“Of course,” he conceded. “But, will you call me later, so I can come see her?”
Grace nodded, and took out her phone. “What’s your number?”
Burke watched as the two finalized the details. He was so happy for Grace. She was about to find her sister, and he was proud that he was a part of something so monumental in her life.
He shook Chad’s hand, appreciative to this stranger, knowing how hard it would be to stay away from the woman he loved.
“Thanks, man,” Burke said, before letting go. “It was stand up of you.”
“Think I can come over to her room later?” Chad asked.
“I’ll have Grace call you as soon as they work out whatever they have to. It might take a while… they have a lot of ground to cover. It might be tomorrow.”
Burke sent Chad a silent look of thanks and followed Grace, who’d already run around the side of the house to find Janie, hoping for a location on her sister.
Grace watched the girls congregate at the front door, hoping to catch another glimpse of her. They’d been eavesdropping from the rec room, which was off the lanai.
“Can you believe we had someone famous with us all along … I mean other than Chad,” Brandi said in awe.
The knowledge that Anne was an Aundine was almost as exciting as the fact that all three were now off for their dream jobs.
After they got directions to the hotel, Burke drove a very unsure Grace from the property. She felt his hand resting on her leg, and was thankful she had him to help her through this.
Right now, her two biggest anxieties were what and how she would say anything to Anne, and if it would be received. She closed her eyes and took some cleansing breathes.
Burke could feel the nervous energy pouring from her and lightly squeezed her knee for reassurance, before shifting into second gear. As they accelerated onto the road from the property, he was so focused on Grace that he didn’t see the same car, which had been following them. He had no way of knowing it sat waiting outside the gate, to pull out behind them into traffic.
Chapter 31
After a restless night, Anne finally dragged herself from the shower. She’d hoped the warm water running down her back, would help invigorate her – but she couldn’t ignore her heart, which was still aching with pain.
The emotional upheaval she’d been going through left her with enough strain that she felt like it was on the verge of breaking.
Her life changed in one split second and she was forced to walk away from someone, who she thought was the next chapter in her life. Chad, although an actor, was the most sincere person she’d ever met.
In all her years, she’d never really met anyone like him, and now she was looking at life without the man who knew her best.
The only one remotely close to knowing her past was her best friend, Chastity. She’d never gotten close enough to a man to let him in to know who she was, ugly past and all. If she’d spent more time with him, she’d planned on divulging her family history, as she felt he could handle it. Only now, it was too late … and she was forced to leave the only man who’d stolen her whole heart.
Then there was the fact that her sister was missing. Having to choose between the love of her life and finding her sister left her feeling literally torn in two.
Anne dropped the hotel robe from her body, and slipped into her faded blue jeans. As she buttoned them, she reached for her a tattered tank top. There was no one to impress anymore.
She wasn’t even going to put any make up on or dry her hair. It would dry in the sun as she exposed it to the warm Hawaiian air.
Anne’s plan was to go to the police station today, to find out how she could help in finding her sister. As she grabbed her purse to leave, the hotel phone began to ring.
She jumped at the sound, as it startled her from her thoughts. Anne quickly threw her purse on the bed, and rounded then end of it to answer.
“Hello,” she said, wearily.
“Good morning, Miss LaSal.” The hotel attendant’s voice sounded in her ear. “I know you value you privacy, and under no circumstances would we allow any visitors access to your room.”
Anne groaned. She hoped she wasn’t about to deal with some crazed fan of the show. Now that she was outside her bubble, she’d already encountered a few people, in the lobby last night, who were jumping at the chance to get her autograph.
That was partly why she decided not to wear makeup or do her hair. She thought it might throw any fans off track.
“Yes,” she sighed. “What’s going on?”
The hotel attendant started in. “Again, we’d never allow anyone access to your information, but we’ve got someone here, who swears they know you.”
“I’m sure everyone does by now.”
Anne sat on the edge of her bed. She was about to tell him to send whoever it was away when she heard five magic words.
“She says she’s your sister.” The attendant waited, and stared across the desk at another famous face. He instantly recognized Grace, but managed to keep his professionalism intact.
Grace watched the man, behind the hotel counter, for any sign that Anne was open to hear from her. She searched his eyes in hopes that he could get through to her.
Anne’s whole body felt like she’d been jolted with electricity.
“My sister? Ask her what her name is.”
The hotel attendant covered the mouthpiece and whispered across the counter. “She wants to know what your name is.”
“Tell her it’s me … Grace.”
The attendant smiled, already knowing who he had at his counter but wanted to hear her say it. He whispered with excitement back to Grace, “Are you two really sisters?”
Burke glared and tapped his finger on the counter to get his attention.
“Of course, sir.” He dropped his eyes and got back to his job.
“Miss LaSal?” He spoke back into the phone.
“Yes,” Anne said, desperately waiting.
“She says her name is Grace.”
Anne slid off the bed. Her butt hit the floor with a thud. Could it be that her sister found her?
“Put her on the phone please.” Anne’s mouth was dry.
As he extended the phone over the counter, Grace anxiously grabbed it and lifted it to her ear.
“Anne?” Grace’s voice was shaky.
“Gracey,” Anne cried. “Is that really you?” Tears flooded down her face.
“Yes, I found you. Can I come up?”
“Of course,” she raised her voice with excitement. “Put the front desk back on so they can give you my room number.”
Grace handed the phone back across the counter, as tears slid down her face. She was getting ready to see her sister, and the fact that Anne sounded as excited as she was had her heart soaring.
“Miss Aundine, she said to come up. She’s in room 2103.” The attendant smiled, as he placed the phone back in the cradle. Then the pair rushed to the elevator, completely unaware of the man that had been tailing them all day.
Anne leapt to the mirror to check her appearance. Apart from being freshly showered, she was a mess.
“Oh, that won’t do.” She told herself and grabbed a towel, to ruffle her hair dry. “There’s no time.”
She panicked, and grabbed her concealer and lip-gloss. At least she had a warm glow to her skin, from her time on the island. That was her one saving grace in the fact that she was completely unprepared to face her sister for the first time in years.
As she straightened the last loose strands of damp hair from her face, she heard a light tapping at the door.
Grace stood outside Anne’s room for what seemed to be an eternity. She raised her hand multiple times, in efforts to knock, only to lower it back down.
“You can do this.” Burke leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “And I’m right here.”
“What if she doesn’t want to see me?”
Burke let out a soft laugh. “She asked you
up here. If you don’t knock, I’m going to.”
He gave her a look, which anyone else would think was one of intimidation, but she knew him well enough by now to know that he wasn’t trying to intimidate her. He was trying to motivate her.
Grace softly smiled up at him. She knew he was right. She lifted up on her tiptoes to kiss him softly before bringing herself to do what she’d come for. Grace slowly lifted her hand for the last time, to softly rap on the door.
Janie, on orders from Ned, rushed to the hotel to get set up behind the sitting area on Anne’s floor early enough to shoot the reunion without being seen. Although hidden, she had a clear shot of Anne’s room. And as she’d taken Anne to this hotel yesterday, she already knew her room number.
Once Grace and Burke left the beach house, she and her cameraman took off like they were on fire to get ahead of Burke’s car.
As Grace and Burke were positioned at the front desk, they sailed in with their single camera. Once upstairs, they placed a hidden mic by Anne’s door, and positioned themselves down the hall, behind a few chairs.
Janie was on the opposite end of the floor, around the corner from the room. She positioned her cameraman, Seth, on the ground so his camera could shoot from under a chair and down the hall, with clear access to the elevators. From this vantage point, they’d have a clear view of Grace Aundine, as she exited the elevator and approached Anne’s door.
Technically they weren’t supposed to shoot anyone without a waiver, but since Anne had signed off on all production, they were still able to shoot anything with her, while she was still on the island, with or without her knowledge. So, as far as the show was concerned, it wasn’t outside the lines to shoot what was about to happen with her and her sister.
After the soft knock sounded at her door, Anne peeked through her peephole, to see not only her little sister but a very large man standing in the hallway. She didn’t expect anyone to be with her, but at this point she didn’t care. With one glace of her own flesh and blood standing outside, she pulled the door open and rushed her, like she was a quarterback.
“Gracey!” Anne yelled and pushed herself onto her sister, holding her tightly.
Burke braced himself as both women fell against him. He steadied himself and up righted the pair, as they hugged it out. He was glad he was there if not for the simple fact that Grace could have been trampled by Anne’s enthusiastic embrace.
Grace laughed, remembering how Anne used to bring her in tight like this when they were young. It took her back to her younger years … before life with the Aundines … before the death of their parents.
Grace wound her arms tightly around Anne’s waist and squeezed just as hard, before choking out, “I can’t breathe.”
Anne laughed and pulled back, saying, “I’m so sorry. I just can’t believe you’re here.”
“Me neither. I’ve missed you so much.” Her face was wet. So was Anne’s.
Burke cleared his throat and tried to hide that he, too, was getting a bit misty eyed. Seeing the joy that spread across Grace’s face made his heart surge with pride, that he helped bring these two sisters together.
“I’m sorry, where are my manners. I’m Anne.” She pulled back and stuck her hand out to Burke.
He smiled warmly down to Anne, before pulling her in for a hug.
Anne felt like she was being wrapped up by a gargantuan teddy bear. It was possibly the most powerful yet soft embrace she’d ever experienced.
He pulled back, smiling down at her with warm brown eyes.
“I’m Burke. It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Burke …” Grace paused briefly. “is my boyfriend.”
Grace blushed and cut her eyes up to him, who stared down to her with obvious affection.
Anne watched the tender exchange between them, and was happy and envious all at once. She was glad Grace found someone who cared for her so deeply, but it also made her heart ache for Chad.
“Please, come in. I’m a mess. I just stepped out of the shower.” She backed into her room to let the two enter.
“You’ve never looked better.” Grace’s eyes welled once more, before she pulled her in for another hug.
Seth was about to stop rolling, when Janie shook his leg from around the corner. She was sitting on the ground to stay out of sight, and as she was about to rise she saw an anxious man rushing toward Anne’s door.
“Keep rolling,” she ordered.
Seth zoomed out and panned, as the man ran up to the hotel door. He zoomed in on his face, which looked pained as he strained to listen through the door.
“Get a load of this guy.” Seth whispered to Janie, before turning his attention back to his camera.
“If he’s not gone in a couple minutes, I’ll need you to make him leave.” Janie’s first interest was protecting Anne. “He could be some crazed fan of the show, and we don’t need any trouble.”
Seth nodded, mentally prepared. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long. Whoever it was backed away from the door and soon spun on his heel to retreat for the elevator.
Both Janie and Seth arose from their place on the ground, thankful to be rid of any potential issues.
“Did you text Ned with the update?”
Janie’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “I did. He’s sending another cameraman over to wait in the lobby for any further activity, and said we’re to get back with this.”
“Did we get a release from the hotel to shoot here?” He asked, concerned.
“Um, yeah … yesterday.” She rolled her eyes.
“How would he know to …” Seth followed Janie down the hall.
“Come on.” Janie rolled her eyes. “It’s Ned. As soon as Anne left and came here, he called to get permission.”
Seth grimaced. “And that’s why he gets paid the big bucks.”
“You got it.” She paused in front of Anne’s door, wondering if she should check in on her.
Anne was more than a cast member to her. She was a friend. And part of her felt like she should know about the bizarre man, who had been outside her door, but he had left … and she didn’t want to interrupt her family reunion.
Instead Janie forged forward, letting her friend have her privacy and intent on getting this footage back to her boss. Besides … from the look of things, she’d be seeing Anne again whether she knew it or not.
Chapter 32
Once inside Anne’s room, all three stood awkwardly without knowledge of what to do or say next.
“Please, come sit.” She led them to the balcony. “Would you like something to drink?”
Formal niceties were all Anne could think of as her mind was swirling with the reality that her sister was really here after all this time.
“No,” Grace said softly, pulling her sister down next to her. “Just sit. It’s been too long and I have a lot to say.”
Anne could see the nerves that played throughout her little sister’s face. They matched her own.
“Me too.” She started, but then stopped. She wasn’t sure if she should be angry, disappointed or relieved. Anne wasn’t sure of anything.
“You start.” Grace offered, knowing what was coming.
“How … How come you stopped calling me back? And never reached out?” Her eyes clouded. “I mean I know I left for college but the plan was to come get you, only you …”
“I know.” Grace reached out and softly wiped away the tears, which started to flow down her sister’s face. “It’s a long story.”
“Are you okay? The news …” Anne started.
“I’m okay … now.” She smiled, with open love toward Burke. “Burke saved me.”
“Saved you from what? What’s going on Gracey?” Her eyes were filled with concern.
“Lilah – set me up … set us both up.”
Anne noticed she called their grandmother by her first name, and wondered what that meant, as Grace was always one to speak adoringly of Lilah. If anyone were to for
ego the nicety of calling her grandmother, it would have been Anne.
“What do you mean?” Her mind was racing with possibilities.
“I thought I lost my cell phone a few years back, so she got me a new one with a new number. Only she took mine, so that when you’d reach out – Lilah would be the one receiving the messages. I never thought to call you on my new number, because you were always the one to reach out to me due to our family circumstances.”
“Right, I knew you couldn’t call me or you’d get in trouble.”
“Well, she promised to get my new number to you but never did. She even went as far as getting a new home line installed, and routing the old one to the gardener’s shed so you could still call the home number and leave a voicemail.” Grace explained.
“So, all this time I was leaving messages and texts for you, thinking you weren’t responding … you ….”
“I was thinking you weren’t reaching out anymore and Lilah used that to her advantage to drive a wedge…”
“That little …” Anne started, but Grace cut her off.
“It was wrong. And what was even more wrong was the man she’d pushed me toward … the guy she wanted me to date.”
Anne looked to Burke, wondering if he was the one she was referring to, but Grace shook her head.
“No, his name was Zach and while we were on vacation here – I overheard him and Lilah discussing how to keep me from watching the television so that I wouldn’t discover you and your show. They had been plotting for a long time to keep me busy so that I wouldn’t be aware of your new found celebrity status.”
“Grace – you’re telling me that your boyfriend was her errand boy, and he was keeping tabs on you? Creepy!”
“It gets worse. Once I confronted them, I told them I was cutting all ties. Zach went crazy. I don’t know - maybe he was already crazy to begin with, but he attacked me – hit me square across the face. I thought he was going to kill me.”
Anne leapt out of her chair to sit at Grace’s feet, wrapping her arms around her sister’s legs.
“Oh my gosh,” Anne cried, laying her head in her lap.
Coming Home Page 24