Feather Light (Knead Me)

by Lorenz Font

  “Suspected? How could you not mention anything to me? You think because I’m blind that I wouldn’t find out?”

  “Hold on, Parker. I’m not the enemy here. No one is. If I haven’t mentioned anything, it was because I wasn’t sure if I should be the bearer of the bad news.”

  “Damn it, guys! I’m fucking blind, in case you haven’t noticed! There’s no way I’d find out about some things unless those closest to me point them out!”

  “Park, I’m sorry,” Cork said. “I should’ve listened to Webster when she came to me and asked if we should mention the connection to you. We’ve always minded our own business, right? I just didn’t want you to think I was being overprotective because of your blindness.”

  As upset as he was by the possibility, Parker knew he was going at it all wrong. The only person who could answer his questions had gone missing. If he knew where to find her, he wouldn’t be standing in front of his brother and his friend, blaming them for protecting him. He slumped down onto the edge of the bed.

  “I’m sorry for yelling. I have no right to talk to either of you the way I did. It’s just so frustrating. I thought I’d met someone worth pursuing, and now it turns out she’s been lying all along.”

  “No harm done, bro.”

  Ann Sutton was Kelly Storm? Although he had no solid evidence, he had a sick feeling it was true, considering the way Ann … Kelly … whoever she was had been avoiding answering direct questions about herself.

  “It’s still early. Why don’t you guys join me for drinks? We’ve got time to get ripped together.”

  “I’m game,” Webster replied, sounding relieved.

  The moment Kelly’s plane landed at LAX, she turned on her cell and retrieved all her messages, including three texts from Parker. She checked each one as she waited for her luggage at the carousel. People around her were staring, pointing, and taking pictures while she tried her best to keep her composure. She kept her head low and tried to show very little emotion while she read all his incoming messages. He sounded worried and was urging her to contact him. A deluge of guilt rained down upon her.

  The whole week had been hectic, and she’d been shuffled from one press junket to another to promote her upcoming movie. Afterward, she’d been whisked away to attend private and business parties hosted by Gucci bigwigs as part of promoting their new product line. As much as she’d just wanted to curl up in her hotel room, she had an obligation to fulfill her contract. The difference in time zones hadn’t helped, either. The latter was more of an excuse, because she’d wanted to avoid hearing his anger and disappointment.

  Feeling drained and in dire need of a bath, she couldn’t wait to get home and soak in the tub, but she needed to visit someone first. When her luggage came, she met her ride and instructed the limousine driver to take her to Westwood Village Memorial Park.

  Jessica was waiting for her at the entrance of the cemetery, where they switched her luggage from the limo to Jessica’s Beemer. Jessica hugged her as soon as they stashed her stuff in the trunk.

  “Welcome back.”

  “Thanks. I’m glad I made it in time.” Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she wiped them away.

  “No more tears, Kelly.”

  As they drove past the rows of headstones that lined the quiet and deserted cemetery, Kelly’s heart began to break again. Even though it had been a year, she still hadn’t gotten over her loss. That all too familiar feeling of guilt and heartbreak forced its way back into her soul, making her relive the past year.

  Tears welled in her eyes, and she gave up on holding them back. There was no point in maintaining a pretense of courage in Jessica’s presence. Her friend understood her pain and had suffered her loss, too.

  The car climbed the sloping path until they reached the mausoleum, a white Romanesque-style building with several private plots surrounding it. Kelly had chosen one of the plots outside, liking the openness instead of being cooped up inside the building. Little angels needed to spread their wings, and she’d thought that fit her little girl well. A marble fence surrounded the white gravestone. A small angel stood watch over the marker, a silent sentinel in Kelly’s absence.

  The grass surrounding the immediate area was trimmed, and the ground was still moist from earlier watering. Kelly climbed out of the car and took one of the flower arrangements she had ordered from the passenger seat. The precious little wreath, made of lavender gladiolus, pink lilies, lilac chrysanthemums, and tiny blush carnations, was perfect for her tiny angel. Jessica brought the other arrangement, and they placed the flowers in front of the headstone.

  Kelly read the inscription through the blur of tears, remembering her anguish as if it had happened yesterday.

  Gypsy Sutton

  A Pure Soul—Born and Died on October 13, 2011

  Jessica wrapped an arm around her shoulder as waves of sadness engulfed her. Kelly had cried for her daughter every day, and the pain had never left her. She leaned on Jessica, who in turn began humming a tune. This was her secret pain, and the loss that had almost robbed her of her will to live.

  “She would have turned one year old today.”

  “Gypsy is smiling down on you right now. Be happy for her, Kelly.”

  She nodded, not trusting herself to say more. When she found the strength to talk again, she said a little prayer before they sat down on the damp grass in comfortable silence.

  An hour passed before they returned to the car. Kelly felt a little better after crying and took comfort in the knowledge that her baby was in the company of other angels who were watching over her.

  “There’s a blue car following us again.” Jessica kept watch in the rearview mirror and made a sudden right turn. The tires squealed, and they almost hit a parked car on the street.

  Kelly screamed in terror as she braced her hand on the dashboard. “Don’t go killing us over some stupid paparazzi!” She turned to look behind them and was relieved they seemed to have lost their tail.

  “I’ll bet you it’s that creep again. Gosh, the price you have to pay for fame.” Jessica groaned and stepped on the accelerator.

  Kelly tried to calm her nerves by taking deep breaths. “Don’t remind me. I tried not to think of all the negatives while I was away. I thought the time away would give me a clearer perspective and a fresh outlook on things. But here I am again, back to where I started.”

  She had done a lot of thinking the entire week she’d been gone. The main occupant of her waking thoughts had been Parker. She planned on seeing him as soon as she got her schedule straightened out.

  “I’m taking you straight home. Lizzie cleaned and locked up your cottage. She said the place is ready anytime you want to use it.”

  “Thanks. What would I do without you?”

  “If you want to express your gratitude, just be around to help me celebrate Brett’s birthday. It’s going to be a surprise party at our place. Just you, your gorgeous masseuse, and a few of our friends. Say you’ll come.”

  “Of course I’ll be there. I can’t answer for Parker yet,” she said, remembering what she had to do the moment she got home.

  As soon as Jessica left and she was in the comfort of her pj’s and her quiet bedroom, she pulled the phone from her purse and called Knead Me’s LA branch. As soon as the receptionist answered, she disguised her voice.

  “Hi, I would like to make an appointment with Mr. Davis, please.”

  “Sure. Are you a return customer?”

  “I’m a new one.”

  “Great! Can I get your name please?”

  “It’s Kelly Storm.”

  There was a long pause on the other end. Kelly was expecting a squeal or something along the lines of hero-worship, which were the usual responses when people recognized her name.

  “Kelly Storm, the actress?”

  She was surprised to hear blatant disdain in the receptionist’s voice.

  “Yes.”

  “Ms. Storm, I’m sorry but Mr. Davis isn’t taking new clie
nts at the moment. And if I can give you a piece of advice, my boss doesn’t need you or anyone else rubbing his blindness in his face. Be thankful you’re not standing here in front of me, because I wouldn’t hesitate to bitch-slap you into oblivion.”

  There was a click, and the line went dead. Kelly stared at the phone in shock, trying to grasp the meaning of the conversation. What had the woman said? Then the realization hit her—Parker knew who she was, and if she based his reaction on the woman’s hostility, things didn’t look promising for her.

  With her heart slamming against her chest, she bit her lip to keep from crying. She dialed her personal florist’s number and took the first step in what looked to be a long battle to win back Parker’s trust.

  “I want you to make the best arrangement of your most fragrant flowers and sprinkle them with white roses. Prepare twelve dozen arrangements and deliver them to all the Knead Me branches. I don’t care how much they cost, just make them special, and make sure they’re beautiful to touch, too. It’s for Parker Davis. No need to put my name. Include this message with them—No one can lie, no one can hide anything, when he looks directly into someone’s soul. I apologize.”

  Chapter 13

  Instead of getting the rest she had been hoping for, Kelly spent the entire morning staring at the ceiling, cursing herself and crying for the lies she’d allowed to snowball out of control. Had she taken a moment to tell Parker her secret, things wouldn’t have come to this. Now there was no telling if she’d get a chance to repair whatever damage had stemmed from her sin of omission. Would Parker even give her a chance to explain herself?

  No matter how she looked at it now, she’d been wrong for keeping her identity from him, even if she’d considered it her right to privacy. The time away had given her some much-needed perspective. She’d come to the conclusion that Parker meant more to her than just a random sexual romp. Despite his blindness, Kelly would never see him as less than perfect. To her, his lack of sight just made him more in tune with her feelings and her needs, which was more than she could say for any man she’d known before.

  As anxious and uncertain as she was of her future in acting and life in general, the only constant she saw was Parker’s presence in her life. It didn’t matter to her that he was different. His sexual quirk was something she could get used to. She’d be a fool if she let him go, unless he decided having her around wasn’t worth the trouble. Parker was worth the risk. Too bad it had taken her several weeks to realize he was all she’d ever needed. Nothing mattered anymore, as long as she was happy in her own skin—and in the arms of the man who saw her as she wanted to be seen.

  In spite of her earlier apprehension, she made up her mind to pursue a relationship with him, if there was anything left to salvage. With a deep sense of relief at knowing what she wanted and needed, she dialed his number. Her call went to his voice mail. She left a message and prayed for a return call. Afterward, she phoned his LA office, and the same hostile woman answered. Kelly breathed deep, telling herself not to lose her cool and just do what she needed to do.

  “Hello. I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear what you said earlier. I won’t dignify your accusations with an explanation, because that’s best given to the person I offended. I don’t care what you think of me, nor do I expect you to believe that I never intended to hurt Parker. The only reason I’m calling is to get a chance to talk to him.” Getting that off her chest gave her little satisfaction.

  A long silence followed. Kelly thought the woman had hung up on her once again but was surprised when she spoke again.

  “I was out of line earlier, but I won’t apologize for my actions either. I love Parker like a brother, and I will do anything to keep him from getting hurt, even if it means cussing out a very popular actress.”

  “That’s good to know. Parker is lucky to have you as a friend.”

  Another pause followed. “He isn’t here. He flew to New York last night. I would advise you to give him some time to think things over.”

  “I understand.”

  Of course she understood, but that didn’t mean she had to heed the woman’s advice. The sooner she made him understand her reasons, the better she’d feel.

  “By the way, the flowers are lovely. I’ll make sure he gets the message you sent. I placed them all in his office.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Also, his brother and I didn’t say anything about the article and photos in Natter Biz. We figured it would be best if you told him about it.”

  “I will. That’s the reason why I wanted to talk to him. I want to see him personally and explain everything.”

  “Well, I wish you good luck.”

  Kelly needed all the luck she could get. “Thanks. I’m going to need that and more. What is your name?”

  “I’m Webster, but just call me Webbie.”

  “It’s nice to meet you Webbie.”

  After they hung up, Kelly went over her schedule for the rest of the week. After a quick phone call to Jessica, she was able to convince her friend to rearrange her schedule so that she could fly to New York and start the groveling process.

  “I’m all for a happy ending, you know that, but I want you to be certain of your feelings before you fly across the country. Shit happened, even though it wasn’t your intention to hurt him, and you have Rigor to thank for that.”

  “If there’s anything I’m sure of in this life, it’s that I want Parker in it, in whatever capacity he wants. At this point, I’d settle for him just accepting my explanation.”

  “I won’t hassle you anymore. I think I’ve done enough. To be honest, I understand why you did what you did. There’s no way of knowing who you can trust, especially in this business. I believe you’re trying to protect him, too, but it’s not going to work. You’re a public figure, and everything you do is placed in a petri dish like you’re a science project, to be watched and poked at, and every little movement is magnified. If you want Parker to share your life, you’d better warn him to develop a strong stomach.”

  “For now, let me just get over the biggest hurdle, and that is to get him to talk to me. I’m scared, Jess.”

  “Don’t be. If he can’t accept your explanation, there’s nothing you can do about it. You’ll just have to chalk it up as one love lost.”

  Love? That was the crux of the matter. She’d really fallen for him. How odd. She, of all the people, should’ve known better than to jump into the unknown. Kelly had been “in love” before, and it had taken her nowhere. Now she found herself in love with a man despite her efforts to deny the fact. She realized she was now ready to dive into new territory and gamble again.

  “But it doesn’t have to be. I’ll do whatever it takes to get him to listen to me, even if I have to beg.”

  Jessica snorted. “Wow, I would love to see my best friend do just that. But all kidding aside, you made the wrong call. You wanted to protect yourself, and you didn’t expect to fall head over heels with your massage therapist. There’s still hope. I’m crossing my fingers for you.”

  After they hung up, Kelly made a flight reservation for Wednesday. Too bad she couldn’t go any sooner.

  Parker’s mood hadn’t improved since he’d left LA. If anything, it seemed to be gathering momentum, leading him into a state where he needed to lash out, inflict harm, or just scream his frustrations until his voice gave out. Why had Ann—Kelly—chosen to hide her true identity from him? Did it have anything to do with his blindness? Was she so embarrassed to associate herself with him that she’d felt the need to keep her identity hidden?

  Well, he had fallen in love with her, and what a joke he must have been for her. Mustering up a fake smile, he left for his meeting with the advertising agent. He’d scheduled it in his office, needing the familiarity of his surroundings to boost his eroding confidence.

  As soon as the car stopped in front of the building that housed his newest office, he sensed something wasn’t right. He looked in the driver’s direction for gu
idance.

  “What’s going on out there?” he asked.

  “Sir, there’s a bunch of people in front of your building with those professional cameras. There’s about a dozen or so. Do you want me to walk you into the building?”

  Parker pressed his lips together. What had he gotten himself into? He shook his head. “I’ll be fine. Just keep your phone handy for my call.”

  “Will do.”

  He stepped out of the car and into the chilly morning air. As soon as the throng spotted him, footsteps rushed in his direction. Parker saw the blurry figures and recognized the flashing lights snapping around him. He faked yet another smile and trudged forward, counting his steps, hoping he would make it to the door without trampling anyone or making a fool of himself.

  “Mr. Davis, are you Kelly Storm’s new boyfriend?”

  “Are you going to attend the premier of her new movie?”

  “How does it feel to be dating a beautiful actress?”

  With forward movement becoming impossible, it occurred to him that he might not make it to the door of the building. He reached forward, trying to get his balance while ignoring questions and the snapping flashes.

  “People, will you please let my boss pass?” A high-pitched voice rose above every other noise around them while Arianne made her way to him, surrounded by two of his biggest masseuses. She took his hand and squeezed.

  The group parted grudgingly, but the sound of cameras clicking continued. Parker gave Arianne a relieved smile as they walked through the door that was being held open by another employee.

  “Thanks for coming to my rescue.” Parker gritted his teeth to keep from muttering a curse in front of his office crew. He plastered on a smile and swept his gaze across the room. “It’s all good, guys. I’m glad to be back.”

  Someone from his left started clapping, and before he could say anything, the entire room erupted in encouraging hoots and applause. Disgusted at himself, he waved them off and walked in the direction of his office. An arm slipped under his and guided him forward.