Zenith Fulfilled (34 page)

Rebecca wasn’t sure what was wrong with her daughter. Kayla was acting weird. She was so nice! She asked Rebecca to chaperone her dance at school that Kayla was helping to plan. Why would she want her mother there? Rebecca happily agreed without question;  who would say no to such a simple request? Kayla was so excited about the dance planning, she talked about it every
day. Most of the time, Rebecca couldn’t get her to even grunt hello, let alone, report to her mother about her day.

Watching the news that night, Rebecca saw Rob’s face flash on the news story. She quickly raised the volume and saw it was from an earlier interview.

“Any comments on the new book out? Is any of it true?”

“Of course, it’s true. Every word.”

“So, you
are
an alcoholic.”

“Yes, a recovering alcoholic.”

“And this author, Rebecca Randall, why her? Why did you tell your story to her?”

Rob looked into the camera. “Because she asked me. And also because she’s an excellent writer. Read the book, and you’ll see.”

Rebecca blushed, starting in the cheeks before blooming through her face and down to her neck. Holy shit, she was on the national news! Her name and her book were now the latest threads of gossip and society. She couldn’t believe it. She sat there, utterly stunned. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined this.

“Is it true you had an affair with the author? This wom
an, Rebecca Randall? A woman who is reportedly married?”

Rob stiffened. How the hell could anyone know that? “No. I saw her for a time, after she separated from her husband. However, it has no bearing on the book.”

“So you became involved afterwards?”

“Yeah. But let me remind you,
that’s not anyone’s business but mine.”

“How did she choose you to write about even before
Zenith
made it so big?”

Rob smirked. “She had this crazy idea, which turned out to be brilliant. She thought if I could succeed at singing, it would automatically sell her book. At the time, I thought it was nonsense and I didn’t believe her. Good thing she didn’t listen to me or anyone else. As it turns out, she
was
right.”

Rob sounded like he was in awe of her.
And respected her. Rebecca’s eyes were riveted on the TV, and she felt as if he were talking directly to her, instead of across some alternate, pre-recorded universe. The unexpected rush of how much she missed him almost floored her. She glanced up when she heard someone shuffling behind her.

“Mom? Was that your name on the TV?” Kathy asked, her eyes as big as saucers.

“Yes! Yes, it was,” Rebecca said, smiling with unconcealed delight.
She was on TV.
Her name was being talked about. She was even being accused of a scandal on national television. She, Rebecca Randall, mother of three, and Doug’s wife. She started laughing at the surprise and sheer absurdity of it. Not to mention, the freak circumstances surrounding it.

Her affair with Rob Williams of
Zenith
would only become harder to believe the longer Rob was famous, and continued dating starlets and models. One song finally made it to number three on the charts. As a cataclysmic sequence of events, her association with
Zenith,
and with Rob, would launch her book, which could only take off from there.

The phone rang.

“Are you watching channel five?”

Trina
. It was Trina. “Yeah, I am.”

“How did you manage to be so smart? So intuitive? And see all that in Rob when he didn’t?”

“I guess he was always that to me.”

Trina was quiet. “You should be so proud of yourself! You’ve done it! You did something really incredible and fantastic.”

“Thank you, Trina,” she said quietly.

“Look, Rebecca, I was thinking…”

“Yes?”

“Maybe you could write about me. You know, the pills. I was an addict, just like Rob said and I didn’t even know it then. I hated him for seeing it before I did.”

“Maybe you hated everyone else more for not seeing it,” Rebecca replied.

“Maybe. Hey look, I’m sorry. I mean, for how awful I’ve been during the last few years.”

“I’d like to write about you if you are really willing. But you’d have to take me seriously.”

“I do. I finally do take you seriously, Rebecca.”

Rebecca smiled. “Thank you, sis. It’s so nice to hear.”

The phone rang off the hook after that: her sisters, her mother, and even Nick called. There were also friends, of course, and even the parents of other kids
, who were all shocked, and impressed to learn she was already a famous author. Doug even called and congratulated her on her unprecedented success.

The only one that mattered to Rebecca, however, never called. Rob purposely announced on national television that she was a good writer, thereby making her famous. He didn’t do it by accident, but rather, specifically to help her. He remembered her plan, and did that for her. She was now successful simply because of him.
Yet, he didn’t call her.

****

Kayla came into her bedroom. “You’re wearing
that
?”

Rebecca bristled at her daughter’s tone. As if she were standing there in some hideous, dorky outfit. She had on nice, tan slacks and a pretty blouse. She looked attractive and nice.

“What would you suggest I wear? My mini-skirt and knee-high disco boots?”

“Well,
at least you wouldn’t look like… like a
mom.
You can’t wear that.”

“Do I have to remind you, young lady, that I am a
mom
. I know seventh-graders are the latest commentators on all that is stylish and fashionable, but I’m not about to dress according to your suggestions.”

“Just wear this.
Please
, Mom?” Kayla dug through her closet and came out holding up a black shirt. It had a scoop-neck and a large, white butterfly on the shoulder. “Come on; you own this, and you could wear these jeans and your black boots. The ones that have heels.
Please,
Mom?”

Rebecca stared at her daughter curiously. She dealt with a lot of  things as Kayla was growing up, often involving new moods, as well as new trends. Kayla changed often, sometimes even daily. Apparently, her newest passion concerned how her mother dressed.

“Fine, I’ll wear the black outfit with jeans. I certainly don’t want to embarrass you. Need I remind you that it was your idea for me to go tonight?”

“I know. I know. Thanks, Mom,” Kayla said as she kissed Rebecca’s cheek. “Tonight will be awesome. Just make sure you wear your hair down, you know, and styled around your face; it looks best that way.”

“Right. Because I look hideous otherwise,” Rebecca mumbled as she started changing.

“And makeup. Wear lots of it.”

“Who? You or me?” Rebecca asked as Kayla trotted happily out of the room.

Rebecca rolled her eyes.
What the hell was going on with Kayla tonight?

When Rebecca heard the knock at the door, she ran down and found Doug there. He was picking up Kathy and Karlee. He smiled at her. They talked briefly about a few scheduling conflicts with the girls. It was strange, how much better they were when separated. Doug took the girls every other weekend and every Wednesday night. He also had them whenever she had other things to do. Or appointments. He became reliable, kind and polite. He took the girls out everywhere, and talked to them about many topics. He became everything Rebecca could’ve asked for or wanted as the father of her children. But not as her husband. Their relationship improved also, now that he no longer lived with them. He even started dating a lady in town, the mother of a fourth-grader.

“Kayla asked me to pick her up at school so she could spend the night with the other girls tonight,” Doug said.

“Sure. That’s fine. Be warned though! She’s on the warpath tonight. Her hormones are surging like a tsunami, and she’s acting really weird.”

“She’s an adventure, all right.”

“Thanks again for taking them tonight.”

“Hey, you’re welcome,” Doug said, running his eyes over her. “You look very nice this evening.”

She rolled her eyes.
“Your daughter dressed me! Has she mentioned anything that’s going on? She’s been acting so strange.”

“No. But I’ll ask her after the dance.”

“Thanks, Doug,” Rebecca paused. “Thanks for everything.”

“Right back at you. I mean it. For letting me back into their lives. I know I can never make up for what I missed, but if you hadn’t let me come back, and encouraged them to forgive me, they wouldn’t have.”

“I’m glad that you like being back. They need us both.”

He nodded. The girls came barreling out the door, their overnight bags in hand
, while chattering away. Rebecca shut the door on them, and felt her heart lighten. Things were finally becoming okay. Not perfect. Or ideal. But they were working. The girls had their father back. They were not as scared, and the ensuing divorce, while difficult and sad, was not devastating or abnormal to any of them.

Kayla came through the living room. “Ready, Mom? We can leave now and I don’t think we’ll be too early.”

Kayla was insistent on not arriving too early because they wouldn’t look cool.

Rebecca smiled. Yeah, she was ready. Kayla
was quite pretty in a jean skirt and peasant-style top with tights and black dress shoes. Nothing too risque, but definitely not the outfit of a little girl. Rebecca realized her oldest was quickly growing up, and although it made Rebecca happy to see, she sadly acknowledged it was really happening.

****

The middle school gym looked cool in its beach theme decorations: crepe paper, shells, cut-outs of sea creatures, and beach balls strewn about. The fluorescent lights left on in the daytime were out, and the only illumination came from strobe lights, imbuing a blue shade over everything. It was crowded in the gym when they got there, and Kayla nearly bounced right out of her skin, she was so excited. Was there some boy Rebecca didn’t know about? A new crush who Kayla hope would show up there?

A surprisingly inordinate amount of people came to the dance. Not just the teens, but their parents as well. When Rebecca looked around, there seemed to be as many parents as kids. Since when did teens ask their parents to school dances? Except under duress?

A roar of applause inundated the gym as the lights dimmed. The vast crowd stared towards the stage as the curtains were swept back. There was a sign, a giant banner in glittery paint, that read
Zenith
.
Zenith
? Rebecca didn’t get it at first. Then her heart stopped. And she nearly dipped.
Zenith
? What the hell? There was no way. Absolutely none. Her breathing became irregular. Then it stopped. Could it be possible?

Was that why Kayla kept acting so weird? And why she insisted on dressing Rebecca?
And the reason for the huge crowd at the dance? Her mind fogged in, and she couldn’t believe it. Was this real? Could it be real? Was Rob actually here? But how? Why? Why would he come here to her daughter’s school? In a middle school gym? It could not possibly be.

And then it was.

Rob came striding out and Spencer walked over to the instruments already set up there. They were here. Rob was here. He picked up his guitar, putting the strap over his head before adjusting it across his shoulder.

Rebecca strove to concentrate on shutting her mouth and not looking like she just swallowed a bird.
Rob was here
. She felt everything: confusion, shock, and what? What did she feel? Why didn’t he call her? Or tell her he was going to play there? How could it be possible he was here? How could his band arrive without her knowing? Kayla. Somehow, it had to be Kayla’s doing. But how? When? And most of all, why?

Rob came to the microphone and smiled at the clapping, cheering crowd. His smile was so familiar now: slightly crooked, off center, and capable of melting a frigid iceberg with its charm and warmth. He raised a hand as if to quiet the crowd, and looked so at ease, and so comfortable with himself. Effortlessly, he could stand there with hundreds of eyes staring at him, never ill at ease or awkward being the complete focus of the room. “Hey, Huntington Middle School! Thanks for letting us play for you tonight.” Rob’s voice bellowed through the amplifiers and the entire gym.  Rebecca’s arms got chills
over the surrealism of the moment. She was near the back, hidden in the shadows of lowered lights. There was no way Rob could pick her out of the crowd. A cheer roared from the students.

“So, we have a few songs to play, but first, there’s a request I have to fulfill for a close friend of mine. So I’m going to start off tonight with that. This one’s for you, Kayla.”

Rob winked out into the audience, and Rebecca’s eyes followed his to where Kayla stood surrounded by her friends. They all started jumping, giggling and squealing with unrestrained excitement all around her. Kayla had just become the “it” girl at school.