The Actor

by Maya Brooks

  “How do you sleep in here? Do you sleep? I mean, Marc is an attractive man but you have to close your eyes some time. These walls cannot be allowed to exist one more day.”

  Have I just made a gay best friend?

  “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “I would absolutely love one. Did Anne take the cappuccino machine? We have to get you a new one, that thing made hot beverages to die for. I always thought the kitchen was the best room in this house. Don’t you agree?”

  “I do agree. So, how do you…”

  “How do I know Marc? I’m Lawrence’s husband, honey. Where is Marc, anyway?”

  “Gym, I think.”

  “Aaah, pumping up those ol’ biceps for you. I guess we don’t need to redecorate in there? Strange Anne didn’t make it pink with neon flowers. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a lovely woman when she wants to be, I just never got that power struggle between them.”

  He was so warm and friendly she had to giggle.

  As soon as they sat down, he made paint samples and an iPad appear like magic.

  “I have some ideas, let’s see if you like any of this.”

  The next day, Thomas brought an amazing amount of painters and carpenters, ready to obey her every whim.

  Is this remodeling in the world of the wealthy? I should ask for something impossible, just to see what they would say.

  Shopping in the world of Marc went along the same lines. She was used to buying her clothes on sale at Wal-Mart. Having people fuss over her, measuring, and running back and forth with clothes that could pay her rent made her itchy.

  No wonder he was so surprised when we first visited the mall. If I ever go back home I might be able to sell these on eBay and not have to work for a year…

  The new housekeeper came to work a couple of days later. She was old, non-threatening, and very competent. Who knew dirty clothes and floors could clean themselves.

  Lawrence and Thomas came over for dinner. Having a housekeeper was great. Delicious food appeared without her having to raise a finger.

  Lawrence brought a whole briefcase with papers for Marc to sign, but before they disappeared off, he pulled out a little plastic card.

  “Sorry it took me so long. I can’t put you on his bank accounts until the divorce is finalized, but this should tide you over.”

  Wow, I didn’t expect that.

  Marc winked at her. “We’ll be right back.”

  She didn’t really need anything, hadn’t even found courage to leave the house on her own, but the little piece of plastic in her hands was as symbolic as the cell phone, filled with promise not for what it could do, but for what it meant.

  Marc made her a part of his life, showed he was willing to care for her and trust her.

  Thomas’s eyes glittered.

  “The house is coming along nicely. Wanna come look at more furniture tomorrow?”

  “Sure.”

  He leaned back in the seat.

  “Have you decided what to do with the back rooms?”

  “I have no clue. Maybe, if everything works out, the kids…”

  “Honey, best case scenario, they’ll come stay here one weekend in a year. His children don’t need five rooms. Make a couple of guest rooms if you want to, but make a space for yourself too.”

  I’d love to, but that seems too presumptuous.

  “I don’t live here.”

  Thomas burst out laughing. What was so funny? He bent over the table to take both her hands.

  “Laura, you might not live here in your mind, but trust me, you do in Marc’s.”

  “I…”

  “If you want to make him happy, all you have to do is make yourself at home. Claim a room, take two, or take the entire house. Build a library, a giant wardrobe, a movie theatre, an office, whatever you want.”

  His words rang true, but she was still afraid to assume anything.

  Maybe something neutral, something he’d like whether I’m here or not.

  “A library sounds pretty good. Bookshelves, some nice chairs…”

  “There you go, that’s a good start. How ‘bout… It should be big, right? We can make a portal between two rooms, or maybe take out the entire wall. I’ll just have to look at the blueprints so we don’t make the roof fall down. I’ll draw up some ideas and come by tomorrow.”

  Later at night, Lawrence had too much wine and Laura smirked when Thomas rolled his eyes. The lawyer’s advice was even better than Thomas’s.

  “I can’t say how happy I am Marc found you, but there’s something you have to understand about him. He’s used to women taking what they want and need. He won’t understand if you need a car, or tampons, or a vacation to the Bahamas, he’ll expect you to just get it.”

  He glanced up at Marc who looked about to fall on the floor laughing, and added with a slight slur, “If you don’t mind me saying so.”

  “Not at all, because you’re right.”

  “Though, given recent circumstances… If you choose to go to Bahamas, I suggest you tell Marc to go with you.”

  It took a couple days for her to realize just how right the lawyer was. Marc sat in the now remodeled living room reading a script, chuckling to himself, and called out to her. “Babe, would you be a doll and run over to the store for me?”

  You want me to do what?

  They had been out and about enough for her to get a feeling of the city, but the thought of going somewhere alone in his monster of a car intimidated her.

  “You mean, go alone, in the Cadillac?”

  He peeked up over the rim of the glasses he loved to pretend he didn’t need and smiled.

  “Sure, it’s still outside. Take one of the others if you don’t like that one.”

  “Others?”

  His attention was already back on the script, and he sounded absent-minded.

  “The keys are in that little grey box on the garage wall. Just be careful. I don’t think the roads are slippery, but they can be.”

  She was clearly supposed to get going and leave him alone so he could work, but she still echoed, “Garage?”

  He looked up again, and put the script down on his lap.

  “Oh... Come on.”

  We have a garage?

  Marc bounced to his feet, got her coat and plopped a hat down on her head.

  “Don’t want you to be cold.”

  A second later, he grabbed her hand, pulled her through a door she never saw before, and down a staircase.

  How does he explode with energy like that? This must have been here all the time and I had no idea. What else have I missed?

  They went through a thick door, and she squinted as lights came on, illuminating a vast space underneath the house.

  Marc sounded like a little boy.

  “I like cars, but right now I only like the Escalade. If none of these do it for you, tell Lawrence what you want and he’ll get one. Keys are over there. Anything looking white or shiny on the road is slippery. Be careful.”

  He pulled her close and kissed her with much more passion than she expected. Then, he was gone, and she stared at two rows of shining beauties.

  Which one will be the least expensive to fix if I slide off the road? Oh wow, is that a Cobra?

  Her fingers hovered over the shiny hood, eager to touch, but worried about leaving a print on the immaculate paint.

  I’d love to try that Corvette, if I’m still here when summer comes.

  For her first time driving in winter, something sturdy with four-wheel drive would be good. The snow was gone from their yard, but that didn’t mean the road couldn’t be slippery…

  Her feet carried her past a very large Humvee and a Harley Davidson, and stopped in front of a sensible dark red Jeep. She looked at it and tilted her head to the side.

  “Wha’cha say, you and me?”

  In her imagination, the car answered.

  “Sure, let’s go for a ride.”

  *****

  Later in the day, Laura sat
in the kitchen, frowning over her cell phone.

  Is Marc still reading? He’s sure been doing that a lot. I hope he isn’t tired of me. How am I supposed to know when to leave? He seems happy, and surprisingly sober, but he’s used to play a role, so who knows.

  Her mood didn’t lighten from seeing her checking account overdraft.

  “Dammit.”

  “Why don’t you buy a computer?” Marc’s voice made her jump.

  “I’m broke. I’ll have to go back and get a job soon or the landlord will put all my stuff in the yard.”

  He looked like she said she was going to Mars.

  “Sweetheart, use the credit card. If they don’t accept payments online ask Lawrence to send them a check.”

  If he’s prepared to pay my rent, it’s probably okay to stay a little longer. I just don’t want him to think I’m poaching. Maybe he won’t notice if I get a cash advance to get back in the black. It’s just thirty bucks, and the overdraft fee. Damn, I am poaching.

  “Do you like the Jeep?”

  “I love it.”

  He crouched next to her and rested his hands on her leg.

  “Great. Take the Jeep, go down to BestBuy, and buy a computer with your card. Phones are good, but you need something bigger for working.”

  She chewed her lip. Was it that easy? Just buy stuff?

  Marc tilted his head a little but didn’t break eye contact.

  “C’mon, give me a smile.”

  It was impossible not to. He brushed his fingers over her cheek.

  “I just want you to be happy. Hey, you came here just after our Thanksgiving. Want to celebrate the US one? We can ask what’s-her-name to cook.”

  Is it that late in the year already? Christmas is around the corner. Should I stay here and we celebrate it together? That’s a little scary, but it would be so awesome.

  “Molly. Molly, something French… Quibo, something… And I’d love that.”

  “Quibodeaux, I think. I really like this script, I hope I get it.”

  His phone rang and he glanced at the display.

  “It’s Bill, I’ve gotta take this. Would you make me some coffee, pretty please?”

  “Sure.”

  Thomas brought over their new espresso machine a couple of days earlier. Marc was a wizard with it and made cappuccinos and lattes where the milk formed hearts and leaves. She was barely able to get something drinkable out of it. When he returned to the kitchen, she had just made two failed attempts at using it.

  Wow, he looks happy. I don’t ever think he looked that happy.

  “Great news. Bill came through for me.”

  She didn’t get it, and he smiled and spread his hands out in response to her quizzical glance.

  “I got the part.”

  I guess that’s supposed to make me happy too.

  His life was completely back on track, and she was superfluous.

  She tried to smile, but didn’t really pull it off.

  Marc frowned.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing…”

  It didn’t sound convincing even in her own ears. This would be a good time to lie, but she couldn’t.

  “I… I just don’t want to leave.”

  Much too honest. Marc looked confused.

  “What? Why… Why would you leave? Did I do something? You have to hit me if I do something.”

  She bit her lip and shook her head, and understanding came to his eyes.

  “Oh no… No, no, no. What would I be without you? I’d be dead without you.”

  Do I have extremely bad self-confidence? Low self-esteem?

  He pulled her close.

  “I’m so sorry. It’s just like Lawrence said, I forget you’re not like the other women around here. I just assumed…”

  She closed her eyes and buried her face against his chest.

  “I won’t stop you if you really want to leave, but I was hoping you’d stay. Please stay. We can send for your things, Lawrence will take care of everything for you, just please don’t go.”

  She didn’t answer, couldn’t answer, the lump in her throat was too large.

  “Please stay. Forever would be good.”

  Did he say forever? He said forever.

  She nodded, filled with a relief almost too big to handle.

  He cradled her face in his hands and made her meet his gaze.

  “I love you. I know I don’t say it a lot, I don’t think I’ve ever told you, but it’s true.”

  “I love you too.”

  He glanced over at the espresso machine and chuckled.

  “Sit down, I’ll get the coffee. You’re good at many things, but coffee isn’t one of them.”

  “I know.”

  When he put the mug in front of her, he stole a kiss.

  “Want company to look at the computer?”

  I never said I needed one, but if you think I do, I guess I do.

  “That would be great.”

  “Your turn to drive me.”

  It was a bit strange to drive through the city, his city, with him in the passenger seat.

  This will be my city too. How long can I stay here without having to mess with any papers? Lawrence will know.

  The mere thought of staying, of having practical matters to solve because she was staying made her giddy.

  “You look happy. I like that.”

  She reached for his hand.

  “I am happy. We have to celebrate your job.”

  Laura imagined both Lawrence and Thomas clapping their hands when she called about the apartment. Lawrence was efficient indeed. A large truck filled with everything she owned appeared just days later, and she only had to point to show the movers where things should go.

  Her things filled a void, and made the house a home. Her home.

  The word was both thrilling and hard to believe, but when she sat in the sofa at night with Marc’s arms around her, she belonged.

  Chapter Ten

  American Halloween came and went, and just when Laura started to wonder about Christmas decorations, a company showed up, dressing the house in lights.

  Marc smiled like a little boy, grabbed her around the waist, and spun her around.

  “This will be awesome. I love Christmas.”

  I bet it’ll be weird for him without the kids. We should go shop for them, but not today.

  He pressed his lips against the tip of her nose.

  “What do you want from Santa? I played Santa once, I make a great Santa.”

  “I bet you do. I want you.”

  “Well, you have me.”

  “I don’t know… What do you want?”

  He shrugged.

  “Peace on Earth and good will to all? You’ve already given me the best present anyone could. You’re you.”

  This is an enchanted moment in time. May it last forever.

  Marc kissed her.

  Okay, now it’s enchanted.

  “When my divorce comes through, would you marry me?”

  Say what? Fainting time?

  “I’d want nothing more.”

  He grinned.

  “Wonderful. I’ll ask you when I’m allowed to.”

  “Up until then, it can be our secret.”

  “I like that.”

  He kissed her again, but just as his body pressed against her made her woozy, he broke free.

  “I’ve gotta make a phone call.”

  And I need a cold shower…

  She moseyed into the kitchen. How strange it was to always find everything clean and shiny. If she did nothing but clean from morning to night, he house still wouldn’t look this good.

  Oh well, I’m sure I’m good at something else. I’ve just gotta figure out what.

  A pile of mail lay on the kitchen table. She didn’t usually pay much attention to it, but she browsed through the envelopes. All bills went to Lawrence, Marc tossed everything that wasn’t ads in the kitchen and forgot about it, and Molly threw whatever remained out th
e next morning.

  We might be missing some cool stuff, but who cares.

  An envelope in the pile caught her attention. It was silvery and very classy. She put a finger on it and tugged to get it loose from the rest.

  Marc wouldn’t notice or care if she opened his mail, but looking at anything not addressed to her would be against her principles.

  This one has both names. Marc and Laura. It’s for me too.

  She slid it across the table to see better.

  It’s got the studio’s logo on the back. Should I open? I mean, my name is just a courtesy, but it’s there…

  “There you are, wanna go ice skating? What’s that?”

  Where do you get all these crazy energetic ideas?

  She most certainly did not want to go ice-skating. Standing on slippery, hard, cold ice with a pair of knives strapped to her shoes wasn’t high on her to-do list. They tried it once and Marc held her up until he tired of it, swept her up in his arms, and took her to Starbucks instead. Hopefully, whatever the envelope might be would distract him from it.

  “I don’t know. You should open it.”

  He shrugged, but took it when she held it out.

  “Probably a party. We get those all the time but I throw them out.”

  Really? I had no idea. Self-preservation instinct, maybe. I love you more than life itself, but parties and you don’t go together.

  The envelope contained a silvery card with an invitation to the producer of his new show.

  “Christmas celebration, blah, blah, blah.”

  If he avoided these gatherings there was a reason, and the card promised both adventure and doom.

  “Should we go?”

  “Yes… No… Maybe. Do you want to?”

  She did and she didn’t. She’d love to see the producer’s house and all the people. It’d be great to get a nice dress and wear a pair of pretty shoes, but it scared her too.

  What if he moseys off and gets high and disappears for a week?

  It might not exactly become an enchanted evening, and it might put their relation to a test she couldn’t cope with.

  To be fair, he had shown no tendency to go off on a bender since she arrived months earlier.

  He drinks a little too much some nights, but it’s nothing like it was. Shouldn’t I trust him by now?