Nine

I went home the next day feeling on absolute cloud nine. I had a wonderful weekend with my lovely boyfriend and I felt like we were invincible- and this was the first time I had felt like that in a long time. I was ahead in my novel so dead lines weren’t stressing me out, and I was meeting my mom, brother, and his family for dinner in a few days. I felt completely relaxed and at ease with everything in my life, and the feeling was wonderful.

My mother was making us dinner in her house for the last time on Friday. She was moving into her apartment over the weekend, and wanted to have us all over for dinner one last time in the house we grew up in before we lost it forever.

Billy, Elyse, Brad and Jenny were all on the front lawn playing whiffle ball when I pulled into the familiar driveway. Brad ran over to my car as I parked it to greet me; he was four and loved his aunt. Jenny was seven and was more enthralled with her mother, but she gave me a smile and a wave from where she stood with Elyse.

I played with them for a while, but then went inside to see my mother and help her with dinner, which of course she refused. “Oh, I don’t need any help.” She assured me, tossing the latest edition of People into my hands. My mother loved her celebrity gossip, it was hysterical. “Read this, okay? It just came this morning and I haven’t had a chance to see if there’s anything good in it.”

“I’ll look for some good gossip.” I smiled at her and retreated into the living room, but was quickly distracted by my cell phone. As I answered it, Brad came into the house to talk to me, so I gave him the magazine to entertain himself while I was on the phone.

“I don’t know how this happened.” Adam didn’t bother with a greeting. “I have no idea.”

“What happened?” I sank into one of my mother’s comfortable recliners that she was selling with the house.

“Everything is a mess.” I wasn’t too worried because Adam usually exaggerated everything. “I don’t know what to do. I’m so sorry.”

“What’s the matter?” I sat up quickly, barely noticing Brad by my side, holding out the magazine to me. “Not now, Brad-babe, I’m on the phone.”

“But-” I silenced him with a wave of my hand and tried to concentrate on having Adam explain to me what was going on.

“Come on, Adam, what’s going on?” I prompted.

“People!” He finally blurted. “Look at People!”

“Brad, come back over here.” I waved the little boy back to my side. “What did you want to show me?”

“You.” He said simply. “You’re in here.”

He showed me one of the ‘Star Tracks’ page, and sure enough, there was a picture of Adam and I at the aquarium, and there was no way we would be able to play it off as being just friends. We were holding each other close and my eyelids were halfway closed.

“Cute picture?” I offered into the phone, trying to get a laugh out of the situation.

“Not really. It’s pretty terrible, actually.” Okay, we weren’t going to joke. “s***, Sam, I’m so sorry about this. I didn’t know this was going to happen.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I was oddly calm about the whole situation. “No one knows who I am, and I mean, we’ve been together for four years, it’s not like this is scandalous. Maybe they’ll stop linking you with those A-listers now.”

“Maybe.” He wasn’t pacified at all. “Okay, I’ve got to go do some radio s***, but I’ll call you later tonight, okay?”

“Okay. And relax. Everything will be fine.” I reminded him. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He replied, and then hung up.

“Hey, Mom, there’s something really good in People this week.” I strolled into the kitchen to show my mom that I had made the magazine.

“Honey, I don’t like this.” She told me plainly, stirring her homemade pasta sauce absent mindedly. “One day you’re a no-name and the next you’re all over every magazine. Your dirty laundry is aired all over the place.”

“I don’t have dirty laundry, Mom.” I reminded her. “I’m a normal girl with a normal boyfriend who happens to be a bit recognizable. We’re in a good place right now and I’m not going to let his jeopardize it.”

“A good place that will give me some more grandkids?” My mother quickly checked my left hand for a ring. “I guess not.”

“I would love to have kids when their dad’s never around.” I pointed out sarcastically. “That would be loads of fun for me.”

“How’s your book?” She swiftly changed subjects.

“It’s coming along pretty well. Erin just changed a bunch of stuff, but that gave it a better direction, I think. I’m about halfway done with it, and Erin said after I write a few more chapters she’ll let me take a couple weeks off from having dead lines and let me get away for a while.” I explained. “She thinks I’m wearing myself a little thin with writing so much.”

“Are you?” As any good mother would be, mine was concerned. “Honey, you have a lot going on in your life, you’ve got to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.”

“I am.” I assured her. “Everything’s so good right now, Mom. The book, Adam, everything. I feel like I’m on cloud nine. Plus if I get a couple weeks of from dead lines I can work on some of the other stuff I have brewing in my head and not just work on that book.”

“That sounds good, honey, but you still need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.” She sure was persistent. “You’re getting enough sleep? And eating enough? Are you exercising?”

“Yes, yes, and I never have.” I answered her honestly. “I’m fine Mom, I promise.”