He was lost for a moment in her smile. He had a habit of doing that – it was a dangerous weapon as far as he was concerned.
They had a natural harmony now. When she moved forward, he was already in position and walking in time with her.
They didn’t get very far before he spotted Sarah coming their way. She was carrying a laptop and a frustrated expression. It made him smile.
“Jack has been hounding me all morning. I brought this because he wants proof of life.” When she was close enough she shoved the laptop into Alicia’s hands. “And do me a favour – call Dad, because he’s driving me crazy too.”
Alicia tucked the computer under her arm. “Good morning to you too, Sarah.”
“I’m sorry. Good morning, sweet stuff - you too, Alicia!”
“You’re chipper for someone who needs to get back in my good graces. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.” Alicia looked at Brad from the corner of her eye. “Me and the big man here worked through it. You on the other hand were decidedly sneaky.”
“Oh, come on, if you were mad with me you wouldn’t have worn that outfit.”
Brad looked down at the figure hugging jeans, combat style boots and feminine blouse. She looked knockout in anything she wore.
Sarah’s smile was sly. “She doesn’t like it when I choose her outfits. I casually suggested this one yesterday. It’s important to make an impression.”
Alicia rolled her eyes, and moved ahead to the coffee stand. The team were using one of the back lots during the morning run so they were practically alone.
She waited until they were seated with a steaming cup of magic in her hand before broaching the subject. “I’ve thought about it, and I’ve decided you were trying to bring us together so we could explore our issues. Both having scars made by the same hand.”
Brad almost choked on his coffee – she had such a dramatic flair. It was entertaining.
“Something like that. I’m surprised you’re letting me off so easy. Could it be because you’ve avoided the torture chamber one more day?”
“Which would be code for?” Brad asked, playing along even though he’d guessed what she was referring to. He was growing accustomed to their shorthand.
“The gym. I’ve managed to avoid it two days in a row so I should probably schedule in a session tomorrow.”
“Talking of scheduling, when’s your hair appointment?” Sarah asked, taking in the tail and cute bangs.
“Not until this afternoon. I’m going with au natural for the interview.”
“Really? If that’s the case, I think you should wear it down. You have pretty hair, so it’ll distract people into thinking you made an effort.”
Alicia laughed hard, not at all offended. “You are in a good mood. Is there something I should know?”
“Well, I was going to wait until later… but I just negotiated you a deal to star in four episodes of Hope’s Law.”
“Oh my God! Seriously?” Alicia jumped to her feet, pulling Sarah with her. “How did you manage to keep that in for so long?”
“I don’t know. Shall we?”
“Victory dance – hell yes.”
Their dance, if you could call it a dance wearing a straight face, was indulgent without the need for apology. Brad watched them prancing around like a pair of graceful gazelles. He enjoyed the female display immensely.
He knew of the show, it was all most people talked about on a Friday morning. Hope’s Law was the most successful running series in over a decade. Though he’d never seen it, he had a feeling it was going to be part of his future.
He checked in with his team as they happily discussed the role. Things were in place at the station; as were the two CPO’s assigned to his duty. Abe had already forwarded a copy of the security detail for the afternoon shoot, when the cast would be filming on water.
“I should get to work. I still need to iron out a few details,” Sarah said, draining the rest of her coffee.
“I’ll stop by the office this afternoon. Will you be listening?” Alicia sat back in her seat and looked forlornly at her empty cup.
“If I get a chance, otherwise there’s always podcast.”
Brad didn’t buy that for a second. He knew her well enough to bet she would be listening, along with anyone else in her vicinity.
She turned knowing eyes in his direction. “I’m sure Al’s given you the pep talk, but Chris Matthews likes to live on the edge, and I’m sure your name will come up. Don’t worry – she can handle it.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
Sarah turned back to Alicia. “I think we’ll definitely keep him.” She winked in his direction. “Now, before you go I want you to call Jack, Dad and Josh. If you don’t they’ll only hound me and I’ll never get any work done.”
“Shall I do it in that order?”
“Do it in any order you like. Just do it.” She blew her a kiss and started out. “Oh, and wear your hair down.”
Brad watched Alicia’s face, mesmerised by the humour that lit her features, especially her eyes. She did what he anticipated and waited until Sarah was out of sight to pull the band from her hair. When the dark locks tumbled over her shoulders, he gave in to the urge to touch it.
“Sarah’s right. It is pretty distracting.”
She didn’t respond because she didn’t know how. It took a huge effort to control her body’s reaction to the unexpected intimacy.
He felt it too – the connection between them. As soon as he let go of her hair it broke the spell.
“Sarah’s right about most things. It’s the PR team she hired that get in the way. I imagine they’re already at the station laying down the law.”
“That makes sense,” he said, following her lead. “I’m a little surprised to discover it’s not a one woman show.”
“Normally it is. Sarah takes on every role I can’t. It’s hard when the industry is geared up to take the control out of an artist’s hands. It doesn’t matter how much I’d like to do. I’m expected to have an army of people at my beck and call.”
“Which in your case is your trusty assistant?”
“Exactly, though she’s learning to delegate so she can spread her wings a little.” She caught the question in his face; he wasn’t the first to wonder about the arrangement. “You’re wondering why she stays with me. Why she isn’t chasing her own dreams.”
“No, I understand her need to be close to you. But I do sometimes question her almost obsessive professional behaviour.”
Alicia’s heart did a summersault in her chest. He understood more than most. “I wouldn’t call it obsessive, though anal is a word I’ve used from time to time!” She looked around, despite being alone she wanted to make sure their conversation was private. “Sarah’s been a carer all her life. Greg tried to protect her, but he wasn’t around during the worst years.”
“You’re talking about her mother?”
She gave a bitter smile. “I guess we both had selfish, self-absorbed, mothers.” She threw her hands in the air. “Sophia had a serious problem with her addiction. In the last few years she needed constant attention. Her death was an accident, but Sarah only sees that she dropped the ball.”
“She blames herself for not doing enough.”
“Right – she expects perfection even in herself. It was tough on her, especially after the media frenzy. They printed every detail, every secret they could find. After Sophia died, Greg swooped in and gave her what she deserved – a home.”
“Like Gray did with you?”
It stung a little to hear him say it. It also touched her that he understood the sentiment. “In some respects Sarah had it harder than me. Her mother stuck around to remind her just what a disappointment she was. At least mine made a clean break. It’s funny, but in another lifetime Sophia and Helen knew each other. Maybe they swapped notes.”
“It feels like poetic justice to me; the fact that their daughters found each other against the odds.”
�
�Yes, I like to think so.” Her smile was from the heart; it lit her face and made him weak at the knees.
“Is that something else Gray did for you?”
“There are too many things to name. Greg was his best friend. In their wisdom, they created opportunities for us to bond. They knew before we did that we needed each other. Of course, I was prickly and suspicious, and Sarah didn’t want to care about anyone but her father. We gave them a pretty hard time.”
Brad could picture it easily enough – he admired the perseverance; he didn’t imagine living with two wilful teenagers was all fun and games.
“Then one day I asked for her help. I wanted to audition for a commercial without involving my father. She agreed because this life is second nature to Sarah – it’s all she’s ever known. I suppose it felt good to be needed again, by someone with no expectations.”
“Is this a, ‘and the rest is history’ moment?” Brad asked, starting to see how things fit together.
“It’s a, ‘what we needed at the time,’ kind of thing. Sarah enjoys the life but not the limelight. She organises like a woman possessed, and few jobs would allow her to utilise her considerable skills.” She smiled again, a little wistfully. “But that was then, and this is now.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I’m happy to go on pretending I can’t function without her help, for as long as that works, and vice versa. But she doesn’t need me anymore, so eventually all that will be left is our friendship - the most important part.”
“Every relationship evolves. It doesn’t mean you have to lose something.”
Alicia chuckled, constantly surprised by his astute mind. “I agree. But I’ll miss seeing her every day just the same.” She stood and began to clear the table. “Right now I have an appointment to keep.” She looked guiltily towards the production offices. “Those phone calls will have to wait.”
***
Brad watched Alicia through the glass, no longer surprised by her ability to blend in. She had the radio production team eating out of her hand and it was clear Chris Matthews, the host, adored her.
The set-up in the small, yet cozy studio was impressive. The two producers of the show were sitting behind large desks, which dominated one wall. There was a smaller version, positioned at a higher level, presumably for Chris to operate.
At the moment he was standing, chatting to Alicia, in the centre of the room. Two microphones, suspended from the ceiling, were the only things between them.
It wasn’t necessary for Brad to be in the same room. As long as there was an exit strategy, he planned to give Alicia enough space to work.
She was glad of it; the studio would have seemed a lot smaller with him in close proximity.
It felt good to be able to move around during her interview. The suspended microphones were a clever idea, designed to put guests at ease. It was Chris’s second home so he delved right in when the song ended – moving to the portable desk to twiddle a few buttons.
“She’s here, everybody. The one, the only... Alicia Gladstone.” He added a sound affect – a roaring crowd to punctuate his introduction. “Welcome back, Alicia.”
“Hi, Chris. It feels like I should take a bow or something after that.” She did a slight curtsy to demonstrate.
“We’re excited to have you here. What’s it been, a year...two?”
“It’s been eight months - if that. But it’s great to see you again. I enjoy my stints on the show.”
“Say the word and you could be entertaining the nation every day. Do you fancy being my trusty number two?”
She looked across at Stevie Archer with a knowing smile. “I’m sure a lot of your fans would miss Arch. She’s a big part of the team.”
“Speaking of side-kick – you’re sporting a mighty fine specimen this morning,” Stevie said, earning a snicker from the show’s assistant producer.
“If you’re talking about my bodyguard, he is a trained professional with serious credentials.” She waited a moment and then made a sound of derision for effect. “Oh, who am I kidding? Who cares about qualifications when you look like that?”
Chris barked out a ‘ha’, thoroughly enjoying himself, but then his life was one big radio party. “I’m sure our listeners have seen the pictures. I take it you didn’t choose him because of his aesthetic value.”
“Is that the same as saying he’s hot?” Stevie chipped in.
“To borrow from the marines, he’s the best of the best. What more can I say?”
“Point taken. In fact, I’m sure many of our listeners would like to know how you’re dealing with everything that’s going on. It must be a scary time.”
“Yes, it is, but to be honest, Chris, I’d rather not give that particular problem air time. I’ll just tell the listeners, my concerned fans, that until we get to the bottom of it, I have a very capable team looking out for me.”
“I’ve been warned away from the subject so it’s probably best not to push.”
“Under normal circumstances I’d throw caution to the wind and tell you to ignore the over sensitive PR guys, but this time I’m going to steer you very cleverly into the reason I’m here today.”
“Other than spending time with me?”
“Yes, other than that. Everything else is a bonus.”
“Okay, let’s talk about the film, Jump Start, which is scheduled for release on Thursday. It’s a different kind of movie than we’re used to seeing you in. What made you take the part?”
“The script mostly, and the fact it was a cameo role – it meant I could fit it into my schedule.”
“You do like to keep busy. We haven’t seen you in the headlines for awhile. Josh Burton on the other hand is continuing to party like its 1989.”
“Don’t disappoint me, Christopher. You usually give me a break from all that jazz.”
He laughed into the microphone, glancing briefly at Stevie when she signalled to him. “Only you could make me feel like a rebellious child.”
“Well, you aren’t the Peter Pan of radio for nothing.” She turned and winked at Stevie when a rich chuckle filled her headset.
“And here I was thinking it was a clever segue. Wasn’t it Josh’s first time at directing?” Chris asked, faking a wounded expression.
“Chris, you can make a connection to just about anything. It’s one of your gifts.”
“Are you deliberately evading the subject of Joshua Burton, or are you just waiting for the right question?”
“We talk about Josh every time I come on air. I’m starting to think you’ve got an obsession.”
Stevie let out a small whistle. “She’s got you there, buddy.”
“All right, I admit, I like to know about my main rival for your affection. One of these days you’re going to come to your senses and realise it’s me you want.”
“I feel my resolve weakening by the second.”
“Hear that, listeners, all my hard work could have paid off.”
“She has more sense than that, my friend,” Stevie cut in. “Her resolve might be weakening but she’s almost immune to you by now.”
“Ugh.” Chris clutched his heart. “Shot down by one of my own.” He accentuated his point by adding a sound effect. “But we were talking about the movie and its fun-loving director.”
“Josh has been looking for a project for a while now. As soon as he saw the script, he knew. We all did. It’s a great film.”
“I’m sure you had fun working with him,” Stevie said. “From what you’ve told us before, there are usually a few onset pranks.”
“Not so much this time. Perhaps he was trying to set an example.”
“Which you took advantage of.” Chris only shrugged when she made a face at him. “We’ve talked about this before and got some pretty good material out of it. Tell us something we don’t know.”
Alicia searched her brain for something Josh wouldn’t mind sharing with a few thousand listeners. “Okay, I suppose it doesn’t hurt to tell you abo
ut the packages we send to each other when we’re on location.”
“Please tell me that’s more interesting than it sounds.”
She laughed. “Says the man who logs his toilet breaks on Twitter!”
“Speaking of all things Twitter, congratulations on hitting the million mark - I’d like to think we helped a little.”
“Well, as you persuaded me to take the plunge last year, I’d say you had a hand in it.”
Stevie hit the switch to add applause. “It’s not only Twitter, our Facebook pages have been buzzing all morning. We’ve had thousands of texts in the last few minutes alone.”
Chris scrolled through the texts on his screen. “Let’s see…Jane from Milton Keynes sends a big high-five. She enjoyed the movie. Gail from Leeds thinks Joshua Burton is a great director.” He paused to refresh. “Tom on the M1 is offering his services – he has, and I quote, ‘been a bouncer in some of the busiest clubs south of London.’ Sam wants to know the wildest prank you’ve ever pulled off. Sue wants you to know she’s rooting for you…there are hundreds of messages like that. Your fans are showing the love.”
“I’m very fortunate to have so many loyal followers. The messages I receive keep me going when things get tough. I can’t tell you how much they’ve helped over the past few days.”
“I’m sure our listeners will be glad to hear they’re able to support you in some small way. I joke, but ultimately I’m with them.”
“Are you going soft on me, Chris?” Alicia asked. The teasing light in her voice was a contrast to the appreciation in her expression.
“Yep, I might need a moment here, folks.” He sniffled into the microphone and then spoilt it by breaking into a grin. “Let’s play a record so I can pull myself together.”
He was true to his word. By the time the song faded and he was back on air, Chris Matthews was the host they all knew and loved.
Alicia enjoyed bantering with him – she gave as good as she got, which was one of the reasons she was a friend of the show. She stayed longer than she intended but it felt right.
If her eyes wandered to Brad every now and then, she couldn’t help it. He looked so regal, so strong and capable.
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