by Nigel May
Nina watched as her son became more and more depressed about the passing of his grandfather. The man he used to discuss sports and girls with was suddenly no more.
Nina made a decision. She would try to find love, to introduce another man into Charlie’s life. There had been offers over the years, even a few relationships along the way, but none of them had satisfied Nina. It wasn’t that they weren’t perfectly loving and honourable men, they were, but they just weren’t perfect for Nina.
Then one day, while flicking through one of the local newspapers, she found it. An advertisement from an ‘older gentleman, seeking a female companion to share his life’. There was no address, just a telephone number. It might as well have read 0800-ESCAPE, because that’s what Nina saw in the ad. She rang, she met, she fell in love. Yes, he was indeed older, forty years her senior in fact, but he was kind, he was loving and he was obviously rich as he lived in one of Nina’s favourite areas of Los Angeles, Bel-Air.
At the age of thirty-two, Nina and a teenage Charlie moved out of the house she had spent her life in and moved to an area she had always dreamed of. People called her a gold-digger, they called her a whore, but Nina didn’t care. Her new man, seventy-two-year-old Goldman Cavill, was a gentle soul with not a malicious bone in his body. So he preferred younger women, where was the harm in that? Nina genuinely loved him, despite what others suggested. He gave her love, a lifestyle she had longed for and provided Charlie with another man in his life. He’d been used to having an older gentleman around in the form of his granddad so he was less freaked out by Goldman’s age than anyone.
Just before Goldman’s seventy-third birthday, he and Nina were married. It was his second marriage, Nina’s first. It was a fact she was proud of as she surveyed the land surrounding their Bel-Air home. She had catered for her son and found love in the most unlikely, yet heavenly of places. And fuck anyone who didn’t like it. If it made Charlie happy, and it did, then she was rock solid in her opinion that she was a good mother.
Goldman died, leaving everything to Nina (who had now changed her name to Nova as she thought it sounded more beguiling) six years later. Charlie was twenty-one. For the second time in his life, he had felt like he was losing a father figure.
Goldman had no children from his first marriage, and his previous wife had died while they were together, so there was nobody to contest Goldman’s will. He had found love too and all that he had he was happy to bequeath. Overnight, Nova was suddenly one of the richest widows in LA. She had come so far and even though she would never forget her origins, she was determined to enjoy her new mad, money-drenched world. She and Charlie more than deserved it.
Her first action with her own money was to buy outright her former house in West Hills, so that her mother could live there for the rest of her days worry-free. She’d offered to buy something much more grandiose but her mother, now in her seventies too, had refused. She wanted to be near her friends, her church, her faith.
With riches like Nova’s came notoriety and it wasn’t long until a succession of hopeful suitors came sniffing around. Around forty, widowed, hugely pretty and uber-rich, what wasn’t to like?
Nova was happy to go on dates, and with her second purchase with her own money, a rather supersized pair of breasts, all of a sudden she was taking herself back twenty-five years as handsome millionaires, media moguls and Lothario nightclub owners tried to seduce her and jam their hands up her rather stretched Rodeo Drive blouses. But Nova had always been a smart cookie. She could see those who were out to deceive and those who could see further than her cantaloupe breasts.
She had countless offers of marriage but turned them all down. Until she met Jacob Chevalier. Jacob was a hugely successful, some said ruthless, celebrity manager, with houses in LA, New York, London and Rio. The one thing he was not after was Nova’s money. He had more than enough of his own due to the way he worked Hollywood. He was able to offer her something that she’d always craved. Something that would be the cherry on the top of her already decadently iced world. Fame. Plus it was clear to her that he loved her.
They married and Nova Chevalier was born. Under Jacob’s guidance, Champagne Super Nova was hatched, a TV show where rich Bel-Air glamourpuss Nova Chevalier let viewers into her fabulous home and they accompanied her across America and across time zones as she lived life to the max. Whether she was whale-watching in Alaska or learning to hula dance in Maui, you could guarantee that Nova would always be there, champagne in hand.
It was pure madness and Nova adored every giddy moment of it. And ratings were Kardashian-huge.
Seven
‘So you’re working with Ryan Gosling and Channing Tatum. Please tell me the movie is called Threesome or Ménage À Trois?’ said Victoria, passing over a slice of something rather large and creamy to her guest, who had arrived, somewhat impromptu, about an hour earlier.
‘I know, it’s too exciting for words, Vic. But no, it’s a period drama so it’s all corsets and petticoats I’m afraid. We start filming tomorrow in London so I thought I’d pop in to see you. It’s been an age, far too long since I’ve seen you and I miss you! You’re always telling me you’re busy with Scott and the kids, so I thought I would turn up on the off-chance and surprise you.’
It had been ages. And indeed it was a surprise. But Victoria had wished she’d known she was coming. She could have prepared and done her hair, found a more flattering outfit to wear and slipped on the suck-em-in pants to try and flatten her slightly domed belly. The last time Victoria had seen her friend – her very glamorous and super thin friend, actress Evie Merchant – it had been not long after the twins had been born. Around about the time when Victoria’s insecurities had begun to surface. About the time she’d been unsuccessfully trying to shift all of the baby weight.
Evie had been one of Farmington’s rising stars and one of the nicest people she had ever met. Nothing was ever too much trouble. She was sweet, sincere and genuine and when it came to acting, she was in a field of her own even back then. One of those people who has everything, but you actually don’t hate them for it. Well, Victoria didn’t. She loved her and the feeling was mutual.
Everybody knew that one day Evie would make it. Now she had, with awards, accolades and celebrity lovers under her belt. Victoria had followed her career with a keen eye, even keeping scrapbooks filled with cuttings from newspapers and magazines about Evie’s successes. The women had often spoken on the phone, Evie phoning her from film sets around the world or from hotels before some glitzy awards ceremony, but moments together were a rarity. Evie had suggested they meet up many times but somehow Victoria would always find an excuse. At first she had been genuinely busy, but after the children had been born and the weight had begun to pile on Victoria had been somewhat embarrassed to see her glamourous friend. She was hanging out with size zero megastars while Victoria was experiencing zero confidence. Evie wasn’t the only friend she’d let slip through her fingers. At least Evie hadn’t given up on her. She was grateful for her tenacity. Indeed if Evie had rung today instead of just turning up then doubtless Victoria knew she would have made an excuse to put her off. Insecurity mixed with apathy and an anti-depressant chaser were not the most social of combinations. At least the pills seemed to mask what she saw in herself when she looked in the mirror.
‘Oh, I love a period drama. Give me anything with a Jane Austen twist or a touch of the Colin Firths in a white frilled shirt and a lah-de-dah accent and I’m in heaven. It’s just so British. When’s it out? I’ll have to see it.’ Despite feeling a tad self-conscious about her change in body shape since she’d last seen Evie, Victoria had to admit that it was great to see her old friend. She had missed her more than she cared to admit. She missed the old days full stop. Missed the girls.
‘Sometime next year, or the year after I suspect, these things take forever,’ said Evie.
‘At least you have something to look forward to. The most exciting thing in my life is choosing what aroma to h
ave for my bathroom pump-action soap.’ She shifted awkwardly in her seat, her brain trying to calculate just exactly how many dress sizes she had gone up by since last seeing her probably size-zero friend.
‘But you have a beautiful home, and two amazing children, you know how envious of you I am when I see those two?’ It was true, Evie may have been one of the world’s most sought after actresses but deep inside some of the things that she truly craved from life were the simple joys that she could see Victoria possessed. Out of all of Evie’s friends, Victoria seemed to be the one in her eyes who had really hit the jackpot. A stable relationship with a good man, a pair of rosy-cheeked children and a home that she could actually live in as opposed to spending her life in yet another soulless hotel room living out of a fleet of suitcases. Fame and glamour were not all they were cracked up to be.
‘Where are Leo and Lexi by the way? I bet they’ve shot up since I last saw them. It was just before their christening. I am so sorry I missed that. Filming schedules can be a bitch. Another thing I’ve missed out on.’
The christening. That was probably the last time Victoria had actually invited Evie to be with them. Probably the last time she had seen Mitzi too. Mitzi had tried for a while afterwards to keep in touch but there are only so many no’s a friend can take before assuming they should be taking the hint. As Victoria’s pounds and insecurity increased, so did her desire to hide behind the doors of her family home. A place where nobody could see and potentially comment on the excess inches.
‘What day is it? Monday? Then it’s school till four, then swimming practice till five and maybe craft club for Lexi if she fancies after that. Chloe the nanny will be sorting them out. Those children have a better social life than I do. Mind you, that’s not exactly hard. I think the last time I actually went out and enjoyed myself you were still contemplating your first movie break.’
Evie was spotting more than a degree of sadness in Victoria’s tone. Putting her cake back on the table before a dollop of cream fell from it and landed onto her Hermione de Paula shift dress, she was quick to try and fathom out what was wrong with her friend.
‘Care to spill?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Come on Victoria, I may not have seen you for a while but I’ve known you long enough to not beat around the bush and you know how much I care for you. Something’s up. Where’s the fun-time girl who used to be there on the nights out? The happy smiley bride I saw walk down the aisle?’
Maybe it was time to open up. ‘I don’t know, Evie. I know I have so much to be grateful for but I just feel that life is passing me by. The kids are happy with the nanny, Scott is always at work, my friends, yourself included, seem to be doing incredibly well and I just feel that I am surplus to requirements in my own life. I can’t even concentrate on things anymore. I keep burning the food, and eating any that I can lay my hands on as you can see.’ She gestured to her own body, her first reference to her obvious weight gain. ‘The other day I ran a bath for Lexi and nearly flooded the place and if I had a penny for every time I’ve gone upstairs to fetch something and then forgotten what it is when I climb up there, then I’d have more money than most Swiss bank accounts. I just feel smothered by my own mundane, hum-drum blurry existence. Does that sound awfully selfish? If it wasn’t for the pills I’m taking and the odd glass of Merlot I really don’t know what I’d do.’
Evie wasn’t sure if it sounded selfish or not, but she was visibly shocked by her friend’s admission. ‘You’re taking pills? What are they? Anti-depressants? Have you talked to Scott?’
‘He doesn’t know about the pills. He’d disapprove as he does of everything. I don’t blame him. I think not talking to him is a major part of my slump. He’s so busy working that we hardly ever seem to spend quality time together. Plus he seems to fly off the handle pretty easily if things aren’t quite as he’d planned. I had to order pizza in for the kids the other night as I’d burnt yet another meal and he went berserk, saying that pizza was not good enough for his kids. Not ours, but his. I know he has a stressful job but honestly, I feel like I need to walk on eggshells with him most of the time. I know he’s a fantastic father, and a great provider but I am beginning to think that he’s bored with me. And who can blame him? Would you want to sleep with ... this?’ Again she gestured to her body.
‘There is nothing wrong with your body, Victoria. This isn’t Hollywood, you don’t have to be as thin as a breadstick to be accepted. Or to be sexy and fabulous. But how are things in the … er … that department?’ caged Evie, circling her fingers at Victoria’s lap.
‘Non-existent of late.’
‘Oh …’ Evie mulled over Victoria’s answer for a few seconds. ‘Do you think there’s another woman?’
It wasn’t the first time Victoria had considered the notion, but she was fairly sure that there wasn’t. ‘Unless he’s shagging somebody at his work, which is unlikely as I’ve seen his secretary. Let’s just say she’s all tweed jackets, tight hair buns and the wrong side of forty-five.’
‘What about the nanny?’
Again Evie’s words were not something Victoria hadn’t mulled over already. ‘She spends eighty per cent of her day with the kids and the rest sleeping in her room. I know he’s not sneaking in there in the middle of the night as I am hardly sleeping right now, must be the pills, and when I do, it’s so light I wake up at the slightest noise. I guess I have just become boring to him. I guess I’m bored by myself too.’
‘Well then Vic, you need to shape up and fucking do something about it. “I’m bored” is a stupid thing to say. You have so much not to be bored by. Both within these four walls and the whole world out there. And you’re in a privileged position to be able to see all of it should you choose. I know you go between here and the States but really you’ve seen naught per cent of what’s on offer. You have an amazing mind, I know that from our time together at Farmington. Your mind is endless and goes on for forever. Our chats after our girly nights out were some of the most stimulating, amusing and inspiring I’ve ever had. I miss those days, believe it or not. The pleasantries of Hollywood life can be hugely vacuous. You just need to help your mind work out what to do to make things better. Without being cruel, honey, you have no right to say you’re bored. Your life is pretty amazing.’
‘That’s me told.’ Victoria could feel her cheeks rouge with embarrassment.
‘Not at all, I just want you to be happy. And if that means taking some time out for yourself then so be it. Why not try and book some time away? Just you and Scott?’
‘What about the kids?’
‘You’ve just said that they’re perfectly happy with the nanny.’
‘I don’t think Scott will do it, he’s always so busy and the business needs him.’
‘The wheels of the financial world will not fall off just because you two choose to spend a few days away together. Do something different, something you’d both enjoy. Reignite the flames of passion.’
The thought pleased Victoria, causing her to smile, something she felt she hadn’t done in a while.
‘And if he says no?’
‘His loss,’ stated Evie. ‘Do something for you. It sounds like you’ve lost your mojo and you need to find it PDQ.’
‘I guess I am lucky.’ There was still a streak of insecurity running through her mind.
‘Luckier than poor Mitzi,’ said Evie. ‘I can’t believe our drinking partner and Zumba teacher has just disappeared from view. One minute she’s enjoying a holiday with her man and the next … no sign. Surely that puts things into perspective? It’s horrendous. I haven’t seen her for years. We lost touch sadly, as you do, but I used to love our little gang. Mitzi was always right at the centre of everything.’
Victoria nodded and had to admit that it did put things into perspective. When she’d first heard about Mitzi and Foster’s disappearance she had been shocked to the core. Weeks on, like the world at large, she had let her own life cloud any continuing concern. Li
fe goes on, even if it’s a treadmill one. ‘Do you think poor Mitzi’s dead?’
‘I hope not. She was always the life and soul. But if it was a film I wouldn’t be betting on a Hollywood ending. She and Foster have not been seen for weeks.’
For a moment the two women sat in silence, contemplating poor Mitzi’s fate. Looking at her watch, it was Evie who broke the silence.
‘Listen Vic, I have to go, I need to go over some lines for tomorrow. Are you going to be alright? I’m really worried about you. I’ve never seen you like this before. And I mean what’s going on in your brain, not with your body. You do know you can phone me whenever you need. If I’m on set then I’ll ring back and be round as soon as I can. And you should try and stop the anti-depressants. They may mask the symptoms, but they’re not taking away what obviously needs to be sorted.’
As Victoria showed Evie to the front door and kissed her on both cheeks, she actually felt a little more upbeat than she had in a while. Evie’s pep talk had done her good. It felt good to have a friend who cared. She would work out what to do to lift her air of malaise. She owed it to her husband, her children and mostly to herself.
Parking herself back in front of the cake in the front room she picked up a slice and flicked on the television with the remote control. Staring back at her was the very handsome Charlie Cooper with an advert for Rise and Shine.
I’m sure he dates that weather girl, Georgia, she thought to herself. She used to be in our Zumba group as well. Those were good days. Fun times. Thin times. She couldn’t join one of those groups now though. All that jiggling flesh. She’d be horrified at what she might see in the gym mirror. She’d spoken to Georgia back then a few times, even been on the odd night out. Nice girl. It was a small world. In fact she was pretty sure that Mitzi and Georgia were best friends. Poor girl must be out of her mind with worry.