by Cassie Rocca
“Anything you want!”
“Great. Please promise me that you will not tell anyone about meeting me today. If the word got out, then journalists will come here and I will be forced to leave immediately.” He gave a killer smile, hoping it would be more effective with her than it had with his neighbor… By the way, what the hell she was doing? Where was she? He was hoping she would save him.
Success! His blue eyes and his famous smile obtained the desired effect. His fan nodded, blushing with pleasure, and she solemnly promised that she wouldn’t say anything to anybody until she was certain he was safely back in California. Cade let her pull out her cell phone for the usual photo op.
Finally, the woman seemed ready to leave. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Martha. Hope to see you again…”
“Oh, I hope so too! And don’t worry about all those bad rumors… Alice Brown was not the right woman for you!”
Cade smiled, but didn’t reply. He had already given her enough material for the tabloids to have fun, he didn’t want to add anything.
When he was finally alone, he massaged his face. One day his jaw would stick by constantly smiling on command!
An applause made him turn towards the door. His neighbor was leaning on the doorjamb, holding a box of Christmas decorations. She seemed to be vaguely disheartened.
“Great performance! If I hadn’t noticed your expression of terror at the idea of being recognized, I would have thought you were really flirting with that woman.”
“I can’t disappoint my fans…” he shrugged and sighed.
“Especially if you want something from them. This time you’ve secured the secrecy of your stay here, at least for a while. I’m sure that with slightly more effort, Martha Kendall would have allowed you to suck her blood!”
This was a reference to a small part he played in a vampire movie.
“I’m glad to know you’ve followed my career,” he said, anxious to change the subject.
It wasn’t the first time he had charmed a fan to get something he wanted, but for sure it was the first time he felt guilty about doing it. Damn!
“I go to the movies and sometimes I rent them.” She said with a bittersweet little smile. Then she took the box over to the tree, without speaking or looking at him.
He felt her mood had changed and he became somber. What was the problem? Didn’t she appreciate that he used his charm so that the woman swore to secrecy? He imagined she was probably happy somewhere with her photo, the autograph and a couple of smiles to remember. And he was free, hoping that Martha Kendall would resist mentioning that she had met him to friends and journalists… It wasn’t the first, nor the last time he was going to use this method.
All of a sudden he asked, “Do you have a problem with me?”
She blinked, caught by surprise, “What do you mean?”
“I feel you use a disparaging tone every time you address me. Does it get on your nerves the fact that I’m famous? That I’m rich? Are you envious, or do you have some prejudice against my profession?”
Her cameo skin took a reddish tone. But it wasn’t because of embarrassment. She was furious.
“I don’t give a damn about your fame or your bank account. But maybe I have some prejudice about someone who’s making a living using his image, and then complains when people recognize him! I don’t trust anyone who’s able to smile on command, just to achieve his goal. I don’t know you, so I shouldn’t judge, but I saw what you did with Mrs Kendall. Maybe I speak too much and out of turn, but I could never lie like that.”
Cade shook his head. “It would be great if we could be ourselves all the time, but unfortunately for some of us this is not possible. I am an actor, acting is my work, yet the fame that comes with it isn’t always pleasant, believe me.”
Almost as if to confirm his words, they heard his name on the television and gave it their full attention. While they were arguing, the music program had been interrupted by the daily news, followed by a tabloid show that was giving an update on the Cade and Alice soap opera. The story had grown out of all proportion.
The break-up between the Prince of Hollywood, Cade Harrison, and the TV Princess, Alice Brown, is continuing to make the news. Brown’s agent has declared that Harrison has cowardly abandoned his fiancée and disappeared, just when she was trying to smooth things over and resolve their differences. A photograph, showing Brown very pale and tense, seems to confirm that she’s really suffering for this apparently ended love. But what everybody is wondering now is what happened to the handsome soldier in No Man’s Land. Is he really hiding from his fiancée and the media to defend his public image, or is he healing somewhere? The latter hypothesis seems improbable, given the harsh words Harrison used to describe Brown and her talent as an actress. Yet, we shouldn’t forget the upset and stunned expression of the actor when Brown ditched him in front of millions of TV viewers…
Next the scene of Alice slapping his face in front of two delighted anchormen appeared on the screen. The voiceover in the background questioned what really was the truth, and promised more sensational news to come.
Cade massaged his temples, feeling a migraine coming on. If that bitch didn’t stop lying to the media, this story would go on forever! But he didn’t want to appear too insensitive as he tried to silence Alice. She was still his ex-fiancée, a woman with a career, and he didn’t want to destroy her. At the same time, he couldn’t be passive and allow a bunch of ignorant people to call him a coward – people who weren’t able to distinguish the truth from silly gossip.
All of a sudden he felt his neighbor staring at him. She looked perplexed. Was she judging him? Did she also believe that he was a monster who dismissed his ex-girlfriend’s broken-hearted suffering?
“Do you have something to add to this pile of garbage?” He blurted out, coldly.
She shrugged. “Your way of ending a relationship is none of my business.”
“In reality it shouldn’t be anybody’s business, but – as you can see – they don’t understand that.” He put his hands in his pockets. “Do you mind if I leave? I know I’d promised to help you, but…”
“No problem… you don’t owe me anything. Thank you for helping me move the tree. Goodbye.”
Cade nodded. His desire for taking a walk had completely vanished. He went back home and called his press office. He gave them a brief message to pass on to the media. Once he had done that, he collapsed into an armchair near the window. From that position he could see his red-headed neighbor decorating her giant tree. For a moment he envied her. It must be wonderful to feel carefree, to be able to whistle a silly Christmas song, while enjoying something as simple as decorating a spruce. He hadn’t had anything like that for a long time.
People thought that being a celebrity opened every door, including the one to happiness. But it wasn’t like that, at least not always.
Right now he could be in LA, dining in a great restaurant with friends, or relaxing in a luxury spa. He could be with his family and surrounded by love. However he was forced to go into hiding to find some peace – all alone, watching some perfectly unknown woman on the other side of the street his only diversion. In this moment Cade Harrison would happily trade his glamorous life with that of any average guy. Maybe even a guy that his neighbor would find worthy of a smile.
*
That day had started on a bad note. All her plans seemed to have gone up in smoke along with her carefree and cheerful mood.
Every first of December Clover set to work, full of enthusiasm, to make her home and her life more beautiful, more fun… at least for one month. The Christmas decorations – leafy garlands, scented wreaths and colorful lights – gave the rooms a joyful atmosphere that chased away the veil of melancholy for a while.
But in spite of her determination to see the positive side of things, she wasn’t always able to look at life with a smile, especially when things went wrong. That would always dampen her enthusiasm.
Today the firs
t source of irritation was that rude truck driver. It would have been really hard for her to drag the tree to the base of the stairs by herself, if her famous neighbor hadn’t offered to help…
And then the second source of irritation… she definitely didn’t want to admit that she might need a man! It was painful enough to remember – even for an instant – that she didn’t have anybody who loved her, someone with whom to share dreams and fears, someone who wanted and was able to take care of her.
And now why all these gloomy thoughts? What about the man who set off this whole stream of consciousness?
She didn’t know why exactly, but the Prince of Hollywood was able to bring out the worst in her. In his presence she felt uncomfortable, at a disadvantage and intimidated, so then she became obnoxious and aggressive.
Cade Harrison was simply too much. And not because he was rich or famous, but rather because of his amazing good looks and also because of his empathy, that emerged at random through the veneer of his otherwise controlled personality. Her disappointment was still burning after the warmth she felt when he had offered to help her decorate the tree. Yet, she had to expect this change of heart from someone like him. Harrison seemed almost amused to help her and share this tiny, simple joy, and she felt happily surprised; but she had to return to reality. He probably just wanted to be kind and didn’t really want to do it. It was possible that he always had to please people.
Then looking down at her disgusting clothes, she realized that she couldn’t accuse him of anything. What man in his right mind wouldn’t flee faced with such shabbiness?
“Maybe Mom isn’t completely wrong. I’m not ready for Prince Charming!” She said to herself.
Actually, Nadia O’Brian didn’t consider her to be totally hopeless. After all, this was her daughter and she couldn’t turn against her own DNA. It was unthinkable! Yet she was convinced that Clover needed some help to become more attractive.
“Sweetie, are you sure you don’t want to have a little bit of work done? These days big breasts are very fashionable, and also your lips could be fuller. You would be much sexier! Not to mention your clothes, Clover! You select such crazy colors and patterns… they clash with your hair and skin. You should dye your hair. Why not an ash blonde like mine, or a beautiful chestnut brown like your father? I’m afraid you have the bad luck of looking like your grandmother, love…”
“And what about my impulsive character, Mom?” Clover used to reply to this unsolicited advice.
“Unfortunately, there isn’t any cosmetic surgery for that…” Nadia sighed, suddenly losing her enthusiasm.
Clover felt that the little interest her mother had shown for her disappointing daughter was dwindling over time… but she couldn’t fake things and try to be someone she was not.
One thing that her mother seemed knowledgeable on was men’s taste in women. For example, Cade Harrison’s ex-fiancée represented to Nadia the ideal woman: the kind of beauty that would appeal to every man, even to a man who looked like a Greek god.
Yet she thought that the artificially perfect and sexy blonde must have had some invisible flaw – an insurmountable defect to deserve such public humiliation and coldness from her partner.
Although she wasn’t usually interested in gossip, Clover had to confess that this time she had a morbid interest in hearing the latest news about the couple.
Was Cade Harrison really hiding from a woman? Was he a coward? It seemed incredible. She recalled his distressed and resigned expression, and the dead look in his eyes when he left.
She sighed. “Are you sorry for him?” A voice inside her asked, “After you insulted him, telling him he was a liar and a fake… now do you worry that he’s suffering for love?”
Well, she wasn’t exactly worried. The TV news had suddenly killed the enthusiasm she had seen in his eyes… and she thought that nobody deserved to have his day ruined by silly allegations… or by a broken heart.
But what she really missed was the chance to share the joy and magic of decorating the Christmas tree with someone. “Let me be clear, whoever was eager to share this simple joy would be fine!” A slightly less honest little voice inside her spoke this time.
Right, eager! She saw how he flirted with Martha Kendall – that guy was just eager to please. It didn’t matter who it might be. She had to be rational. A famous actor like him for sure had more exciting things to do than decorating a Christmas tree. Honestly, she had to admit that Harrison certainly had other things to think about than spending an afternoon with a hostile neighbor! It didn’t exactly ruin his day, and so of course he left.
She wondered if he really was suffering for his girlfriend. Seeing her – sad and pale – in that photograph, couldn’t have been easy for him. Movie stars were capricious; every little argument between them found its way to the tabloids, yet maybe this couple still had feelings for each other.
Clover couldn’t understand how Cade must be feeling at that moment. Her own past relationships had been unremarkable: not one of the guys she dated in the last ten years had remained in her memory. And rarely did she regret not having someone in her life.
She was probably a great romantic though. She would never be content with just any guy. She needed to feel powerful emotions, her heart racing and her legs shaking. Love should be like Christmas: magical and full of light and surprises.
Clover turned up the volume of the music to clear out her thoughts.
“Suck it up, honey! You will be lucky if at ninety you are still able to lose yourself with Christmas lights…” she mumbled, returning to decorate her tree, hanging golden glass balls on the highest branches.
3
“You will never guess who came to live in the house right across the street from me!” Clover said, when she was alone with her friends. “I’ve been so busy in these last few days, I almost forgot to tell you this.”
“Who is it?” Zoe, always hungry for news and gossip, asked.
“Cade Harrison! But it’s a secret. Don’t let it slip, even under torture! If a journalist happened to appear in my neighborhood, Cade would immediately figure out that I betrayed him.”
“Cade who?” Eric was perplexed.
“Cade Harrison, the Hollywood actor. Tall, blond, amazingly beautiful… he was in that film about the future, he was a soldier…”
“Oh, yes! That hunk!” Zoe leaned on the store’s counter.
“Are you talking about the guy who signs his autograph on butts?” Eric sounded bored.
Clover smiled. “Exactly! Him! In fact, it was the first thing I told him. And he blushed, he was so embarrassed!”
“I’m surprised that you, you little nerd, didn’t blush just talking about it!” Zoe said, pinching him on the cheek.
Eric adjusted his glasses on his nose. “I’m not a wan… an idiot!”
“Yes, wanker! And you could pronounce the whole word, without fearing to be struck by lightening…” Zoe blew him a kiss. “You’re sweet, Eric. Always our little Mr Perfect…”
Eric walked away, mumbling, while Clover gave Zoe a withering look. “It’s hard to believe he’s still your friend after so many years of mocking him. Sometimes you’re hateful.”
“Eric knows that I love him. I just enjoy being a pest. Don’t you love me too?” She giggled, flirting with her big gray eyes.
Clover sighed. “This strategy doesn’t work with me, Zoe. Did you forget that I don’t have a penis?”
Liberty Allen, the store’s owner, entered the room at that moment. As always, she was immaculate in her gray pantsuit, her blonde hair tied up in a perfect ponytail.
“Why do I hear you talking about the male appendage every time you’re together?”
Clover laughed. “We weren’t talking about that!”
“On the contrary! We were, and we were taking about a famous one… a golden one! I wonder if it is actually hard like gold…”
“Zoe!” Liberty and Clover shouted in unison.
Zoe ignored their shou
t. “Liberty, our wood nymph here has the good fortune of having as her neighbor, a man as beautiful as the devil!”
“I don’t understand why the devil should be considered beautiful. It is a contradiction.” Eric commented from his corner.
“However, it’s just a temporary location for him. He’s hiding from journalists and the media.” Clover informed them.
“Ok, so he’s a temporary neighbor, beautiful like a Greek god… do you know who he is, Lib?” Zoe was bursting with impatience.
“Well, considering that you find all men attractive who have massive muscles and small brains, it shouldn’t be difficult for Liberty to understand who he is.” Eric had a very sarcastic tone.
“It’s Cade Harrison!” Zoe couldn’t wait.
“No Man’s Land, right?” Liberty asked, looking down at some files of recent orders.
Clover was giving some last touches to the Christmas window. “You know, Lib, you’re incredible! You immediately remembered his most famous film, while Eric and I talked about gossip, and Zoe was thinking only of his physical attributes… you are light years ahead!”
“Well, it’s not by chance that I’m the boss here. If the store were in Zoe’s hands, we would have a men only clientele, with some special extra services maybe…”
“Yes, like in The Client List!” Zoe laughed. “But the women in that TV series happen to meet only handsome men, with amazing bodies! I don’t think I would be as lucky…”
“And, on the other hand, if we had Eric as the store manager, we would always have an empty store, because of his shyness.”
“Being someone of few words, who doesn’t speak out of context, isn’t necessarily the definition of shy.” Eric protested.
“And, if we had you as a manager, Clover, all the merchandise would be broken or destroyed within one hour!” Liberty said, saving a little statue placed dangerously on the edge of a glass shelf.
“Sorry, Mom,” Clover mumbled.
“Mom! I am just two years older than you… and thirty isn’t old!”