by Donna Hill
“Come on in.”
The door eased open, and Milan stepped into his line of sight. He sat up on the couch. “Milan, what are you doing here?”
She stepped fully into the room and shut the door behind her. “I thought we should talk first.”
“Really? About what?”
“About all the mess that has gone down between us.” She sighed and folded her hands in front of her. “When we were together, whether you believe it or not, I really cared for you. Really. I knew I wasn’t a big star or a famous model, I was just me. I used to pinch myself to be sure that I wasn’t dreaming. Me, Milan Chase from Newark, New Jersey, in a relationship with you.” She chuckled without humor. “I didn’t think you would stay,” she said. “I figured it was only a matter of time.”
“You didn’t have to lie to me, Milan.”
She lowered her head. “I know. I know that now. But I thought if I told you that I was pregnant that you would stay with me.”
“There never was a baby, Milan! You lied. I did care about you. I could have...maybe cared more. But what you did—” he shook his head “—was unforgivable. To lie and say that you lost it. To pretend to be devastated.” He rubbed his face with his hands then looked up at her. “If I hadn’t seen the text message from your partner in crime, Delys, I may have never known.”
“I’ve said I’m sorry. It won’t change what I did. I accept that, but what I came here to say was thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me this chance, after all the shit I put you through. I know that you could have picked hundreds of other actors for the part, but you chose me.” Her voice wobbled.
“Because regardless of what you think, you are a helluva good actress. I saw that in you. I knew you could do this, and now you’ve proven to the world that you can. All you have to do now is have the same belief in yourself that I have in you. This is only the beginning, Milan. You have an amazing future ahead of you. But lies and backstabbing—” he shook his head “—will take you down.”
She sniffed and smiled while trying not to cry. “They’re going to have to redo my makeup.”
He got up and crossed the room to stand in front of her. “You’re a star. Go get the star treatment.”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” She walked out and straight into Anthony.
A look of panic crossed Anthony’s face when he saw her wiping her eyes. “Everything cool?”
“Very,” she said and hurried past him.
Anthony came in and shut the door. “What was that about?” he asked, hooking his thumb over his shoulder.
“Finally settling some old business. It’s all good.” He clapped Anthony on the back. “Let’s get this done. I need to go home to my woman.”
Chapter 18
The night of the Golden Globe Awards was more spectacular than Jewel ever imagined. It took all of her good home training to keep her jaw from dropping every time she saw another star. And they were all there, from multiple award-winning actors to the newcomers. Not to mention the music royalty that fanned out among the well-heeled guests.
Craig had reserved two tables for the cast and his family. He was happy to see that Milan brought a date, and she seemed truly happy. Everyone was in place except for his father. It was more than he could have expected, but he had to try.
Since his visit, they’d spoken maybe twice. It was almost as if the conversation had never happened. His father had reverted back to his demeanor of indifference. But Craig would not let that steal his moment tonight.
Now that the film had opened and the full array of Jewel’s art had been displayed, her phone would not stop ringing. Every producer and director on the East and West Coasts wanted to hire her to do renderings of their films and their actors. She was in such demand that she could pick and choose whom she wanted to work with. Never in a million years would she have thought that her personal passion would take her to this level. She and Craig had created a whole new genre of art. For well into the future she was financially solvent. The worries she’d had barely a year earlier were a thing of the past. And to add to her blessings, Alyse confided that after seeing the film and her art, she’d been looking into landmark designation for Jewel’s home. She was getting some very positive feedback from the committee and the cachet of the Lawson name. But she swore Jewel to secrecy. If it came through, Jewel would never have to worry about the house again.
She squeezed Craig’s hand. He turned to her. “I love you,” she whispered. “No matter what happens tonight. You are my winner, and I’ll prove it to you later.”
“Wicked, wicked woman,” he said against her mouth.
* * *
The evening’s festivities were underway, and one after another presenters and winners took to the podium. The room overflowed with good cheer, laughter and plenty of food and drink. It was one big party.
The first of many wins for Rendezvous With Destiny kicked off with Milan Chase’s win for best actress in a drama. She was so overcome she could barely get her words out as she looked onto the crowd of her contemporaries standing for her.
“There are so many people to thank, but one person stands out above them all. I must thank Craig Lawson, my director, my mentor, my friend. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and gave me an opportunity when I didn’t deserve it. I’m standing here tonight because of him. Thank you.” She raised her award above her head and was escorted off.
When his name was called for best director, it took several moments for it to register with him. His entire table was on its feet as he pulled himself together and jogged up the steps to the stage.
* * *
Jewel was certain she would simply burst with pride and love as she watched him give his acceptance speech, and to see the love from his colleagues overflow and fill the room was overwhelming.
“There are so many people to thank. My entire crew, who work in front of and behind the scenes. The amazing actors who brought this story to life. I can’t thank you enough. Hamilton and Milan, this is because of you,” he said, lifting the statue. “But the one person that I have to thank and pay homage to is my lady, Jewel Fontaine. Her brilliance inspires me. Her beauty overwhelms me. Her selflessness taught me what it means to truly love another person. Without her I would be half the man I’ve become. And...if you’ll have me, Jewel Fontaine, I want to spend the rest of my life with you working on the other half.”
A collective gasp went up from the audience.
Jewel couldn’t see for the tears that clouded her eyes. She stood and blew him kisses, mouthing, “Yes, yes, yes.”
Craig grinned like a man finding a million bucks. “Now I’m a real winner. Thank you!”
He was escorted off the stage but held in the wings. The next category was best picture.
She said yes was all he could think about as he stood on the side pacing back and forth. Visions of their life together played out in front of him. If he had to move back to Louisiana, he would. Whatever she wanted. Maybe he could purchase some property and set up a studio. What about kids? He wanted kids, lots of them, and the best part would be making them.
He was so engrossed in the swirl of his thoughts that it wasn’t until the escort shook his arm to tell him they were calling his name did it register that he had won.
Craig walked back on stage in a semidaze. The lights, the people, the applause dazzled him. Best picture. It was the pinnacle of an artist’s career.
For several moments he stood at the podium to pull himself together. He looked out at the crowd and found his table. The seat that had been empty wasn’t any longer. His vision clouded for a moment. His father was there, clapping and nodding his approval. Craig nearly broke down, and it took all of his willpower to keep it together.
He wasn’t sure what he
said, if he said too little or too much. All he wanted to do was get off the stage and get to his family.
* * *
When Craig returned to the table, he was swarmed with hugs and kisses and handshakes. His father stood in front of him. Craig stood a step forward. Jake extended his hand, which Craig took. Jake pulled him into a tight bear hug. “I’m proud of you, son,” he whispered. “I always have been.” He clapped him heartily on the back then stepped back and gripped his shoulders. “I hear I’m getting a daughter-in-law.”
Craig turned toward Jewel, and she stepped into his embrace. “Jewel, this is my dad, Jake Lawson.”
“Oh, me and your dad are buddies. Right, Mr. Lawson?”
“When Alyse told me about the house, well... I thought it only right that I take a look from a real estate perspective.”
“Your dad’s been working with Alyse on the landmark designation,” Jewel confessed.
“And, uh, no one was going to tell me?”
“Nope,” they all said in unison.
“All this happiness and good news deserves a serious toast,” Myles said and began filling glasses.
Jewel turned in to Craig’s body so that they were only a breath apart. “I have something else to tell you.”
“What?”
“I won’t be doing any drinking or traveling for a while, and if you had a date in mind for a wedding...well, we may need to move it up.”
He stared into her glowing face then down the curves of her body, hugged in a champagne-toned Vera Wang gown. “Jewel, are you telling me...”
“Twelve weeks. I wanted to wait to be sure. Are you happy?”
“Happy, baby—happy doesn’t come close to what I’m feeling.” He didn’t care that they were in a room full of people and photographers. He pulled Jewel flush against him and kissed her as if they were the only two people in the world.
“I love you, girl,” he hummed against her mouth to the applause of onlookers.
“I love you right back.”
Epilogue
Jewel set up her easel and lined up the brushes and oils. The light coming in the window was perfect, and she wanted to capture it all.
Her father was in his favorite chair, and the morning sun seemed to put an extra spark in his eyes—or maybe it was holding his first granddaughter.
It didn’t seem to matter when he would slip away and talk to Imani as if she was a tiny version of Jewel. When he would tell Imani stories of going into town to buy candy, or the hard days of working at the mill. It seemed perfectly all right. Because Imani needed to know about the past, her past, the history of where she’d come from. Who better to tell her than Granddad in his own special way?
Jewel worked quickly, sketching in charcoal to get the lines and angles, and when she was satisfied she began again following her drawing in oil.
* * *
Craig had just returned from working out a deal with his dad to purchase some property to open a production studio in town. He stood in the doorway of Augustus’s bedroom watching the scene in front of him, frame by frame, stroke by stroke, generation to generation.
This moment, his family, this was a work of art that could never be duplicated. He’d searched for his place in the world. He’d traveled the globe looking to fill the emptiness inside him. And all along everything that he’d ever needed was right in his hometown, where it had been waiting for him all along. He could finally stop running.
Jewel glanced over her shoulder and stared into the eyes of the man she loved.
“Welcome home, baby.”
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781488003608
For the Love of You
Copyright © 2016 by Donna Hill
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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