Love in the Heartland

by Diana Currie

  “Whose party does Pete want to go to?” she asked Holly.

  “He mentioned a couple different ones. I told him to decide because I figured he’d know who would throw the radest party.”

  “Radest?”

  Holly smiled. “Yeah, like the most rad. The radest.”

  “I think everyone in L.A. has updated their adjectives since the 90’s, Hol. Don’t they say things like hipster out here?” Maddie teased.

  “Hipster is a bad thing, Maddie. It’s like someone who’s trying too hard. Rad is a timeless term and I think it makes me stand out, so I’m bringing it back.”

  “What do other people say? I guess I shouldn’t be saying cool and awesome anymore if I want to fit in here.”

  Holly giggled. “Definitely not. Try using sick, gangsta, and tight.”

  “Have you ever heard of stanning? Some girl wrote Nathan a fan letter and said she was sorry for stanning him at LAX.”

  “She was saying she’s like a stalker and a fan. She’s a STAN,” Holly explained.

  “I have a lot to learn,” Maddie huffed.

  Holly turned towards her conspiratorially and lowered her voice. “So how are you feeling about all this? I know you were nervous about walking the red carpet. It’s overwhelming at first but so much fun! Don’t you think?”

  “I am having a good time but it’s mentally exhausting. You have to be so aware of yourself, you know what I mean? You have to be careful about what you say and how you act because there is literally always someone with a camera watching you. My feet hurt and my eyes itch from these fake lashes and all the makeup. It’s like playing dress up. I mean look at me; I feel like a Barbie doll.”

  “I feel like a princess,” Holly countered. “You better get used to doing stuff like this, Maddie, especially if you decide to move here.”

  “I know; that’s what troubles me. I think it could be fun once in a while but not all the time. When I was here with Nathan all summer I had to pay attention to how I looked every time I left the house. You never realize how often you’re dressed like a slob until the paparazzi captures it on camera. I’ve been features in the ‘Stars: They’re just like us!’ section of the tabloid more times than I can count. Me in yoga pants. Me with a pony tail. Me pumping gas at the ExxonMobil.”

  “That was a funny one!” Holly laughed.

  “Shut up, I’m being serious. I hate trying to look sexy all the time, with this makeup and the fancy uncomfortable clothes. Is this the life I want?” Maddie asked rhetorically gesturing to the designer gown she wore.

  “I love all of it! I could definitely get used to this life.”

  “Then maybe you should be the one moving to Beverly Hills,” Maddie replied jokingly.

  Holly gasped. “Are you giving me Nathan?” she teased.

  “Ha. Ha. No way, Bishop. He’s mine!” Maddie replied with mock severity. Holly pouted and it made Maddie smile. “I just wonder if I’m cut out for all this glamour and glitz.”

  “So, what are you going to do? Isn’t Nathan expecting you to give him an answer this weekend?” she asked seriously.

  “I love him so much and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him,” Maddie replied. “But I worry that moving to L.A. will be a mistake. Yes, it means I get Nathan… but he’s all I’ll have. With the exception of maybe Emma, my life will revolve around him and I don’t like the idea of being so dependent on him. Think how isolated I’ll be in L.A. with all the paparazzi following us. I can’t drive myself anywhere so even when I get a job I won’t have a normal life.

  “Haven’t we always talked about how marrying a celebrity would be an exceptional life? That’s better than normal, Maddie. Nathan can give you so much more than a normal life.”

  Maddie bit her lip and cautiously looked around to make sure no one was listening. “Who said anything about marrying him?”

  Holly gave her a look like she was the last person on the planet to realize something obvious. “Maddie. You’ve been dating him for over a year. He’s admitted to the press you’re his girlfriend. He wants you to move in with him! He calls you his Angel. That man wants to make you Mrs. Foster.”

  While the idea of Nathan proposing gave Maddie the best kind of butterflies in her stomach, she certainly didn’t want to discuss it in the middle of a Hollywood premier party where anyone could overhear her. She wanted to change the subject quickly so she decided to ask Holly about Pete. “Are you planning to sleep with Pete tonight?” she asked. “I’m pretty sure he thinks your obsession for EVOL means he’s got the golden ticket to your panties.”

  Holly giggled but surprisingly shook her head to disagree. “While it’s still a dream of mine to boink a cast member of EVOL, I’d always imagined it being Nathan,” she replied shrugging. “Since that dream is apparently dead-“

  “Way dead,” Maddie interjected with a smile.

  Holly rolled her eyes. “Since that dream is way dead, Pete would be my second choice. But I just can’t do it.”

  “Why not?” Maddie asked intrigued.

  Holly huffed theatrically. “I can’t because I think I’m falling for your idiot little brother!”

  “You are?” Maddie gasped.

  “I know, right? There’s gotta be something wrong with me. I figured if I came out here and met an attractive movie star I’d forget all about Kyle, but the opposite is happening. Hanging out with Pete tonight is just making me miss being with Kyle.”

  Maddie’s eyes widened and she had a dozen more questions to ask her friend, but didn’t get the opportunity because just then she saw Nathan and Pete approaching. She spread her lips into the wide grin she’d been sporting all night and stood up to greet them. “There you are,” she said as Nathan took her hand and gently kissed her cheek.

  “I’m sorry to leave you alone so long. I got trapped talking to this TV producer who’s been hounding me for months about a new show he’s creating.”

  “He wants you to be on the TV show?” Maddie asked.

  “Yeah, but I don’t know if television is my thing. Movies are the big leagues, you know? I like making movies.”

  Pete wrapped his arm around Holly’s waist and said, “Don’t we all. You guys ready to party?”

  Everyone nodded and followed Pete out of the theater to Stanley’s waiting limo. “What about Tyler?” Nathan asked. “I haven’t seen him since we got here.”

  “He’s going to meet us there. He’s getting a ride with a lady friend,” Pete answered with a wink.

  The after party turned out to be at a musician’s home. Maddie wasn’t familiar with the band but they must have been successful because the lead singer’s house was huge; even bigger than Nathan’s mansion! There was live music on the veranda in the back yard. Caterers supplied fabulous food and bartenders in tuxedos were on hand to make drinks. The alcohol was flowing all night long and the four of them indulged in a little post-premier celebrating.

  By one am Pete Walker was toasted. Nathan was relieved because he couldn’t take much more of the guy. He was appreciative of Pete’s willingness to keep Holly company all evening, but now that he was drunk and acting stupid it was time to part ways. As expected, Pete tried to hook up with Holly, but she turned him down so Nathan called Stanley and had him drive Pete home.

  The party seemed to get better with Pete gone. Nathan danced with Maddie and Holly and he introduced them to a few people they recognized from the music industry. They found Tyler with a pretty Spanish girl he met that night named Lucia. The five of them had a good time at the musician’s house dancing, eating, and talking about the movie industry. Tyler told them about his next project that was starting in January. When he asked Nathan what was next for him, Nathan just shrugged.

  “I’m waiting to hammer out a few personal details before committing to my next project,” he answered.

  Even through the buzz from the alcohol Maddie picked up on Nathan’s subtlety. Of course he hadn’t forgotten about the important conversation they still needed to have;
the future of their relationship depended on it. She knew waiting for her answer about moving to L.A. was tearing him up inside even though he played it off like her indecisiveness wasn’t bothering him. The weight of that looming talk stayed with her the rest of the night. Maddie decided she would give Nathan her answer before they went to sleep; she just wished she knew what it was going to be.

  It was nearly three in the morning when Nathan and Maddie got home. The house was empty and quiet. Holly went straight to the guest bedroom to crash, while Maddie took the time to remove all the makeup from her face before meeting Nathan in bed. He was sitting up, waiting for her when she opened the bathroom door.

  “This is the most beautiful you’ve looked all evening,” he said softly. Maddie blushed as she looked down at the light blue silk nightgown she’d put on. It felt like heaven compared to the Resultwear and gown she’d donned most of the day.

  “Thank you,” she replied as she slipped in bed beside him.

  Nathan reached for her, eager to make love to her before exhaustion took control of both their bodies. He was surprised when she gently pushed his hands away. “You promised me firework sex,” he cooed.

  “And I’ll deliver, Slugger, but first I need to tell you something.”

  “Uh oh, what did I do? I know I promised not to leave you all night but that TV producer cornered me and I knew you were safe with Holly…”

  “It’s not about that; we were fine. I promised to give you my decision by today… about moving in here with you.”

  Nathan sat up straighter. From the tone of Maddie’s voice, he didn’t think he was going to like her answer. “And…?” he prompted.

  “When I moved to Alabama for college it was exciting to move to a new place where I didn’t know anyone. I thought of it like an adventure. Everyone there was so nice and I made friends easily. I’ve never felt that way about coming to Los Angeles. Other than you and Emma I’m not going to know anyone, and I don’t expect it will be as easy to make friends here as it was on campus in the south. That culture is all I know, and L.A. has its own harsh, shallow culture that I don’t want to influence me. I’m worried that I’ll go crazy here because I’ll be trapped in this house. You’ve said that often times you’ve felt like a prisoner; because you can’t go outside without being followed.”

  “It wasn’t that bad over the summer, was it? I mean, you said you were getting used to it by the end,” Nathan said calmly even though on this inside he was beginning to panic.

  “Yes, I did start to accept the fact we would never really be alone expect inside this house. But I also think about how much time you spend away from here. Your next project, whatever it is, may take you to another state or another country for filming. And for however many weeks or months you are gone I’ll be completely alone here. And I won’t be able to go back to Texas because hopefully I’ll have a job that I’ll need to go to every day. For instance, I’m going home Sunday night and Monday morning you start a three-week promotional tour for Tomorrow and Forever. You’re going to New York, London, Italy. If we were already living together that would mean I’d be here in L.A. all alone for those three weeks. No friends, no family. Just me and Lupe.”

  “Yes, but it’s still less time that we’d be apart than if you stayed in Texas. And Lupe’s awesome,” Nathan joked. “I know you want to find a job right away, but if you didn’t then you could go to those places with me.”

  “No, I want to get a job to be sure that I keep my independence. I don’t want to have to rely on you for everything. I don’t want to lose myself here.”

  “I wouldn’t let that happen, Maddie. I want you to have a full life here. You’ll find a job and make friends, I promise you. I’ll get you your own car and driver so you can go anywhere you want when I’m working. I don’t want you to ever feel trapped in this house waiting for me to come home. It won’t be like that.”

  Maddie looked down at her fingers, inspecting the newly manicured nails. “Okay then.”

  “Okay?” Nathan asked.

  “Okay yes. After graduation I’ll move in here with you.”

  “You don’t sound thrilled about it.”

  “I’m willing to try it here, because I love you and I know this is what you want,” she said with a small smile.

  “I’m going to make you happy, Maddie, you know that right?” Nathan asked taking her hand in his. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy.”

  Maddie nodded, somber but content at the same time. “I trust you.”

  Nathan leaned his forehead against hers and sighed. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  “I’d do anything for you, Nathan.”

  “So would I,” he replied slipping his hand beneath her silk nightgown. He smirked when he discovered no panties were under it.

  Sex that night wasn’t explosive as they both had anticipated. Instead Nathan made slow, deliberate love to her, proving he meant every word he promised her. He knew from the tone of her voice and the expression on her face that relocating to Los Angeles was going to be a big sacrifice for Maddie. He suddenly felt immense pressure to make sure Los Angeles treated his Angel right. Maddie was obviously going against her better judgment to please him and Nathan wasn’t sure he could let her go through with that.

  Chapter Thirty One

  In the first week of January, Maddie was slowly coming to grips with her decision to move to Los Angeles to be with Nathan. As much as the thought of leaving her family pained her and the prospect of forging a new path in California frightened her, she was equally excited to be finally merging her life with Nathan’s. It had been a long time coming and after a year of long distance dating, Maddie was more than ready to make their relationship more permanent. She focused on the fact that none of her apprehension about the decision was about Nathan; she was more than ready to fully commit to their relationship and moving into his home was the next logical step.

  December had been a busy time for Nathan with a lot of publicity appearances for Tomorrow and Forever. He left L.A. the day after the premier and headed to New York for the first leg of a promotional tour. He did a series of daytime and late-night talk shows, met with magazine journalists, and did a few special appearances with the rest of the cast. After New York, he flew to London for their premier and did the same kind of publicity stops around the U.K. Press tours were always bittersweet relief for Nathan. On one hand, they marked the end of a long commitment to a particular project and it was always difficult saying a final goodbye to a group of people as great as the EVOL cast and crew. But at the same time, Nathan hoped Eli Duncan was not hiding a third installment to Caleb’s story up his sleeve and that this promotional tour would finally be the end of his commitment to Caleb Thomas. He was ready to move on.

  While Nathan was overseas, he thought every day about what Maddie had said about his frequent need to travel. That particular PR tour took him away from L.A. for fifteen days. Meanwhile Maddie was in Amarillo with her family, attending classes, babysitting her nieces, and hanging out with her friends. As she had pointed out the night she agreed to move to L.A., if Maddie was already living with him she would have been on her own in his huge empty mansion during that time.

  He knew that her concerns about being left alone in Los Angeles were valid ones. Melissa was looking over contracts on two possible film projects that Nathan was interested in pursuing. One would take him to Vancouver for six weeks, the other would mean going to Holland for two months, and both would be filmed sometime in the months following Maddie’s move to L.A. She’d be just finishing the unpacking of her moving boxes when he would be forced to leave her for another extended period of time. He wished he could think of a solution that would minimize the sacrifice Maddie was making to be with him, but so far nothing was coming to him.

  During the time Nathan was away, Maddie was preparing for exams and wrapping up the final fall semester of her college career. It felt like she’d started college a lifetime ago and it was surreal to think how c
lose she was to finally be getting that diploma. She’d worked so hard for it, especially after her education was seriously derailed when Joe got sick. Yet she managed to claw her way back to the top of her class even with the daunting task of caring for Joe, babysitting her nieces, and entering into a very distracting relationship with a certain celebrity who pulled her away from her studies and internship as often as he could. Maddie smiled to herself whenever she thought about that welcome distraction waiting for her in California. Five more months and they would be together. And not just for a weekend or summer vacation; Maddie hoped this would be the beginning of their happily ever after. Any sacrifice felt worthwhile when Maddie thought about the possibility of keeping Nathan forever.

  It hadn’t been a surprise to Kyle or their parents in November when Maddie returned home from the movie premier and announced she was moving. Sandy was exuberant about her decision, going on and on about Maddie following her heart, while Joe crossed his arms and pouted. He held onto his melancholy attitude longer than Maddie had anticipated. She tried explaining to her dad that Nathan’s parents had never been out to Los Angeles to visit him. Not once. Joe knew his daughter was always looking for someone to take care of and it must have been very difficult every time she had to leave Nathan after visiting him. Of course, she wouldn’t want the man she loved to be so alone. Joe thought Nathan was a good kid, and if he’d survived the past few years on his own in Hollywood then he must be capable of taking care of his little girl. So finally, at Thanksgiving dinner, when Maddie mentioned that Nathan was having dinner at Lupe’s house that evening, Joe surrendered and gave Maddie his blessing.

  Nathan concluded his press tour in early December and headed straight for Amarillo. He stayed with Maddie at her parents’ house for ten days and then flew to Wisconsin to spend Christmas with his family. While he was in Texas, Maddie had classes to attend and an internship to finish so he found himself bored for a good portion of each day. To keep himself busy Nathan went to yoga class with Sandy and Joe took him out a few miles from town to shoot rattlesnakes. They stopped by his favorite sporting goods store and went to a local bar to cool off with some beers.