Laguna Nights (17 page)

“Hi! I’m Holly Alcott. Welcome to my new show and welcome back to Laguna Beach. I’m excited to be back with you, fifteen years after you all watched my heart get broken on
Laguna Nights
. That was the past. On this show, I’m going to show you what is wonderful about this town. And, we might even meet some old friends along the way. So sit back, and enjoy. Laguna Beach has some more secrets to share.”

“And cut. That’s a wrap,” the director said as the crew applauded.

Tears had filled her eyes by the time she made it past the crew and she was thankful she’d grabbed a pair of sunglasses from the picnic basket prop. The crew was telling her “congratulations” and “good job” as they tore down the set. Both Marty and Roger had tried to talk to her but she’d rushed past them, attempting to catch up to Josh who she’d seen walking across the sand to the stairs at the other end of the cove. A crowd of tourists had gathered to watch the filming and they began to crowd around her, asking questions, asking for autographs. She looked up to the top of the stairs just in time to watch Josh disappear.

Madison stood frozen in the sand, fans surrounding her, closing in on her.

“That’s enough, everybody,” a man she didn’t recognize wearing a white T-shirt with the words CREW written in black said to the crowd. “Holly will be filming all week in Laguna and she’ll make a public appearance soon. Right now, we are working. Thanks y’all!”

“Who are you?” she asked as he escorted her to the cordoned off crew area, a private cove tucked into the cliffs.

“Tom, Tom Jacobs. I’m a producer with the crew, I’ve worked with Roger forever,” he said. “Great work today. You must be exhausted. Water bottle?”

“Yes, thank you,” Madison said, as he handed her a cold bottle of water and she realized she was exhausted. All she wanted to do was sit down.

“Come over here,” Tom said, and helped her into a black director’s chair. “So how did it feel, being back on camera after all these years? Your reality show was one of the first. People wonder how it affected your life then, what’s it like now.”

Madison took a big drink of water. She looked at Tom. He was so kind, and protective, it seemed. He looked solid, like a bar bouncer, and had short dark hair like a Marine. That was it, she thought, he probably was in the military. His dark brown eyes were patient, and focused on her.

“You know what’s strange, Tom? I never imagined I’d be back in front of the camera again. But when that red light goes on, it’s a thrill unlike anything else,” Madison said, shaking her head with the reality of it all. “My mom told me I was foolish not to take this chance. She said I was a natural. I really do love it. And then when my boss forced me to do the segment about the resort, well, it made me fall in love again.”

“With Josh?” Tom said.

“What? No, with this, with television, with acting,” Madison said. Was it that she was in love with Josh, too, she wondered.

“Not even a little bit of this was because Josh was, as you said on the
Laguna Nights
show, the love of your life,” Tom said.

Madison smiled. She was so tired, the cave-like setting was so cozy. “I suppose he does have something to do with it,” she said. “But this is his travel show. Not mine. I’m just helping him out. He’ll take off again, and I’ll go back to my regular life, already in progress.”

“But that’s not really who you are, is it Holly?” Tom said. Madison closed her eyes for a moment, listening to the surf crashing behind them on the beach and tried to think about who she really was. A daughter, of course, and a loyal corporate employee. She was a good friend, and a decent athlete. But was she meant to be an actress?

“I don’t know what the future holds,” Madison said, finally. “But today was amazing. Josh was an important part of my past and it was fun doing it again.”

Tom smiled. “I bet it was. Ready to go?”

“Sure, yes,” Madison said, following Tom back out to the sand.

Marty and Roger were waiting for her.

“Well, there she is, Miss Laguna Beach,” Roger said, grinning at her and puffing on a fat cigar. “We can drop you at home or at the resort. You did great today kid.”

“My car is at the resort,” Madison said as Marty handed her a folded bunch of paper.

“Tomorrow’s script. We’ll be shooting at Alana, the restaurant downtown,” Marty said as they stared to climb the stairs behind Roger. Madison felt like she was choking on the cigar smoke.

“I’ve got work, and well, fine, I’ll do it,” Madison said, tossing her hands up. “I know, you’ve already cleared it with Bob, and it will help with Josh’s stage fright. Plus I’m enjoying it.”

Marty’s white shirt had been wrinkled by his time on the beach, but otherwise he looked as buttoned up as always. “That’s my girl,” he said. “Oh look, the limo is here waiting for us. How about a glass of champagne on the way back to the resort? You deserve it, my dear.”

Madison slid into the cool, dark car and rested her head against the seat. She pulled out her phone and saw it was only four in the afternoon. She felt like it was midnight. “Sure, why not celebrate,” she said.

The driver popped the cork of a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and handed it through the limo door to Madison. Marty and Roger stood outside, holding a glass of their own.

“Cheers,” Roger said and reached his hand into the limo to clink his glass with hers.

“Cheers,” she said and took a sip. She did enjoy this, she realized, even as she knew it could destroy everything. She’d seen it happen in her own life, but she’d never let that happen again.

Marty and Roger climbed in beside her and the limo pulled away.

“Tomorrow’s scenes won’t be as awkward, promise,” Marty said. In the close quarters of the limo, Marty’s aftershave and Roger’s lingering cigar smoke were overwhelming.

Madison coughed. “I didn’t understand the last take, with the show named after me? That couldn’t be helpful in reducing his anxiety problems, could it?”

“Why yes, dear, it was suggested by his therapist,” Roger said.

Madison sank back into the limo seat and tried to enjoy the champagne. She looked out her window and up to the hillside where windows of houses reflected the orange and purple sky. She thought of her mom and smiled.

“Your house is up there, right? You live with your mom, taking care of her. The show will help you, give you some extra cash for her care. Plus, your mom is going to love seeing you on television again,” Marty said. “Such a lovely woman.”

Madison sighed, she was so tired of the small talk. Marty didn’t know her mom. He didn’t know anything about her life. “Yes, my mom is wonderful. I wish she could have been there today. Maybe tomorrow?”

“You just let us know, and we’ll make it happen,” Roger said as the limo pulled into the Mondrian.

“That means a lot,” Madison said as the car stopped at reception. The valet pulled the door open and couldn’t conceal the shock at seeing one of his bosses emerge from a limo, glass of champagne in her hand.

“Welcome back, ma’am,” he managed.

Madison walked with Roger and Marty into the lobby, and heard Chrissy squeal.

“Madison, how was it? We heard about it online!” Chrissy said, bursting out from behind the front desk.

“Call time is eleven tomorrow morning. See you then,” Marty said as Roger waved his hand and they walked away.

Madison grabbed Chrissy’s wrist. “Come to my office,” Madison whispered, and they hurried down the hall toward the executive wing. “It was amazing.”

After unlocking her office, Madison hurried inside, Chrissy close on her heels.

“Tell me everything,” Chrissy said as Madison dropped into her desk chair. “I love that blue on you.”

“Thanks. And, you were right,” Madison said, looking her friend in the eye, “I should feel grateful I had this opportunity in high school, and that it has come back around again. No matter how short-lived. This is a gift.”

“I’m so glad you see it that way,” Chrissy said, leaning forward over Madison’s desk. “And now, the scoop?”

“I don’t have any, really. We were shooting at Fisherman’s Cove after we left here. It was a perfect day. They kept giving me more lines, more wardrobe, it was surreal,” Madison said, looking up at the ceiling.

“And what about Josh? Are you guys a thing again?” Chrissy said, her celebrity stalking eyes aglow. “I saw him leaving for the TV show and he looked amazing.”

“We, well…” Madison said.

Someone was pounding on her office door. Both women jumped. Chrissy looked at Madison.

“Madison, it’s me, Josh, we need to talk,” he said.

“Ah, the story continues,” Chrissy said. “I’ll be going now.” She opened the door and there was Josh, wearing a T-shirt and the board shorts from the shoot. Madison suddenly realized he hadn’t had a wardrobe change, not once, all day. “I was just leaving,” Chrissy said.

Josh walked into her office, closing the door behind him. His face was scruffy, his jaw set. “Nice office,” he said, taking a moment to look around. She watched him touching the back of the white leather chairs facing her desk, saw him take in the dark mahogany desk, the sleek contemporary feel of her space. She was proud of what she’d created here, of who she had become. She’d pulled herself up from nothing. He’d never understand that. “You’ve really made it, Madison,” he said, dropping into the right leather chair across the desk from her.

“I’m not the general manager, but I’ll get there,” Madison said. She’d noticed an edge to Josh’s voice, so she purposefully kept hers neutral.

“I don’t doubt it,” Josh said. He’d folded his arms across his chest and he was staring at a photo of Madison and Francine. “Did your mom talk you into this?”

“What do you mean?” Madison said, confused.

“Talk you into screwing me over on camera. Like I did to you?” Josh said, his voice was quiet, certain. “I understand it. I just wish it could have come from someone other than you, that’s all. I could handle that better.”

Madison leaned forward. “I’m tired of your pity party. You got me involved in this, not my mom, not my boss. They only agreed after the fact. This was all you. Don’t you remember, or are you having stage fright again?”

Josh stood up, and began pacing back and forth in front of her desk. “That’s never happened to me before. I don’t know what caused it. It was low blood sugar, you said so yourself. It was gone by the time we got to the beach.”

“Was it?” Madison said. She stood up, wishing she could just go home and climb into her bed instead of fighting with the man she tried to help. She was tired of his lies, all of them. He wasn’t man enough to admit he had social anxiety, and that was a big problem. “You know what, I have to go home. That’s it. We can talk more tomorrow. I can’t take any more drama tonight.”

“You can’t take any more drama? Are you kidding me?” Josh said. His hands were clenched in fists on his hips. For the first time Madison realized how much larger than her he really was, his broad shoulders, solid chest created an imposing frame. But she knew more than she was certain of most things in life that he would never hurt her physically, never.

“Good night, Josh,” Madison said, walking past him, out the door and into the hallway. “Pull the door shut behind you. I’ll see you in town at eleven for our next segment. Maybe it will be our last?”

“You have no idea what is really going on, do you?” Josh said to Madison’s back as she started walking away down the hall. “I really think we need to talk. Now.”

Madison wanted to tell him to stop the games. She wanted to fall into his arms, to ask him if he really ever did love her, if he meant it, if they could try again.
Didn’t he realize she was doing everything for him?
But she couldn’t, not in the state he was in. So instead, she shook her head and said, “Good night, Josh. Sleep well.”

She walked out the door, outside into the crisp air, her heels clicking on the walkway until she reached the doors to the employee parking lot, slipped behind the wheel of her car and took a deep breath. She’d only had half a glass of champagne, so she knew she was fine to drive. Part of her, the place in her heart that wanted Josh back, wanted to turn around, go back inside and talk to him. The other part of her, the practical business side, knew it was time to go home and check on her mom. When her phone rang, she was sure it was Josh. With relief she saw Annie’s name flash on the screen and hurried to pick up.

“You’re the lead story on Stu News!” Annie said as soon as Madison’s phone connected to blue tooth. Stu News was the local, online newspaper, filled with hot scoop twice a week, or at least whatever could be considered big news in this sleepy town.

“What did it say?” Madison asked. Her cameo today could be farther reaching, faster than she imagined. Back in the high school days, there wasn’t the topspin of social media.

“Well, the story has a photo of you and Josh sitting on a picnic table. They call you Holly, by the way,” Annie said, words tumbling out. “I guess you probably wanted that so you can hide from all of this again once he leaves town.”

“That’s the plan,” Madison said, smiling because her best friend knew her so well.

“The headline cracks me up, though,” Annie added, pausing for affect. “’Reunited and it looks so good!’”