Reckless (26 page)

Sean glares at me with an intense fire I have never seen from him. I back up into my seat. “I asked you to watch her!” He screamed.

“I did!”

“No, you didn’t. You ignored her and let her walk right into the pool!”

“She said her doll was dirty, so I told her to wash her off.”

“You told her to go to the pool?” I shrug. Sean grips the child closer to him cradling her head as if she is helpless. “She could have drowned, Rebecca.” The child’s hysterical cries surprisingly advance to another level. “It’s okay now sweetheart, Daddy’s got you,” he said, seemingly trying to set me ablaze with his stare.

“How was I supposed to know that she would need help?” I screamed at him. “I don’t know anything about kids Sean, I’m sorry. If I had known I would have paid closer attention.”

“Stay right there,” he ordered before walking into the house. I wait several seconds before deciding to pack up and go back to the guesthouse. I barely get settled before Sean barges in like a bull. “Rebecca?” He screamed.

“Upstairs.” I said, eyeing him from around the corner.

“Get your ass down here - now!”

I walk slowly down the stairs, making sure to keep my distance from the giant ball of fire. “What is your problem? I made a mistake I’m sorry.”

He huffs at me as he tightens his fists, “Rebecca …” he said as his body shakes with intensity.

“I’m sorry Sean, I didn’t realize she could be in danger.”

“Her name is Lillah! Say it! You never say her name, you never say my daughter’s name - why?”

“Lillah - there are you happy? What does that have to do with anything? I made a mistake and now I know better.”

“Rebecca - she is two. And besides that, I asked you to watch her, not put your headphones on and bury yourself in a magazine.”

“I didn’t …”

“No! I don’t want to hear it, you are, and in fact you always have been the most self-absorbed, spoiled, disgusting woman I have ever met.”

“Excuse me?” I step forward.

“Ava was right about you the whole time, and I defended you because I felt sorry for you.” He puts his hands on his hips, staring me down. “You really did put Lillah out with the dogs and then blamed it on Ava, didn’t you?”

I narrow my eyes at him, “You have lost your mind, I would never do …”

“Shut up! Don’t even try to tell me anything different. I am sick of your lies and your aggressive jealousy.”

I look him up and down with a strong stance of my own. “I don’t know what you think is going to happen between us, but no matter what happens with Ava and I, y
ou
and I will never happen again. I can’t stand you. I feel sorry for you, but I can barely tolerate your presence. Thank God Joel felt the need to steal you from me. And thankfully my brother convinced me how much better off I was or I might have gone back to you. Hell, I thought all that time that it was my fault you cheated on me, but it didn’t have anything to do with me … you’re just a slut!”

I smack him hard across the face, “I am not! And it is your fault. If you hadn’t of ran off, screwing who knows what, I would have never been persuaded by Joel. Hell, you were sleeping with that bitch that lived next door to us but I took care of her. I bet she never got near another man again, especially someone else’s.”

Sean stares at me hard, shaking his head. “You know what, I don’t know what I did to get so lucky with Ava, but thank God I did.”

“Oh Ava, your precious perfect rose, the one who lied to you, the one who is probably fucking her old mentor right now?” He glares at me as if he wants to kill me. “Oh, you know it’s true. That whore is probably screwing everyone behind your back, Sean. She’s in it for the money and nothing more.”

“You better stop, Rebecca.”

“Why? The truth hurt? Your perfect Ava, not so perfect?” I huff at him. “Hell, you might want to get a paternity test done on Lillah and any future offspring,” Sean leaps forward at me, wrapping his hand around my neck and cringing as he slowly releases me.

“Rebecca!” He yells as I stand wide eyed and stiff. “I feel so sorry for you. You automatically assume that every woman is as desperate as you. No one wants you, and you are too stupid to realize you did it to yourself.” He shakes his head, stepping away from me. “I want you out of my house by the end of the week.”

“Where am I going to go?” I snap back.

“I don’t know and I don’t care.”

I start hitting him. “I hate you! You’re an asshole!” He grabs my arms and holds them out from him as he stands silent. “You are going to regret doing this to me.”

“I doubt it, but if you go near Ava or Lillah or even the boys while you are here, I will make sure that you regret it.” I look into his intense eyes and stand back from him, working up as much hurt as I can throw at him. “Do you understand me?”

“I understand you.”

“Good. Actually, stay away from me also. The thought of you coming near me makes me brutally ill. You know, I have a slight recollection of you coming on to me a little too strong on our movie night. I would be willing to bet that I didn’t drink too much after all, did I?” He pauses, looking me over. “You’re disgusting.” Sean said reaching for the door.

My revengeful self quickly surfaces, “You know, I did lie to you!” I said, staring a hole through the back of his head. “And not about what you think.”He looks back over his shoulder at me. “About the baby, the one I said was yours.”

“It wasn’t mine?”

I shake my head.

“You fucking bitch!” He huffed turning for the door again.

“No, but it was a Grant baby.” I said, relaxing into my confession.

Sean pauses before facing me harshly. “Do you expect me to believe that? Ethan can’t stand you.”

“Only because he is so afraid that his pretty little wife will find out that he was fucking me while they were dating.” I said, watching him back off. “I changed the date of the abortion papers so that you would think it was yours, but it was after you were gone.” Sean looks me over silently and I smile wider. “While you were filming in California, you sent him for some more of your things and while he was visiting
her
… Well, it turned out Ethan had a slight substance abuse problem himself back then. His guilt over it is incredible. I shared whatever I had with him and he would keep coming back, even after he would drop his perfect Abbey off after their date. Your brother, Sean, was something else. Always trying to be the perfect son, the perfect brother, the perfect actor, he just couldn’t handle anyone seeing him vulnerable. Except me, that is. He would pour everything out to me, losing himself in whatever drug I gave him and fucking me in all the same places you and I did.” I said, smiling at him as his fierce eyes burn into my skin. “You two are really similar, you know that?” Standing on my toes, I stare right into his eyes. “You both fuck very much the same.”

“You’re lying!” He hissed.

“Really, then why did Ethan pay for the abortion and continue to send me money all these years to make sure I kept my mouth shut?” I casually find my file full of copies of checks and hand it to him. “See for yourself.”

“No, you probably faked these just like you did with the abortion papers.”

I laugh, “Ask him then. He’s the one that decided to stop sending me checks. He has been so nervous since I have been here. I was sure I could get more money out of him, but apparently he is a man of principal now.”

“I’m not listening to another word of this, and I want you out tonight.” Sean demands.

“But I don’t …”

Sean

I was dazed the whole way back to the set, unable to put what Rebecca said out of my mind. I don’t want to believe her. The problem is, it all makes sense. Memories of Ethan not looking me in the eye every time he got back from New York, and I disregarded it, thinking he had lost his mind over Abbey.
I need to talk to Ethan.
By the time I finally find Ethan, I am already steaming over my memories and thoughts. I approach him stiffly, but I am thrown off when Daniel races towards me from the opposite direction.

“Sean, can I talk to you for a second?” Daniel asked.

“Sure, what about?”

“Well, about the stunt scene. I wanted to make sure that you still weren’t interested in doing it yourself?”

“Daniel I already told you no. Ava would have my head.”

“I know, but with all the safety precautions we have added, it really wouldn’t be that dangerous.”

Ethan suddenly steps in front of me and interjects. “Daniel no, I told you he isn’t going to do it. Now back off and from now on come to me with these things.”

“You told him?” I asked.

“Yes, it’s too dangerous for you.” Ethan tells me like he is my father.

“Who says?” I snapped.

Ethan looks at me strangely as Daniel looks on confused, “We discussed it Sean and it’s not something you should be doing.”

“We did? I don’t remember discussing it? Not with you.”

“Sean, you’re not doing it. Why are you acting like a spoiled child suddenly?”

“Who are you to tell me anything?”

“You’re not doing it and that’s final.” Ethan said.

“Fuck you, Ethan!” I yelled at him.

“What is your problem?”

“You! You’re always bossing me around like I’m still a little kid.”

“Well, maybe because you act like one.” I glare at him. “Sean you need to listen and let me do my job.”

“Why should I listen to you?”

“Because, baby brother, I might just know something a little more than you.”

“You don’t know shit Ethan, and I’m sick of listening to you. I’ll do the stunt Daniel.”

“Okay,” Daniel said awkwardly.

I leave them both to return to my trailer.

“Sean!” Ethan yelled. Ethan storms in soon after me. “Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on with you today?”

“You and your lies Ethan. I thought, of all people, you would be the last one that would ever lie to me.” He looks completely lost. “Rebecca told me everything.” His expression changes instantly. “Oh, so it is true.”

“Sean it was …”

“What Ethan? It was what?” I yell at him as he cowers away from me. “I can’t believe you got my girlfriend pregnant.”

“I was not exactly in the right state of mind then.”

“No, apparently you were getting high every chance you got.”

“I felt guilty for not helping Mom after Dad died … for not being there when he did die.”

“You were filming, he understood.”

“Did he?” Ethan screamed through his pained face. “I loved him so much, Sean. He gave me everything and I couldn’t even catch a flight out to be with him? I couldn’t turn down that one possible Oscar winning role to help him for once?”

“You were perfect in his eyes Ethan, it didn’t matter what you did.”

He laughs at me, rubbing his hands over his head. “You’re making a mistake Sean.”

“It’s not a big deal Ethan, they are going to go over everything with me. They have already been training me to drive. I know I can do it, and honestly, I want to do it.”

“Do you? Because if you can’t and something happens to you… well, you’re leaving behind an awful lot.”

“Nothing is going to happen, worry about your own family.”

“I would never hurt Abbey or my kids.”

“No, you just cheated on her.”

“I… Damn it Sean, it wasn’t like that!”

Ava

The day is going fairly smooth, and the thoughts of Sean finishing his movie soon are making my mood even lighter. That is, until Ethan calls, wanting to come over and talk to me. Sean’s anger with him is too intense for me to feel comfortable about talking to him behind his back, but I am not about to let this quarrel between them continue much longer. I put Lillah down for her nap and Ethan shows up soon after. His solemn face tells the story, even if I didn’t know anything. I hug him, knowing how it is when Sean is angry with you. “Are you okay?” I asked him.

“I guess Sean told you,” Ethan smirked.

“Some, he’s not real good about sharing things he’s not ready to talk about.”

“That sounds like him.”

“I have tried to talk to him but …” Ethan shakes his head stopping me.

“I know, but that’s not why I’m here. I’m here because I assume Sean hasn’t told you that he’s doing the jump tomorrow?” Ethan said, awaiting my expected response.

My mouth drops, “He said he wasn’t going to do it.”