The Road To Bliss

by Denise N Wheatley

  “You’re right,” he told her. “And I don’t mean to push you. I just have this vision of how great you can be. But I don’t want to take anything away from you because you have certainly accomplished a lot. So I apologize if you took it that way. No matter how things come across, you know I mean well and just want what’s best for you.”

  “I know you do,” Timber said, not wanting to end their goodbye on a bad note. “I’m really going to miss you.”

  “I’m going to miss you, too,” he said, leaning in and kissing her softly. “I need to get going before I miss my flight.”

  “Call me as soon as you get there,” Timber said as they got out of the car.

  “I will,” Alex promised, grabbing his luggage. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” She and Alex shared one last kiss goodbye before he headed inside. “Don’t forget to call me!” she said to his back.

  “I won’t!” he called out. Then he rounded the corner and was out of her sight.

  Timber slumped back inside of her car and drove off, now feeling even more down. The last thing she’d expected was to send Alex off like this. But it seemed as though they’d settled their little tiff before he left, so she decided not to worry about it. Then when her cell phone rang she perked up, thinking it might be him calling to further smooth things over before boarding his flight. She smiled, then looked at the caller ID. It was Eva.

  “Hey,” Timber said, trying her best not to sound disappointed.

  “Hey! Did you drop Alex off yet?”

  “I did, just now.”

  “Is that why you sound so sad?”

  “It is.”

  “Well cheer up. In a few days you’ll be here in the city, having a great time with me.”

  “I know,” Timber sighed.

  “Plus you and Alex really seem to have grown closer while he was here, so you should be happy.”

  “I am.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be coming home and flying you there to see him.”

  “I know.”

  “Hey, you don’t sound like yourself at all. What’s wrong? Is this about more than just Alex leaving?”

  “I don’t know,” Timber mumbled. “He didn’t leave under the best circumstances.”

  “Why not? What happened?”

  “When I told him that you had invited me to several events, he said that he didn’t want me partying with Brian. Or Barry as he likes to call him.”

  “Okay, so he’s a little jealous. No big deal. You and Brian were together for a long time and were engaged, so that’s probably intimidating to him.”

  “But then he started pressing me to find a commercial space for Soothing Bliss again. He thinks that because I’m his girlfriend, I need to step my game up as he put it.”

  “I’m sorry. Come again?”

  “He doesn’t think I’m living up to my full potential, and he’s concerned about my image. Since I’m his girlfriend, he thinks I need to be doing big things.”

  “Timber,” Eva began, clearly agitated judging by the tone of her voice. “Are you serious? You are living up to your full potential. Soothing Bliss’s numbers are off the charts and the company is growing by the minute. You take great care of yourself, and you’re beautiful and well-educated. It doesn’t get much better than that. So what is he talking about?”

  “I guess he thinks it would be a better look for us as a couple if I moved my business out of my basement and into a commercial space.”

  “Oh does he now? Has he volunteered to help you look for a space? Or better yet, what has he done to help promote your business? I remember you telling me that he wanted you to send some products to his movie set for the cast and crew to try. Did that ever even happen? And what about that woman Rita he was parading all over town. Did he really think that she was good for his image?”

  “No, he hasn’t volunteered to help me. And maybe he stopped seeing Rita back when he did because he realized that his career was on the upswing and knew that she wasn’t good for his image.”

  “Well, listen, I know how difficult starting a business can be, not to mention expanding one. Alex needs to stop worrying about you and go live up to his full potential by getting a major role in a movie. How about that. But wait, maybe constantly playing the minor character is him living up to his full potential.”

  “Ooh, Eva, that’s cold!”

  “Well, I don’t appreciate the way he’s criticizing my best friend!” Eva insisted.

  “Thank you for always having my back,” Timber said, glad that Eva had called her. Their conversation had actually made her feel better.

  “Okay, so listen. Alex is gone, and Cameron is in L.A. directing a short film. So it’s just me and you. You’ve got enough work to catch up on over the next few days, then before you know it, you’ll be here with me, going to a fabulous soiree. So all is well. Right?”

  “Right.”

  “Love you, girl.”

  “Love you, too.”

  “Call me back if you need to talk,” Eva offered.

  “I will,” Timber said, so thankful to have a friend like Eva in her life.

  Chapter Twenty

  It was Saturday night, and Timber and Eva had just arrived at a huge industry party in celebration of a record label’s award nominations. Tonight Eva was there as a guest, so her only job for the evening was to dance, mingle, and have a good time.

  “I haven’t been out just for fun in so long!” Eva said as she and Timber stepped out of their car. They bypassed the long line that was wrapped around the corner and walked through the door. The theme of the party was an enchanted forest. Timber looked around in awe as women dressed in ethereal fairy costumes floated from the ceiling. Men wearing green bodysuits and thick green leaves walked through the room carrying trays filled with colorful cocktails and exotic hors d’oeuvres. The floors were covered in steamy moss and the walls and ceiling sprinkled with twinkling lights. Mermaids danced underneath a waterfall in a huge lagoon that sat in the front of the room.

  “Wow, this is so over the top,” Timber told Eva as they made their way through the throngs of people. “The record label really went all out!”

  “They did, and it probably cost a fortune,” Eva replied, smiling and waving in every direction. “Let’s go check out the food stations.”

  “Okay, Miss America,” Timber joked.

  “I don’t even know half the people I’m speaking to.”

  “Well, they all certainly seem to know you. But that’s the nature of the business you’re in. Act like you know somebody if you think they can do something for you.”

  “You said it, sister.” Eva laughed as they walked past the endless tables of food. From Italian to Mexican to Thai, the party had it all. But the pair decided to circle the room to see who was there before indulging in the buffet.

  “This party has got to be way over capacity,” Timber said as three people bumped into her simultaneously.

  “I know,” Eva agreed. “Let’s go to the VIP room. It’ll be less crowded in there.”

  Eva led Timber to the back of the room and warmly greeted the bouncer who was guarding the velvet rope. After he let them through, they entered a celebrity-filled haven. Timber tried not to gawk as she walked towards an empty table. But before they could sit down, several people came over to say hello to Eva and swap numbers with her.

  “I thought you were off tonight,” Timber said.

  “So did I,” Eva said right before a woman approached her and spoke. Eva hugged her then turned to Timber.

  “Hey, this is Angela Barnett, a.k.a. stylist to the stars. Her cousin was a production assistant on the set of Alex’s last movie.”

  “Oh, hi,” Timber smiled, shaking her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You too! Eva was telling me about your company. I’d love to try some of your products and start recommending them to my clients. They’re always looking for an all-natural alternative to add to their beauty and wellness regimens.
”

  “That’s great. I’d be happy to send you a sampler basket. Why don’t we exchange business cards?”

  “Absolutely,” Angela said, taking Timber’s card and handing over one of hers. “Hey, do you all mind if I sit with you? My cousin is supposed to be meeting me here, but she’s running late, so I’m here by myself.”

  “Of course,” Eva said. “You’ve got to give us all of the latest celebrity gossip anyway!”

  “Eva, you are so bad,” Angela laughed as the group sat down. “But you know I’ve always got some for you.”

  “I know you do!” Eva said before turning to Timber. “Angela knows everybody in the business, which means she also knows everybody’s business. And I like her, because she always shares it with me.”

  “Only because I know she’ll keep it to herself,” Angela told Timber.

  “As will Timber,” Eva added.

  “I certainly will,” Timber promised, totally amused by the both of them.

  “Well first of all, my cousin said that things got quite interesting on the set of Alex’s latest movie. The cast was pretty friendly with one another, if you know what I mean....”

  “Really?” Eva asked, looking over at Timber apprehensively. “Oh, Angela, did I mention to you that Alex is Timber’s—”

  “But it wasn’t just the cast,” Angela interrupted, oblivious to what Eva was saying because she was now on a roll. “It was the crew, too, starting with my cousin. She’s trying to work her way up in the industry, and that woman will do anything to get ahead.”

  Timber shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She was not liking the direction that this conversation was heading in and braced herself as Angela continued.

  “They say that everybody in the cast and crew was dating one another. So my cousin decided to use that to her advantage, and set her sights on Alex.”

  “Wait, Angela,” Eva interjected. “Before you go any further, I should tell you that Timber is—”

  “No,” Timber said, holding her hand up while Eva was mid-sentence. “Let her finish.”

  Eva reached over and placed her hand on Timber’s arm for moral support, but Timber was so keen on hearing what was coming next that she barely even noticed.

  “So at first,” Angela continued, “Alex kept resisting, telling my cousin that he has a girlfriend. But she couldn’t understand what that was about because he had already dated two of his cast mates and a few of the extras, too!”

  Timber felt the blood drain from her face. She froze, staring at Angela with wide eyes and unable utter a single word. Eva squeezed her hand sympathetically then made an attempt to diffuse the situation.

  “Wow, that’s crazy,” she said to Angela before turning to Timber. “Hey, are you okay? Should we head over to the bar and—”

  “No, Eva,” Timber said through pursed lips. “Let her finish.”

  Angela looked at Timber strangely, then continued. “So anyway, after a little bit of convincing, Alex finally gave in to my cousin. They ended up really hitting it off and hanging out for the rest of the shoot. When it was over, she thought they would keep in touch, but she hasn’t heard from him since. Poor thing. I could have told her that when the movies wrap, so do the relationships. Oh, wait,” Angela said, checking her phone. “That’s her now. She’s on her way in. Would you all like to meet her? If you do, be sure not to mention anything about Alex….”

  “No, we’ve had a long day,” Eva said, jumping up from the table and pulling Timber’s arm. “I think we’re going to call it a night.”

  “But it’s so early!” Angela exclaimed. “Come on and stay a little while longer.”

  “Yes, Eva,” Timber said, “Let’s stay a little while longer so that we can meet Angela’s cousin, who was lucky enough to hang out with the great Alex Witherspoon.”

  “Remember, mum’s the word on that,” Angela reiterated, holding her finger up to her lips. “She is so embarrassed by the way he dismissed her once the shoot ended.”

  “We won’t say a word,” Eva vowed, pulling Timber up and guiding her towards the exit, “Because we’re leaving. Maybe next time.”

  “Okay, well it was good seeing you again, Eva. And nice meeting you, Timber. I’ll be in touch about your products!”

  Timber barely managed to say goodbye to Angela as Eva practically carried her outside. She was struggling to breathe and felt a panic attach coming on. “I feel sick,” she moaned.

  “I know you do, sweetheart,” Eva said. “Just hold on. The valet will be here with the car any minute now.”

  Timber looked over at Eva, who was still holding her up. Eva’s eyes were filled with tears. The mere sight made Timber burst out crying.

  “I’m so sorry, honey. Hold on, I see the car coming now,” Eva assured her.

  When the car pulled up, Timber and Eva climbed in and drove off. Then Eva turned to Timber and said, “I know what we need right now.” A few minutes later, she parked in front of a softly lit, unassuming café.

  “Shall we?” Eva asked, handing Timber a tissue.

  “Yes,” Timber said, dabbing her face then getting out of the car.

  The twosome headed to the back of the café and sat in a corner booth. When the server approached, Eva ordered two cappuccinos with an extra shot of espresso in each. After she walked off, Timber just stared at Eva and shook her head. Eva stared back, holding Timber’s hands tightly. A lesbian couple walked by and smiled. They smiled back, then look at one another and giggled in spite of it all.

  “This is so crazy,” Timber said.

  “It is. And it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you never would have even met Alex.”

  “It’s not your fault. But hey, I met him, it was fun while it lasted, and now it’s over.”

  “Wait, aren’t you going to talk to Alex first about all this before you just end things?”

  “What is there to talk about? I’m not going to stay with some womanizer. It’s over.”

  “But maybe everything Angela said isn’t true.”

  “Okay, so maybe Alex dated one cast mate as opposed to two. Or two extras instead of three. The bottom line is he cheated. And here he was, so worried about me and Brian—”

  “You mean Barry,” Eva smiled.

  “Yes, Barry,” Timber smiled back. “He was so concerned because of what he’s been doing. Guilt is the root of all paranoia, isn’t it?”

  “It is.”

  “The only honorable thing Alex did in this situation was admit that he had a girlfriend.”

  “And only reason he probably admitted it was so that he’d have an excuse not to continue the relationship once the shoot was over,” Eva added.

  “Exactly,” Timber said, sitting back as the server set their cappuccinos down on the table. “I just can’t believe I’m back here again. That pain you feel when relationships ends is always the same, isn’t it? It’s excruciating.”

  “It is. It’s that deep, disheartening hurt in your chest that you just can’t shake no matter how hard you try. Believe me, I know.”

  “Well at least you have Cameron.”

  “I do. But we don’t have to talk about that right now. Tonight is all about you. I just want you to be okay.”

  “I will be,” Timber saying, questioning whether or not that statement was really true.

  “Well, just let me say this,” Eva began diplomatically. “You sound as if you’ve already made up your mind. But I do think that you owe it to Alex to talk to him and give him a chance to defend himself before you just dump him. I know that you two really care about one another, and this industry can be full of deceit and delusion. So give him a fair shot. And if you do find that there’s some truth to all this, then you can dump him.”

  Timber sat there quietly for a moment and allowed Eva’s words to sink in, then decided that she would take her advice. “So when do you think I should talk to him?”

  “Maybe not now. He just left town and is probably under a lot of pressure since they just st
arted filming. So give it some time. See how often he calls, when he comes home, and when he invites you to come and visit him.”

  “If there’s any truth to what goes on during those shoots, then I don’t even want to visit him now.”

  “That I can understand,” Eva said.

  Once they’d finished their drinks and chatted for a little while longer, the pair got up and left. On the way to Eva’s condo, Timber laid her head back and closed her damp eyes. Her heart felt as though it had been shattered. She wished she would’ve stayed home this weekend and caught up on her work instead of going to that party and hearing all those horrible things about Alex. Because considering the way she was feeling at the moment, ignorance would have been bliss.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Timber had a long debate with herself on the way home from Eva’s. She didn’t know what to do about Alex. On one hand she didn’t want to leave him. She loved him. They’d grown so close so fast. He’d been the catalyst that had helped her achieve the impossible task of getting over Brian. Plus he made her feel loved. And wanted. Not to mention she just wasn’t ready to leave him. Things hadn’t crumbled slowly with Alex like they had with Brian. This time around, the relationship just collapsed right before her very eyes. She was still in shock. And the thought of being without him felt devastating.

  On the other hand, however, she was extremely hurt. If what she’d heard was in fact true, then where was Alex’s loyalty? And commitment? And love? How could he be so upset over something as innocent as her attending Brian’s party with Eva if he was actually dating other women?