A Simple Mistake (8 page)

Lainey made her way down the stairs behind Mia. She had spent the afternoon being primped, curled, buffed and polished, and hoped Nick had got his money’s worth. When she saw the look on his face she knew he had.

‘Don’t you dare kiss her!’ said Mia. ‘You’ll spoil her make-up.’

‘You’re stunning.’ Nick took her hand and kissed that, his eyes not leaving hers for a second.

Lainey smiled, a little shy, not used to feeling glamorous but thinking she might be able to get used to it. ‘You look wonderful yourself.’

His suit was charcoal this time, and the dark blue open-necked shirt emphasised his eyes. With his looks and easy grace, he was every inch the movie star.

Lainey had prayed a lot about tonight, mainly about not making a fool of herself on the red carpet. She knew she didn’t have to say anything, just stand beside Nick, but even so, she was very apprehensive.

Mia had tried to help. ‘You’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘They don’t want to talk to you, only Nick and maybe James, but they will want your photo. All you have to do is smile.’

Despite Mia’s words, Lainey shook in her new shoes when she saw the crowd lining the barriers outside the State Theatre. Nick got out first and she heard the cheers as he waved before he turned back to give her his hand.

‘We’ve come a long way, Lanky Lainey. Let’s show them what we’re made of.’

It was the best thing he could have said. Suddenly, she felt fabulous. Lainey drew herself to her full height and gave Nick a huge smile. ‘Bring it on, Cusack,’ she said.

He laughed and ignoring Mia’s glare, kissed her on the tender spot beside her ear. ‘You never fail to amaze me, Miss Sullivan.’ He linked her fingers with his.

Lainey was aware of a multitude of flashing lights, people calling out Nick’s name to look here, to look there. The noise was deafening, a cacophony of different sounds, but Lainey tuned it out as she did when there was a full school assembly and the kids were waiting for the principal to turn up. She giggled at the comparison and somehow Nick heard her.

‘You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?’ He winked at her and laughed when she winked back.

Nick was interviewed by several TV networks and magazines. They all wanted to know who she was. Nick introduced her as his girlfriend. They all commented on their height and how perfect they looked together then went on to ask the same thing as the others, rather inane from Lainey’s point of view. She stood beside him, her hand in his, and admired how he dealt with everything. He used just the right amount of humour and honesty, laced with bucket loads of confidence.

Once inside the spectacular foyer, they had a chance to regroup.

‘I had no idea I could do that,’ she said, breathless.

He drew her close and kissed her hair. ‘I did. You’ve always risen to a challenge, no matter what it was.’

There was a large crowd milling around them, actors and personalities from all over the place, most of them home-grown. It was exciting meeting people she’d never expected to see in the flesh and wished she could have had more time to savour the opulence of the venue. It was like nothing she’d seen before.

The lights dimmed and they made their way to their seats. ‘I hope you remembered to bring a tissue,’ Nick said.

‘I did. And I insisted on waterproof mascara.’ Nick hadn’t told her the whole story but she knew parts of it were sad.

‘Good girl.’ He wiped his palms on his trousers. ‘I’m nervous.’

‘Really? Were you like this in L.A.?’

‘No. You’d better hold my hand.’ He leaned closer. ‘It’s because you’re here. It means a lot to me what you think.’ It was still light enough to read the vulnerability in his expression.

‘Oh Nick.’ Her heart went all mushy and her eyes filled. Then she thumped him. ‘Don’t do that to me. I’m going to run out of tissues
and
ruin my make-up.’ He laughed and tucked her hand in his just as the lights went out and the opening credits began.

Lainey was mesmerised from start to finish. The film had a great storyline with beautiful scenery in stark contrast to the brutality of war. There was plenty of drama, action and even romance. Nick’s character, Emmett, fell in love with the daughter of the French family who was part of the resistance.

Nick laughed softly as he removed her elbow from his ribs during a kissing scene. ‘Kissing her didn’t do anything to me like it does when I kiss you.’ His mouth on her ear made her shiver and she elbowed him again when he chuckled.

Nothing prepared her for his character getting shot and killed.

There were sniffles from everywhere in the audience. It was just as bad at the end when the four surviving soldiers all turned up together at Emmett’s house to give his family his dog tags and the crumpled photo of them he’d kept in his pocket.

As the lights went up and the theatre filled with applause, Lainey was torn between blubbering all over Nick or hitting him for making her cry so much.

‘You were far too good,’ she said, dabbing at her face. ‘Don’t you dare let your mother see that without you being there. It was too real. I am so proud of you.’

‘Thanks, beautiful.’ His kiss was tender but brief, as everyone began to congratulate him.

At the after party she was scrutinised far more by the women she met than the men. It thrilled her to realise Nick had chosen her to be with him tonight when he could have had any number of these beautiful, sophisticated beings to accompany him. She revelled in the feel of his arm around her waist when they stood and talked and the warmth of his hand in the small of her back as he guided her onto the next person.

It was a long time later when Nick took her over to a table that had just been vacated. ‘How are you doing?’

‘Fine, but my feet are aching. New shoes. What about you? It’s been non-stop.’

‘I’m used to it. Want a drink? Actually, I’ll have to get Malcolm to get it. I can see someone else I need to speak to. Will you be alright with him?’

‘I’ll be fine.’ Lainey was more than happy to sit.

It was only a few minutes until Nick’s manager arrived with her Diet Coke. ‘You don’t drink, Lainey?’

She saluted Malcolm with her glass then took a mouthful. ‘No.’

‘There’s not many around like you tonight.’ He grinned as he indicated the room. People had really began to party and Lainey was grateful Nick wasn’t one of them. He’d had only a minimal amount of alcohol.

‘What do you think of our boy?’ asked Malcolm. ‘He’s doing well, isn’t he?’

‘I’m very proud of him. We used to talk about this as kids. He’s living his dream, Malcolm. It’s wonderful.’

‘So how do
you
fit into his dream?’

‘Pardon me?’

‘Where do you see yourself in all of this? The concerts, the movies, the parties? Is this your kind of thing?’ He eyed her over the top of his glass. ‘I hear you’re a religious girl. I imagine you’re a bit out of your league tonight.’

Where was this going? ‘You’re right, but I’m doing okay. What else do you need to know, Malcolm? I figure you’re just looking out for ‘your boy’ as you put it.’

‘Certainly am. You’re not his normal type, Lainey. Nick usually goes for the models, actresses, dancers. It’s good to see an intelligent woman around the place.’

Oh puh-lease. How insulting could he be?

‘But are you intelligent enough to know when to let go and not hold Nick back?’

Lord, help me to be gracious
. Lainey had a whole lot of things she’d like to say but not one of them would be suitable. ‘Yes, I am.’

Malcolm dropped his gaze first.

‘So now that we’ve got that out of the way, tell me about you.’ Lainey kept the smile pasted on. ‘Are you married? Do you have a family?’

They traded information for the next few minutes then Malcolm got to his feet. ‘Thanks, Lainey. I hope I haven’t upset you.’

‘Not at all. You’re just doing your job.’

He raised his glass and moved away.

Well, that had been interesting. Not a conversation she was in a hurry to relay to Nick, though. Lainey stood up and headed for the ladies’ room. She was touching up her face, deep in thought, when two young women came in.

‘Oh,
hi!
’ The one who greeted her swayed a little. ‘You’re with Nick Cusack, aren’t you? He’s the most gorgeous man! And isn’t this party fantastic? Oh, don’t mind her.’ She giggled at the sound of her friend throwing up. ‘Too much champagne, silly thing. She’ll be alright in a minute. Oh! Looks like someone was here before me!’

She spoke in a singsong voice as she peered at some white powder on the granite bench top. When she pulled a straw from her bag, Lainey got out of there.

Her table was still empty. She picked up her drink, only to have it snatched out of her hand.

‘Lainey, don’t!’ Nick looked at her in alarm. ‘Somebody could have put something in it while you were gone. I saw you come back from the ladies’ room.’

‘I can’t believe I did that. I do know better, Nick.’

He put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. ‘You’re not used to having to worry about stuff like that. Did Malcolm look after you alright?’

‘Yes, thanks.’ She was still unsettled over what she’d seen and heard in the last twenty minutes and avoided his eyes by checking her watch. ‘I need to go, Nick. I’ve got work tomorrow.’

They’d already arranged for her to be driven home. Nick made the call before taking her over to say goodbye to James and Mia, then walked her out to the hotel entrance.

He put his arms around her. ‘I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Thank you for doing this. It was huge, and you were a star.’

‘No, you were the star. You’re a very talented man, Nick.’

‘And I was proud to have you with me.’ He kissed her then helped her into the car. Leaning in, he kissed her again before waving her off.

As she was driven home, Lainey stared out of the window, not really seeing anything. Her mind was on what she’d experienced tonight.

Maybe the question from Malcolm was more sensible than she thought. Would she hold Nick back from his career? At the moment, she didn’t think so, but what if things became very serious? Was she prepared to follow him all over the world, go to parties like this one on a regular basis? Was this what God wanted for her?

For the girl in the ladies’ room, the party was one of the highlights of her life and she had no idea how sad that was. It might be as close to heaven as she was ever going to get. For Lainey, it could be the closest she’d ever get to hell.

She could be on her way to making the biggest mistake of her life.

Lainey was hooked, addicted to a drug called Nick. She supposed she was no different to any other girl in a new relationship, but he wasn’t just any man.

After experiencing part of the glitzy side of his life, it amazed her how Nick was happy doing ordinary things. The night after the premiere he went grocery shopping with her, pushing the trolley just like all the other men. Except the other men weren’t asked for their autographs in the cereal, shampoo and dairy sections.

On Friday night, he went and played tennis with Adam and then stayed to watch the end of
Sleepless in Seattle
, teasing her when she cried.

On Saturday, he played golf in the morning, again with Adam, and then helped wash her car. She and Lara made a giant stir-fry for dinner and he stayed, content to hang out with her and the crew.

And on Sunday, he told her he loved her.

Kate was having a siesta, Lara and Adam were out and Lainey was doing schoolwork. Usually, she did it on a Monday night but she had to do it today. Tomorrow she was meeting the rest of The Mavericks. They were flying to Chicago on Tuesday morning and three of them were staying overnight with Nick.

Her eyes kept straying from the papers in front of her and flicking over to Nick. Then she’d have to refocus and start again. She’d almost given up when he caught her and smiled his lazy smile, the one that made women buy magazines with his picture in it.

‘Are you nearly done?’

‘Almost.’ She frowned at him, like it was his fault. ‘I can’t concentrate.’

‘Neither can I.’ He turned off the television, came over and took the pen out of her unresisting hand. ‘Work can wait.’ He kissed her palm, the inside of her wrist. ‘This can’t.’

Lainey closed her eyes as his lips began a journey along her jaw. If there was a category in the Guinness Book of Records for the most goosebumps produced in five seconds, she would’ve won. The ten second section as well. And the number of somersaults made by a stomach.

Her eyes flew open. He’d stopped just short of her mouth.

‘How’s the concentration now? Better?’

‘You are really …’ She groped around for the right word but couldn’t find it.

Nick smiled, finally kissed her, then wound a strand of her hair around his fingers. ‘You do realise how much I love you, don’t you?’

Lainey was grateful her hair was long or else it would have been painful when she jerked back. Then wished she’d stayed still.

Nick scooted back in his chair. ‘Why do you do that, Lainey? Why do you always keep me at arm’s length?’

‘Nick, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. Please.’ She gave him an agonised look.

‘So am I making a fool of myself here? I didn’t think I was imagining things but maybe I have been. Talk to me, Lainey.’ He was upset and had every right to be.

‘Nick, you haven’t imagined anything. I love you too. A lot.’ She hated the way the words came out and he didn’t look convinced. ‘I do.’

‘But what? There’s always a ‘but’.’

Lainey picked up the pencil, ran her fingers down the length, flipped it over and did it again. ‘But I can’t see how it’s going to work.’

‘What do you mean, ‘how it’s going to work’? We’ll
make
it work!’

‘It’s not that easy.’ Lainey rolled the pencil between her palms. ‘That’s the trouble, Nick. You haven’t thought this through. The idea’s wonderful, but not the practical part. And it’s too quick. It’s only been two months.’

‘Lainey, if it wasn’t for those stupid letters going missing we’d already be married with 2.3 children and a dog. You know that as well as I do.’ He was up, dragging his hand through his hair. He didn’t see her flinch at the mention of children.

‘What do you want from me, Nick? We’re
not
married, I have my own life and we’re not on the same page so where do we go from here?’

‘What do you mean, we’re not on the same page? I thought you said you loved me. Or were you saying it because I said it first and that’s what you’re supposed to do?’

Lainey kept her eyes on the pencil. ‘Nick, I just don’t think God wants me to spend my life following you around, going to parties, looking decorative, playing the game.’ She looked up and wished she hadn’t. He wasn’t happy.

‘Is that all you think my life is? Some sort of self-serving
game
? Do you honestly think I make movies, sing and write songs, make a fortune and keep it all to myself just because I
can
?’

He sat down, whipped the pencil out of her hands and held both of her wrists, his face close.

‘Do you know how many charities I support? What organisations I’m involved in? How many fundraisers I attend? How many underprivileged children I’ve been able to help? No, of course you don’t. And if it wasn’t for this
game
I’m playing, I wouldn’t be able to do any of it.’ He let her go and stood up again.

‘Do you really think I’m that selfish? That I’d go along with ‘he who dies with the most toys wins’? I thought you knew me better than that. Thanks a lot, Lainey. Maybe you’re right. It is too soon.’

Lainey didn’t know what to say. She’d never felt so small and she’d never seen him so angry with her. Worst of all, she’d hurt him. She’d judged his life without knowing the first thing about it. As far as she knew he wasn’t a born-again Christian, but he was doing exactly what Jesus asked humanity to do. Looking after its poor.

‘Nick, I’m sorry.’ She hoped he knew how much she meant it. ‘I was wrong. Forgive me.’

‘Don’t judge me, Lainey. I mightn’t go to church much but I know the gift God has given me and I know how to help others with it. That’s a start, isn’t it?’

She nodded, mute.

‘And another thing. I believe that if two people love each other they’ll do whatever they can to be together, to make their relationship work. I thought you believed that too.’

She couldn’t look, not wanting to cry in front of him.

‘Well, then, maybe you don’t love me as much as I’d hoped you did.’ He spoke softly and his words chilled her. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow. Ring me if you change your mind and don’t want to come.’ He sighed heavily. ‘I’ll see myself out.’

Lainey didn’t move. After several minutes, Kate’s door opened and she came and sat next to her.

‘Are you al
right
? I didn’t hear what was being said, but it sounded intense.’

‘It was.’ Lainey took a shaky breath. ‘I need to go for a run.’

It was the best way she knew to sort herself out. She put on her Tinkerbell t-shirt, wanting something of Nick to comfort herself with. By the time she got down to the beach, her numbness had worn off and the tears had started instead. She cried most of the way home, ignoring curious glances from onlookers, and felt marginally better. She didn’t go to church, but stayed home. She prayed and read her Bible, then finished her marking.

By the time the others came home, she’d come to the conclusion she still didn’t know how their relationship was going to work out, but God did. ‘
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding …’

The other thing she’d discovered was how arrogant and judgemental she could be. She couldn’t believe she’d done that to Nick, of all people. She’d put herself up on a pedestal because she thought she had it together spiritually, and she had fallen. She didn’t deserve the way he loved her – she hoped he still did.

* * *

Subdued and contrite, Lainey was glad to go to work the next day, to have something to do. It was three o’clock before she had a chance to think about the evening ahead.

She sat at her desk, her head in her hands. There was a knock on the door and she groaned inwardly, just wanting to be left alone. Regardless, her manners kicked in and she looked up with a polite smile. Only to find it was Nick.

He hastily put down what he was holding as she flew into his arms.

‘I’m so sorry! I really am. I don’t know how to show you how sorry I am.’ The words tumbled out. ‘Please, Nick?’

He tried to look stern but his lips twitched. ‘Have you any idea how hard it is to stay mad at you, Miss Sullivan?’

‘After yesterday, I imagine it would be very easy.’

‘Well, I tried, really hard, and I couldn’t.’ He smiled and smoothed her hair back off her face. ‘Can we kiss and make up now?’

Lainey didn’t need to be asked twice. She hoped no one had forgotten their homework or a musical instrument. They’d get a shock if they saw her now.

‘The cleaner will be in here in a minute,’ she said eventually.

‘And the coffee will be going cold. I brought chocolate too. I thought you might need some.’

‘I love you, Nick.’

‘Yeah, I know.’ He smiled and kissed her again. ‘Now, would you like to hear about this school in Africa I’ve had something to do with?’

‘Of course I would.’

They sat at a couple of desks, broke open the chocolate and drank their coffee. Lainey listened to him relate how he and James had helped fund the rebuilding and resourcing of a school, and loved seeing the satisfaction he got out of it.

‘That’s fantastic, Nick. We take so much for granted, don’t we?’

‘After going there and seeing how these kids live, I don’t take anything for granted anymore. It might sound trite, coming from me, but I mean it. That’s why I do what I can with what I’ve got.’

‘I’m sorry for what I said yesterday. I’ve never thought of you as selfish for a minute. I
do
know you better than that. I also found out a few unpleasant things about myself.’

‘It’s okay.’ Nick took her hand and turned it over then traced her palm with his finger. ‘I learned something too.’

‘What’s that?’

‘I learned,’ he said, his heart in his eyes, ‘that when you love somebody, you become vulnerable.’

Lainey closed her fingers around his. ‘Yes, you do.’

He took a deep breath and let it out. ‘Right, drink up, we’ve got to go.’

‘Go? Go where?’ She was a little off kilter.

‘You’re on my soccer team, three-a-side, down at the park near my place. The boys are waiting. And you have to drive me because I got Angelo to drop me off.’

‘What if I was cross with you and refused to give you a lift?’

‘Nah. That wasn’t going to happen.’

She poked out her tongue. ‘Don’t get cocky, Cusack. Hey, these Mavericks had better be decent competition for me.’

‘You’re full of it.’

‘I know, but you need me.’

‘That I do.’ Nick kissed her. ‘That I do.’