by M. Stratton
“Really? I’m just supposed to take your word for it? Honey, you really do need to grow up, and maybe pick someone else to go all psycho on. This one is already taken.”
Amanda took a step closer to Hannah. “I don’t think you understand me, bitch. I own him. He’s mine. You may have a ring on that finger, but his heart will always belong to me.”
“Sorry, I’m just going to have to stop you there. See you really should have done your research if you’re going to make up lies. There has never been any hint of Royce ever cheating on any one of his girlfriends over the years. Ever. What makes you think he’d cheat on his wife when he never cheated on a girlfriend? Even when he was high on drugs and drunk all the time. Never once did he cheat.” She watched as Amanda’s shoulders slumped with defeat. “Now be a good little girl and run along. I’m sure they need you on set.”
Hannah turned and started walking away. She wasn’t surprised when she heard a scream and running footsteps coming up behind her. With a practiced move, she stepped aside and quickly took the actress down. With her knee on Amanda’s windpipe, she leaned down so the young woman knew she was serious. “They don’t call me Betty Boxer for nothing. You should count your lucky stars I didn’t punch that pretty little face of yours. Try getting a job when your nose has been broken so badly no plastic surgeon could ever fix it.” Waiting until she saw the acknowledgement in her eyes, she stood up. Crew members came rushing up and Hannah looked up to see Royce standing there.
“Sorry,” she said to him and looked down at Amanda. “Not sorry.”
He held his hand out to her. Taking it, he pulled her away. Once they were alone, he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“How much did you hear?”
“Almost all of it. They had to reset the scene so we had a few minutes. Hope told me you were taking Lissa back to Will’s trailer and I wanted to make sure she was okay. Also, I selfishly hoped I could get you back to my trailer for a little make-out session. That’s when I came around the corner and saw the two of you. Both of you were so engrossed you didn’t notice me. I do have a question for you.” He kept one arm around her waist while the other one played with a strand of hair. “How did you really know she was lying?”
“Royce, what I said was the truth. It’s what I believe. I know you’d never cheat on me. I know commitment and marriage vows mean everything to you. If you give your word, you will do whatever it takes to keep it. Trust me. That’s the least of my worries.”
He leaned down and rested his forehead on hers. “You have no idea what that means to me.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you more,” he replied.
Lissa’s belly was growing by the day. Her pants weren’t fitting her anymore and she was going to need new ones for their trip. Hope only brought one suitcase and Lissa knew that wasn’t going to be enough clothes for two months in Europe, or the fact that the weather changed all the time over there. She was hoping she’d be able to buy some extra clothes for Hope.
Rodeo Drive was something to experience and she had her fingers crossed Hope would enjoy it. She knew Hope would be fine with the mall, but if you had the opportunity to shop on Rodeo Drive, you took it. Lissa was excited about spoiling her friends.
Once they had been dropped off, they headed past the store fronts. Hannah already had a plan of the shops they should stop in. True to their husbands’ words, they were protected, and also had their driver on speed dial so she could have him swing by to pick up their bags. A collection of security guards followed them around. Luckily, they had a couple of females with them. Lissa had a wicked idea to stop at a lingerie shop to see if they could embarrass the men, or maybe a delicate china shop.
They managed to get in and out of a few stores before they were noticed by the paparazzi. When they approached, Hannah went to one side of Lissa and Hope was on the other. The security guards closed in around them. At such times, Lissa started to feel claustrophobic. As she clutched Hannah’s hand, she tried to keep her breathing under control as the camera flashes went off in her face and questions were shouted at them. She kept her head down to watch where she was going so she wouldn’t trip on the sidewalk, and tried to block everything else out.
It didn’t take the paparazzi long to realize the group weren’t going to say anything, plus their husbands weren’t with them so they retreated to a safe distance. Lissa started breathing regularly again and they soon continued on their shopping spree.
“People actually spend this much money on clothes?” Hope whispered to Lissa. “This blouse costs more than granny’s monthly rent.”
“I know. It’s crazy. Not everything is this expensive. You have to know what you are looking for and invest in timeless pieces that are going to take you from season to season.”
“See, there, you lost me.” Hope’s arms dropped to her sides. “This isn’t me.”
“Oh, honey.” Lissa wrapped her arm around her. “I know. I’m sorry. I thought you’d at least have fun going in and out of all the shops.”
“Oh, I am having fun. I just can’t see me spending money on this, even yours.” She shook her head. “I can’t allow you to spend this kind of money on me. We can stop off at the mall on the way home and I’ll get what I need there.”
“Not yet,” Hannah said. “There’s a store around the corner I’ve been dying to go into. There’s a little something I want to get for my man.”
Lissa burst out laughing as she saw the store that Hannah wanted to go. It was a lingerie store.
Hannah nodded as Hope went through everything again. She was picking up everything quickly. Of course, Hannah had the basics organized for everything for the next three months. It didn’t alleviate all of her guilt, but it helped.
“Are you ready?” Lissa asked from the doorway.
“Yep, we’re finished here for the day. Hope is doing great. You two shouldn’t have any problems while I’m on a beach somewhere with no internet service.”
“I don’t know how you can do that,” Hope said.
“Neither do I.” Lissa shook her head. “I give her six hours before she’s begging Royce to go to the closest island that has Wi-Fi.”
“Ha! I bet I make it at least eight.” Hannah smirked.
“No comment,” Hope said and started to shut down the computer.
“So, my super-spies are ready?”
“Totally.” Hannah pulled out a blonde wig and a big pair of sunglasses. Putting a hand on her hip and she chomped on invisible gum. “Hey, baby, wanna go my way?”
Lissa shook her head. “Leave the acting to your husband. Let’s go.”
“It’s too bad Will couldn’t come. I’m sure he wants to be there.”
“He does, but since this is only a checkup, he didn’t want this to become a big thing and get out there. We both want to wait a little bit longer before the whole world knows.”
“I can totally understand that.” Hannah nodded. “When do we get to find out if it is a boy or a girl?”
Lissa grinned. “You get to find out after you get back from your three month vacation. Just like I said. Everyone else, a few weeks.”
Hannah shook her head. “I can’t even begin to tell you how wrong that is.” She narrowed her eyes at Lissa. “Maybe I should start to write. I’m sure I could come up with some evil way to kill you.”
“Ha! If you could, you would have already. You enjoy kicking back and reading what other people come up with too much to have to come up with and worry about every little detail in a book.”
“True. But I could at least do a murder scene.”
“Do it,” Lissa hissed and smiled at Hannah.
They stared at each other for a moment before bursting out laughing. “Way to call my bluff,” Hannah said.
“You know it.”
“I’m going to miss you,” Hannah said quietly.
“Me too. But I’m trying to be positive. You found your man, an
d you’ll have your happily ever after. You’re taking a romantic vacation with him. You figured out a solution to leaving me and to helping Hope. And speaking of Hope.” Lissa turned toward her. “You are doing so wonderfully, thank you so much for coming to my rescue. I know I can just kick back and continue to write, and you’ll take care of everything else for me. See, it’s going to be fine. You go off with your crazy husband; I’ll travel to Europe with mine and pop over to see his family. And before you know it, we’ll all be meeting up in Tucson again where we’ll be getting ready for the little one to arrive. It’s all good.”
“I know, and it will go quicker than I really think it will.”
“Besides, who knows, three months away from me and you may never want to come back.”
“Ha! As if.”
“Or Hope may be begging you to come back early. I’m sure she didn’t realize exactly how crazy things were going to be around here when she signed up to help me.”
“I made sure I didn’t tell her. I figured it was the only way to get her to say yes.” Hannah nodded.
“You two.” Hope waved her hand at them. “You both know I’m happy to help. And things are too crazy around here, but you know me. I’m quiet. I sit back and observe.”
“Oh, shit,” Hannah said. “I bet she’s got some good dirt on us just sitting back and watching.”
Hope laughed. “Well, Hannah, I do have the most on you, and I’d have to say, you are the craziest around here.”
“Hell no, that has to go to Royce and not me.”
“Aha! I knew it,” Lissa said. “I have to be the sanest, right? Yep, that’s me. Sane Sally.”
Hope shook her head. “Yeah, no, Marble-less Melissa, I wouldn’t use sane in the same sentence with your name.”
“Poop.”
“Oh, she got you.” Hannah pointed and laughed. “I’m going to miss all the fun.”
Lissa put her arm around Hannah. “We’ll be right here when you get back.”
“Well,” Hope said, “not exactly here, because if you come here someone else is going to be renting the house, and then you’ll get arrested for breaking and entering. But you get the idea. Yeah, we’ll totally be here for you.”
“Okay, okay, I get it. Now, let’s get going, Charlie’s Angels.”
“Charlie’s Angels?” Hope asked.
“Well, yeah, there are three of us!”
End of April
The movie was finished and they all went to the wrap party. Hannah watched as speeches were made and everyone was happy the movie was finished and the dailies looked excellent, yet they weren’t going to be together again for a couple of years. They were all going to be moving on to different projects, but they knew they’d all be back together, even if just to promote the new movie when it finally went to theaters.
Hannah kept scanning the room looking for Amanda. The last thing she wanted was another confrontation.
“She’s not here,” Lissa said.
“Who?”
“That Amanda chick. She was canned. I guess she’d been causing problems since the beginning and the director hated working with her. After your little take down, the powers-that-be decided she had to go. They rewrote the one scene she had left to film and called it a day.”
“How did you find out?”
“Please, research is my game.” She laughed when Hannah gave her a look of disbelief. “Okay, you caught me. All I had to do was ask Will.”
“I didn’t think, I just acted when she came at me and I took her down. I need to do a better job in the future. This time it all worked out, but it could have been different, and it might cost Royce jobs in the future.”
“Honey,” Lissa leaned over and grabbed Hannah’s hand, “you can’t change who you are, and you can’t be worried about every little thing you do that could negatively affect Royce. I mean look at me. I’m an author. You know how much crazy shit I’ve written, and plan to write. At any time, someone could decide I’m a terrible human being and they won’t want Will for a job because he’s married to me. But you know what? There are two people in this marriage, and we’re both good with who the other one is.”
“And you obviously trust Royce,” Hope said. “And he trusts you. Relax, you both are very lucky.”
They quieted down as the film crew started their own comical award ceremony. There was a lot of laughing as the fun awards were handed out. Will, of course, won Best Laugh and Nicest Guy while Royce won Actor Most Like His Character and Most Sarcastic. Hannah was surprised when her name was called for Best Takedown. With her face flaming red, she climbed the stairs and accepted her award from Royce.
“Wow, this is a surprise. Umm . . . Wow.” She turned to her husband. “I’m going to make sure this travels with us all the time to remind you not to mess with me.” The crowd laughed and she waved it high and walked back to the table.
The next morning, it was time to say goodbye. Hannah had been trying to keep her emotions in check since she had woken up bright and early. This was going to be the longest she and Lissa had been apart. She was going to miss seeing the next three months of pregnancy progress. By the time Hannah would see her again, everyone would know Lissa and Will were going to have a baby. She had to keep telling herself that she wasn’t leaving forever.
She’d already boxed up the things that would go back to Lissa’s house and those that were going to their private hideaway, a quiet warm beach where she wasn’t going to have to worry about being cold, and the two of them could just enjoy each other.
When a knock sounded on the door, she looked up and was surprised to see Lissa standing there. “You’re up bright and early.” She opened the door.
“Our flight leaves in a few hours.”
“So does ours.”
“I can’t believe we aren’t going to be on the same flight.” Lissa sniffled. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy for you. I’m just going to miss you so much.”
“Hope will take good care of you.”
“Yes, she will, but it won’t be the same.”
“Well, no one can be as awesome as I am. That’s for sure.”
“Or as modest.”
“Hey, when you’re good, you’re good.”
They looked at each other in silence before Lissa finally spoke. “I have no idea what to say.” She laughed without humor. “That has to be a first, right?”
“I think it might be.”
“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” Lissa dug a tissue out of her pocket.
“Now why would you go and do that? Your pregnancy hormones are off the charts. You’re totally going to cry.”
“I thought I could be strong enough.”
“Well, I’m not.” Tears fell down Hannah’s cheeks. “I’m so going to miss you.”
“I feel like I’m losing a part of me.”
“No, I’ll always be in your heart.”
“Dammit,” Lissa wailed. “Not fair.”
“Shhh . . .” Hannah gathered Lissa up in her arms. “We can do this. Come on, we’ve been though tougher times before.”
“Yes, but we were always together.”
“And we still are. Just not physically in the same room. We’ll always be there for each other.”
They held on for a few moments before Lissa pulled away. “You, Hannah, my Betty Boxer, take care of yourself. I expect to be the first person you come to see once your honeymoon is over.”
“That I can promise. Plus I want to see how big this one has become.” Hannah patted Lissa’s stomach.
“Maybe I’ll make you wait until you come see me in person to tell you if I’m having a boy or a girl.”
“Ha! Good luck, you’ll let it slip.”
“Maybe.” Lissa grinned at her. “Really, please come see me.”
“I will.”
“Okay then . . . well . . . I’m not going to say ‘goodbye.’ I’m going to tell you to stay out of trouble, but if you do need bail money, I’m here for you.”
“There’s the Lissa I know and love, and right back at you.”
Lissa turned and left, quietly closing the door behind her.
Hannah watched until she disappeared around the corner, then went back to looking through the house, making sure they weren’t leaving anything behind.
On the way to the airport, Hannah wasn’t paying attention to the dings coming from Royce’s phone until he started swearing. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Royce . . .”
He sighed and put his phone in his lap, turning all of his attention to her. “Marc tried to get around his monitoring.”
“No . . .” Hannah’s hand flew to her mouth, covering it with shaking fingers.
“Shh . . . it’s okay. Remember we had systems installed so something like this wouldn’t happen. And it didn’t. The authorities were notified as it was happening and they made sure nothing happened. Besides, we don’t know if his trying to leave had anything to do with you.”
His arms were around her and he tried to calm her, but she couldn’t stop shaking. “This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have married you. It’s only going to make him angrier, and he’s going to come for me. Or worse, kill you. What was I thinking?”
“Hannah Rivers, you stop that right now.” He gave her a little shake to get her attention. “You know I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe, and it’s working. There is no way he is ever going to get close to you.”
With eyes filled with tears, she looked at him. “But what happens when they aren’t monitoring him anymore?”
“Honey, that’s never going to happen. He will always have someone monitoring him.”
“Can he say it’s harassment? Or isn’t it against the law or something?”
