickly, “Beck’s here.” David turned. She nodded. “I saw him last night. He was in the hotel lobby. Chances are he’s still hanging out down there.”

  “I didn’t see him downstairs just now when I came in,” David said, remembering the other tabloid reporters taking his photo and asking questions, along with a few fans.

  “Trust me. He’s here.” She handed him the newspaper and pointed out a specific article. “Either he knows everything or he’s pretty damn close.”

  David started reading quickly. “This seems to have touched off the run on the L.A. sperm bank,” Pam said. “Beck wrote an article about your going there. That’s why women started camping out. Apparently, the story we concocted about visiting the clinic to research for an upcoming role didn’t fly.” David took the newspaper and read the article. The article was incorrect, but it sounded plausible enough that readers might think it was grounded in truth. “Obviously, the employees at the clinic have a different meaning of the word confidentiality than the rest of the world.”

  “Apparent
ly.”

  “Beck’s the best, and I hear that he offers nice incentives,” Pam said, looking over his shoulder. “It’s no wonder that someone talked.”

  “You’re right. He is close, too close,” David said. “I have to leave. I need to talk to Natalia right now. If he’s this close she needs to know what’s about to happen. If Beck is half the reporter I think he is, he’ll figure this out in no time. That makes Nat and the boys an open target.”

  “Okay, I get all that. But you have a career to focus on, too. There are other things happening that need your attention. You’ve always been focused on your career, so if he sees that you’re not now, he’s gonna get even more suspicious. You’ve been canceling and putting some of these things off for days. If you keep ignoring them, it’s going to draw attention that something’s up, right?”

  He paused a moment. She had a point. He nodded. “You’re right,” he said. “What else is going on?”

  Pamela touched the screen of her PDA and brought it back to life. “Okay, you have two interviews scheduled today. One is in about fifteen minutes. It’s a radio call-in, so you’re okay time-wise. Your newly rehired publicist needs to speak with you about some publicity shots and the GQ magazine cover shoot can’t wait. Campbell Barnett is directing a new film and wants to talk to you about the lead role as soon as possible. Your last film is ready to go to looping. Lenny has the revised contract for you to sign off on. Speaking of which, the script rewrites arrived last night. You’re scheduled to make the talk-show rounds next week for advance promotions. Finally, the production team is teleconferencing this morning at nine o’clock their time.”

  “Is that it?” he asked. She nodded. “Okay, I’ll take care of all that. I need you to get in touch with Beck. I want to meet with him. If he wants a story, I have one for him.”

  “You can’t be serious. Since when are you so trusting of a tabloid reporter?” she asked.

  “Since now,” he said, smiling happily. “Also, I need you to get in touch with my attorneys in New York and set up a closed meeting. I need to make some changes as soon as possible. Have Lenny and my publicist there, too,” he said, heading back into the suite. She nodded, already dialing phone numbers.

  “And now you’re a boundless optimist, too?” she asked.

  “Falling in love has a way of doing that,” he replied simply.

  Pamela nodded, knowing that there was definitely something different about him. It had been a long time. She’d never seen him so centered and calm. Since Brenda’s death he’d been harboring pain, but it seemed that the pain was finally gone.

  “You know you can’t take her to court to get your sons. The publicity would void the contract you’re about to sign with the studio, not to mention kill your career.”

  “I have no intention of taking her to court. I do, however, have every intention of making her mine. Does Booker still work with Harry Winston on Rodeo Drive?” he asked. She nodded. “Get him on the line. I have a special order for him,” he said as he dialed Natalia’s phone number.

  Brice dashed across the yard at full speed as soon as Natalia opened the back door. He headed straight for the play set her brothers had put together two years earlier. Natalia followed, carrying a picnic basket and a portable playpen. Niki, carrying Jayden, brought up the rear. Jayden, determined and frustrated, squealed and wiggled, eager to get down and follow his big brother to the play set. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, little buddy, you can’t run over there like that,” Niki said, holding Jayden tighter.

  “You can put him in his swing,” Natalia said, motioning to the small swing set placed beside the picnic area. Niki nodded, placed Jayden in his swing and cranked the handle. They walked over to the picnic table, and Natalia put down a tablecloth as they continued their conversation.

  “This is what I wanted you to see. You’re gonna love it. It came yesterday,” Natalia said, handing Nikita an envelope.

  Nikita opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. She read it quickly, frowned and then looked up at her sister. “What is this? The letter states they think that you want child support from Brice and Jayden’s sperm donor?”

  Natalia nodded. “I know, right. Can you believe it? How insane is that? The whole idea of me going through the in vitro fertilization process was not to deal with baby daddy drama.”

  “You know what? They probably sent this out to every patient involved in the in vitro fertilization process.”

  “Maybe, it just seems strange,” Natalia said skeptically.

  “You know how a lot of people are sue-happy these days. I’m sure that the clinic’s attorneys are just covering themselves ahead of time, in case something like that happens.”

  “Maybe,” Natalia said as Nikita handed the letter back.

  “Okay now, getting back to our previous discussion—famous, wealthy, yeah, I get that part, but since when do you do the whole reckless abandon thing and since when do you fall for the gorgeous tortured type?” Nikita asked.

  “Since said gorgeous tortured type is David Montgomery and I didn’t just fall for him,” she said slowly.

  Nikita looked at her sister, seeing the expression in her face. “Natalia, you didn’t.”

  “I did.”

  “Nat…”

  “Niki, don’t. I know exactly what you’re gonna say, and believe me, I’ve had every one of those conversations in my head. It’s crazy, I know it.”

  “That’s not what I was going to say. I was going to ask you if you’re sure and not just blinded by all the glitz and glamour of his lifestyle. I mean, do you know what you’re doing?”

  She shook her head and smiled. “I don’t have a clue. For the first time in my life I’m not thinking straight, and that scares me. I’m going on pure instinct and feeling. It’s insane to get involved with someone like him—I know it. I’m probably setting myself up for pain and heartache—I know that, too. He’s a movie star and I’m a mom. Talk about a mismatch. But when he told me that he was in love with me I just…”

  “Whoa, hold it, back up. He told you that he was in love with you? When?” Nikita asked.

  “Last night. He stayed over. I can’t believe I did that. You know I never have men stay the night when my boys are here. Anyway, I’d promised the boys a picnic after work, but then it stormed and so we had the picnic in the den. After the boys fell asleep, David stayed. We made love and he told me that he was in love with me. Nikita, the man is absolutely wonderful. He’s everything I ever wanted. Being with him is like living for the first time. Don’t get me wrong. I was happy before and my life was complete before, but now there’s even more. I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “You don’t have to. Look at you—you’re positively glowing. You have stars in your eyes, literally. But what happened to Ms. Practical and Forever Level-headed?”

  “I know I said it was supposed to be a simple tryst. But it turned into something much more. I’m in love with him.”

  “Be careful, Nat. Things aren’t always what they seem and neither are people. You know he’ll be leaving eventually, right?”

  “Of course I know. I’ve been with enough jerks and have had my heart broken enough. But with David it’s different. Yeah, I know he’s an actor and his job is to make you believe the characters he plays, but I see more. I feel more.”

  “You do look happy,” Nikita said.

  “I am. I’m very happy,” Natalia said. “I’ve asked myself how I could possibly have feelings for a man I hardly know.”

  Nikita shrugged. “You can’t.”

  “But I can’t help it. I feel what I feel. My heart won’t listen to my head.”

  Nikita smiled. “Excellent. It’s about time. I’m so happy for you, girl.”

  “You don’t think I’m crazy to feel this way.”

  Nikita laughed. “Yes, of course I think you’re crazy. But that’s what love is. It’s irrational, illogical and unfair. It’s also blissful and, yes, it’s even a little crazy.” She reached out and hugged
her sister. “Be happy and enjoy the ride. It might get bumpy, but I’m sure it’s well worth it.”

  “That’s just it. I don’t know that it is. It’s not just my heart, it’s the boys, too. You know how attached they get to people. I can’t do this to them.”

  “You’re hiding behind motherhood, Natalia.”

  “No, I know that eventually it’s going to be over. I’d rather be the one to choose the time and place. That way I have some control over this.”

  “Wait, you’re ending it? Nat, the man said that he was in love with you. Didn’t you believe him?”

  “Yes, that’s what makes it so hard. But I can’t live in his world and what about Brice and Jayden? Can you really see them as Hollywood kids? Paparazzi, red carpets, mansions—the whole thing is too over the top. It’s not me. I’m a realist, we can’t work this out. I know I need to end it.”

  “But maybe…”

  “Niki, trust me. It’ll be for the best.”

  “When are you going to do it?”

  “David’s out of town right now, so as soon as he gets back.”

  “Love, real love doesn’t come around that often, Nat. Are you sure you need to do this?”

  Natalia nodded, knowing that Niki was right. Love was all those things. And right now she was feeling everything. She watched her boys playing in the yard. This was her life, plain and simple. And the reality was that there was no way David could be happy here. He was too used to his world. And there was no way that she could live in his world. One taste of Miami showed her that.

  Ultimately, she was fooling herself. It was physical. It was sex. They had enjoyed each other’s bodies and for a brief moment she had the attention of one of the most famous men in the world. She had to end it for both of them.

  “I sure know how to pick ’em,” Natalia said.

  “Yep, you sure do,” Nikita replied. “But I have a feeling that it’ll all work out in the end.” At Natalia’s skeptical look, she said, “It will. Just be open to love.”