Fame

by Susan X Meagher

  “I understand continuity,” she said. “I guess it just didn’t dawn on me that I’d be responsible for it.”

  A hearty clap on the back almost knocked the wind out of Piper. “That’s what being a personal hairdresser buys you, honey. Welcome to the club.”

  ***

  Haley spent the whole afternoon in the aviary, as they’d named the cabin her birdies resided in. The birds, all tropical, were used to the weather, not needing the climate control they’d had at the warehouse. That had obviously been more for security than anything else. Here, where no one outside of the crew could possibly sneak onto the island, everyone could let their guard down.

  That included, much to her surprise, Haley. Even though seeing Piper had made her feel like she’d been sucker-punched, every other minute on the island had been kind of awesome.

  The crew was very friendly, everyone was full of optimism for starting on a new project, and no one was overworked yet. The weather had been beyond perfect on Oahu, with warm days, slightly cooler nights, gentle breezes, and a shower or two most afternoons, and it seemed even nicer here. Not having any concrete or big buildings blocking the wind made the temperature even more ideal. Sort of like paradise.

  The birds had gotten a little agitated, which meant they were louder and more vocal than usual, chattering away at top volume. The sprinkling of rain on the leaves just outside the windows caught Haley’s attention, and the birds immediately settled down as the wind picked up, most of them going to a corner of their cage to wait it out. No matter how many generations it had been since these guys had been in the wild, they still bore the instincts of their ancestors. When the rain came, take shelter, stay dry, and keep quiet—just in case someone bigger or faster than you wanted a quick meal.

  A soft knock on the door preceded a guy poking his head in. “Hi, there,” he said, giving her a beautiful smile. Actually, the guy himself was beautiful; long, glossy black hair, flawless tanned skin, gleaming white teeth.

  “Come on in,” Haley said.

  When he entered, he turned slightly, probably used to having to fit through doors that wouldn’t accept his body—which looked like a flesh-covered granite statue. He was wearing a fluorescent pink T-shirt, skin tight, and blue swim shorts that exposed his thighs. He probably had to wear shorts at all times, since Haley had never seen slacks that would have gone around those massive legs. “I noticed you haven’t left your cabin this afternoon,” he said. Then he blinked a few times and extended his hand. “Sorry. You don’t know me. I’m Kolohe. Security,” he added. “I’m not just spying on you. Well, I am, but I’m spying on everyone else too.”

  “That’s cool,” Haley said. “I’m always glad to have someone keep an eye on me.” She cocked her head. “Do you want me to check in or something…?”

  “Oh, no,” he said, a deep, joyful laugh making his chest shake. “I’m not doing a very good job. I just wanted to let you know I’d be happy to go get you some food or something to drink if you’re too busy to take a break.”

  She stared at him for a second, almost sure he was joking. “You run errands for people?”

  “I like to stay busy. To be honest, there isn’t anything for us to do but patrol the beach to make sure no boats come close. When I’m assigned to the set, I’m bored to death.”

  “Got it.” She thought for a second, then said, “I’d love something to eat. Any kind of salad would be nice. And some water.” There really wasn’t any reason she couldn’t leave, but seeing Piper again was an experience she simply couldn’t bear.

  “No problem. I’ll be back in a few.” He smiled at her, with one eyebrow going up. “Gonna tell me your name?”

  “Oh! Haley.” She put her hand out and shook his, feeling like she had when she was a little girl and her father’s hand had been so much larger than her own. “It’s good to meet you, Ko…” Wincing, she said, “Could you tell me your name again?”

  “My birth certificate says Steven,” he said, shrugging, “but my grandmother named me Kolohe when I was young. It stuck.”

  “It’s pretty,” Haley said, sounding it out.

  “Thanks.” He turned to leave, then stopped and gazed at her for a second. “You’re kind of alone out here. Do you have friends yet?”

  “Not yet,” she said, feeling like she might cry.

  “My shift changes at six. Meet me in the dining hall. I’ll introduce you to the security team. Good people,” he said, nodding confidently.

  “I’ll be there,” she said, going to the door to watch him leave. For the first time in two weeks, she felt cared for. Even though Kolohe was a perfect stranger, Haley felt a little burst of excitement. Maybe she wouldn’t be consigned to three months of hiding in the aviary, doing everything possible to avoid seeing the woman who’d broken her heart.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  THE LIMO STOPPED WHEN TRAFFIC backed up badly in front of the hotel, then the car inched along until they were under a covered drive in front of the main entrance. Young men in Hawaiian shirts and navy blue shorts ran to open both back doors. Piper had been on the right, and, as she slid out and stood, she saw Charlie turn to smile and wave at a dozen photographers who were standing on the sidewalk, just beyond the hotel’s property.

  She looked wonderful, having changed into one of her nice outfits. Most of the photographers weren’t satisfied with her posing and waving, of course. No matter how much you gave them, it was never enough. Piper watched for a minute, then started for the hotel. It had been a heck of a long day, but she was finally going to see her little guy—who’d better have been secretly pining away for her!

  ***

  Delta and Zandra were out on their evening walk when Piper texted her, and she stood by the front door, sulking, as she glowered at her phone.

  “Let’s go knock back two hundred calories,” Charlie said, starting to undress the minute she got in the door. “I’ll put on a different outfit and be ready to go in ten minutes.”

  “Um…” Piper looked up and moved toward the living room. “Why don’t we get room service? Delta and Zandra will be back soon, and I don’t want her to have to wait for us.”

  “Yeah, that I believe,” Charlie said, chuckling. “You just don’t want to miss a minute of having him sit there, staring at you like he thinks you’re a goddess.”

  “I miss him,” she admitted. “I’ve gotten really used to having him around all the time. Happy?” she asked, dropping onto a sofa.

  Charlie went into her room, and came back a minute later, clad in a tank top and dark grey yoga pants. She fell onto the sofa beside Piper and let out a sigh. “I miss the little guy too,” she said, slapping Piper on the leg. “But now that we know the setup on the island, we can take him with us.”

  “We can?” Piper tried to hold back a little on the excitement she knew would color her voice.

  “We can as long as Zandra doesn’t mind going with us, which I assume won’t be a problem. She’d probably rather be on set, right?”

  “Right,” Piper said, already feeling better. “What would you like for dinner?”

  Charlie picked up the remote and turned on the big TV. Shrugging noncommittally, she said, “Hardly matters. Just make sure it has almost no calories.”

  A little after eight, the sky began to turn a gorgeous shade of lilac moments before the sun made its final descent. Piper had gone onto the balcony to eat her club sandwich, allowing Charlie to gobble down her spinach salad with chicken breast slices in peace.

  Delta still wasn’t home, and Piper was trying to talk herself out of going searching for them. Then she heard the bell, and she hopped to her feet and went to answer.

  Delta raced into the room, yipping and panting as he ran to Charlie, then back to her, then back to Charlie, licking at their legs and yodeling some kind of joyous sound. His leash was still on, and he tripped over it, tumbling onto his side, but never stopping, just like a gymnast doing a floor routine.

  “I think he missed you,”
Zandra said, smirking. “But I swear he was calm and happy all day long.”

  Piper reached down and grabbed him before he broke his neck. As he started to lick her face, she said, “Did he just have a bath?”

  “Uh-huh. He was covered with sand, and I didn’t want him to track that into your room. So, we had a little spa time,” she said, without a hint of irony. “I clipped his nails and brushed his teeth. He’s so patient with that,” she added. “You’ve done a great job of training him.”

  That hit Piper right in the chest, but she tried to banish thoughts of Haley patiently teaching them the basics. “Thanks,” she said. “He had a good trainer.”

  “We want to take him on set on Monday,” Charlie said. “Can you go with us?”

  “Of course,” Zandra said, her expression brightening. “I’m just a PA, so if I’m not with Delta, I’ll be assigned to something else. Being with him’s more fun than running for coffee.”

  “Thanks for taking such good care of him,” Piper said, smiling at the young woman. “I know we imposed on you by having you keep him for so long.”

  Zandra’s smile grew a little. “I get double time after a twelve-hour day, so…” She shrugged, clearly now getting more comfortable with them.

  “Want some dinner?” Charlie asked. “I can order you something.”

  “Oh, no,” Zandra said, backing up to the door. “You two have had a long day. I know you want to relax with Delta.” She put her hand on the knob. “Call any time you want me to take over. Any time at all,” she stressed, then disappeared.

  Delta turned to watch her leave, but he didn’t try to wriggle out of Piper’s arms to run to her, which gave Piper a brief, guilty bit of pleasure.

  “Missed you,” she murmured, rubbing her face into his sweet-smelling coat. “So glad you’re clean, too.”

  “Gimme,” Charlie said, extending her hands. “He doesn’t know this, but he’s my dog.”

  Piper handed him over, then went out onto the balcony to pick up her tray. Charlie walked out and stood beside her, watching the sky turn a magnificent shade of purple for just a few seconds, then go back to a normal deep blue.

  “Kinda awesome, huh?” She bumped her shoulder against Piper’s. “I know I got here by chance, but before this movie wraps, Tim’s going to be a happy boy that Sierra Vickers dropped out.” She captured Piper’s attention with her fervid gaze. “Guaranteed.”

  ***

  The security crew wasn’t huge, so only a few of them assembled around a table for dinner. They were all off duty for the day, so they kicked back and enjoyed a couple of beers, with Haley happily joining them.

  Kolohe was the most boisterous of the group, and also the friendliest. He’d obviously made it his business to introduce himself to nearly everyone, with at least fifty people stopping by the table to chat briefly. By the time the sun set, Haley had a good introduction to the crew, and began to think of where she’d like to fit in. Picking a group and trying to ingratiate yourself at the beginning was the best tactic, and she turned to her new buddy for advice. “Hey, Kolohe, if you were going to pick one of the crafts to hang out with, who would it be?”

  His dark eyebrows knit as he gazed around the still-packed dining hall, obviously giving her request some thoughtful consideration. “It depends on what you’re looking for. The sound crew’s a good one. Funny guys. Good stories. But…” He took another look. “The costume designer reminds me of my mom,” he said. “Myra has a little refrigerator in the cabin, and she said she’ll always have a cold drink in there for me.” His smile grew brighter. “Everybody in the department seemed nice. Friendly.”

  “Would you introduce me?” Haley said.

  “Let’s go.” He stood and took her arm, nearly lifting her from her seat with only a tiny bit of effort. They started to walk across the room, with Kolohe saying quietly, “Is everything okay with you? You seem kind of…” He shrugged. “Sad, I guess.”

  She nodded, definitely not wanting to pour her heart out to this poor guy in the middle of the dining room. Instead, she put her hand around his ridiculously large biceps and pulled his arm to her chest for a hug. “I am sad. Recently broken heart,” she said, keeping it succinct.

  “Then I’ll keep a special eye on you,” he said. “We’ll cheer you up.”

  “You already have,” she said, her voice catching. “You’ve already made a big difference.”

  ***

  Just before she fell asleep, Piper’s phone chimed. Blinking to clear her eyes, she saw Haley’s picture on her screen, rendering her wide awake in a nanosecond. Heart racing, she read the text:

  “I’ve got some time off this weekend. I hate to start out on such a bad foot. If you’re willing, we should clear the air. What do you say?”

  Scrambling to throw the sheet off and sit up, Piper texted back:

  “Any time. I’ll come to you if it’s hard to get away.”

  “I can catch a ride over and be there by nine. Too early?”

  “Perfect,” Piper said, even though she’d been planning on sleeping until noon. “My hotel?”

  “Sure. Text me the address. I’ll be there around 9:30.”

  Piper ran out to the main room and found some stationery with the hotel’s address embossed upon it, then hurriedly texted back. She stared at the screen for another two or three minutes, but Haley was clearly finished.

  With an unhappy grunt, she lay back down and let her mind start to wander, knowing it would chug away all night, running through all of the scenarios that could possibly occur—most of them unpleasant.

  ***

  Piper had only gotten a few hours sleep, but she couldn’t remain in bed. Up by eight, she was fueled by a liter of coffee and a bundle of nerves. Lingering over her wardrobe, she chose the blouse she’d worn to dinner with Tim and Meredith. If it was nice enough to make an icon of beauty grab her thigh, it was perfect to make an impression on Haley.

  She stuck with a pair of her usual shorts, not wanting to look too different than normal. When she went into the main room, she heard Delta scratching on Charlie’s door and whining. When she cracked the door open, he came flying out. “I’m too tired to walk him,” Charlie said, her voice sounding like she had a pillow over her face. “You can call Zandra if you don’t want to take him.”

  “It’s fine. Go back to sleep,” Piper said, closing the door. After finding his leash, she walked the little guy down to the lobby, checking her phone for the time. It was after nine, but it didn’t take him long to go. For the next fifteen minutes, they wandered up and down the sidewalk in front of the hotel, with Delta luxuriating in the attention he always drew. Kids, in particular, loved him, probably because he was so small. But he was also very good-natured, due, she was certain, to Haley’s clear instructions on socializing him.

  She was just about to go back inside when a sharp whistle made Delta stop and whip his head around. Then he took off, yanking the leash from her hand. In just a few yards he launched himself into the air, landing in a laughing Haley’s arms, busying himself by frantically licking all over her face.

  Piper walked over to the pair, so nervous it felt like her feet were encased in concrete. “I thought you didn’t like to have a dog lick your face,” she said, hoping a little joke would break the ice.

  But Haley didn’t seem to have even the slightest bit of chill in her affect. “I didn’t know this one could fly.” She laughed as she held the little guy in a tender embrace, obviously having missed him.

  For a few precious seconds, Piper was right back to when they’d first met. Haley was a perfectly gorgeous, perfectly open woman, competent, calm, and friendly. But that illusion dimmed when she stopped laughing and tucked Delta under her arm. “Yes, I’ve missed you,” she said, clearly addressing the dog. “But you still can’t act the fool, as my grandmother would say.” She looked at Piper with a wary smile. “I could use a Frappuccino. I assume there’s a Starbucks within ten feet?”

  “Just about,” Piper said,
able to spot the logo right down the street. “Want me to walk him?”

  “He’s fine.” She gave her another stiff smile. “Unless you’d rather…”

  “By all means. God knows he’d rather ride than walk.”

  They didn’t speak on the way to the coffee shop, and when Piper and Delta grabbed a table while Haley went in, Piper reached up and wiped the sweat from her lip. It wasn’t hot out. She was just as nervous as a kid in the finals of a spelling bee.

  A few minutes later, Haley came out, and Piper got to enjoy watching her thread her way through the tables. While she didn’t seem very athletic, she had a certain smooth gracefulness when she walked, a gracefulness that Piper had really relished in their brief time together.

  Forcing herself not to stare, Piper shifted her eyes to Delta, who was whining to get to Haley. She placed him on the ground and he ran to her, jumping up to balance on his back legs, trying to look as cute as possible.

  Haley put the drinks down and swept him up in her arms. “How did you get so much cuter in only two weeks?”

  Wishing she’d gotten the same tender embrace, Piper cleared her throat. “Wanna sit or take a walk?”

  “I’d always rather walk. How about the beach?”

  “I’m in.” She stood and took a sip of the Frappuccino, sure she’d be able to levitate if she had much more coffee. “We can reach the beach right here,” she said, leading the way. “I haven’t been here long, but we checked the area out last night when we went to pee.”

  Haley nodded, then followed along, with Delta continuing to turn his little head to make sure she didn’t get away from him. Once they were on the sand, he settled down and focused on the surf, obviously certain Haley couldn’t sneak off without him noticing.

  They’d only gone a few yards when Haley said, “I couldn’t hear you yesterday, Piper, but I must have some alternate storage in my brain. After you left, I replayed what you said. Often.” She turned her head to be able to look into Piper’s eyes. “Knowing the little bit I know about Charlie, I can see that she could have easily rigged this all up.”