The Fallen Starlet

by Eve Corso

  Jack smiled. “Oh, I didn’t realize I wasn’t pronouncing it correctly. I used to know a Vivian when I was a kid. I guess it just kind of stuck.”

  “Well, I’d appreciate it if you unstuck it, thank you very much.”

  Jack laughed, enjoying their banter. “No problem.”

  “Is everything a game to you, child?” she asked him.

  “No, ma’am.” The truth was, Jack wasn’t sure why he was laughing. Maybe it was his mother’s sweet Southern accent mixed with her no-bullshit attitude. He tried stifling his laughter, but it only made him laugh more. “I’m sorry,” he said in-between laughs, but it only intensified as his mother started to give into the laughter, too. In no time, both were in hysterics. After their laughter finally died, Vivianne was the first to speak.

  “I haven’t laughed like that in years,” she said, knowing she was allowing herself to warm up to Jack.

  Jack smiled at her, feeling like the tension he had felt before was starting to lessen. He pulled diced watermelon out of the bag, loving how the smell of it filled his nostrils as he arranged it in the salad.

  Next, he moved on to his tuna sandwich, prepping it as she stood up and turned on the oven to reheat her steak.

  “Now, this will just require thirty minutes. How about yours?” she asked him.

  “It can sit out for a bit. But yeah, I can have it done by the time yours is ready. I could put it in the oven for you, if you’d like,” he offered.

  “I may be old, but I’m not completely useless,” she said. “Good heavens. I’ve been doing this all my life, Jackson. I don’t need a man to fawn over me all of a sudden.”

  “Just trying to help.”

  “Well, you can help yourself by getting out of my way if you’re done.”

  “I’m not done, but I can move.” He took radishes, fennel seeds, and pumpkin seeds out of the bag and proceeded to cut the radishes on the other side of the island in the kitchen.

  She picked up the bag of sunflower seeds. “Are we feeding squirrels?” she asked with a smirk.

  Jack didn’t hesitate. “We can save some for them if you’d like. I can spread them on your lawn tomorrow morning when I come back to assess the front yard.”

  It wasn’t an answer that she was expecting, but it pleased her nonetheless. Instead of smiling, though, she got down to the business of heating her meal.

  She took mashed potatoes out of the fridge, with some homemade gravy. “Are you going to want some of this?”

  Jack shook his head. “Maybe tomorrow for lunch. But thanks for asking.”

  Vivianne noticed how he had invited himself over, and she smiled to herself. She had been getting rather lonely lately. Having some company who didn’t annoy her through and through felt kind of nice.

  They made small talk during dinner. Vivianne loved the salad, and even the pumpkin seeds that Jack had thrown in.

  “The watermelon tastes so cool. Screw those squirrels. Make this salad again tomorrow night and we’ll have it with some chicken that Jonah made.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Jack was pleased she was enjoying it. He was also pleased that she was okay with seeing him again. Despite how she acted towards him, he could tell she was softening up. He wondered, as he ate his salad and tuna sandwich, if he should wait for another time to ask more about his dad.

  His mom picked at the salad. “Is that mint in there?” she asked excitedly.

  “Sure is.”

  “You’ll have to get this recipe over to Jonah.”

  Jack gave her a small laugh. “Yeah, okay. I’ll leave it with him. But as long as I’m here, I’ll make it as frequently as you’d like. Deal?”

  “You got yourself a deal.” She ate more of her steak, as she watched him, wondering about his love life or if he was happy despite the heartbreak he had recently experienced with his ex-wife dying at such a young age. “Jack, I know your ex-wife recently passed and I am sure you are going through some strong emotions. How long was it that you’ve been divorced?”

  “Six years now.”

  “And have you dated anyone within that time?”

  “Well, Amber decided to stick with her old man. I didn’t need or want a personal life while trying to raise my child. Amber was my life. I planned on dating once she was out of the house, but well, we got the news about Jo – that’s my ex-wife – Joanne, and I don’t know. It’s all that’s been on my mind, I guess.”

  “Well, she has left this fine earth and there’s nothing you can do about it now, Jackson. What about your ex? Did she find some happiness before departing?”

  “She did, yeah. She got re-married to some fitness trainer. I imagine she was happy for a while.”

  “And what happened between the two of you? Why didn’t it work out?”

  Jack took a bite of his tuna and washed it down with a sip of wine. “I worked too much. That was all it was. I came home at eight or nine most nights, worked some weekends, worked well past midnight often.”

  “Did you love her?”

  “Of course, I loved her. I looked forward to coming home every single night and crawling into bed with her. But she was lonely and I couldn’t exactly leave my job. I worked hard to get to that point. It wasn’t enough for her.”

  “Jack, that’s got to be hard for any woman. How do you plan on meeting and staying with someone if you’re hardly home?”

  “Well, I had to adjust my schedule when Amber decided to live with me. I had no choice. On the nights when I worked until midnight, I’d have one of my neighbors, Lilly, stay with her. I got very lucky with help around me. Sometimes, when things got really hectic for me, Amber would stay at Jo’s.”

  “And how will it unfold if you start to date again? What happens when you find someone serious?”

  Jack thought about what his mother said. She had a point. It wasn’t something Jack had thought about in a long time. He thought about Molly, the landscape artist, and imagined a fantasy world in which they were together.

  “You know, I have cut back some, so maybe it could work this time?” He took a sip of his wine and decided to tell his mom about Molly. “You know, there is someone I’ve been thinking about.” His eyes danced as he told her about the landscape architect. “I was thinking about getting her number and asking her about this yard of yours. See if she has any advice for me.”

  Vivianne gave him a small smile. “You don’t really want to fix my lawn. You want to land that Molly, don’t you?”

  Jack blushed, but returned her smile. “Well now, why can’t I want to help you and get a new friend out of it?”

  “Fair enough. Count me in. I’ll even pay for it. We can discuss things in more detail tomorrow. Just don’t go crazy with my money. We’ll talk about every penny and every idea, do you understand?”

  Jack shook his head. “No, you were very clear earlier. I will do my part because this is something I would like to do. If you’re not going to enjoy it, then you don’t have to spend the money. I promise to just go with some basic stuff, nothing extravagant.”

  “Yes, we can be minimal, but please, allow me. It’s my damn house after all. And it’s time it gets a make-over. Let’s do it!” She was almost excited about it now, which surprised them both.

  “Okay. I can call her tomorrow,” Jack said with a large smile, finishing up the last of his salad. “I just have to get her number, first.”

  Chapter Seven

  Jack walked back inside of his motel room and set the wine bottle he had brought back from his mother’s house down on the small desk. He took a wine glass that he had borrowed out of the bag and unwrapped it. Jack took off his jacket and turned on the air conditioning in his room.

  He took a quick sip of the wine he had poured and looked at the time. It was only nine-thirty, making it seven-thirty back in California. Perfect. And even though he was closer to his neighbor Lilly, he thought it best if he called her husband instead, so he wouldn’t think there was anything between him and Lilly.

  “Hey,
Walter, how are you doing?” Jack asked and took another sip as he listened to his neighbor talk. “Well, as you know, I’m in Alabama right now visiting some family, and their landscaping here is just shot to hell. I was wondering, do you still have that landscape architect’s info? I’d do an online search, but for the life of me, I don’t remember the name of the company.”

  He listened to Walter’s reply for a second. Jack was starting to sweat. Getting her number was going to be harder than he thought. “Well, no, I think she’s originally from Florida, and I don’t know...I was hoping she’d point me in the right direction.”

  The only thing Walter was willing to give him was advice. He told Jack to go to the closest nursery and that most likely they’d be able help him better than someone over the phone.

  Jack didn’t push it. Instead, he thanked Walter and finished the rest of the wine in his glass as he debated his next step. Just as he was about to strip down and head into the shower, he received a text message. It was Lilly, Walter’s wife. Perplexed, he read the message.

  Lilly: Walter mentioned you asked about Molly. Personally, I think you should call her. Between me and you, I think she liked you.

  A text message with Molly’s phone number came next.

  Jack’s heart started beating faster.

  Jack: Thanks. What makes you think she liked me?

  Lilly: I’ve seen how you two talk to each other. Trust me, she was into you. Oh, I picked up your mail today. Most of it was junk.

  Jack: Thanks for checking my mail. You’re a lifesaver. And thanks for the number.

  Lilly: No worries. Good luck with Molly.

  Jack got up and poured one more glass of wine. Well, if he wasn’t nervous then, he certainly was now.

  He dialed Molly’s number and quickly took a sip of his wine. The phone rang and rang, then finally went to voicemail. Jack cleared his throat, ready for the beep.

  “Molly, I’m not sure if you remember me. This is Jack Moore. Walter and Lilly Deen are my neighbors and you did their landscaping this past spring. Listen, I have a landscaping question for you and this might be right in your area of expertise. Give me a call at your convenience and we can talk about it if it’s not too much trouble.”

  As soon as he hung up the phone, he realized he had made a terrible mistake. Walter was right. He sounded like an idiot reaching out to her when he could just as well go to any nursery out here and get the advice he needed. He cursed his luck, finished the rest of the wine, and jumped into the shower.

  When he came out, he slid into bed, completely missing a new text on his phone.

  THE NEXT MORNING, JACK was at the Get It N Go. He was smiling from ear-to-ear as he enjoyed his piping hot coffee and an egg croissant with bacon. He had seen the text from Molly when he woke up that morning and was expecting a phone call from her in a few hours.

  Willadeen Harper swung by his table and sat down. Her hair was in an up-do and she looked put together and fun, like she always did. She was wearing a turquoise dress with a purple cardigan and had a red flower in her hair.

  “Now, what’s got you smiling like that? I hope it’s my famous egg sandwich. The secret’s in the dressing,” she said in a whisper.

  Jack wiped his mouth. “It’s certainly delicious. Yeah, that’s part of it.”

  Willadeen didn’t skip a beat. “So, what’s the other part of it?”

  “Oh, nothing,” Jack said, still smiling.

  “Okay, a man with a secret. I like that,” she said with a hearty laugh. “Well, you enjoy your breakfast and hopefully, I can catch up with you tomorrow.”

  She got up and left him to finish his breakfast. Jack drank his coffee and wondered just how much he should tell Molly. Should he say who he was doing this for? Was he ready to talk about his biological mother to someone besides his daughter? Jack didn’t know and instead, took another bite of his sandwich, hoping the answer would come to him later.

  When he got to his mom’s house precisely at ten thirty a.m., he was let in by Vivianne.

  She wore a breezy royal blue dress and flat sandals, with a black see-through shawl. On her head, she had a sparkly black band, like flappers used to wear, and dangling blue earrings to match her dress. She wore the same blonde wig she had the day before and her make-up, again, was caked-on and heavy.

  “I’m beginning to feel a little under-dressed here,” Jack said as he followed her into the kitchen.

  “You look just fine. I just made a fresh pitcher of iced tea. Would you care for some?”

  “Sure. Though, I have to admit, I’m kind of a coffee man myself. I’d like to get your coffee machine up and running. Or maybe I could order a Keurig and have it shipped here.”

  “You’re going to order a what-now?” she asked loudly, wondering what the heck he was going on about.

  Jack laughed. “A Keurig. It’s a single-serve coffee machine. They’re great. Makes a perfect cup every time.”

  “Well, we’re a bit behind on the times around here. I’m not sure you’ll find anything like that round these parts.”

  “I know. Are you okay with getting packages delivered here or should I send them to the motel?”

  “I don’t care where you ship that thing. Have it sent here if you want. The mailman, Justin, knows by now not to disturb my beauty sleep. He just leaves my packages at the door without a word.”

  Jack shook his head in disbelief. “It’s incredible how everyone out here knows everyone’s name. I haven’t the slightest clue who my mailman is back in Los Angeles.”

  “Maybe it’s better that way. Better than the entire town knowing your business. It’s why I like it in here in this house. It’s why I don’t leave. This is my whole world, Jack.”

  “But your whole world needs a little more upkeep and maintenance.”

  “Now what are you trying to say? I’m certainly no slob.”

  “No, but there are cracks in the wall. Your ceiling fan hasn’t been dusted in I don’t know how long. And that crystal chandelier hanging over your dining room table needs a shining. We’re going to have a lot to do. And I might need your maintenance man for some of it. You have his information somewhere, right?”

  Vivianne nodded. “I have a rolodex on the desk in the library. Everyone in town is listed there.”

  “Speaking of everyone in town...how do you feel about this whole situation? I haven’t told a single soul about why I’m here except for my daughter. What do you want me to tell people?”

  Vivianne served him his glass of iced tea and considered what he had just said. She took a long sip of her drink. “Well, the only opinion I used to care for was my mother’s and my father’s. They were very much alive when you came into this world, and I am grateful they died without having witnessed all of my mistakes. As for my sister Madeleine, I don’t give one hoot what she thinks. Not that I think she’ll find out anytime soon. She and I aren’t exactly the closest of kin.”

  Jack leaned against the island in her kitchen. “May I ask why?” he questioned. “What happened between the two of you?”

  “She was always jealous of me. She didn’t inherit these genes that I passed down to you and your lovely daughter. No, instead, she took after my mama’s side. Inherited my mama’s larger build. My mama was built like a football player, you see, and my father, well, he was more of the timid slender type. But he sure did love my mama. She was his whole world, until I came along, that is. And when my sister was born, well, she was born ill, with asthma. You couldn’t take that child anywhere. It used to stress my daddy so. His anxiousness made her anxious. She’s a worrywart now, with problems of her own. She had her own idea about what I was doing out in Los Angeles. And I wasn’t an angel. But I wasn’t up to no good, either,” she said, holding her glass of iced tea against her body as if it were a stuffed animal. She shook her head. “I was with a married man. Who I was kidding? Myself, that’s who.” She looked at her son. “You know what? It’s time to own up to the mistakes I made. I don’t care if m
y sister, the town, or anyone finds out.”

  “You don’t have to be so hard on yourself. I mean, I can certainly forgive you. I understand why you made the decisions you made and I forgive you.”

  “I appreciate it that, Jackson. As for everyone else in this godforsaken town, tell them. I don’t care. Let them speculate, let them judge. If you can forgive me, then I can forgive myself, and, darling, in this world, that’s all I need.”

  She set her glass down and glided towards the liquor table. She poured two shot glasses and handed one to Jackson.

  He laughed as he accepted. “What’s this for?”

  “I feel so free, getting that off my chest. Thank you for your visit, for your honesty, and for your forgiveness. I haven’t realized until now how much I’ve needed it so,” Vivianne said. Jack could see that she was trembling slightly and he noticed the tears in her eyes.

  Instead of drinking right away, he set the shot glass down. “Hey Ma, it’s okay. I’m here, for whatever you need. Any choice you made before? I totally understand. If you want to see this out, if you want to gain a son, I’m here.”

  Vivianne let out a nervous laugh. “Well, I don’t know about all that. But I feel pretty good. Better than I have in years. Let’s start there, shall we?”

  Jack nodded. “Okay, we’ll start there.”

  He was going to say more, but was interrupted by a buzzing in his pocket. He took his phone out. “It’s Molly,” he said, his eyes big. “The landscaping architect I was telling you about.”

  “Well, you best take it, then,” she said. “Take it. It’s important, Jackson,” she implored. “I’m fine.”

  He nodded and quickly took the shot his mother had poured him before answering the phone.

  “Hello,” he said, his voice hoarse from the alcohol he had just drank.

  “Hi, Jack. How’s everything going?”

  “Good, good. How’s everything with you?” He walked out of the kitchen and wandered through the house absentmindedly.