Memories of Love (11 page)

After the preview was over, Cara
changed quickly into a sweater and jeans. He knocked right on time. After
permission to enter, he opened the door and took her in his arms. Tension
drained out of her body as she lost herself in his embrace.

“G, darling, let’s go. Can we just
order up something from room service tonight?”

“I love room service.”

Cara sat down at the dressing table
to comb her hair. Grant wandered over and was drawn immediately to the pictures
of Sarah.

“Where did you get these?” He
plucked one off the mirror to take a closer look.

Cara sensed heat rising to her
cheeks. “It’s kind of a long story…”

“Let me guess. A private eye in D.C.
took them for you.”

She turned to face him. “Exactly!
How did you know?” Her mouth hung open.

Grant broke into laughter. “You’re
the pervert? That’s too much. You’re the reason we moved to New York! I guess
we were meant to meet again, Carol Anne.”

“Pervert?”

Grant explained about the school’s
report of a man taking photographs. As she listened, her eyes grew wide. When
he finished, his eyes danced with amusement. “So you broke the agreement, sort
of, but not really?”

“You didn’t think I was going to let
my daughter grow up without keeping track of her in some way, shape, or form, did
you?” A steely quality came into her voice.

“I underestimated you. I wondered
why you hadn’t made contact, but you’d been watching her progress from afar all
along.”

“Damn right. That beautiful little
girl is my flesh and blood.” She put the brush down on the table, tears clouding
her eyes. “And I haven’t touched her or held her or brushed her hair in years.”
Her chin quivered.

“She is and the resemblance is
astonishing.” He put his hand on her shoulder then leaned down and kissed her.

“You’re not mad my picture-taking
made you move?”

“I was pretty worried for a while.
But if you hadn’t taken those pictures, we wouldn’t have come to New York. If
Jane hadn’t bought those tickets, I wouldn’t have seen you again. Mad? I’m
thrilled.” His eyes lit up.

Cara pushed to her feet. “I guess it
was fate, in a way.”

“And now I don’t have to worry
anymore that there’s some pervert out there coming after Sarah, trying to snap
pictures…or worse.”

“The police came to see me,” she
admitted.

“About this?” His eyebrows shot up.

She nodded.

“Hah! Cara Brewster, pervert! That’s
hilarious!” He roared with laughter.

“It wasn’t that funny, believe me. I
had to violate the agreement to tell them about Sarah.”

“Sure beats going to jail, though,”
he chuckled.

Cara smacked him lightly on the arm.
“
It wasn’t funny
. I was scared for a
moment.”

“It’s such a relief to know Sarah is
safe.” Grant blew out a breath, ruffling the hair that had fallen across his
forehead.

“Let’s go then…” Cara combed his locks
back with her fingers and picked up her coat.

A loud knock was followed by Gus’
voice. “Five minutes, Ms. Brewster.”

“Thanks, Gus. We’re leaving now.”

Grant joined hands with Cara and
opened the door. They left the stuffy dressing room and breathed in the crisp
autumn air.

As they walked along, Cara broached
the subject of the new movie. “I read a treatment for a new movie Gunther Quill
is producing.”

“Oh? Aren’t you contractually
obligated to the play?”

“You sound just like a lawyer.” She
matched her stride to his.

“Maybe because I am,” he chuckled.

“For after the play. I liked the
treatment.”

“Treatment? He’s already treating
you, and you’re not even working together?”

“Silly man! A treatment is a long
synopsis of the movie. This one is ten pages. I like the story a lot, and the
part for me is very juicy.”

“No nude scenes, I trust?” He cocked
an eyebrow at her.

“I’m reserving all those for you.”

He laughed. “What are we waiting
for?” They entered the lobby of the hotel. As they rode the elevator, the topic
of the movie resurfaced. “You’re planning a movie before the show has even
opened?”

“You never know. The show could be a
flop, or last three months or six months. Movies are planned way ahead. I have
had commitments two or three years out.”

“But if you’re here, we can live
like a family. Get married. Sure, you’ll be working nights, but we can make it
work. If you do a movie, it’ll be on location. I can’t go globe-trotting…neither
can Sarah. She has school.”

Cara sidled up to Grant. “Let’s
worry about that if I get an offer.”

Grant put his hands on her waist,
drawing her closer to him. “We need to be on the same page about career
commitments, honey.”

The elevator stopped, and they
walked out quietly, as another couple was waiting to get in. Cara heard them
whisper her name.

Once she opened the door to her
suite, Grant turned to her and took her arm. “I was hoping you might put your
career on hold for a while…make up for lost time with Sarah.”

“A movie career isn’t like a faucet
you can turn on and off at will. If you turn it off for too long, people forget
who you are and then you find it’s off for good.”

“Neither is a family. You get one
shot with your kid. Time passes, and you can’t get it back. There’s no rewind
button. Besides, I’d like to have another child with you…the first one is so
amazing.”

Grant drew Cara to him for a
passionate kiss that he deepened immediately. She melted in his arms. When he
tightened them around her, a sense of safety and security washed over her.

Carol Anne’s father had taken off
when she and Gracie were young. Their mother had labored long and hard to eke
out a meager living for them. When they were teenagers, Cara babysat and Gracie
walked dogs to contribute money to the family coffers. Shopping trips took
place at the thrift shop and everything was recycled among the three women. Still,
they barely scraped by.

When Cara was told she could have a
professional acting career and earn good money, she hardened her resolve to go
for it. Her first movie allowed her to support her mother and sister for a
while. Life became more difficult when her mother died in a car accident, and Cara
came down with hepatitis and had to give two-year-old Sarah to Grant.

Her career had become her safety
net. Acting made her feel whole and the insecurity of poverty made her cling to
money, fearing a lack of earnings again. So she worked hard, tried to be a bit
choosy about the films she made, but did most of what came her way, always worrying
each role would be the last, that she had earned her last dime.

Although they hadn’t talked much
about Grant’s success, she concluded he was successful by the clothes he wore.
She noticed his suits were well-tailored to his strong body. The fineness of
the fabrics under her fingers signaled expensive. His hair was perfectly cut,
and he took her to expensive restaurants.

A future with Grant might provide
the security she needed to pull back on her career and have more of a life.
If Grant earns enough, I might be a fulltime
mom, at least for a while. Another child. Another chance to start from the
beginning.

Tears stung at the backs of Cara’s
eyes. “You want another child?” Her voice was so low as to be almost a whisper.

“With you, yes,” he said, rubbing
her back. “When you get to know Sarah, you’ll agree we must have more
children.”

“I can’t wait. When are you going to
tell her the truth about you and Evelyn?”

“As soon as Evelyn signs the
agreement. No sense dropping that bomb until it’s a done deal.”

“Do you think she’ll change her
mind?”

“Not in a million years. But I’m
cautious. Stranger things have happened. I hate waiting six months to make you
mine officially.”

“Me, too.”
Who knows where I’ll be in six months?

“It’ll pass quickly. You can come
and stay with us. Move in. Get to know Sarah. You won’t have to work if you
don’t want to. I make good money. We’re very comfortable.”

Cara touched his cheek.
My fondest wish—to be a family with Grant
and Sarah.

“Who’s moving in with who? Who’s
kid? I don’t think so.” Skip burst into the living room full of energy and gin.

Chapter Eleven

“What do you mean, ‘you don’t think
so?’” Grant directed his question to Skip.

“Just what I said. I don’t think
Cara’s going to be moving in with you and claiming her bastard child.”

“Don’t call Sarah that! And she’s
not going to be moving in with me? Says who?” Color moved up Grant’s neck and
his hand fisted at his side.

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist,
it’s not me. It’s her public. Speak of bad publicity…living with the father of
your illegitimate child…whoa, doesn’t get much worse than that, except maybe
drugs.” Skip made a face and moved slowly toward the sofa before plopping down.

“This is her life—she’ll decide.”

“Guys, guys. Stop.”

“Instant career killer, Cara. Nobody
wants to see a hot, sexy movie star as the mother of an eight-year-old child
and a dutiful wife. Boring!” Skip waved his hand.

“She’s seven. And Grant’s right.
I’ll decide. Plenty of actors have families, solid families, children and are
even photographed with their kids.”

“Just don’t tell them Sarah’s your
daughter. Tell them she’s Grant’s.”

Cara moved to the window, resting
her forehead on the glass to cool her. “I can’t do that,” she mumbled.

“What? Can’t do that? Kiss your career
goodbye.” Skip propped his feet up on the coffee table.

She turned to face Skip. “She’s my
child. My daughter. I can’t deny her. It’s bad enough I’ve been without her for
five years. I’m not going to turn my back on her now.”

“Well, la-di-da. Aren’t we all high
and mighty, holier than thou tonight?”

“I ought to slap your face,” she
spat at him.

“Mad? Don’t be mad at me. Be mad at
the media, the public. I could care less if Sarah is legitimate or not. But
other people care, people who go to movies or stop going to movies because they
think you’re immoral.”

Cara buried her face in her hands as
tears that had threatened could no longer be held back.

“You’re a beast, you know that? A
beast. Look at what you’ve done,” Grant shouted. He pulled Cara into his
embrace.

“I don’t care what you think of me,
I speak the truth. Ask your…bride-to-be.” Skip gestured to Cara, who looked up
at him.

“He’s right, G.”

Grant handed her his handkerchief.
“What are you going to do about it?”

“I’m not going to walk away from
Sarah. I did it once because I had no choice, but not this time.”

“I’ll be with you. And if you choose
to stop acting…I make enough money to take care of us, plus another addition.”

“Then it’s goodbye to me, eh?” Skip
cocked an eyebrow.

“Don’t give up yet, Skip. It’s not
like I committed adultery or killed anyone. I’ll take my chances. I’m hoping my
fans are as loyal as I think they are.”

“So what do I tell Gunther Quill
about the movie?”

“I don’t know. Grant and I have to
discuss it. There’s so much going on now, Skip, I think this has to wait.
Please back off. I’m a nervous wreck about opening night, reconnecting with my
daughter…you’ve put me over the top. I’ve got a headache. I’m going to bed.”
Cara raised her voice, feeling anger pour out of her and heat blush her neck.

Grant took a step toward her. “Not
tonight, Grant. I’m all in. Please, everyone, just leave me alone!” She went
into her room and slammed the door.

Cara threw herself down on the bed.
If I have to make a choice, I’ll choose
Sarah. I don’t believe people will judge me. If they do, I’ll deal with it. But
I need my daughter. I’m missing her childhood, and it’s tearing me up.

She glanced up at the ceiling. “Mama,
what should I do? You’d know. You’d tell me to give ’em hell, right? Do the
right thing?”

Laying back on her bed, she closed
her eyes to picture a birthday party with Sarah. All the images dancing through
her head were of the family she so desperately wanted. The glory of fame and
fortune was hollow if you didn’t have loved ones to enjoy it with you.

If
my days in the spotlight are over, so be it.
She stared out the window,
listening to the action in the living room. A sense of calm washed over her.
She had made her decision.

* * * *

“Brilliant move, Skip.” Grant moved
to the window.

“Just telling the truth. Sue me. Oh,
wait. Shouldn’t say that to a lawyer, should I?” He laughed at his own joke.

“That’s pitiful and so are you…you’re
drunk. Do you always ride her like that?” Grant picked up his jacket.

“Where do you think her success
comes from, her acting alone? Ole Skip here has been driving her, reading
scripts, guiding her about which ones to do, who to be nice to…she’s made
millions from my efforts…”

“And you’ve done pretty well, too,
haven’t you?” There was an edge in Grant’s voice.

“No complaints. Hell, you wouldn’t
be here if I was straight.”

“Really? How so?”

“I
would’a
married her long ago.” Skip leaned back.

Grant lifted his eyebrows. “So now
you’re in love with her, too?”

“Not that way. I’ve loved Cara for a
long time. I’ve taken good care of her, too.” Skip’s eyes misted.

“Couldn’t tell from the way you
pushed her tonight. She’s entitled to have happiness, too. It isn’t all work.
She has a family, waiting to be reunited.”

“Bullshit. Where were you two years
ago? Three years ago? Last year?”

Grant’s face colored. “There was a
serious disconnect, caused by my soon-to-be-ex-wife. But I’m not a blood
sucker, living off Cara like you are.”

Skip pushed up off his chair and
swung an unsteady arm at Grant, who stepped back, causing Skip to fall on the
floor.

“Come on, old man…” Grant dropped
his coat and hoisted him up.

“
Leggo
of
me. I’m not old. You son of a bitch, let go!” Skip flailed his arms about,
forcing Grant to back off.

“Calm down.” He grabbed his jacket
and brushed it off.

Skip stuck out his chin. “You’ve got
some nerve, coming in here and upsetting her life. She was fine until you
showed up. Crawl back under your rock.”

Heat rose in Grant’s neck as anger
bubbled up in his chest. “She’s the mother of my child and the love of my life.
Get the hell out of my way, or I’ll flatten you. I warn you, any attempt to
keep Cara from us, and I’ll beat the crap out of you.”

The menace in his voice sobered Skip
for a moment. “You really do love her, don’t you?”

Grant fisted Skip’s shirt and pulled
him closer. “Damn right. And I’m not going to let some punk stand in the way of
our happiness. It’s been too long. I never should have let her go in the first
place. Now that I have her back, I’m never letting go again.” He threw Skip to
the floor.

“No need to get violent.”

“Where Cara’s concerned, I’ll get
violent, plenty violent, if you stand in our way.”

Skip got to his knees slowly then
stood up, leaning on the table. “She’s a fine woman…fine actress. Take good
care of her.” The fight had seeped out of him.

Grant took a big breath. “I will.”

Skip staggered a bit on the way to
his room. When the door closed, Grant slipped on his coat and headed toward the
hall. Cara’s door opened. She wore a pink, fleece robe and hesitated
uncertainly in the doorway.

Grant turned to look at her.

“I didn’t want you to go without
saying ‘goodnight,’” she said in a soft voice.

He walked cautiously toward her. “I
don’t want to crowd you or tell you how to live your life…”

“I know that. You never did.”

“But Sarah and I want you and need
you in our lives.”

Cara fell into his embrace. “You
don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear those words.”

“About as long as I’ve been wanting
to say them.” He held her close and kissed her hair. “I was stupid…proud. Hurt and
angry you didn’t contact me when you found out you were pregnant.”

“I was on location already. Immersed
in the movie. Had no idea what I was going to do. By the time I knew I
wanted…no,
needed
to tell you, you
were already married.”

“I’d been duped. Tricked. Stupid.
I’m a lawyer, I should’ve known better.”

Cara rested her face against his
chest. “Can we fix our broken family? Will Sarah accept me into her life? Is
she attached to Evelyn?”

“Sarah was asking about you the
other day at dinner. She wears the necklace you gave her…all the time.”

“You mean this one?” Cara opened her
robe to reveal her half heart.

Grant smiled. “That’s it.”

“What did she want to know?”

“Lots of things…and why you weren’t
my wife, instead of Evelyn.”

“
Ew
,
that’s going to be a hard one to explain.”

“I fended her off with something,
maybe changed the subject. She’s going to be thrilled to have you in her life.”

“And Evelyn?”

“Evelyn never really took to Sarah. She
was always jealous. Having your child in our house was a constant reminder…to
me, too.”

“Imagine, her deception caused a
whole
lotta
heartache for a whole
lotta
people.” Cara stepped back.

He touched her forehead. “How’s your
headache?”

“Better.” She smiled at him.

Grant checked his watch. “It’s late.
I have to be in court tomorrow morning. Time to say good night.”

They kissed. “Hopefully it won’t be
too much longer when we’ll be kissing goodnight in our own bed and spending
every night together,” he said. “In the meantime, you have some thinking to do
about your career.”

“I know. We’ll talk.”

Cara accompanied Grant to the door
where they kissed again. He took the elevator down and caught a taxi home. In
the cab, he sat back against the seat.
Cara
has to decide about her film career. We’re in the same place we were seven
years ago, but now I can’t leave. I don’t want to leave. We have Sarah to
consider. Life could be so amazing if she stays with us.

Worry furrowed his brow as he walked
down the hallway to his apartment. Opening the door, he surprised Jane and her
boyfriend kissing on the sofa. Grant stopped abruptly, casting his gaze to the
floor while Jane buttoned up her sweater.

Gary and Jane mumbled something, but
Grant wasn’t listening. He made a hasty exit, crossing the living room to
disappear into his bedroom. The emotion of the evening had worn him out. He
undressed and slipped into bed. Sleep came quickly.

* * * *

In the morning, Grant cornered Jane
in the kitchen while Sarah was getting dressed. “Tonight. We’re doing it
tonight. I’ll call Jeff, and make sure she’s signed the agreement then we’re
telling Sarah.”

Jane put her hand on his arm. “She’s
not holding you up for alimony, I hope.”

“After the trick she played on me? Then
there’s the infidelity. I doubt it, but I won’t be happy until I have his
assurance she’s out of my life forever.”

“I’ll make something special for
dinner tonight.”

He smiled at her. “If food could
cure illness, you’d win a
Nobel prize
,
doc.”

Their conversation was interrupted
when Sarah bounced in. Grant dropped her at school. He didn’t bother to look
around because the threat was gone. He chuckled to himself when he thought of
Cara as being behind the man taking the pictures. He stopped in the coffee shop
to get a cup to go.

“Where’s that pretty little blonde
girl,” he asked the young man behind the counter.

“She got a part in a play.”

“This was just a whistle stop for
her?”

“Huh? Yeah, I guess. She’s on to
bigger stuff.”

“Kind of lonely here without her,
eh?” Grant cocked an eyebrow at him.

“Geez, does it show?” He blushed.

“Just a guy thing. My girl started
that way, too.”

“Did you get her back?”

“Yeah, but it took a while. Don’t
let her get away. Go with her.”

“Thanks. Thanks for the advice.
That’ll be $4.97.” The young man smiled.

Grant chuckled to himself on the way
out.
Wish someone had said that to me.
Hell, I was probably too cocky to listen then anyway.
He whistled on his
way to the subway, feeling on top of the world.
Does it get better than this? No way.

After a trip to court, he rolled
into his office, still grinning. He’d received the dismissal from the judge
he’d been hoping for on behalf of his client, and he was on top of the world. Every
colleague, down to the receptionist, noticed his good mood.
Guess I’ve been pretty growly up till now.
I’m the luckiest man alive.

He faced the floor-to-ceiling window
in his plush office and leaned way back in his chair. Crossing his ankles on
the sill, he thought about his life.
Pervert,
gone. Carol Anne back. Evelyn, gone. Sarah making new friends. Latest case,
won.

He picked up his desk phone and
dialed the Washington office. “Hey, Jeff. Any news on that agreement with my
ex-wife?”

“She isn’t ex just yet, Grant.”

“Can’t happen fast enough for me.”

“We’ve filed papers. She’s balking a
little on the agreement. She says she’s entitled to alimony.”

“Shit, she’s entitled to nothing.
She tricked me into marriage with a false pregnancy, and she’s committing
adultery.”

“Do you have proof?”

“Hell, I think she’s living with the
guy.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

“Look, if it paves the way, I’ll
agree to give her a lump sum of twenty-five thousand to go away quietly.”

“It’s not much, but I’ll see what I
can do.”

“Okay, You’ve got
carte blanche
to go up to fifty. Call me
back.”

Grant began to pace as soon as he
hung up.
If she screws this up…
But
he refused to get upset and forced himself to think positively.
Twenty-five grand is more than she deserves,
but it’s worth fifty just to be free.