Model Behavior

by Claire Highton-Stevenson

  Cynthia noticed her first, standing in the doorway looking a little in awe of the scene in front of her. “Hilary, come, take a seat and help yourself,” she said kindly. Smiling, she turned and winked at Olivia, who rolled her eyes.

  “Sit here, Hils,” Gracie said, pulling on the chair that she wanted Hilary to sit in. When Hilary did so, Gracie jumped up on the seat next to her and reached for some fruit.

  Olivia smiled across the table at Hilary, mouthing, “coffee?”

  Hilary nodded, grinning back as she reached for some bacon.

  “Hils?” Gracie tugged the toast between her teeth. “Wanna come to the beach with us?”

  “Actually, I need to go home and finish an essay for my biology class,” Hilary said, slicing into her bacon and adding a mouthful of toast to the fork. “Maybe next time though.”

  “Oh wow, you did it?” Olivia said, turning with a mug of coffee for Hilary and her mother. Cynthia looked between the two women, not quite understanding what they were talking about.

  “Yeah, I started last week.” Hilary was smiling proudly as she spoke. Noting the look of confusion on Cynthia’s face, she added, “I signed up for a few courses so that I can get my nursing qualifications back up to scratch.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Cynthia said, sipping her coffee.

  “I guess that means you’ll be busy most days then?” Olivia asked. Her face fell a little at that thought.

  “I guess I’ll be busier, but…I will make time,” she said as she took Olivia’s hand in her own. “Anyway, you need to find something to do other than swanning around looking gorgeous.”

  “I do,” she agreed, “What am I going to do?”

  Cynthia considered this for a moment, remembering something that Joan had mentioned when they had had dinner earlier in the week.

  “I have an idea,” Cynthia said, gaining both women’s attention. “Joan mentioned that the studio is doing one of those horrible reality TV shows. The first one is a celebrity version. They tried to get Joan on board,” she scoffed. “One of the show runners is a friend of Joan. They’re recruiting PAs to handle the celebrities. I could see if Joan could have a word.”

  “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask,” Olivia said, looking from her mother to Hilary. Gracie continued to eat her breakfast.

  ~MB~

  Olivia pulled into the same spot she had parked in the last time she dropped Hilary at her dad’s.

  “Do you want to come in?” Hilary asked.

  “I would love to, but I have a feeling that if I do then you won’t get any work done.” Olivia leaned forward and captured her lips in a caress that was sensual and soft, green eyes closing as Hilary sunk back in her seat and allowed Olivia to dictate the kiss.

  “Oh God, you’re right. You need to go.” Hilary chuckled. “I’ll call you later when I am done, and if you’re free maybe we can—”

  “Yes! Whatever time.” Olivia watched the smile on Hilary’s face light up. “I’ll make sure I am free. And my mom will happily take care of Gracie.”

  “Okay, then I look forward to it. “ Hilary grinned again before grabbing the handle and pushing the car door open. She had to get out fast; otherwise, she had the feeling that she would never leave the vehicle.

  ~MB~

  Debbie was getting ready to leave her father’s just as Hilary arrived. He was fed, washed, dressed, and ready for another day with his leg raised, being waited on by his youngest daughter once more. Their other sisters, Amanda and Marnie, were helping out as best they could. However, with three young children, Marnie could only manage to pop in during the day when the kids were at school. Her youngest child would be in nursery school four afternoons a week, so she could organise a late lunch when needed. Amanda, though, was the high-flyer. Her job was demanding, and she barely had time for a social life, let alone being a waitress for their father. He didn’t mind so much; after all he was the one who encouraged them all to follow their dreams and be the best they could be. So, it was mainly left to Hilary and her oldest sister Debbie, whose two kids were now teenagers and came over with her to check up on Grandpa.

  There were almost ten years in age difference between Hilary and her eldest sister, but she was the one she felt closest to. They were the most alike in looks and temperament.

  When their mother had first left the family home, it had been a huge impact on the young Hilary, who at just four years old didn’t really understand what had happened or why.

  It was Debbie whose bed she crawled into at night for cuddles and stories while their dad worked all the hours he could.

  And that was why Debbie could read her like a book.

  “What’s her name?” Debbie asked, as she packed her bag, ready to get going. She couldn’t resist the little smirk she threw her younger sister’s way, and Hilary didn’t even bother to try and deny it.

  “Olivia.” She dropped her bag down by the door and walked into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.

  “Olivia? Keeping her a secret or is this a new thing?”

  “Both.” She laughed, filling the pot with water and adding the coffee before flicking the switch to start the process that would bring her closer to joy. Debbie sat down at the table and waited.

  “She is so gorgeous. A little fucked up right now, but gorgeous,” Hilary began. “I mean, we’re all a little fucked up, right?” Debbie said nothing, just continued to pay attention and listen. “Last night I stayed over at her place and we just cuddled. Me, just cuddling? Can you believe that? I think maybe—” She was about to say ‘the one’ but thought better of it. It was way too early to be thinking that way. “She is sweet and classy, and oh my God you will never guess who her mother is, Dad is going to pee his pants when I tell him.”

  Debbie was smiling at her sister’s exuberance. Hilary had always been that way. When something made her sad, she would allow herself a pity party for 24 hours and then she would start smiling again, refusing to let anything get her down. She found the positive in everything if she could and she was always smiling, but her smile was different today. This smile was for Olivia.

  “Who?” Hilary had turned back to the counter and was pulling mugs from the cupboard. She held one up for Debbie. “Yeah, sure.”

  “Cynthia Copeland,” Hilary said, grinning. “Olivia is Cynthia Copeland’s daughter. I nearly died when I met her.”

  “Wow, that’s – that’s impressive, Hils.”

  “I know, and she is really nice too. She makes amazing French toast.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Cynthia knocked on her daughter’s door and when permission came, she wandered in and sat on the bed, observing as Olivia wandered around in her underwear trying to decide what to wear.

  Joan had already swung an interview for the new show. Someone owed her a favour, and she was calling it in. It wasn’t a done deal, but as far as Olivia was concerned, she would get the job on merit, following an interview.

  It was a simple concept of twelve weekly episodes using celebrities that quite frankly were has-beens, or in need of some publicity. They had to spend each week learning an everyday trade such as bricklaying or plumbing in order to earn the public’s vote while living with each other under the scrutiny of 24-hour cameras.

  The group would eventually be whittled down by viewers deciding who to get rid of each week, until they had a winner, who would go on to earn the charity of their choice a $100,000 prize, plus all the publicity they could wish for.

  So, Olivia had two hours to get herself ready and over to the offices of Payback TV, who were producing the show.

  “I am going to assume that you explained everything to Hilary,” Cynthia said, a statement rather than anything else.

  “Uh huh, we talked and I told her everything.”

  “And then she stayed over.” Again, a statement, not a question. Olivia stopped what she was doing and turned to face her mother, a smile curving slowly on her lips.

  “Yes, she stayed over.” Her mother ra
ised an eyebrow that asked an unspoken question this time. “And she held me. There was no sex.” She turned back to her wardrobe and pulled out a chiffon blouse in peach and held it up next to one similar that was lavender.

  “Oh, I thought that was just for Gracie’s benefit.”

  Olivia said nothing as she turned with a shirt in each hand.

  “Which?” She lifted one and then the other for her mother’s perusal. “You thought we had sex?”

  “Yes. The lavender.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it goes better with—”

  Olivia laughed as her mother stopped speaking.

  “No, why did you think we had sex?” She put the peach blouse back in the closet and pulled the lavender from the hanger.

  “Because.” Cynthia sat back more comfortably on the bed. “You just seemed very relaxed around each other, intimate.”

  Olivia moved to sit next to her mother. “I feel that way around her. She makes me feel so – oh, I don’t even have words for it, but I know now that she isn’t Ava, everything about her is so not Ava. Her touch, the words she uses, her smile.” She fell back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “The way she kisses me.” She sighed.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think my daughter was in love.”

  Olivia sat back up, balanced on her elbows. “No, not quite but, I will be, if she lets me.”

  ~MB~

  The interview had gone well; in fact, they had tried to sign her up as a contestant because model Maria Belyakov had pulled out at the last minute, but Olivia had insisted she wasn’t interested in being on screen. Her days of being in the limelight were over, and she had no intention of changing that.

  So, she had a job! She was now production assistant on Can You Do That?

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Her appointments with Dr. Demetri were now down to twice a week. Olivia felt like she was really making progress now.

  August had drifted into September, and Gracie had settled at school. She had a whole group of new friends and rarely even mentioned their old life back in London.

  Olivia had used her spare time to see old friends, hit the gym, and enjoy some time with her mother and Joan. Of course, the time spent with Hilary had been somewhat limited, but she had made sure she was available anytime Hilary found the time.

  Right now, with Gracie at school and Cynthia out shopping, Olivia had the entire house to herself. The California sunshine was still hot and high in the sky as she made her way down the marble stairs and sauntered out into the garden in a bikini. She had already set up an area to sunbathe.

  Picking up her book, she sat back and lifted her legs onto the sunbed. It was bliss.

  So much so that as the sun beat down, she easily dozed off.

  “Hey, sleepyhead, you’re going to burn.”

  Olivia grinned and moved positions on the sunbed. It was always nice when she dreamed about Hilary.

  “Liv?” Hilary tried again. Her girlfriend was clearly enjoying her nap. “Sweetheart, I brought you an iced latte that is not so much ice anymore.” Hilary looked at the plastic cup. Condensation was dripping down the side. An idea entered her head that made her chuckle to herself. Holding the cup out in front of her and directly over Olivia’s uncovered stomach, she giggled, watching the droplets slowly make their way towards their target.

  It was like a slow-motion movie. One drop followed another, catching it and adding to it, pushing the drop more quickly on its path until finally, it ran out of plastic and dropped like a stone, hitting its target with a gentle splash, catching the next and the next as they peppered the hot flesh.

  Olivia jumped up, startled and screaming as Hilary laughed louder.

  “What the hell…Hilary!” Olivia said sternly, though her lips curved upwards into a smile at the sight of her girlfriend bent over in a fit of giggles.

  “I am so sorry, but it was just so tempting,” she replied through gasps for breath.

  Olivia grabbed her towel and wiped at her stomach. “You are so mean.” She laughed along now though, before suddenly becoming serious as she looked around. “How did you get in?”

  “Norma,” Hilary said, easing down into the seat next to her.

  “Oh, of course. I forget she is here. She must be the quietest woman on the planet.”

  “I sent you a message, but you didn’t answer, so I figured I would take a chance and grabbed an Uber,” Hilary explained. She pulled her sweater off and adjusted her sunglasses.

  “I’m sorry, clearly I fell asleep.” Olivia smiled. “But I am awake now.” She stood up and promptly sat back down again in Hilary’s lap. “How can I make it up to you?”

  “Well, I suppose finding you in a bikini is quite the gift already.” She placed the flat of her palm gently on Olivia’s bare thigh as Olivia wove her right arm behind Hilary’s neck.

  “Whatever works for you.” She smiled and leaned in to find soft lips waiting.

  “This definitely works for me. Is this okay?” Hilary asked, indicating where her hand was resting.

  “Yeah, I like it too,” Olivia said, deepening the kiss until all she felt was a need to breathe.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Michael Palmer pottered about the house, tidying things that were already tidy. He had been interested in meeting the woman who had captured his daughter’s attention – and, it would seem, her heart – for what felt like forever. They hadn’t known each other very long, which wasn’t much different from anyone else Hilary had met and fallen in love with. She was very much a girl who just went with her feelings and took a chance in life, but this felt different.

  It had worried Michael at one point in her life when it had been heartbreak after heartbreak. The wrong woman could somehow wriggle her way into Hilary’s heart and create havoc without Hilary even noticing, but listening to her speak about Olivia, and watching her when she visited to help him with his rehabilitation, he could tell something was different about this one.

  He couldn’t quite put his finger on what was different, but something certainly was because he hadn’t seen his daughter this happy in years.

  Hilary grasped her hand. Olivia was nervous. None of her previous girlfriends had ever been nervous or even bothered about meeting her father. It was as though it was unimportant to them whether he approved or not, and she understood now why that was: because none of them were good enough for her, and her Dad saw right through them.

  Olivia was different though, and Hilary was already falling fast for her. Everything about her was so different to anyone else she had ever dated. She wasn’t selfish or self-absorbed; she was honestly the best thing that ever happened to Hilary when it came to her love life.

  Olivia was open and honest. She was sexy and fun, and it didn’t hurt that she was gorgeous and tall. Hilary could write a list of reasons why she loved her, and she wanted her dad’s approval.

  “Do I look okay?” Olivia asked for the third time, smoothing down invisible creases in her dress, a dress she had purchased specifically for this “event,” as she called it. It was an event, a monumental moment that would potentially decide how their relationship moved forward. That was how seriously Olivia was taking it. She knew just how much Hilary’s dad’s opinion meant to her girlfriend, and they had been dating now for two months, so it was time.

  Hilary’s heart melted just a little bit more as she stopped walking in order to pacify Olivia.

  “You look beautiful, as you always do.” Hilary smiled and took a step forward. She placed her hand gently against Olivia’s cheek. “You don’t need to be nervous. My dad is going to love you just as much as your Mom loves me.” She chuckled and kissed her briefly. “So, ready to go in?”

  Olivia took a deep breath, smoothed the creases once more, and then nodded. “Okay.”

  “Good. Oh, and whatever he says, please do not mention the dancing.”

  “What? He doesn’t know?” Olivia said, wide-eyed.

  “The chances of
any conversation coming up about it are extremely low, Liv.”

  “You shouldn’t be ashamed of it, Hilary.”

  Hilary shrugged. “It’s my dad. Nothing is going to be good enough for his little girl.”

  ~MB~

  Olivia sat quietly at the kitchen table, opposite Michael Palmer, while Hilary busied herself at the stove.

  “Hilary says you have a new job starting soon?” Michael said.

  “Yes, it’s not until the new year, but that gives me some time to spend with Hilary and my daughter, Gracie.”

  “Ah, yes, Hilary said you were a single mom.”

  “By choice, yes,” Olivia answered a little defensively.

  Hilary turned to them. “Dad, stop giving Olivia the third degree.”

  “I don’t mind. You can ask me any question you like, Mr Palmer."

  Hilary rolled her eyes. “Oh do not tempt him, he will.”

  Michael laughed. “She’s right.” He reached for a cookie and took a bite. “So, is Hilary messing with me or what? Cynthia Copeland?”

  Now it was Olivia’s turn to laugh. “Oh, she isn’t messing. That is my mother.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Hilary was invited to the club’s Halloween party. Other than Christmas, it was the biggest event in the club’s calendar. Everyone wanted to attend, or at least work it.

  “So, Halloween?” Hilary said over coffee. “I was thinking it would be fun.”

  Olivia grinned. “I have been waiting for this. It’s not really a thing in London, barely anyone dresses up and hardly anyone takes their kids trick or treating. It’s growing, but it’s nothing like how we do it here. I really can’t wait to show Gracie.”

  “Oh, of course.” Hilary silently kicked herself for not even considering Gracie.

  Seeing the look of disappointment flicker across Hilary’s face, Olivia asked, “You’ll come, right? We can dress up too and it will be heaps of fun.”

  Olivia looked so excited and happy. “Absolutely, but…”