by Hale, Beth
“Norah’s thrilled about being able to live in the house for the duration,” she told him as they gathered their belongings.
“The only on location scenes left is where Edward II flees to Whales and Edward III goes to Hainault, to marry Philippa. Or Germany, rather, since Hainault is no more.”
Emma frowned. “That’s wrong,” she told him as he hailed a cab. “They were married by proxy in 1327, and then Philippa traveled to England. They were formally married in 1328, at York Minster. Then—“
Jack placed a hand over her mouth and chuckled. “OK, professor. We had to speed things up for the movie.”
“Still,” Emma grumbled.
“Chris is right. You are a dork-ass.” She swatted at him, but grinned.
When they pulled up in front of her house, Jack gave Emma a lingering kiss. “I’ll miss you,” he said. “I’ll call you later.”
Emma nodded. She stepped out of the cab and waved as it drove off. She turned to go inside and wait for Norah to come home and demand details.
Chapter 11
Emma was kept busy for the next few weeks. She made sure Norah was at the set on time, made sure her bills were paid, made sure she kept her appointments, and kept the house clean and tidy. Ah, the life of an assistant, she thought with amusement. Part friend, part keeper, part maid. She loved it.
She and Jack managed to find time to be together. They would sometimes sneak away for dinner. He took her for drives in the countryside and let her explore to her heart’s content. If they had a free moment on the set, he would seek her out and just sit and talk.
The nights they managed to spend together were spent in a haze of passion. Jack knew how to drive her wild, and she thoroughly enjoyed her time in his bed.
She was falling for him, she realized, and falling fast.
On Monday, Emma looked on as Norah and Jack filmed the banishment scenes. She loved to watch the scenes come together, and it thrilled her to imagine this was how it very likely could have happened. She stood beside Alison and watched.
“My lord…my son. Please, I pray, do not do this.” Norah knelt at Jack’s feet and her black velvet skirt pooled around her. “Do not banish me from your court.”
“Mother, you know well why I have ordered this. You grow too powerful. England can have but one ruler.”
“You are taking away everything I hold dear, Edward. First Roger, and now my home.”
Jack’s voice deepened and he let anger flow through. “Mortimer sought more power than was his right. As do you. I am king.”
“We put you on your throne, my son.” Norah stood and anger came into her voice as well. “If not for us, your father would still be ruler, and you would not have your beloved queen.”
“It is for Philippa, as well as me, that I do this. You try to steal my wife’s power. There can be but one Queen of England as well. Do not fret, Mother; you will have every creature comfort you desire.”
“And if I desire court, or the pleasure of my children and grandchildren?”
“We will visit you, of course. However, court will be forbidden to you.”
Norah inclined her head sharply and bowed. Thomas yelled cut.
“Well done! One take and we got it! Perfect!” He was grinning. Norah and Jack grinned back, and Emma applauded. “Let’s take a lunch break. We’ll start again in two hours.”
Suddenly, Alison sucked in her breath and grabbed Emma’s hand. When Emma looked at her, she pointed to the floor. Water pooled around her feet.
“Oops,” she managed weakly and her smile trembled.
“It’s ok, it’s alright,” Emma soothed. “Jack,” she called, “Alison’s water broke. She needs to get to the hospital.”
***
When Jack was finished for the day he went
straight to the hospital to wait with Alison’s husband.
Emma promised to come as soon as Norah
was wrapped up.
By the time she managed to get there, Alison had been in labor for six hours. “How’s she holdin’ up?”
“She’s getting tired,” Jack answered. “Her contractions are getting stronger. Jacob-her husband-is with her.”
A few minutes later, Jacob came into the waiting area. He shook Emma’s hand and said, “Alison’s told me about you. She enjoys your friendship.”
“The feeling is mutual. She’s fun to be with, even when she’s waddling around after Jack.”
Jacob chuckled. “She’s gotten so huge I’m surprised she didn’t topple over from the extra weight.” He glanced at Jack as he excused himself to take a phone call. “Alison told me about you and Jack, as well. She’s pleased he’s found someone as kind as you. She never did care for Sarah.”
Emma smiled. “She’s one of the reasons I took Jack up on his offer. I’m glad I listened to her.”
“Why don’t you and Jack go in to see her,” he said as Jack rejoined them “I’m going to call Alison’s parents and update them; they’re driving from Bristol.”
Emma knocked lightly on the door as they walked in. Alison looked over and smiled. “Hello,” she said almost cheerfully. “Welcome to the Chamber of Agony.”
Emma laughed. “At least you’ve got a TV.” It was turned to a soap opera no one was paying attention to. “And a husband to curse at when it hurts.”
She giggled. “I’m well on my way to being miserable. Jacob says—“She broke off as a contraction hit. Pain rippled across her face.
Jack propped her up and rubbed her back as she gripped the bed rails and waited it out. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she chanted. When it was over, he wiped her forehead and gave her a light squeeze.
Watching him, Emma felt her heart tilt. She was, she admitted to herself, more than half way in love with him.
It scared her.
Suddenly, machines began beeping wildly. Nurses rushed in, Jacob hard on their heels. After checking a printout, a nurse said urgently, “Get the doctor, quick! The baby is in distress and its heart rate is dropping. We’ll have to do an emergency C-section.”
Alison’s eyes filled with tears as panic gripped her. She clutched her husband’s hand and whimpered as the doctor came in.
After checking for himself he nodded. “Everyone out,” he said curtly. “We’ll take her down and prep her. It won’t be long till she on the operating table,” he told Jacob. “You’d better suit up if you want to be with her.”
As they prepared to wheel her out, Jack gave her an encouraging smile. “You’ll be fine, darling. We’ll be waiting.” She nodded, tears still in her eyes.
Jack paced the waiting area while Emma sat and watched him. “You love her,” she said.
“I do,” he acknowledged. “She’s been with me since the beginning. Alison is the sister Mum always said would ruin her figure.”
Emma laughed. “Tell me how you met.”
“I’d just been given the role of Posthumas
Leonatus in Cymbeline. I received wonderful reviews.”
Jack smiled at the memory. “I received an offer to be in another play. And another, and another. I thought This is it, I’ve made it.”
“Sounds very exciting.”
“Oh, it was. I went straight to an agency to hire myself an assistant to handle all the fan mail I was sure to be getting.” Emma giggled and Jack continued. “Well, I did receive fan mail. Though,” he admitted, “not as much as I’d expected. Then Alison began keeping track of the offers and interviews, the appearances and well, things in general. I’d be lost without her.”
Jack sat beside Emma and placed his arm around her. He kissed her cheek. “I know things like this happen all the time and that she’ll be fine. You kept me from worrying so much; thank you.”
They both sprang to their feet when they saw Jacob hurrying down the hall.
“It’s a boy,” he told them, giddy with excitement. “A healthy nine pound boy with his mum’s eyes.” He kissed Jack full on the mouth then turned and did the same to Emma.
; “How is Alison?” Emma asked.
“Groggy. And relieved. We were so frightened. They have her in recovery. She’s a trooper, my Alison. She took one look at him and said ‘Let me rest up a bit and we’ll have a go and getting him a sister’.”
Jack laughed and clapped him on the back. “I’m glad everything is ok. Go on back to your family, mate. We’ll be here tomorrow to see them”
Jacob nodded and left to kiss Alison and gloat over the miracle they’d made
Chapter 12
The next morning Jack and Emma set out to find gifts for the new arrival and his mother. It had turned cold, and Emma was able to wear the brown leather jacket she’d bought during her shopping frenzy.
“Look,” Emma told him, “this giraffe is perfect.” She picked it up and held it out for Jack’s opinion.
“Are you sure?” He eyed the four foot stuffed animal. “It’s rather large.”
“Yeah,” she smiled, “but he’ll grow into it.” She held on to her pick while Jack looked around and finally settled on a book of children’s poems and a small Teddy bear.
He also bought a miniature tuxedo. “He can wear it when they go to the park,” he said and made Emma laugh.
They continued to wander the shops, teasing each other, and looking for gifts for Alison. When Emma spotted a small silver jewelry box studded with turquoise she bought it immediately. “She’ll love it,” she said.
As they passed a display of handbags in a shop window, Jack paused. “I remember Alison being excited when she saw this in a magazine. I believe it’s a good occasion to buy it for her.”
Emma stayed outside to answer a text from Chris. When she heard a still-familiar voice call her name she turned. She couldn’t believe it her eyes.
“I thought it was you, Emma. What are you doing in London?”
“Hello, Ryan,” she greeted him quietly. He was
still as handsome as when she first saw him. Tension
snaked around her and her heart hurt a bit. “Norah’s
filming here.”
“Yeah, I’d heard she snapped her fingers and you went running back to be at her beck and call.”
“Did you want something?”
“Just to say hello. I’m here on business and I couldn’t leave without bringing something back for Renee.” He held up a small black bag. “She picked it out online before I left home. Rubies. She has excellent taste.” He smiled. “I see yours hasn’t changed much, although that jacket is nice.”
Emma stiffened and hurt flashed in her eyes. “Why do you insist on being cruel?”
“I just don’t understand you. I tried and tried to work with you; did nothing I say sink in?”
“Damn you, Ryan.” Tears threatened to erupt. “You really are a bastard.”
Jack came out of the shop and noticed Emma’s eyes. He put a comforting arm around her and turned steely eyes on the man standing in front of her.
“Hello,” he said, barely masking the anger in his voice. He held out a hand. “Jack Brandon. I take it you know my Emma.”
“Ryan McNeil,” he replied as he returned the handshake. “Jack Brandon! Well, I’m pleased to meet you; I’ve seen several of your performances in New York.” He suddenly noticed the way Jack held Emma and his smile faltered.
“Always nice to meet a fan.” Jack kept his voice even and continued. “McNeil. You’re Emma’s ex-husband, then. I can’t thank you enough.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“For being fool enough to let her go.” He
pulled Emma closer. “Because you did, I had the good luck to meet her.” He kissed Emma’s cheek. “And become completely besotted with her.”
Ryan stood speechless for a moment and frowned. “Well,” he muttered.
Emma’s heart tilted again at Jack’s willingness to defend her. “Well,” she returned brightly, determined to show Ryan she was happy. “It was good seeing you again, but we have to go.” She held up the bag with the giraffe’s head sticking out. “We’ve got to deliver these to a friend before we’re due on set. Give my best to Renee, won’t you? Goodbye, Ryan.”
“Goodbye,” he returned. He wondered how the hell Emma had managed to become that close to a successful actor.
Jack bared his teeth in a semblance of a smile and left with Emma, his arm now snugly wrapped around her waist. Ryan shook his head and walked back to his hotel.
***
Alison went wild over the gifts, especially the giraffe. Emma looked at Jack with eyes that said I told you so. He rolled his own.
“Thank you so much,” Alison said to Emma. “I adore the jewelry box.”
“I thought you would,” she replied as Alison reached for the last gift bag.
“Oh, Jack,” she exclaimed. “Jack, it’s beautiful! You remembered how much I wanted it, even the color.” She stroked the supple cognac leather and beamed. “Look here, darling,” she told Jacob as he came in with the baby. “I have a new handbag.”
“To go along with your countless others,” he
smiled. He gave her the baby and she cuddled him.
“I’ve named him Jacob Brandon,” she announced, “after the man I love and the man I consider a great friend.”
“I’m honored,” Jack said quietly. “Honored and humbled. We are great friends,” he told Alison as he touched the baby’s hand and kissed Alison’s cheek.
She held the baby out. “Would you like to hold him?”
Jack stepped back, slightly panicked. “Not now; he’s a bit small. What if I drop him? No, I believe I’ll wait till he’s bigger.”
The others grinned and Alison looked at Emma. “Would you?”
“You bet.” She gently took him and smiled into his tiny face. “You’re such a handsome boy,” she crooned, “Such a good baby.”
Jack watcher her slowly rock the baby back and forth. He felt a mirror tilt of what she’d felt earlier and thought, My God. I am completely besotted by her.
After leaving, they sped to the set. Emma was lost in thought on the way. Finally, when they were almost there, she spoke. “Thank you,” she said quietly, honestly. “It meant the world to watch you stand up for me.”
“He hurt you back then and he hurt you today. I can still see the shadow of it in your eyes.”
“I didn’t know he still could,” she admitted. “But when I saw him, all those feelings of self-doubt and insecurity came rushing back, the same ones I felt when we split up. I’m embarrassed to know they were still there.”
“You shouldn’t be embarrassed. But, Emma,
until you overcome those feelings you won’t really be able to move on. Not completely.”
Emma sighed. “You’re right,” she agreed. “And I’m trying hard. I promise I am.”
Jack smiled at her as they arrived. He kissed her temple and walked into work.
Chapter 13
“You spoil me, baby. You shouldn’t have done it,” Ann’s voice sounded over the telephone.
“I know you’ve always wanted an Alaskan cruise. You can take three weeks and have fun with Aunt Rhodie,” she said, referring to her mother’s sister.
“Do you think the café will be ok with me gone that long?”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mama. Penny is more than capable.”
“I know, but the café is my other baby.” Ann laughed. “I’m excited to go. I can hardly wait till the first of next month. Oh, Chris called earlier and sent a huge bouquet of roses, the love. He also sent a magazine with a certain couple on the front.”
“Chris should mind his own business,” Emma muttered.
“Jack Brandon, talented actor, eligible bachelor, drop dead sexy. I googled him.”
“Mama!” Emma laughed.
“Just cause I’m old, baby, don’t mean I’m blind. Are you happy?”
“I am. I feel good when I’m with him.”
“I can imagine,” Ann drawled and made Emma blush from thousands of miles away.
“Happy Birthday
, Mama. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Emma. Be a good girl.”
Emma ended the call and made her way down the stairs to check Norah’s schedule again. “Filming at four tomorrow, interview at eleven the day after,” she muttered to herself, making notes.
“We need more strawberries,” she decided as
she opened the refrigerator. She took the last ones out
for breakfast and sat to make a list for the store.
Norah’s chamomile tea and strawberries, of course she thought as she wrote. Milk, clotted cream, and scones. She’s developed an addiction. Her mind wandered and she thought about the run in with Ryan. It had given her a jolt.
Made her jumpy, she admitted, and made her feel insecure again. Why did he still have that effect on her, damn it? They’d been divorced for over a year now, and she’d realized some time ago that she’d never really loved him. She’d been impressed with him, flattered by him. Amazed that he could be interested in someone like her. She’d convinced herself it was love.
She knew, she knew, he’d messed with her head; knew it was past time to get over it. But there was still that kernel of self-doubt she couldn’t shake. It was beginning to piss her off.
So she’d work harder at it, she resolved as she gave herself a mental shake. She wasn’t going to brood and she wasn’t going to let it hurt her relationship with Jack.
She was going to the store.
***
Norah was waiting for her when she got back. “You’ve done it again,” she told her and handed her the magazine.
“Damn.” Emblazoned on the front was a picture of her and Jack hand in hand, smiling up at each other, as they left the hospital. The caption read, New couple looks cozy as they visit a friend. Is Jack Brandon finally over Sarah? Is Sarah smarting over his new love? There was an insert of Sarah’s face, looking decidedly upset.
“Where the hell do they get off? It’s not a
competition, for God’s sake!”
“Isn’t it?” Norah asked mildly. “Sara’s still pissed that Jack ended it before she did, no matter the reason why. Then you enter the picture; someone unknown, someone from the sidelines. The look on her face says she’s not happy, even if the picture is weeks old and not from seeing you together.”