The room went deadly silent. A nurse passed outside the door with a trolley before a word was uttered. “P-pregnant?” Mum asked, wide-eyed.I nodded. Lily chortled. She looked at my sober expression, chuckled again, and resumed flipping her magazine. “I am.” I deadpanned. Lily ignored me while mum laughed, her eyes shining“Tiny? You’re pregnant. Well are you sure-how long have you known?”“A couple weeks.” I smiled. Lily finally put down her paper and frowned at me. “You’re actually serious.”Excitement built in my chest. “Yes. You’re gonna be an aunt soon.”“Oh Myra!” Mum arms went around me, startling me. She squeezed my shoulders tightly. “And I’m gonna be a grandmother.”I chuckled, relief flooding my chest. They were taking the news better than I expected. Lily looked confused for a few more second before she stretched to hug me too.“You’re actually pregnant? No faking.” she whispered on last time. “No faking.” I whispered back.“Boy or girl?”Mum released me so she could
I spared at glance at my stunt double as she did a backflip to escape her ‘enemies’I was in luck today, because the rehearsal didn’t require any emotional acting from us today. Just for the actors to find their groove with the doubles.All I could think about was my sister and mum and Genevieve…Jeremy nudged my shoulder. “You okay?”I forced a smile to my face. “Yeah.”“It’s last days of rehearsals she’s probably worried about it.” Bianca concluded on my behalf. “From next week we start the real thing.” She bounced on the spot. “And we make possible movie history.” Jace added, stopping beside us. He hoisted himself up the speakers we were sitting on, his arms sheened with sweat. While the rest of us had stunt doubles at ATLEAST one point of the film, Jace had opted to do his own stunts. I thought of O’Malley’s admission the last time we spoke. He was counting on this movie being a part of movie history. “Okay people, great job so far. That will be all for today, see you next week
“Nahh, that’s something that takes years of practice.” I argued. “You don’t just wake up one day and think you can perform stunts, this shit isn’t parkour.”Bianca burst into hearty laughter, while Jeremy grinned.“I’m just saying, Take Jace for example, he doesn’t have any training and he’s doing great.” Jeremy argued back.“I’ve always suspected that fucker of secretly being a government spy. That would explain a lot.” My friends laughed. “But I bet, if they needed a scene where he had to act fast, like protect his head from getting hit while, making it look like he did. He would get seriously hurt. Even stunt doubles get hurt.”“Whatever wound he gets would match the next scenes.”“Yeah but they have to be gone in record time. Did you forget we’re quick healing wolves?” Bianca added, waving her hand mystically.“Boy would I kill for that type of skill in real life. It would save me from a lot of dance injuries.”“You dance?” Bianca and I asked simultaneously.I remembered the fril
I watched O’Malley with a worried expression as he was escorted offset by Rhonda. He had managed the whole day without incident, but his body had definitely reached its limit. “This is the best first day ever. We did pretty well today.” Jeremy said with a grin. He did not have any scenes today but O’Malley said it was fine for him to show up. I had swung my bag over my shoulder before Tami in a black blazer and cargo pants jogged into the set. Lucky me, for the entire day, I had no personal interactions with her. But throughout my scenes I could feel her eyes burning into my back. But of course they would, she was the assistant director. She had to watch our every moves. If I kept up with my paranoia, I would turn into my mother. I recalled my conversation with Lily where she asked about of being crazy like mum. “Okay people!” Tami clapped her hands to get our attention. “O’Malley thinks there’s time for us to shoot one more scene before you leave. We’re gonna need M
“There’s no way you want us to eat here.” I started as I climbed out of the car.As the rest of them piled out I took a good look at the restaurant.Even from the exterior, I could tell this was a high class restaurant, with waiters in tuxedos. They probably handed out caviar as a ‘thank you for coming’ gift. I was exaggerating on the last part, but still.“What’s wrong?” Bianca asked before her attention was turned to the building in front of us. “Oh.”“I thought we were gonna get burgers or something.” Jeremy added. We all turned to look at Sophia.“Oh this is so much better. Mr Sakhrani’s daughter and I were friends since highschool, so I get to eat here whenever I want-although Kashvi’s in college across the globe now, but he doesn’t mind.”“I’m pretty sure the problem is more than getting a table here.” Bianca said mildly.Yeah, the freaking cost. A couple walked into the restaurant holding hands. She had on a sparkly evening dress with matching heels and her partner in a tailore
His mother glanced up at him, while his father’s frown deepened. For a minute I forgot we were in the middle of a restaurant. The child garbled happily unaware of the tension around him. Connor’s hand slipped uncomfortably higher up my jacket. I tried to step away but it only pushed his hand further against my side.“Connor…” Pierce growled.“She’s working under Tami Baker.” He said smoothly and air whooshed out of me. I don’t know who looked more relieved between me and Mrs. Blackwood. “You know the new gig she got as an assistant director for Gavin O’Malley? they’re are on the same project.” Connor finished. Pierce’s mother smiled at me for the first time that evening.“You work with Tami? I know she’s just wonderful at her job. Did you hear that Pierce? We should invite her for dinner tomorrow, I haven’t seen her in a while.”“Of course mother, I’ll call her as soon as we’re through with this dinner.”“Oh! We’re keeping your grandfather waiting, let’s join him, shall we?”She spun
I sat outside the studio with an iced-filled drink when my phone pinged with a text message. We were on a filming break and I wanted to spend it alone. I had been feeling very moody quite recently and was certain that my friends would benefit from time away from me, even though they didn’t say it. I removed another ice block from my cup and chewed as I opened the message. ‘Can we talk honey, you’ve made it very difficult to reach you’The text was from an unknown number but I knew who it was. Once in a while, I would feel bad for blocking Adams but I knew it had to be done. We needed space from each other. I did not think I could look him in the face after his last display. Him reaching out to me with a new number was not helping his case.A person slipped into the bench opposite me, souring my mood. There was a dozen benches around, probably empty, why couldn’t they use one of those?Maybe because this bench wasn’t my property? I let out a weary sigh. I could not wait till my m
I dumped what was left of my beverage into the bin before I entered the building and headed to the basement where the pool was. At the last second I changed my mind. I decided to make a pit stop at the cafeteria. Maybe I could get a bag of ice to snack on before O’Malley returned. I slid into the elevator and watched the doors close before Tami held it.She smirked softly and slid in beside me. “Shouldn’t you be heading down?” She asked.“I need to grab something upstairs. You?”“I’m making last minute arrangements for the set.” I nodded. “So, you and Connor…” she started, “interesting.” I ignored her. “He has just as much money as Pierce does, you’ve got a good eye.”“Whatever you’re thinking is wrong. I have nothing to do with him.” The man was filth. “Are you certain? You looked really cozied up with him.”“If you must know, he came to proposition me.” “Really?”“He wanted my help…in taking Pierce down. He thought Pierce was REALLY close to me and trusted me enough to be com
I woke up the next morning with slight headache but refused to budge from the bed, dying of embarrassment as I relieved the events of last night. I tried to seduce Pierce into sex with me! What kind of idiot was I?!I groaned and covered my face with my palm. And now I was laying down in sheets that smelled like him, wondering if he had woken up or I could still sneak away like a one night stand. I lay there recalling the events of my day. From catching Carter, to Hannah’s confession and coming here. All of you or nothing…I rolled off the bed and turned the bedside lamp on, before scouring the room for my handbag. It was under my coat that I had dumped on the floor promptly after he had left the room. According to my phone, it was seven am, there was two checking -in messages from Angie, one from Hannah with an apology and several from Carter. One of my heels was still on my foot and I slipped it off before I padded to his bathroom to wash my face in the sink.As the water dripped
I watched, my body burning under his gaze as his eyes trailed over me. From my heels and higher-slowly, painfully higher, till they stopped at my face. He swallowed, and took another step back. No quite the reaction I was expecting. A lazy smile spread across my face and I took a step forward, to make up for the one he had taken. “Stop.” His voice came out as a strangled whisper, his breath was uneven, pupils blown wide, jaw tight like he was holding back a storm. He refused to look at me. I took another step, blocking him when he cursed and tried to move towards the door. “Hannah told me about your arrangement with her.” He lifted his eyes to me and looked back at the floor just a quickly, not before I caught the awareness in his expression. I took another step again, a dizzy spell taking over. I shut my eyes and took a breath. I didn’t want to talk right now, I wanted him to be doing things to my body that I would forget by morning. “I-It was the only way I could give you
”Maybe it is my fault, I should’ve left the past in the past. Create more time for us? Stopped taking so long to have sex with it.” I rambled on my words tripping over each other to get past my lips. Two hours in a bar with Hannah, and my intoxication levels were up. “Myra! Are you listening to yourself?“ I nursed my fifth drink, while Hannah scolded me. “Damien disappears into his hobbies all the time and he never has to worry about me cheating on him. Carter’s reaction here says more about him. Plus, You did say he said mistresses were normal in his world.”“His words not mine.” And the ease at which he said it. I could already picture it. Married for ten years and knowing my husband had seven mistresses on the side… normal in his world my foot. “That son of a bitch, I can’t believe he had us fooled. But there you go. He would’ve done it anyway.”I sighed, and downed the rest of my drink while Hannah sipped hers like a civilized human being. “Wanna see my outfit?” I asked drunke
I hugged my coat to my body and prayed no strong gust of wind would whip the fabric up and expose my body to the innocent passersby outside of Carter’s apartment building. He was still ignoring my texts and since my visit with Emma a week ago, I had abandoned all efforts to contact him, and focused all my energy on building a case against Ava Baker. I may not be able to get back at Tami directly for Yvette but it would still hurt her if her mum was going to prison, and who knows, there was still time for Tami to slip up in the future. I stood out there and let my gaze float up to the highest part of the building, where he stayed, and swallowed nervously. If our conversation went well, the. Me and him would be making love for the first time. My way to show him that I was committed to him. A big step for both of us. And yet, my mind rebelled, still not ready for the change. It felt like…cheating to have sex with him. I gritted my teeth and stepped into the building, said a quick hel
I adjusted the strap of my handbag and knocked on the door to Emma’s home. It was a suburban place in a corner of the city, I turned my head to the sound of a group of young boys walking their dog as each one tried to speak louder than the last person. The door creaked open, pulling my attention back. A woman in her fifties, just a little taller than me, stood in the doorway with Viking braids, wearing oversized sweats and a cardigan. She smiled at me, a little unsure. “Myra?” “Hi, yes it’s me. Nice to put a face to the voice.” “It is.” Her eyes roamed over my body. ”I see the resemblance.” She stated, getting even more of my attention. “Come right in ..” She stepped aside, giving me space to enter and I hesitated. Up until this point the only feeling in my mind had been excitement, now came the wariness. Maybe it wasn’t such a hot idea to visit a woman I had never met before. “Look, I am as scared of you as you are of me. But then I saw the resemblance and I’m hoping you’re re
I waited till she was in front of me, counting headstones as we wove through them to the one with her mother’s name engraved on it. I remembered what Angie said she had asked and smiled to myself, before I went closer, dropped flowers on the headstone, and stepped back to join Pierce. catching the first bits of her conversation where she mentioned Nicole’s picture on the memorial in my room. “You’re a good mom.” My head snapped to him but his eyes remained trained on Heidi. “I can tell you are because of how she glows.” My eyes fell on Heidi again who was sitting crossed leg on the grass making a bird motion with her hands as she spoke animatedly. “Yeah, I guess I am. Speaking of mothers, did you visit yours?” “I did.” “Did you pass on my message?” From the corner of my eye I saw a grin spread on his face. “I said you sent your regards. She understood.” “Good.” Heidi got up from the ground and wiped her behind.”ice cream?” “Yeah ice cream.” I tugged on one of her bubble
“Come on Heidi, the flats are better! Just-“ I let out an exasperated sigh. “Do you want me to help you with your shoes?”“No.” Came her defiant reply. Everytime we had this visit we would deal with some kind of delay. Her shoes not being right, her braids not done properly, she suddenly didn’t like the outfit we had chosen together. Every visit. If not for her anticipation before the D-day, I would not believe she even wanted to visit her mum’s grave. “Give her a break, she’s doing her best to cope.” Angie said sympathetically beside me. “I know.” “Yesterday she asked me if she had to tell her mum that she called you mum.” A sad smile crept on my face, “what did you tell her?”“That her mum would be happy if she was happy.”That much was true. Finally Heidi stepped out of the room, the two bubble braids in her hair still secure, but a new dress and shoes on. I would take whatever win I could get. “You ready?” I asked. Heidi nodded “okay, we visit my mum’s grave first-“My phon
I grabbed the file like a junkie looking for a fix and opened it hurriedly. There it was, written on the faded piece of paper with frayed edges: Camilla Diogenes This was real. My eyes ran over the contents. There were two piece of paper attached to the main report.One that stated how Camilla had died; using a scapel to slice her own neck, and one that carried information of her baby. The child that was supposed to be me. I raised it and read the main document, her name, other information. Just another patient to the people in St John but to me, she was the woman who gave me life. The woman who planned for my birth to be the moment she turned her life around. Finally I moved to the corner I had been searching for. Four names were listed. Megan WalkerRachel TurnerAbigail HayesAnd mum I had three people who could help me. “This is it.” I told Pierce, my words trembling with a mix of fear and hope. “How do you get their numbers, is there a registery somwhere-“ “Yeah, I fo
I eyed the pile of boxes again. My alarm had already gone off and we should be getting back, but this was the first time I had any semblance at a direction. If I went home now I would be absolutely restless. Plus it would be harder for me if I waited that long with hope and it turned out to be futile. “Alright, let’s do this.” I said finally, and grabbed a box. Pierce joined me on the floor and we searched in silence. “Thank you for being here. Even if this turns out be a a wild goose chase, I’m glad you’re here helping me. It’s very nice.” “I didn’t do it to be nice, I did it because I care, this one just shows up being nice.” He answered. “Compared to you forcing me into a room with my raging mother.” I countered. Till this day, I wonder how different things would’ve been if it went wrong.“But it didn’t, and she was fine for a while.” “Yeah.” “How did you cope?” He asked, “after your mum died, couldn’t have been easy.”I read through the paper in my hand, before I shut it