The Price of Fame: A Price Novel (The Price Novels Book 2)

by Craft, Maggi

  I knew she was right. “Well how do I fix it? And how do I make it stop bothering me?”

  “Did you apologize?”

  “I tried. She’s at the hospital, and she doesn’t keep her phone with her. I left a voice mail, but it may be tomorrow before she checks it.”

  “Then I guess you have to suffer the consequences until then.”

  “Thanks, Mom, that helps a lot,” I said sarcastically.

  “Baby, I don’t know what else to tell you. This is a growing pain. You will work it out and learn from it.”

  “Come eat!” Dad yelled in the back door.

  I rolled my eyes. “Do I have to? I’m not in the mood for Brady tonight.”

  She handed me a dish to carry outside. She looked at me with a wild expression. “We aren’t always in the mood for Brady?” We both laughed.

  Brady was my dad’s son by another woman. He had him before he even dated Mom. Brady’s mom was crazy. When we were younger, she was always trying to cause problems. Mom handled it well. She was always good to Brady and did her best to include him in everything, but he could be a total pain in the ass sometimes. Even if there was no reason for his attitude.

  As I sat down to eat, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. It was a text message from Arden. I love you too was all it said, but that was all I needed from her.

  I felt relieved and was able to enjoy my dinner with my family. Until I was ready to leave.

  Taylor followed me to my vehicle. “Slayde,” she said, and I turned to see what she wanted. Before I realized what she was doing, she had sprayed me in the chest with the hose. She only held it on me for a few seconds before she dropped it and ran back inside, but I was soaked. Even my tennis shoes and socks were wet.

  “Little brat,” I said.

  I went back inside, shoes squishing as I walked. Mom looked at me, shaking her head.

  “Where’d she go?” I asked.

  Mom didn’t answer me; she probably didn’t want World War III going on in the middle of her house.

  I decided to let her go. This time.

  I went in the laundry room and grabbed some of Dad’s shorts and shoes and a T-shirt. After changing, I threw my wet clothes in the washer and headed out. “Bye, Mom.”

  “Bye,” she said, loading the dishwasher without looking at me.

  Chapter 6

  Slayde

  Two days passed before I saw Arden again. I was really feeling crappy about the way things had gone the other day. We had spoken briefly that morning, but I was running late for an interview when she called and had to rush off the phone. As the evening wore on, I got anxious waiting for her. I finally heard the garage door open at about ten.

  When she walked into the house, we hugged for a few minutes. I kissed the top of her head and lay my cheek on it. That’s when I noticed that she was crying. “Baby, don’t cry.” Thinking that she was still upset about our fight, I wiped her tears away and kissed her. She buried her face in my chest for another minute. Something else was wrong; this wasn’t just about our fight. I picked her up and carried her to our room and laid her on the bed. She was still crying. Now I was officially freaked out.

  “Arden, calm down. Tell me what’s going on.”

  She reached into her scrubs pocket and pulled out a pregnancy test. A positive pregnancy test. I didn’t know what to say, but I knew I had better choose my words wisely.

  “When did you take this?”

  “Today,” she said between sobs. She was really upset. At this point, she was in full-on shoulder-shaking mode. I thought she was going to be sick.

  I pulled her tighter before saying, “I know you think this is the end of the world, baby, but it’s not. I know this isn’t what you want right now, but we will figure this out. It’s going to be OK.” I held her and let her cry. She eventually fell asleep.

  I hated for her to cry, but I wasn’t upset she was pregnant. I wanted to have a baby with her more than anything in the world. I just hadn’t expected it so soon. She had been on the pill.

  The next morning I woke up to her throwing up in the bathroom. Where had I been? I had no clue this was going on. I got her a cool rag, some crackers, and a soda and sat down on the bathroom floor. “I know the last thing you want to do right now is eat something, but it will settle your stomach.” I pulled her hair into a ponytail for her. “When did you start getting sick?” I wiped her face with the cool rag, and she laid her head on my lap.

  “A couple of weeks ago, off and on, but it really got worse yesterday. That’s why I took the test.” She pushed herself up, brushed her teeth, and got into bed.

  “Weeks? Why didn’t you tell me?” I sat next to her on the bed.

  She looked up at me from under her red, swollen lids. “I don’t know. At first I thought it was only stress, but I guess I was wrong.” She started crying again.

  “But you were taking the pill. I know you were. I picked them up at the pharmacy for you last month.”

  “I was, but for that to actually be effective, you have to take them at the same time every day, and if you miss one, you are supposed to use backup protection for, like, seven days. With my schedule the way it’s been, I know I’ve been taking them whenever I thought about it. Sometimes I’d miss one here and two there. I can’t believe how irresponsible I was.”

  “Baby,” I looked her in the eyes. “I love you, and we are going to be OK. I know you don’t want to have a baby right now, but … ” I hesitated before continuing, but it needed to be said. “Please don’t have an abortion.”

  She didn’t say anything at first, and I felt myself getting sick. We had already had a previous pregnancy scare. She wasn’t opposed to it at the time, and that was before she had started her residency.

  She finally looked at me. “I could never do that, Slayde.” I was so relieved. “But I’m still not ready to tell anybody yet, OK? Not even Lexi.”

  “All right.” I got under the covers with her and pulled her close to me, and we both went back to sleep.

  The next few weeks were terrible. I felt so bad for Arden. She was sick all the time. She spent more time sleeping in the bathroom than she did in our bed. I didn’t know how she was managing at work, but she was a wreck at home.

  One morning she was in the bathroom, getting ready for her 7:00 a.m. shift. She’d been up most of the night before. She had to be exhausted—I was. “A, why don’t you call in?”

  She looked at me like I was insane. “Call in? Really, Slayde?” she snapped.

  “Sorry, whatever. I just thought you had to be tired. Have a good day.”

  I went back to bed. Now I was sure that she was exhausted, after her little moody outburst.

  She came out of the bathroom dressed for work minutes later and kissed my forehead. “Sorry. You’re right. I’m exhausted. But I can’t call in, baby. I’ll be OK, I promise. I love you, and I’ll try and call you later.”

  Which didn’t happen, but at eleven p.m., she did text me.

  Hope you get some sleep tonight. I should be home around 8 in the morning. And I’ll get a good nap, so I’ll be in a good mood when you get home. Promise! Love you. ’Night.

  And she was. When I walked in, I could smell that she’d even cooked. Which was scary, but sweet, and I told myself I’d eat it no matter how terrible it was. She gave me a hug. “I missed you,” she said.

  “You look like you’re feeling better,” I said.

  She smiled. “I am. And I slept like a baby. I actually feel human again.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad. Human wife beats … uh, whatever you were, any day.”

  She laughed and grabbed my hand, dragging me to the kitchen. “I cooked.”

  “I see that. What is it?”

  “Spaghetti. Not fancy, but safe.” She handed me the plates, and I set the table while she finished the salad.

  “Smells delicious, and I’m starving.”

  We sat to eat, and she started telling me about her last shift. And it was like a switch f
lipped midstory. She grew pale and started talking more slowly.

  “What’s the matter?”

  She covered her nose and mouth and pointed at the Parmesan cheese I’d poured all over my food.

  “Smell?”

  She nodded and ran to the bathroom.

  “Damn,” I muttered.

  I didn’t want to let her dinner go to waste, so I ate my food and cleaned up the kitchen, saving her a plate for later, minus the Parmesan cheese.

  I went to check on her, and she was sound asleep in our bed. I showered and joined her and turned on Netflix. Halfway through my movie, she woke up. “You all right?” I asked, rubbing her face.

  “Mm-hmmm. I’m sorry. I really do prefer being human.” She scooted closer, laying her head on my chest.

  I laughed and pulled her closer still. “And you will again. I promise.”

  “I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday. You think you can go? Or should I reschedule?”

  “What time? I don’t have to be at the studio until noon.”

  “Eight.”

  “Perfect.” I squeezed her. “Maybe after that we can tell Mom. Maybe even show her the ultrasound picture.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  “Why don’t you want to tell my mom?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’m not ready. She’s gonna freak out and start planning its whole life right away. I’m not ready for anyone at the hospital finding out yet.”

  “How do they not know already? You’ve been sick around the clock.”

  “It’s usually better during the day. And if I feel sick, I go throw up as discreetly as possible.”

  “So, what are you thinking about, as far as a name?”

  She looked at me like that was the first time naming the baby had crossed her mind. “I don’t have any idea. Can we wait on that too?”

  “I guess, but at some point everyone will be able to tell, and we will have to name this baby.” I smiled at her. “Or I’ll name it. Something awesome, like Maximus or Brutus.”

  She laughed a little and poked my side. “I know, but not today. Let’s just relax and spend time together and not think or talk about babies for now.”

  The doctor visit was quick. They didn’t do an ultrasound, which was disappointing. I wanted to see our baby, but I guessed I could wait a few more weeks.

  Her doctor said Arden needed to take it easy. She needed less stress right now. She had lost weight, and she needed to take better care of herself.

  Arden cried on the way home. “How in the hell am I going to reduce stress in my life? I go thirty-six hours sometimes without sleep and sometimes twelve to eighteen without food. How am I supposed to take better care of myself?”

  “I don’t know, but you’re going to have to figure it out. You have to stop being selfish. It’s not about just you anymore.” When I saw her face, I knew I had hurt her feelings, but I didn’t care. This was out of control. I knew it was her body, but this was my child too.

  A few days later, I came home to find her in bed in the middle of the day. She had been off since the evening before, and she usually didn’t lie in bed all day. I figured she must have been sick again. She was awake, but she didn’t speak to me when I came in.

  I sat down by her on the bed. “How are you feeling?” She didn’t answer me, but a tear rolled down her cheek. I noticed that she was still in her scrubs, and she had makeup all over her face. She must have been there for close to twenty-four hours. I felt my chest tighten. I didn’t even have to wait. I knew what she was going to tell me.

  She whispered, “I lost the baby.” More tears ran down her cheeks, but she didn’t make a sound. I didn’t know what to do. I was in shock. What she had said hadn’t fully registered with me yet. She looked up at me like she wanted my reaction, but I didn’t have one.

  After a few minutes, I could feel the pain in my chest tightening with each breath I took. Why did this happen? Why? I was angry. With her, with life. She hadn’t wanted this baby in the first place. She hadn’t even tried to take care of herself. I couldn’t look at her. I had to leave. I felt like a piece of shit for leaving like that, but I couldn’t talk to her. I couldn’t make her feel better right now.

  I needed to talk to someone. I had kept the pregnancy to myself for weeks. I couldn’t anymore. The only person I wanted to talk to was my mom. When I walked into the house, she knew something was very wrong.

  “Oh my gosh, Slayde, what is it?”

  “Who else is here?” I asked.

  “What?”

  “Is there anybody else here?” I was sobbing at this point.

  “Your sister and one of her friends. Let’s go upstairs.”

  When we got to her room, I told her everything. She let me cry, and she cried with me. “Baby, you know you have to go home and talk to your wife. You’re hurt, and you’re angry, but she needs you right now as much as you need her.”

  “Mom, didn’t you hear me? Weren’t you listening? She never wanted this baby.”

  “Were you listening? Did she ever say those words?”

  “No, but I know she didn’t. She kept on working long hours. She never slowed down and tried to take better care of herself.”

  “What did you expect her to do, baby? Stay home and lie in bed all day for nine months? If she’s been lying in that bed for twenty-four hours, she is not OK.” She was right; I hadn’t stopped to think about that. I went home.

  Arden was still in bed. I could tell she had showered, but other than that, she was still in the same state as before. “Are you OK?” I asked.

  She looked at me, and I could tell she was angry with me, but instead of bitching at me, she just said, “No.”

  I wrapped my arms around her and held her, and we cried.

  “I know you think I wanted this. I know you blame me,” she cried.

  “No, I don’t. It’s nobody’s fault. You can’t blame yourself, and I don’t blame you.” Saying those words to her made me realize that I really didn’t blame her. This was no more her fault than it was mine.

  “I wanted this baby, Slayde. Maybe not at first, but once the shock wore off, I did. I was just processing it all. I hadn’t prepared myself to be a mom and an intern at the same time. So I was freaking out, but I knew it would all be OK. I never wanted this to happen. You have to believe me.”

  “Arden, stop beating yourself up. I do believe you. I’m sorry for acting like a complete ass. I can’t believe I left you here. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  After a minute, she looked up at me and said, “You were angry.”

  The sadness in her eyes was heartbreaking. No matter how upset I was, I was going to be strong for her. That was my job as her husband. To be her rock. “Yes, I was angry,” I admitted, feeling ashamed.

  “You went to your mom’s?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What did she say?”

  “That I was being an ass, that I needed to get home and take care of you. She was right. She’s always right. I’m sorry, Arden.”

  I decided I had to take off a few days to get my head together. I didn’t think that Arden should be alone, and I wasn’t in the mood to be around people and pretend I was fine. Because I wasn’t fine. I was sad.

  Arden seemed to want to stay home and lie around, but I thought she needed to get out of the house. Get some fresh air. If even for just a few hours. Her doctor had given her something to relax, and she slept in. When she woke up, I thought I’d see what she felt up to.

  “I was thinking about riding down the coast today.”

  “You have to work.”

  I shrugged. “I’d rather take one of Dad’s convertibles and get outta here. You in?”

  I thought she might decline my offer at first, but after a few quiet moments, she said, “I kinda want to get outta here too. Where are we going?”

  “Anywhere. Let’s pack a bag in case we find somewhere to rest or something. Play it by ear. Whatever we feel like.”

  I left her
getting ready and went to my parents’ to pick up one of Dad’s cars. I was kind of hoping he wouldn’t be home, but I wasn’t that lucky. He and Brady were in the kitchen talking about a golf tournament when I came in.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Hey,” Dad responded. When we made eye contact, I knew Mom had told him what had happened. Not that I expected her not to, but I didn’t want to talk about it right now. He must have guessed that because he said, “What are you doing today? Wanna go with us to check out a new golf course?”

  I looked at Brady, who was waiting for my answer. He didn’t seem to have Dad’s same look of pity, so he must have been unaware of our loss. Dad, however, was still looking at me very intently. “No, maybe another time. Can I borrow one of your cars?”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. Go take whatever.”

  Wow, that was easy. No questions asked. “Have fun golfing.”

  “You should go. We might even let you have a handicap,” Brady teased.

  “Another time.” I headed out to the garage.

  I grabbed the keys to that same silver Stingray we’d taken to the drive-in on our first real date here in LA. I loved that old car. It seemed like the perfect car for this trip.

  Dad met me in the garage. “Hey, are you OK?”

  I nodded. What was I supposed to say?

  “OK. Well, your mom and I are here for you. You know that, right?”

  I nodded again, not looking at him.

  “Well, go have fun. We can golf anytime.”

  “Thanks.”

  Arden was waiting in the living room when I got back. “I put some clothes together for you.” She pointed at a bag by the front door. “Unless you wanted something in particular.”

  I picked up the bag and held out my hand for her. “Nope. Sounds perfect. Let’s go.”

  The first thing I did was drive through Starbucks. I knew she’d missed her caffeine. Not that I wanted to remind her why she could have it now, but it just felt normal to get it. We needed some normal right now.

  The weather was beautiful. It was the perfect day for this. We were both quiet for about an hour. Finally she asked, “What did you tell work?”