Best Beach Ever

by Wendy Wax

  A roadie handed him a towel, which he slung around his neck and used to wipe his sweaty face and hair. “I’m wiped.” He leaned over to brush his lips across hers. “Must have been that high-altitude sex,” he whispered, his teeth teasing at her ear.

  She smiled and fingered her pilot’s wings again. “Thanks for the initiation. Is there paperwork that needs to be filed or am I an official member now?”

  He threw back his head and laughed. With his arm slung around her shoulders they walked to the greenroom, where Lori handed him a soft drink as the PR girl stepped up. “Ready, Will?”

  “As I’m going to be.” He dropped another kiss on the top of Maddie’s head, gave her hand a squeeze, then followed Vicki into the throng.

  Lori handed Maddie a plate and they helped themselves to food and drink then dropped onto a leather sofa. Silently they watched the willowy blonde lead Will from guest to guest introducing him to members of the press, VIPs, and anyone and everyone who’d scored an opportunity to come backstage.

  “I’ve sort of come to terms with her, but I just can’t bring myself to like her.” Lori nibbled on a chicken slider as she watched their progress through narrowed eyes. “I mean, it’s not like I have to pretend I want to be BFFs, right?”

  “Of course not,” Maddie said, thinking just how much she would have liked to have her own BFFs there to dish with. “But you’re both working for Will and toward a common goal. You want to keep things cordial enough so that you can work smoothly together on his behalf.”

  “Cordial. Got it,” Lori said. At a gesture from Aaron she stood. “Duty calls.”

  Moments after Lori departed, Dean Adams ambled over and dropped down beside Maddie. He set her empty glass on a side table and handed her a full one. “So,” he asked. “Is the doctor in?”

  “Well.” She took a sip of what turned out to be a very nice Pinot Noir. “I appreciate the refill, and I’m always willing to offer an opinion. What’s going on?” She turned to study him and saw his eyes on Vicki. “Ah,” she said. “I’m thinking maybe it’s not a what, but a who?”

  He nodded glumly. “I love my wife and kids. But I’m afraid I’m not turning out to be as good at resisting temptation on the road as Will is.” He turned so that his gaze no longer included the PR girl. “You were married for what, twenty-five years? How’d you make it work for so long?”

  “Well, to be fair neither my husband nor I were on tour and this cut off from real life,” Maddie said carefully. “When you’re imagining what this kind of life might be like, you don’t really have a clue just how far from reality it is.”

  “That’s the truth,” Dean agreed. “I thought about asking Dana to meet me for at least part of the next few weeks, but our kids are in elementary school and it’s not that easy to just pick up and go now.”

  Maddie nodded. “I know. I remember how it was when Kyra and Andrew were small. Everything’s about juggling and logistics when you have kids that age. But, I don’t know. Maybe if you had family that could keep the kids, Dana could come for a long weekend? Or even bring the kids with her? I’m a pretty experienced babysitter. I could help keep an eye on them if you two wanted some alone time. And I’m sure there are others who would help, too.” Not Vicki, of course, she thought uncharitably. “I know Lori would be glad to pitch in.”

  “I . . . I’ll ask Dana,” Dean said. “It’s a good idea. Thanks.”

  “Next tour maybe you need to have a built-in babysitter or tutor on the crew. Or add it to the venue riders in each city,” she suggested.

  “Yeah, that’s how you know the rockers are getting old when they need to budget for daycare and not hotel room destruction.”

  They laughed together and she noticed he was too busy thinking about how this might work to follow Miss Tall, Blond, and Available with longing eyes.

  “You’re a good man, Dean. And the fact that you even wanted to talk about this shows how important your family is to you. I think you’ve got sufficient willpower to resist doing something you’d regret. Wasn’t it Jimmy Carter who admitted to lusting in his heart? Being tempted isn’t the same thing as acting on that temptation.” She shrugged. “My guess is that even if you can’t work out the logistics this time, just trying to talk your wife into joining you will go a long way toward easing the separation.”

  Dean smiled and nodded. “I don’t know how you always manage to put everything so positively, but I really appreciate it. You’re the best, Maddie.” He offered a hand up then engulfed her in a grateful hug that warmed her from the inside out.

  “You’ve got that right,” Will said, coming up beside them. “She’s practically holding the whole crew together. The other day in Chicago I had to wait in line to talk to her.” His complaint was infused with a pride in her that reminded her why she was here and just how much she loved him. “If everybody keeps coming to her for advice, we’re going to have to put her on the payroll.”

  Twenty-eight

  The Wednesday morning breakfast with the Deranian-Kay family would go down in Kyra’s memory as one of the most uncomfortable and awkward meals ever. Tonja had actually sent a written invitation the evening before, and in view of Dustin’s meltdown the previous week when he’d wanted to join them, there was no way she could say no.

  A hush fell in the food tent when they arrived. That hush continued as Tonja came to greet them and escort them to their table.

  “I’m glad you could join us this morning, Dustin,” she said, seating him on Daniel’s right directly across from Daniel Junior, who smiled slightly having no doubt been instructed to check his smirk at the door. Tonja returned to her seat next to their youngest and motioned Kyra to the open seat across from Tonja’s.

  “Did you have a good weekend?” Tonja leaned forward, directing the question to Dustin.

  “Yes! We went on Broy’s boat!” Dustin beamed. “His boat goes almost as fast as Dandiel’s. And I got to drive it.”

  “Right,” Daniel Junior said, doubt in his voice. But he did not smirk or sneer.

  “I did, too, get to steer. And Troy tole me I did good.”

  Daniel’s scowl at each mention of Troy Matthews was automatic and amazingly similar to the scowl that appeared on Troy’s face at any mention of Daniel.

  “I’m sure you handled the boat beautifully,” Tonja said, shooting a stern look at both Daniels. “That sounds like fun, doesn’t it, Marcus?”

  The five-year-old nodded and smiled. After that Tonja elicited a comment from each child then introduced another topic. The conversation that ensued was stilted and laborious. Her determination to make the shared meal look like a friendly gathering had Kyra looking around for paparazzi or a hidden film crew. But if this was anything other than an attempt to make Dustin feel included and offer a display of unity to the crew, she could find no sign of it.

  Kyra moved the food around on her plate and remained silent. She did not address Daniel in any way and only looked at him when Tonja forced him to join in the conversation and because ignoring him completely might look suspicious.

  She’d assumed that seeing him with his family would strengthen her resolve to fight the attraction that still existed between them, but when he poured milk for Dustin or spoke kindly to one of his children, that resolve softened. Resistance felt futile.

  Kyra knew she should be grateful to Tonja for the care she took with Dustin, whatever her motives, but it seemed she was far too small a person to simply let go of their years of conflict.

  The moment Dustin finished the last of his egg and toast, Kyra stood. “Thank you so much for including us,” she said way too brightly. “We’re going to go to the trailer now so Dustin can run over his lines and get into wardrobe.”

  Daniel looked down at his watch. “Time for me to get to work, too.” He stood and began dropping kisses on his children’s heads.

  Tonja’s jaw tightened but her smile r
emained intact. “Of course. I’m going to get the kids situated then I’ll see you all on set.”

  Kyra took Dustin’s hand. As she led him away, nannies materialized and hurried over to the Deranian-Kay table. Moments later Tonja strode past them on her way to catch up with her husband.

  As it turned out, breakfast was the high point of the day. Which began to spiral downward an hour later when they were delivered to that morning’s location where the rest of the cast and crew were already assembled.

  A large batch of extras of all ages had been placed on rides surrounding the Ferris wheel where the day’s first scene was to be shot. The Second AD positioned others in strategic places to make the amusement park appear packed from every possible camera angle. Theme park balloons were tied to some of the children’s wrists. Couples and families were given small bits of action and choreographed movement to create a convincing backdrop.

  Today’s first scene would take place largely on the Ferris wheel itself. Brandon greeted them and escorted them to the set. Dialogue in this scene would be minimal but the timing of it crucial as the ride would be moving while it was delivered.

  Dustin was excited and, Kyra could see, somewhat nervous about performing while riding the massive Ferris wheel. The scene began with Christian Sommersby’s character standing in line directly behind the Roberts family. Mid-scene he would engineer an introduction and claim to have a son Dustin’s age. He would then get on the Ferris wheel directly behind them and it would sweep them up into the air. A camera already mounted on the gondola in front of theirs would shoot the rest of the scene starting with Daniel, Tonja, and Dustin conversing, and ultimately widening to include Christian.

  “I don’t have a good place to put you,” Brandon said to Kyra as primary actors and extras were placed. “You could ride in the gondola just in front of the camera gondola or a couple behind Christian, but then you’d be an extra and required to stay in place for coverage and editing purposes. It’s your call, but I think you might be best staying on the ground and watching on the monitor. We can stop the wheel when it comes back down for you to check on him if you feel the need before we do an additional take.”

  Kyra hated the idea of being on the ground while Dustin dangled in the air between Tonja and Daniel, but being able to watch Dustin’s face and his reaction to what was happening on the monitor seemed like the better idea. “Okay, but if I think there’s a problem, you’ll bring him down immediately, right?” she said to Tonja and Daniel.

  They nodded.

  “Are you okay with me being down here?” she asked Dustin.

  Dustin nodded solemnly. His eyes telegraphed his determination.

  “If anything doesn’t feel okay, you look right in the camera and give me the thumbs-down.” She demonstrated. “And you tell Daniel and Tonja that you want to come down. Even if it’s in the middle of a take, okay?”

  He gave her a slightly quivery smile then added a thumbs-up. Reluctantly she stepped back out of the way.

  A run-through for the camera operator and the puller, who would shift focus during the shot, followed. Dustin and Tonja delivered their lines without a problem. Christian Sommersby looked suitably normal yet threatening in the gondola directly behind them. Daniel had difficulty focusing. Through multiple takes he flubbed or forgot important lines. The one take he delivered flawlessly was marred by the extra in the gondola behind Christian who pulled out a cell phone she should not have had with her and used it to snap photos of the scene in progress, including a shot aimed directly at the camera.

  When their gondola reached the ground, Daniel sprang out and erupted in a way she’d never seen and hoped to never see again.

  “Do you have any idea what your role here is?” he shouted at the young woman while he stormed toward her gondola. “How hard could it possibly be to sit and pretend like you’re having a good time on the ride without compromising a take?”

  Kyra saw Dustin cowering behind Tonja, who watched with a look of dread on her face.

  Daniel stomped away then whirled back again. “Brandon!” he shouted at the First AD. “Weren’t these people given directions?”

  Brandon stepped forward placing himself in front of the woman who was now cringing in her seat and trying to disappear. “Um, yes, sir, of course. But . . .”

  “And still she fucked it up!” He gesticulated wildly in her direction.

  Kyra stole a glance at Dustin and saw Tonja climbing quietly out of the gondola. Dustin climbed out behind her.

  “I . . . I . . . I’m sorry! I just . . . I wasn’t thinking!” the young woman stammered. Tears streamed down her face.

  “No shit!” Daniel shouted. “Damn it! Get her off the set right now before I throw her off myself!”

  Keeping her eyes on Dustin, Kyra walked around several gaping crew members to snatch him up into her arms. Tonja held tight to Daniel’s arm while Brandon helped the blubbering woman out of the gondola. Like everyone else, Kyra watched Daniel finally allow Tonja to lead him away. He continued to shout and gesticulate as they went.

  “Somebody’s feeling the pressure,” a voice said somewhere behind her.

  “Yeah.” Somebody made the sound of an explosion. “He’s like a powder keg with a really short fuse. I don’t want to be anywhere near him when he blows.”

  “Okay, take fifteen, folks,” the Second AD yelled when Brandon didn’t immediately return. “But don’t go far. We’ll let you know when we’re back in.”

  Tonja and Daniel returned exactly fifteen minutes later and climbed back into the gondola as if nothing had happened. Brandon took Dustin by the hand. “Are you okay doing a few more takes?”

  Kyra opened her mouth to object.

  “Sorry,” Brandon said. “But I can’t put a double in because of the dialogue and the close-ups. I promise you if there’s even a whiff of a problem, I’ll have him down here faster than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” The last was aimed at Dustin and accompanied by a wink.

  “I can do it, Mommy.” He dropped her hand and reached for Brandon’s.

  They did exactly five takes so there’d be plenty of potential cutaways in editing that would include the replacement extra. Daniel got his dialogue right on every take and the entire crew sagged in relief when Brandon yelled, “Cut!”

  Daniel remained silent as he, Tonja, the DP, and the Script Supervisor congregated in front of the video monitor. Kyra knew hers wasn’t the only heart pounding. It was Tonja who turned and shouted, “It’s a wrap on scene one!” She and Daniel left the set.

  “Okay, everybody, we’re setting up for two.” Brandon raised two fingers in the air. “I want all principals and crew hydrated. And let’s get makeup to Christian.”

  Kyra collapsed into a director’s chair beneath a shade tree with Dustin in her lap, too drained to even consider going back to the trailer. She nodded her thanks to the Production Assistant who delivered two cold bottled waters, and made sure Dustin drank. Then she settled back in the chair with Dustin’s face buried in her shoulder and rocked gently while crew members tiptoed around them.

  * * *

  • • •

  Later that afternoon, Avery paced her cottage. When she tired of the view and needed more square footage, she took her pacing outside and walked the concrete paths that bisected the Sunshine, barely looking at the cottages she’d just viewed with Hannah Friedan or the blooms that lined the walkways and spilled out over cottage courtyard walls.

  Her mood would have been better suited to a storm, one with thunder and giant flashes of menacing lightning, but the day was sunny and mild and so she found herself on the beach, where she strode south toward Bella Flora because she didn’t know where else to go and because she was fairly sure it didn’t count as pacing if you only walked in one direction.

  The white sand and blue-green water sparkled in the afternoon sun, just another fric
kin’ day in paradise. For the third time since Hannah and John Franklin had departed, Avery lifted her phone to her ear, set her shoulders, and prepared to call Chase, the one person who would fully understand her excitement over Martha’s project and her relief at already having another potential client lined up, and who would want to see her sketches and discuss possible build-outs and even finishes. Each time, she had stopped seconds before hitting speed dial. This time she shoved the phone deep into her jeans pocket and brushed her palms together as if that would be the end of it.

  At the jetty, she stood on a rock and stared up at Bella Flora remembering the first time they’d seen her, the push-pull with Chase through the entire renovation. The constant bickering that had led to such sweet kisses.

  She blew a bang out of her eyes and wished she could blow away the fear as easily. She’d always seen herself as a survivor, someone who would fight for what she wanted. And God knew, she wanted Chase. Only she was too afraid of getting hurt again to claim him. Soon she’d be pecking at the ground for tiny bits of happiness and clucking out her unhappiness like the chicken that she was. Watching him choose someone else, maybe even that Riley girl. Jeff would probably insist she be invited to their wedding. And she’d have to go. And pretend like it didn’t matter. That she preferred being alone. Living in her tiny cottage. Designing and building tiny houses. Settling for a tiny life.

  At the fishing pier she leaned on the wooden railing and stared down into the water, but while she could see fish skimming beneath the surface, there were no answers there. They weren’t in the blue sky, either. Or in the puffy white clouds.

  She missed him. She loved him. On paper it was a no-brainer. And she’d always hated wafflers. She pulled her phone out of her pocket. Her finger hovered over the picture attached to his contact, the one she’d snapped when he was sweet-talking her into bed, the one with the sexy grin and the dark promise in his eyes. But memories didn’t travel alone. And suddenly she could taste the bitterness in her mouth, felt the cold, shocking emptiness that had stolen inside her when he’d pushed her out of his life.