by Carlyn Cade
Hal arrived with a tray of drinks and a small brown box. He served the drinks and set the box down in front of Stacia.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Open it,” Linda said.
Stacia did and took out an untitled book. She thumbed through its pages, her mind slowly accepting the realization of what she was looking at. “Is this what I think it is?”
“I’m sure it is.”
“Mark’s journal? I don’t deserve this. I can’t accept this gift.” She put the book back into the box and put the cover on it. She gave the box back to Linda.
“Farrell wanted you to have it. He was very explicit about his decision,” Linda explained. “He said you were the only person who would ever appreciate its sentimental value. With all the publicity circulating around London Affair, Farrell was terrified Mark’s journal would fall into the wrong hands. He felt it was meant to be private and not for the world to share. That’s why he bought it and willed it to you, because he believed you’d treat it with the proper respect. He didn’t want someone who had dollar signs for eyes to buy it, and then sell it to someone else or make its contents public.” Linda put the box back in front of Stacia. “Anyway, you have to accept it. It’s all legal and binding. Farrell figured you wouldn’t want to agree to accept it, so his will reads the journal is to go into trust until you do want it and claim ownership of it. So either way, it’s yours. Unless you prefer to let it stay in trust until you die, and then one of your heirs can claim it. But by that time, it’ll probably have to be sold to pay for the fees of the trust account. It’s in your best interest to accept this gift now.”
“I don’t have to read it right away, do I?”
“Of course not,” Linda replied. “Farrell also said you’d know when the time was right to read it.”
“But how could he afford to buy this? The newspaper said the buyer paid millions.”
Linda smiled. “The media exaggerated somewhat. It did take all Farrell’s life savings, plus his salary from London Affair to purchase it, however.”
“He willed this journal to me. I just can’t believe it,” Stacia said, overcome with Farrell’s generosity. “And I can’t even thank him.”
“According to him,” Linda said quietly, “you made his days sunny, so I think you already did.”
When Stacia went home that evening, she sat on her sofa and opened the journal to Mark’s first entry.
“How long does it take to die when there is nothing left to live for? I could kill myself in some cowardly way using a gun or hanging myself, but then I wouldn’t know if Audra would come for me. How would she know where to look? So I will wait for my beloved here where I know I will see her again. Here where some of our most precious memories are. Here…is where she will find me.
Tears flooded Stacia’s eyes. “I can’t read this,” she declared out loud. It’s too intimate, and not on the day Farrell was buried. It was like the end of an era. Audra, Mark and Farrell were all gone now. Only Helen was left. By some twist of fate, she had been thrown into their world.
She opened her safe and put Mark’s journal in it. So now I have another “right” time to wait for, she thought as she closed the door to the safe and locked it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“That’s a wrap.” Nathan called out three weeks later. A round of applause and cheers echoed around the set. Nathan executed a bow and turned to Stacia. “If everything goes well, we may not need you at all anymore. Otherwise, we may contact you for some additional filming. We’re shooting for a target time period of six months of intense work on our part before we can release the final cut. We’d like it to be done in time to qualify for next year’s Academy Awards, that is, if the industry votes to nominate it.” He offered Stacia his hand to shake. “It’s been great working with you. You met and exceeded Arthur’s and my expectations. I hope we can work together again.”
“I only wish Farrell was here to see the film finished.”
Nathan smiled. “I’m sure he’s been watching closely from wherever he is.”
Stacia looked at Farrell’s stool still planted in the corner. “I think so too,” she agreed.
♥♥
Ahh, free time at last, Stacia thought as she checked the time on her clock. It read ten a.m. She snuggled deeper into her bed, tucked her blankets under her chin, and contemplated what she’d do with this free time after the grueling work schedule she’d just completed.
She could go back to Wisconsin for a visit, but her parents would be coming to California in less than a month for the wedding. She decided to scratch that idea.
She guessed she’d be busy with Josie, helping to finalize the wedding plans. There’d be a lot of things to transport up to Oregon, hotel reservations to make, and so much more to do. Where would Josie want the reception to be held? Everything seemed pretty overwhelming to Stacia, but she was certain the wedding would work out well. After all, wasn’t it the Universe’s job to work everything out for the best? She knew Josie thought that way.
The telephone rang and Stacia sat up, kicked off her covers, and reached for the phone next to her bed, and as usual, checked the caller ID.
“Hi, Helen,” she said. “How’s it going?”
“You were right, Stacia. SwissDen is Camelot. And guess what? I’m the happiest person ever.”
“You mean...”
“Yes, I do. That is, I’ll be saying I do very soon.”
“Sam proposed?”
“Last night. On the bridge over the lake. Clay said you’d remember where it was.”
“I remember...” How could I forget? She willed herself to think only what Helen was saying.
“Sam gave me a gorgeous engagement ring. It’s so big I’m afraid to wear it in public. He said he picked it out when we were in Harrods in London. I was dress shopping at the time.”
“That’s wonderful. So you’re having a good time in SwissDen?”
“It doesn’t get better than this. I understand now why you called it paradise.”
“And the king and queen, how are they?”
“Don’t you mean, how is Clay?”
Stacia laughed. “You’re always too smart for me, Helen. How is he?”
“He misses you. I can tell, but he’s much better than when we first got here. He’s made some major life changes, and according to Sam, the old Clay is back.”
“Does he ask about me?”
“We talk about you often. He’s anxious to see your new movie. He said he’s watched your other ones enough now and wants to see you in something new.”
“I miss him too. Especially now that the picture’s finished, and I have time to think.”
“Well, I have something to take up some of your excess time, if you’re willing. Sam and I are going home tomorrow, and we’re planning on eloping to Las Vegas the next day.”
“That’s got to be the shortest engagement on record. You sure are full of surprises today.”
“We both know what we want, and that is to never be apart till death do us part, as they say. So, why wait, we say.”
“You do know Farrell died, don’t you? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said something so sad when you’re so happy. But you used the word death, and my mind jumped to Farrell.”
“I was extremely sorry to hear he’d passed away. Hal said you and Farrell had become good friends since he’d quit drinking. I’m glad you were, Stacia. The Farrell Fontaine I remember as a child was a great guy. I’m happy you got to know him as he was before he started drinking.”
“Did Hal tell you Farrell bought Mark Bennett’s journal and then willed it to me?”
“No, he didn’t. Farrell must have thought a lot of you to do that.”
“I don’t plan on reading it, for a while anyway. He said I’d know when the time was right.”
“Is the time right for Clay yet?”
“Hey, Helen, let’s talk about your wedding plans.”
“Sam and I are getting married in V
egas. Since you and Clay brought us together, we want the two of you to stand up for us.”
“Is this your matchmaking way to get us together again?”
“Hmm,” Helen said and continued with her plans, avoiding Stacia’s question. “Hal will give me away, of course. We’ll bring Clay with us tomorrow. The six of us will fly to Vegas the next day. We’ll pick you up in the morning on the way to the airport. Sam’s taking care of the reservations. All you need to do is say yes. Can you do that?”
“Has Clay agreed to see me? He hasn’t answered any of my calls. I thought he’d found someone else.”
“The only thing he’s found is himself. There’s no one else. So, are you going to say yes?”
Stacia thought for a moment before answering. She couldn’t disappoint Helen by saying no to being her maid of honor. Yet, she should be angry with Clay for not answering her phone calls, but how could she be? She missed him. Mixed feelings exploded inside her, and in the end, the positives erased the negatives. It seemed like a small price to pay for the huge benefits she’d derive from seeing him once more. She gave in to the happy feeling she had just thinking about being with him. “Yes,” Stacia finally said. Such a simple little word yes is and by saying it, I get to see Clay again.
“Then everything’s settled. We plan to honeymoon in Vegas with you, Clay, Hal and Linda. Although I doubt if Sam and I will spend all our time with you four.”
“What should I wear to the wedding?”
“Oh, we’re keeping it simple. Any semi-formal dress like whatever you wore for dinners here at SwissDen will be fine.”
“I have a red evening gown. Will that do? Or is the color wrong?”
“It sounds perfect. Well, I’ll see you soon. Bye for now.”
Stacia set the phone down. She jumped out of bed and threw her arms up in the air. “I’m going to see Clay.” Calm down, Stacia girl. You’re not sixteen going to the prom with a gorgeous hunk.
No, she corrected her thoughts, I’m twenty-four and going to Vegas with the man I love!
♥♥
Thinking about seeing Clay again, the doubts led a question rampage through her mind. Did he still love her? Did he want to go on with their relationship? Should she pack her little green second-chance outfit? No, she quickly answered, dismissing that idea.
With each piece of clothing she placed in her suitcase, a new question arose. Did he want to marry her? Did she want to marry him? Why was she even thinking about marrying him? Probably because she’d be attending two weddings in less than a month, and she’d be a maid-of-honor at both. Who wouldn’t get marriage fever with that agenda?
But things hadn’t changed as far as getting married was concerned, so she couldn’t even think about that. Destiny wasn’t all of a sudden going to give her permission to marry anyway. Wasn’t she supposed to listen to what was going on inside her? Wasn’t that what Josie had taught her?
She closed her luggage and took it out to her entrance hall. When Clay had come to pick her up at what seemed eons ago, he’d kissed her on this very spot. And when he’d finished kissing her, he’d said they could take up where they’d left off. But that was long ago and far away, and before he’d decided to discard her like a ripped-apart sagging shoe. With the way things were left between them the last time they’d spoken on the phone, nothing could be resolved, or different, unless they talked about the issues between them.
She returned to her bedroom and picked up the gown she’d worn to Clay’s Ice-On-Ice exhibit – the night he had ice-sculptured her with the red spotlight on her hair and an eight-million dollar diamond necklace around her throat. Memories of that evening caressed her mind. She also had worn the gown in SwissDen. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t the height of fashion to wear the same dress more than once, but she didn’t care. After all, it might bring back excellent memories for him too. Sighing, she draped the dress in its clear plastic bag over her suitcase in the entry hall.
Clay would be here any second now, and her stomach started churning again. Then she began to suffer a maybe attack. Maybe he wouldn’t even come to the door. Maybe Hal might. Maybe her intuition was right, and he wasn’t interested in her anymore. Well, that thought was certainly a given. She touched her temples with her fingertips. Stop! she ordered the commotion inside her. Breathe deeply. Focus on your breath. Get to your special place as quickly as possible. Relax.
Security buzzed her phone. At long last, Clay was here. She gave her permission to send him up. Suddenly, he was knocking on her door. She reached for the knob and opened it.
“Hello,” Clay said.
“Hi,” she managed to say, her heart racing. He still looked like the most handsome guy in the world. “Let me grab my bag in the other room, and I’m ready,” she called out to him.
“I see red’s still your favorite color.” He grinned and nodded toward her plastic-covered gown. “I’m rather partial to green myself.” He bent over and picked up her suitcase and dress.
Stacia felt a blush heat up her face. She was certain it was redder than her dress he now was holding, so she turned her back to him and walked away fast. “I’ll just be a moment,” she called out, her fingers instinctively feeling her face. Oh, it was red all right! She gathered up the rest of her things and went back to him.
“How are your mother and father?” she asked.
“They said to say ‘hello’ to you. Mother wanted to know when you’re coming back to SwissDen.”
Small talk. This was good. Maybe her blush would leave now. They took her elevator to first floor and walked past the security guard to the limo. Clay handed her bags to the driver and opened the door for her. Sam, Helen, Hal and Linda were waiting inside. When she got into the limo, she hugged Helen immediately. “Congratulations, you two. I’m so happy for you.”
Sam put his arm around Helen and pulled her to him. “Happy is what this woman makes me.” He received a kiss on his cheek from the bride-to-be.
“So where are we staying, Sam?” Linda asked.
“I booked four villas at the Bellagio. The wedding chapel’s there also.”
Four? Stacia questioned in her mind. That had to mean Clay and she would have separate villas. Well, what did she expect? Still, it seemed rather extravagant to her. They could have stayed in just one. After all, they had stayed in separate bedrooms before at her condo. Maybe Clay wanted it this way and paid for the extra villa.
Helen began talking and broke into Stacia’s thoughts. “Each villa has five bathrooms, eleven phones and its own swimming pool and terrace. Also, a butler and chef if you want them, but the best part of it all is we’re getting married there tonight.” Helen squeezed Sam’s hand. They exchanged the secret look between them that Stacia thought only two people in love could decipher.
“Sam and Clay have stayed there before,” Helen said and snuggled closer to her almost-husband.
Stacia glanced at Clay, who now seemed to be deep in thought. Maybe he was planning his strategy for the gaming tables. It seemed fairly obvious to her that he was there because Sam had asked him to be his best man and not because he wanted to see her again.
Her own thoughts were quieted when the limo arrived at the L.A. airport, and the group transferred to the waiting chartered plane. The flight to Vegas went smoothly and quickly. Soon they were on the ground once more and in another limo headed for the Bellagio.
“What are the plans for when we get there?” Hal asked.
Sam smiled at his bride-to-be. “You four are on your own until we meet at the chapel at seven forty-five. Helen and I have errands to do, which includes picking up our marriage license.”
Stacia remembered how Sam loved to travel to Monaco with Clay’s father to gamble. She bet he wasn’t going to miss his gambling today... or tonight. “Helen, do you need help with your wedding dress or anything?” she asked.
“I’m fine. You and Clay enjoy yourselves. I’m sure you have a lot of catching up to do.”
“I don’t know about you, bu
t I’m heading for the crap tables,” Hal said.
“And I’ll be playing blackjack, in case anyone wants me,” Linda added.
“What about you, Stacia?” Clay asked. “What do you want to do?”
“See everything I guess. I haven’t been to Vegas before.”
“Well, you’re in for a treat,” Linda said. “Vegas has everything to offer. Gambling, shopping, glamour...anything you want is here.”
Everything I could ever want is sitting next to me, Stacia admitted to herself, but confessed something quite different to the occupants in the car. “I’ve never gambled,” she said.
“We’ll have to change that,” Clay offered. “We’ll start at the Bellagio and gamble our way across town, leaving you some time to shop and sightsee, of course.”
Linda laughed. “You’ll need more time than what you’ll have this afternoon to cover all of Vegas.”
“Be sure you’re not late for the wedding,” Helen cautioned.
“And miss seeing my best bud all nervous waiting for you at the altar?” Clay asked. “There’s not a chance of that happening.”
“Your day may come sooner than you think, and then we’ll see who the nervous one is,” Sam said.
“Hey, Stacia, do you think my day will ever come?” Clay smiled at her with a smile so big it seemed to challenge all the blinking, neon lights on the whole Las Vegas Strip.
She didn’t know what to say. His huge smile was in direct contrast to the way he’d been acting since he had picked her up. She looked out the window. “Hey, look, there’s the Bellagio.” She hoped that was a big enough distraction to avoid answering his question.
It was. Silence filled the limo, but only for seconds. Then the excited conversation took over once more. She glanced at Clay, and he winked at her. She grinned at him, and thought Helen was right when she’d told Stacia the old Clay was back.
When the limo reached the Bellagio, the tuxedo-clad driver followed the driveway until he stopped in front of a white, European-designed villa. One glance out her window, and Stacia felt as if she was about to step into a painting of an authentic English countryside estate. The beauty of the flowers was accented by blue skies up above and lush, green landscaping on the ground, all centered around the picture-perfect villa. The scene was magnificent! It was a painter’s dream-come-true in her opinion.
