A Famous Affair

by K. B. Mallion

  Lissy quietly speaks up, “I am not sure about staying, Mum.”

  I lean towards her, caressing her hair. “Darling, if you’re not sure, don’t worry. Why don’t you think about it first?”

  “Is Jonny Riley here?” Lissy quietly asks.

  “I think so. He left me in reception because he wanted to give us all some time alone. Are you happy to meet him?” I ask, feeling terribly nervous about the three people who are my entire world, meeting for the very first time.

  “I suppose.” Lissy says, fiddling with the edge of her seat.

  I wasn’t expecting cartwheels and whoops of joy over the prospect of meeting Jonny but I sense Lissy’s apprehension. I take her anxious hand into mine. “Lissy, Jonny will never ever replace your father. He will simply settle for being your friend. I know that is going to be tough, but always remember that I love you and so does your father. I don’t expect you and your sister to suddenly like Jonny. It is going to take time and patience for all of us, but I think together we can do it.” I try to reassure them both.

  “So, you and Dad will never get back together then?” Lissy asks, her sad eyes search mine.

  I wish I could tell her what she wants to hear . . . but I can’t. There will always be a part of me that will love Shawn, but I am hopelessly in love with Jonny. I cannot deny it. I certainly cannot change it. I hold her delicate chin in my hand. “I will always care about your Dad, but we won’t ever get back together, my darling.” I look deeply into her eyes in the hope that she understands. She blinks back a tear.

  “Dad still loves you,” Lissy confides.

  I suck in a painful deep breath, thinking carefully before I speak. “There will always be a part of me which loves your Dad, Lissy. We were together many years. We shared a wonderful life together and we had the two of you, but I fell in love with Jonny. I cannot explain why it happened and I know it is hard for you to accept, right now. Just because I am here with Jonny, does not mean that I don’t want you both to be a part of my life . . . I do. I will do whatever it takes to make that happen.” I look at each one of their attentive faces.

  “I don’t want to live in London, I want to live with Dad,” Lissy whispers, unable to look at me.

  I lift her chin again, forcing her to look at my smiling face. “Then you shall, my darling. We have lots to talk about and lots to catch up on; we can discuss this another time. Just remember that whatever happens, I will never force you to do anything you don’t want to do. In time, who knows? You may even want to come and stay.” I shrug my shoulders, hoping my carefree manner will alleviate some of the pressure that Lissy is obviously under. I am relieved to see that she now has a little smile on her rosy lips.

  “Well, my friends think it’s cool that you are with Jonny Riley,” Lottie blurts out, so casually and without restraint. Lissy throws a none-too-pleased look in Lottie’s direction. My sweet effervescent Lottie! So very untamable!

  I tuck her long hair behind one of her ears. “What I did wasn’t cool, Lottie. I have hurt a lot of people, I have to live with that for the rest of my life. I never thought I would be happy again but now you are both here, I finally think I can be.”

  Lottie looks across at Lissy, who still has her angry glare upon her carefree sister. “Don’t look at me like that, Liss. I am just saying what my friends think, that’s all.”

  “Well, they are stupid then,” Lissy sulks.

  “Maybe they are. Though you have to admit . . . it is quite exciting to be here, isn’t it?” Lottie’s enthusiasm still fails to impress Lissy, who rolls her disapproving eyes, looking out across the bar.

  I think it is time for me to step in and change the conversation. “So, what would you girls like to do then? Are you hungry?” Together they do a synchronised nod. “I’ll just go and see where Jonny is, then we can order some food. Then if you fancy it, maybe we can do a little bit of shopping?” I ask, smiling broadly.

  “Okay, Mum,” Lissy quietly responds, not looking overly enthused about any of my suggestions.

  I know she is holding back. She smiles sweetly in all of the right places whereas Lottie is genuinely excited and grinning from ear to ear. As awkward as things may be with Lissy, I am simply delighted to have them both here. The fact that Lissy is sitting with me now, is a step in the right direction.

  I stand up, kissing the top of their heads. “I won’t be long.” I walk away from the girls, breathing in deeply. I am content with the knowledge that they are both behind me. Nothing beats the way that I am feeling right now. I am finally able to see, touch and smell them, for real. All those times that I have wished for this day to come and it finally has, because of the man that I love.

  I walk to the reception; there is still no sign of Jonny. Disappointed, I look around. My stomach somersaults when I think that I have spotted him. With determined strides, I walk to the far end of the marbled lobby. Jonny is sat in one of the big leather chairs, reading a newspaper. I smile to myself, eager to see him. When I reach the back of the chair, I place my hands upon his relaxed shoulders, sliding them down his strong chest; kissing his neck. “Thank you, Jonny,” I lovingly purr in his ear.

  “So you like your Christmas present then, Dimples?” He throws the paper down onto the table in front of him, pulling me around the chair so I fall onto his lap in one swift and sexy manoeuvre. This is exactly why I love this man so damn much. He is Jonny Riley. The golden balled A-lister which every hot bloodied female lusts after, yet he only wants to be with me. He treats me no different in public, than he does when we are alone. It doesn’t matter where we are because when we are together, he is just my Jonny. The Jonny who loves me with everything he has inside of him and my God, do I love him for it!

  My smile is as wide as my face. “I cannot believe you have arranged all of this for me, Jonny. Thank you, thank you.” I zealously kiss him all over his face.

  His eyes look so cute, all scrunched up with my over-the-top kisses. “How are they?” he tries to ask me with a hint of seriousness to his voice.

  “Emotional, excited, confused. But happy I think.”

  Jonny smiles. “We will just have to be patient with them. Your being with me is going to be a bitter pill for them to swallow, Jessica.” He holds my chin, kissing my lips. “I am just really pleased that I was able to reunite you all.” he adds, rubbing my lips with his.

  “How did you manage it?” I ask with a curious smile.

  “I had a lot of help from Lydia. The girls contacted her and Lydia rang to talk to you about it, but you were in the shower. When she told me, I thought it would be a lovely surprise to get them here without you knowing. Lydia rang yesterday to say the girls were still okay about coming down, so Simon picked them up from Lydia’s this morning.”

  “Is that the call you took when we were looking at Christmas decorations?”

  Jonny grins, holding his head high. “It was.”

  “Now I feel even more terrible about how I acted with you earlier, Jonny. I truly am sorry for how I was with you. I will never doubt you again. I cannot thank you enough for bringing my daughters to me.” I wrap my arms around his neck, kissing his waiting mouth.

  “Seeing you so happy, Jessica, is thanks enough for me. You need to remember that my fame, is just one part of me. I know it is a big part of me, but it isn’t who I truly am inside. You make me a better man, Dimples. You must know that. There will be times that my lifestyle will make you feel insecure, jealous even. I need you to promise me, that should you ever feel that way . . . you will tell me. Can you do that?” Jonny looks deep into my eyes, needing to be assured that I will never doubt him again.

  I nod gently. “I promise.” I whisper back my reply.

  Holding my hand, he brushes my fingers across his sexy as hell lips; not knowing how much it makes me want him. I will forever etch in my mind the way that he is looking at me now; should my insecurities ever rear their ugly fucking heads again. I will always remember the adoration that his cherishing eyes car
ry for me.

  “Come on, the girls will be wondering where you have got to.” Jonny says, easing me off his lap. I stand, smoothing down my sentimental dress. Jonny looks me up and down, slow and desirously. Standing beside me, he places his hand on the small of my back to whisper in my ear. “Did you think I had forgotten about that dress?”

  I smirk. “So you do remember?”

  Stroking my thigh, he answers in a low voice. “I remember everything, Jessica.”

  I quickly push aside any dirty thoughts I have of Jonny. My precious girls are here, about to meet the man that I left their beloved father for. This is a big deal. A fucker of a big fucking deal! This is serious shit. I need to be at the top of my game, in order to not momentously fuck this up. The enormity of the situation stops me in my tracks. I look to Jonny for reassurance.

  “What’s wrong?” he calmly asks.

  “What if this goes all horribly wrong, Jonny?” I ask, pale with fear.

  Jonny squeezes my hand, stroking it with his thumb. “Then we will just try it again on another day. Remember what I said about having patience?”

  I nod, obediently. “Yes . . . just little steps at a time, huh?” I try to bravely smile.

  “Precisely! Are you ready?”

  With a shot of positivity and a spring in my step, I clasp my hands together. “Yes I am, let’s do this! The girls are hungry and I want you to meet them before I bottle out.”

  Jonny smiles. “You’ve got me feeling all nervous now.” He glides his hands through his hair, blowing away an apprehensive breath.

  “Come on, handsome. It’s show time!” I laugh, trying to hide my nerves behind my confident smile.

  Jonny quickly brushes down his black fitted shirt and indigo jeans. Seeing him obviously so nervous is all too much. I stand in front of him, placing a reassuring kiss on his taut lips. “Just be yourself, Jonny.”

  “That’s exactly what I am afraid of,” he says.

  “What do you mean?” I ask.

  “Bottom line is, Jessica. I am the reason you are not with their father. I don’t think they’ll ever get over that.”

  I pull Jonny closer. “I know, but we have to start somewhere don’t we? You were the one just telling me to have patience and we both have a shitload of that. Besides, I honestly think it is because of you that the girls are here at all.”

  Jonny looks at me, quizzically. “Why do you say that?”

  “It is something Lissy told me. Apparently, after my visit. Shawn and Catherine had a huge argument. Shawn asked the girls whether they wanted to see me and they both said yes. He said nothing more about it, until two days later. I believe your little visit to Shawn, got him thinking. Which is why the girls are here now.” I explain.

  Jonny looks at me with a raised brow and his boyish wicked grin. “So I do have my uses then?”

  “Definitely.” I murmur against his mouth.

  Kissing the back of my hand, Jonny pulls me. “Okay, let’s do this.” We both smile at one another. Walking in unison while inwardly feeling full of fear, anticipation and hope.

  The girls are leaning into one another and as we get closer, I can hear their conversation about the shops they would like to visit here in London.

  “Lissy and Lottie, I’d like you to meet Jonny.” They both swivel around in their seats to look at an apprehensive and tense Jonny Riley.

  Jonny steps forward. “I am so pleased to meet you both,” He says, stretching out his hand and leaning over to warmly make their acquaintance. Lottie stands up and smiles to greet him, whereas Lissy remains seated and limply shakes his hand. “So have you been to London before?” Jonny asks, eager to initiate a conversation.

  “No we haven’t, but I love it. There is so much to do and see,” Lottie excitedly chats. Lissy sits there, looking awkward and remaining painfully quiet. Jonny glances helplessly in my direction. I walk around the table, sitting down beside her; taking hold of her hand.

  “What do you girls fancy to eat then?” I hand them both a menu, the girls look at it with hungry interest. Jonny looks relieved to now have the menu to look at. He is completely out of his depth. I long to throw him a lifeline, but I have to let this thing pan out all by itself. He is so used to having the spotlight on him all of the time. Yet here he is, squirming in the company of two young girls. I find his behaviour really quite sweet.

  Jonny browses the menu, thinking out loud. “I think I am going to have the club sandwich. How about you, Jessica?” His unease seems to have faintly dissolved.

  I return his question with a smile. “I am going to have the chicken Caesar salad . . . have you decided yet, Lissy?” I glance over the top of my menu.

  “Can I have the same as you please, Mum?” Lissy answers.

  “Of course, my darling . . . Lottie?” I look up, wondering if Lottie has decided on what she would like to eat.

  “I will have the same as Jonny, please?” Jonny’s eyes dart to me at Lottie’s answer. He seems surprised that Lottie would even entertain the very idea of having the same food as him. After all, he is the devil himself. Or at least, that is what he thinks the girls’ perception of him is.

  Now looking very pleased with himself, he responds. “Good choice, Lottie.” She shyly smiles at Jonny’s jovial response. He then gestures for the waitress to come over. The pretty twenty-something reacts much the same as most females do around him. She takes our order with the subtle flutter of her lashes and an all too obvious blush to her cheeks. It never fails to bring a smug smile to my face, for Jonny either chooses to ignore it or he has simply become immune to the endless flirtations of the women that he encounters. “Lottie, your mum tells me that you are quite a little artist. My mother is an artist, too. I am sure you will have lots to talk about when you finally do meet her.” Jonny says, seemingly more relaxed.

  “Is she famous too?” Lottie’s innocent reply makes Jonny chuckle.

  “I suppose she is in her own way. She has exhibited a lot of her work and she is very well known in Devon.”

  “Do you like being famous?” Lottie asks with wide eyes and a suck of her coke through a straw.

  “It’s a privileged life, Lottie. I get to do a job I love. I meet lots of interesting people and travel to lots of great places, but fame does have its drawbacks.”

  “Like what?” Lottie asks with an open mouth.

  “Well, you can’t always do what you want to do without having security with you. The press tends to follow you, and there are some people who don’t like you because you are famous. Or, from personal experience, there are some people who only like you because you are famous. You have to be careful about who you choose to have around, that’s for sure. For the most part though, being famous is a good thing.”

  Lottie’s eyes are fixed on Jonny. “Do you know lots of famous people?” she asks.

  He smiles at another one of my darling daughter’s fame obsessed questions. “A few, but at the end of the day, Lottie. We are just ordinary people who make our living from doing films and TV.” Jonny picks up his glass of water, looking at me over the rim of his glass.

  “All my friends think you are dead lush,” Lottie states. Jonny nearly chokes on his drink. He sputters, leaning quickly forward, holding the glass to his pursed lips. I am laughing loudly, patting his back while a red-faced Jonny wipes his chin with a napkin.

  I try to speak through my laughter. “For one so young, my Lottie has never been backwards in coming forward.” I am still giggling while rubbing his back.

  Jonny sits up straight in his chair, dabbing his mouth. He looks across at a still and very quiet Lissy. “What interests do you have, Lissy?” Jonny is desperate to quickly move on from Lottie’s embarrassing comment, trying to draw my solemn daughter into his conversation.

  “I like history and books.” Lissy’s response is quiet and restrained yet still polite.

  “What books do you like to read?”

  “All kinds, really.”

  Jonny smiles with bri
ght eyes. “Me too, but I don’t get enough time to read much these days. Your mum’s office is my old library and is full of all kinds of books. I am sure you will find lots in there to read and enjoy.”

  I join their brief and strained conversation. “It’s a beautiful little library, Lissy. I think you will love it.” She nods to me without emotion.

  “Are you still going to work with Lydia?” she sullenly asks.

  “Yes I am, Lissy, but most of my work will be done from here in London. Though, I will be returning to Cheltenham once a week so I can work with Lydia at the main office and see you girls after work. Maybe you can both stay with me on that evening?”

  Lissy’s eyes begin to fill with tears. “To see you once a week is nothing, though.”

  I shuffle closer to her. “Well . . . I was hoping you both would like to come and stay with us either every weekend or every other one? Of course I need to talk to your Dad about it first and you are right Lissy, once a week is not enough.” I brush her cheek gently with my finger, leaning in close and holding her hand in both of mine. I look at Jonny. His smile hides his remorse but I know it’s there. I can almost taste his guilt and shame. I have been there many times before, I know the expression he is wearing very well indeed. Jonny tilts forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees in preparation for what he has to say. “I was thinking that maybe we should rent a little place in Cheltenham, Jessica? That way, you would have somewhere you and the girls can all stay once you have finished work.” My mouth drops open, surprised by what he has just said. This is all complete news to me. Jonny continues, “You don’t want to have the girls with you in a hotel room do you?” Jonny’s inquiring and penetrative eyes look questioningly into mine.

  I am almost too dumbfounded to speak. “You would do that for us, Jonny?” I ask quietly.

  “Of course I would. You and the girls need somewhere for just the three of you, where you can spend some quality time together. I am sure there will be many other occasions that you will need to stay in Cheltenham for more than one night. If you have your own place up there, you never need worry about where you are going to stay.”