Andy commented, “How can I forget about that one. It was all a big misunderstanding. I actually owned the land, but they thought it wasn’t mine to begin with. We finally did get it straightened out. In the end, they were apologizing.” Billie was so glad that he didn’t have to serve time behind bars. Andy was one of the nicest guys she had ever met.
The sun was setting on the water once they returned. Chris was lying on a lawn chair, playing his harmonica. He said to Billie, “How about going for a swim with me late tonight?”
Billie thought, “Why not right now?”
He pleaded, “Because I want us to have privacy, once everyone is asleep.”
Billie knew then what he meant, and she said, “I will think about it.”
He then asked, “Did you have fun with Andy? Did you ride with Bobby Douglas, too?”
Billie lectured, "Well, if you had stuck around instead of running from Lana again, we could've been on the bikes together." Chris just went back to playing his harmonica.
After they had dinner, a few of the singers decided to rehearse for the big concert that was to be held in two days. While Billie was socializing with some of the guests, Chris was trying his best to be at his worst. Bobby was the target of his aggressions. He was trying to carry on a conversation, and Chris was trying to avoid one. Bobby claimed, “I think this was one of Andy’s greatest ideas yet. I also believe that everyone is having a wonderful time, including Billie.”
Chris declared, “Well, Billie bumps in to reality and bruises easily. As for me, I feel as if I am on a Federal Express to Hell.”
That took Bobby off guard. He ended the conversation by saying, “I think I will go look for Kelly now.”
Chris added, “I saw her earlier. She mentioned something about taking a dip in the pool. She may not be there now though.”
Bobby asserted, “I’ll catch up with her once I’ve taken care of a few things.” That was music to Chris' ears. Now he could begin his revenge.
Chris went looking for Billie before his plan would fail. When he found her, she asked, “What is the big rush?”
He lied, “I just have an urge to be fulfilled. I asked you about it earlier. I figured if we were going to go for a swim, we should do it soon, before others get the same idea. As a matter of fact, I heard someone say they wanted to go swimming later on tonight.” Billie wondered why he was acting stranger than usual. When they reached the pool, Chris started removing his clothes.
Billie objected, “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
He begged, “Don’t you like being spontaneous or taking risks?” Billie got in and he tried to get her to take off the rest of her clothes. She was starting to feel uncomfortable. The way Chris had behaved as of late, was not a turn on. Little did she know, it was just a set up, and someone was watching them.
The following day, Billie was preparing for the costume party. She received a visitor, Bobby. She let him in her room for a moment. She inquired, “Are you getting ready for the masquerade?”
He estimated, “I think some people around here have been wearing their masks for some time now.”
Billie solicited, “What do you mean?” He waited a few seconds before he continued.
He then said, “Please tell me that the stunt Chris pulled last night, that you had no idea he was going to do that. It was really tacky, to say the least.”
Billie vowed, “I still have no clue as to what you are saying.”
He related, “Chris told me last night that my wife was at the pool. But, guess who I found there instead?”
Billie was shocked, “I can’t believe he would do something like... I know why. How could he do it, especially to me? I figured he would try and get back at you, but why did I have to be a part of it?”
Bobby asked, “Why is he mad at me? Is it possible he knows about our affair, or the week that you spent with me at my house?”
She appealed, “You mean to tell me you don’t have the slightest idea? He knows about your affair with Lana and I think he has caught on about us as well.”
He pleaded, “I admit to our affair, but I have never touched his wife. She was never attracted to me. I was a little, but I only had eyes for my wife. Since when did he start saying stuff like that about me?”
Billie assumed, “Maybe he wanted to make me turn against you or admit the truth. He never did understand our friendship. It didn’t work out the way he planned. So, he had to resort to those sleazy tactics. I am so upset with him right now, I could just scream!”
Bobby acknowledged, “He didn’t defend you that much yesterday. One comment he made shocked me. And then he turns around and practically solicits you, just for my viewing pleasure.”
She admitted, “Chris' behavior never fails to overwhelm me. Just when you almost have someone figured out.” Bobby told her what Chris said. It didn’t bother her too much. She was more worried about what Bobby thought. She feared, “I guess his song is right, 'without her, you’d see a different man.’ He changes more than the weather. I’ve tried to forgive him time and time again, but it only seems to be getting worse. I don’t want to break up with him. He has lost so much.”
Bobby insisted, “You’d better get out while you still can. In his condition, he could end up hurting you much more than mentally.” She decided she would end it after the concert, the next night.
So many people dressed up in so many different costumes. Billie wanted to forget about her problems, if only for a few hours. She hoped no one would figure out who she was in her costume. It was only obvious maybe to those who knew her best. Billie noticed who was standing next to her at the punch bowl. It was someone dressed as Sylvester, the cat. Billie then knew that Chris had figured out her costume in advance. She was Cat-Woman. Chris walked up to her and said, “Remember when you told me I had eight lives left?”
Billie objected, “More like five.”
Chris petitioned, “Why is that?”
She argued, “Let’s not discuss it. We are here to have a good time, at least I am.” She mingled and tried to keep her mind off of Chris' wandering one. She danced with a pirate, which she found out later, was Andy. She saw Bobby dancing with his wife. She went to talk to them. Maria showed up dressed as Dorothy, from the Wizard of Oz. It was fitting, since she was from Kansas. It was only right that her husband was dressed as the scarecrow. Maria asked Billie where Chris was and she said she’d explain it all to her later. Then, Billie thought she was seeing things. She saw someone come in dressed as a hound dog. Automatically, one person came to mind, Ricky Todd. He had a love for those breeds. She had to find out if it was him. She went over to ask him to dance and he accepted. They danced through a slow song and he finally took off his mask.
He joked, “Now there’s something you don’t see every day, a cat dancing with a dog.” It was Vance Tipton, not who she originally thought. He was a big Elvis fan, obviously his motivation for the costume.
The party ended on a good note. Andy sung a few songs and let his daughters sing with him. It was cute. Billie talked to him for a while, once he was alone. They talked about his greatest accomplishments, including his family. He showed her all of his awards and honors he had received. A few in particular caught Billie’s eye. It was awards he won for the songs he wrote with Ricky Todd. Andy asked, “Are you a big fan of Ricky’s?”
She contended, “The biggest, I guess you could say. He is my inspiration for being in Nashville in the first place, and I am also from his home state.”
Andy insisted, “I’ll have to invite you over the next time he is here, or when we go visit him.”
She smiled, “Please do, anytime you can!”
After Billie left Andy, she ran in to Chris. He questioned, “How did your conversation go with Bobby?”
She ordered, “I think you need to ask him that. There’s something you need to know.” She took him next door to Bobby’s room.
He let them in and Chris yelled, “Why did you drag me in here? This is so c
hildish.”
Billie cried, “Well, stop behaving like one. Bobby has something to tell you.”
Bobby declared, “I did not sleep with your wife. Call Lana and ask her yourself.”
Chris snapped, “Like she would tell me. And, how convenient for you. Lana would lie her way out of it, just like you are doing…and just like she did when we were married. Why should I believe you, you’re the expert with affairs. A real man wouldn’t cheat on his wife, and I'm not talking about Lana this time.”
Bobby lectured, “Well, a real man wouldn’t turn to alcohol because his wife left him.”
Chris then said to Billie, “I can’t believe you told him about my personal problems. It’s none of his business.”
Bobby ruled, “Personal isn’t the word for it. You are delusional.”
Chris thought, “What you said before, does that mean you are admitting to the affair with Billie? Maybe Kelly should know about this.”
“I already know,” said Kelly, as she entered the room. Billie froze for a moment, awaiting Kelly to slap her. Kelly admitted, “Bobby told me about his mistake. It was as much my fault as his. I’d forgiven him a long time ago for it. I also know that Billie helped him, too. She was responsible for getting us back together. She wasn’t trying to win him for herself. Which, she could have very easily done. There really are no hard feelings.” Billie was bewildered, while Chris was the one with egg on his face.
A few minutes later, they heard a commotion downstairs. Billie was still reeling from the recent confession, and why Bobby didn’t let her know that Kelly knew the truth. They all went down to see what had happened. Louise was saying, “I can’t believe it. She was doing fine the last time we saw her. It’s too soon. She had so much left to do.”
Billie asked, “Who are you talking about?”
Andy said, “Ricky’s wife, Lydia, passed away today.
It was a tragic announcement, after one so completely shocking, and both out of the blue. What would this mean for Ricky Todd? Only time would tell.
Chapter 1
The news of Lydia Todd’s death had not quite sunk in yet. Not much was said for a while. There wasn’t anything comforting. Billie was probably the most uncomfortable. She had kept her love for Ricky Todd and her mild dislike for Lydia, a secret. But now, she almost regretted having that feeling. Chris didn’t say anything to her. But, that was mostly because he was upset with her. After what had happened, Billie wanted to make peace with him, if she could. He wouldn’t budge. So, she decided to let him be alone.
Bobby finally spoke to Billie. He noted, “Kelly and I are going to send flowers. Is there something you’d like to do?”
Yes, there was something, be there to comfort Ricky. But, instead she said, “I wonder if anyone here will go to the funeral?”
He informed, “It’ll probably be a private ceremony, only for family and close friends.”
She added, “Louise and Andy were close to them.”
He agreed, “They haven’t mentioned it yet. Maybe they will.”
She continued to ask, “Bobby, how long has Kelly known that big secret we were supposed to keep? Why didn’t you tell me earlier that she knew? It makes me feel uneasy around her now.”
He reassured her, “No need to feel guilty about something that was going to happen eventually, and that Kelly has forgiven us for. That is the main reason I didn’t tell you. I figured you would clam up and never speak to her again. You’re not going to do that, are you? Regardless of it all, she still wants to be friends.”
Billie admitted, “I can understand why you love her so much now.”
He approved, “Yes, I do. I’m just glad everything worked out. I’m thankful for what I have. Lydia’s death has also made me realize that.”
The next day was hectic. Entertainers were out and about, preparing for their extravaganza. Billie really only had one major chore. It was her report for Mr. Reid.
It was the least she could do for him, especially after what he had let her get away with for months. She sat down at a desk with her laptop. When she turned it on, she noticed a different disc. She entered a key and words appeared on the screen. It looked very much like a love letter. It wasn’t long before she figured out it was Chris'. But, it wasn’t for her. It read:
To my estranged. Since you left everybody says I’m not the guy they’ve known. I am half a man with half a mind. After our divorce was finalized, I saw a side of you that I knew was there all along. I knew someday that I would say goodbye to you. I only wish you didn’t make me hope. We were on borrowed time. One right still made two wrongs. We were as different as day and night. I turned to the bottle again to fill the void. But, you were the first thing that I thought about when I thought I had drank you off of my mind. If I had done the things I should've done while we were together, you still would not be mine. I’m still lost in yesterday. You may have thought I’d be a happy man when you left. There is an end to all of my sorrow. You were the perfect truth, wrapped in little white lies.
Then it ended. There was more, a page two of the letter. But, it was not on the computer. Billie debated on whether or not she should ask Chris about it. Someone knocked on her door. She heard their voice and quickly opened it. “Did you forget all about me now that you are a country music groupie?” asked her old reporter friend, Jenna.
Billie vocalized, “It’s good to see you again. So much has happened since we last saw each other.”
Jenna boasted, “I’ve noticed! You are best pals with Bobby Douglas and Maria Dawson. You’ve been to numerous celebrity functions and are now dating the one and only Chris Brady!”
Billie articulated, “How did you figure that out? Never mind. The way that you make it sound, actually makes my life look interesting. I wish I could tell you it was the best relationship I've ever had, but…”
Jenna ruled, “It’s Lana, isn’t it?”
Billie agreed, “Absolutely.”
Jenna responded, “I have been a reporter for so long, it doesn’t take long to pick up on things, human nature as well. So, are you going to leave him, or are you only seeing him for an image?”
Billie commented, “Why do I enjoy your company so much when you are such a pain?”
Jenna smiled, “Because I’m so incredibly talented and it is impossible not to like me.” They laughed and then
Jenna nudged her, “Are you going to show me around, or are we going to sit here all day?”
Billie stated, “I’m thinking of giving you a tour of the lake, so I can drown you in it!”
While Billie was taking Jenna everywhere she could think of, they ran in to Brook and Shane. They received an invitation to hang out with them on their set in Nashville. Billie was excited about it but was beginning to worry about the performance of her ‘boyfriend’ that night. She couldn’t find Chris anywhere. But, he soon found her. She asked him where he had been after she introduced Jenna. He said, “Taking care of unfinished business. Now, I have to get to work on my rehearsal for tonight.”
When he walked away, Jenna questioned, “Is he always that brief, of rude?”
Billie answered, “When he has a lot on his mind, I just leave the conversation, or lack of it, to him.” Billie went to her room to get her camera. She noticed Chris’ cell phone kept getting calls. She couldn’t believe he had left it behind. She looked at the number on the screen, but didn't recognize it. It was a local number. She ran in to Andy and asked him to give the phone to Chris when he saw him.
Andy asked, “Is Chris a friend of Ben’s?”
Billie wondered, “Why?”
Andy informed, “This is Ben’s phone number.”
Billie told Jenna about it. Jenna grilled, “Do you think Lana is talking to Chris now? She might want him back.”
Billie objected, “I don’t think she does. It must be something else because I’ve heard the words from her mouth that she was fed up with him. I didn’t believe she was telling the truth about Chris, but I’m beginning to se
e things in a different light.”
Jenna asked, “Has he beaten you?”
Billie insisted, “No. I don’t feel threatened by him, yet. I’m not worried about that because I won’t be around to find out if he can be abusive.”
Maria entered and said, “Where are you going?” Billie was aware of Maria’s loyalty to Chris as a friend. But, she was also her friend and had deep trust with her. She let her in on it. All she said was, “Whatever you think is best for you, then I am for it.” Billie was relieved.
Time flew as the stage was set. The opening acts were of various forms of country music. Some where a mixture of bluegrass and country, while the rest were rock/pop and country. Billie was enjoying every performance. She cheered on Bobby and so did Jenna. Chris showed up around the time Maria was performing. Billie claimed, “It’s about time you got here.” Chris said, “I was talking to Joy Edwards. We might be doing a duet together soon.”
Somewhere in My Heart (Tennessee Series #2) Page 2