Catch a Rising Star (21 page)

“Really? You’re not taking the kids, are you?”

A frown creases his brow. “I wish I could. But they have shooting and kindergarten. My sister is going to keep them while
I’m gone.”

Makes sense. I try not to ask—really, I do. But the question just flies out of my mouth. “How long will you be gone?” I ask,
sounding really needy. Cringe.

If he notices, he pretends not to. “It’ll take about a week to get the employees acclimated to their new software.”

“I thought the Japanese had it all over us in computers.”

He gives a laugh. “Tell that to Bill Gates.”

“True. So…”

“David,” Rachel interrupts before I can invite him and the kids over for dinner when he gets back to town. “I think Jenn’s
about to fall asleep standing up. We’d better get her home to bed.”

We? Rachel’s arm is placed very maternally around the little girl’s shoulders, and Jenn’s head rests against Rachel’s waist.
Rachel’s eyes are hard when they meet mine. I get the feeling she’s trying to send me a message.

David’s face has gone red, and suddenly I feel like a fifth wheel on the family minivan.

O
bviously David isn’t the man I thought he was. I’m mad and disappointed. I wish I could go find a hole and crawl inside. Or
maybe push him in. How can anyone be so dumb? Rachel’s flittering around him like she’s Tinker Bell and he’s Peter Pan. And
Mr. Clueless is falling for it—fairy dust and all.

Mr. McDreamy was gone for a whole week and just got back today and all he said was, “Hey, Tabby. Did you miss me?” when he
walked on set with Jenn and Jeffy. But, oh, Rachel. Now he can’t seem to get enough of telling her all about Japan and the
sushi he ate. I’m so jealous. No I’m not. Well, maybe a little.

I grab a bear claw from the snack table and pour myself a cup of coffee—fully caffeinated.

I sense someone behind me, but I can’t seem to find the energy to look up. And then she speaks. “Well?”

I sigh and turn at the sound of Sharon Blankenship’s gravelly voice.

“Well what?”

“What are you going to do about her?”

“What can I do? Pierce her with an ugly arrow?”

Sharon laughs and puffs on her cigarette—which, by the way, are banned in the studio, but Sharon couldn’t care less. She makes
her own rules. I should be such a diva someday. Well, not a smoker, but you know.

“It’s not about looks. And besides, you’re just as good-
looking as that piece of plastic.”

I have no idea how I became this woman’s project. But in a land called
Legacy of Life
where she’s the queen and practically everyone hates her guts, I seem to be her only friend. “What do you mean, it’s not
about looks? And, by the way, thanks for the compliment.”

“It’s true. Look at David. Does he really seem enamored?”

I follow her gaze. Rachel is at his side, talking a mile a minute and he’s nodding and smiling, but… well, maybe all
that Japan talk isn’t so much him offering the info as it is her asking one question after another.

Sharon states what I’ve just figured out. “He’s focused on those children of his.”

I nod. She’s right.

“If you want that man, you’re going to have to find a way to relate to those kids. David won’t fall for the first pretty face
or sexy body to strut in front of him. He’s looking for a mother for his kids. Rachel has been trying to get his attention
since long before his wife died. He’s not interested. Now, you, on the other hand,
could
get his attention if you made a little effort in the right direction.” Her gaze is focused on the twins.

I frown and turn to her. Outraged, really. “I don’t want him. Why would you even say that? And I’m not looking to be a mother
to anyone’s children.”

She gives a croaky little laugh and blows a puff of smoke away from me. “Don’t hand me that, honey. You wear your heart on
your sleeve for anyone to see. If David doesn’t know you’re crazy about him, he’s blind as a bat.”

Oh golly.

“Well, I don’t know what you mean. Truly. I’m very happy focusing on my career right now. I’m certainly not looking to be
anyone’s mother.”

Then as if fate is smiling upon me, a stagehand interrupts our conversation to hand me a box of beautiful long-stemmed roses.

What on earth?

“How sweet.” Sharon shoots me a patronizing little smile and moves away as Blythe calls for “places.”

Thank you for backing out so gracefully. I know it must have been hard to see me fall for your sister. I’ll always have a
soft spot in my heart for you. Come to dinner with Shelly and me at my place? 7:00 tomorrow night. RSVP

Brian

Soft spot in his heart? Oy vey.

“Nice flowers.” I look up from the card, and my stomach goes all jumpy as David’s blue eyes bore into me. I feel my face warm,
and I slide the card into my pocket.

“Thanks. They’re from Brian.”

“I figured.”

He holds up the coffee decanter. “Need a refill?”

My heart is already racing—I don’t think I need any more artificial stimulants. I shake my head. “No thanks.”

“So, what’s the occasion?”

“Does there have to be an occasion for a man to send flowers?”

David purses his lips as though he’s thinking, then he shrugs. “I guess not.”

“Well, since you’re so curious.” And since I have a sudden need to prove that I’m definitely not pining away over David Gray.
“He just wanted to let me know he is thinking of me and invited me to dinner tomorrow night at his place.”

“I see.” He nods and my radar picks up that he’s not buying my story.

I clear my throat. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What? I see?”

“Yeah.” I know what he’s thinking, and he’d better just watch it.

He turns to face me fully. “‘I see’ means just that. I see exactly what Brian’s doing.”

I lift my chin and give him what I hope is a really mean glare. “You do?” I mean, “No you don’t.”

Slowly, David sets his coffee cup on the table and clasps my shoulders with his strong hands, forcing me to stare up into
his eyes. “Tabby, I meant Brian is doing whatever it takes to get you back. He’s obviously realized Shelly isn’t the one for
him.” His hands slip down my arms and he smiles. “And I don’t blame him. You’re a great girl.”

I’m about to bite the bullet and set him straight when Blythe’s yell rocks the place.

“Quiet on the set!”

Sharon Blankenship sashays onto the living room set in her role as Felicia’s mother.

Next to me, David leans close, his lips against my ear. My heart thumps so hard, I’m afraid I won’t hear what he’s about to
say. But I do. Loud and clear. “If you were mine, I wouldn’t have let you get away in the first place.”

My knees weaken. I turn to David to demand that he tell me exactly what that’s supposed to mean, especially since for all
intents and purposes it appears he’s trying to build something with Rachel. Bringing her to church, going on little outings
with Trey and Julie and Rachel—just the four of them like Rachel did with Seth before their breakup. It’s obvious she considers
David the new fourth in their little two-by-two. But before I can ask him about his comment, Rachel tiptoes up to him and
whispers something in his ear.

Figures. I focus my attention back on the scene playing out before me—the one with Sharon and the twins, not the one where
Rachel is hitting on David. As soon as Blythe calls “cut,” Jenn and Jeffy run to their dad and Rachel.

“You were amazing!” Rachel gushes to the kids.

I have to wonder how the heck she knows that since she was watching David the whole time and not the scene. Whatever. Regardless,
she pulls it off because her praise lights Jenn’s face like a Christmas tree and David’s expression softens as he watches
the two of them.

I can no longer deny that I have a crush on David. But neither can I deny that Rachel has a way that I’ll never have with
those kids of his. I head toward my dressing room, but first cast a final glance at the four of them. David, Rachel, Jennifer,
and Jeffy. My heart sinks. It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that they look very much like the perfect little family.

Brian’s apartment is sparkly clean, and has no style whatsoever. He’s in desperate need of Laini’s touch. But I guess a single
guy who works the hours Brian does isn’t in need of a cozy place to come home to. Secretly, I think that’s why a man decides
to get married. At some point he realizes his life is empty and drab, and he wants a woman to give him a splash of color.

My stomach churns slightly as I step inside. My sister is adorable draped in an apron and looking as domesticated as one can
look. Brian’s face shines as his gaze rests on my sister. Has he finally come to the place where he’s ready for some color?

“Mom and Dad aren’t here yet?” I ask as I step in and start checking out the food preparations. Personally, I don’t see how
dad could be anywhere near ready to come out yet after only six weeks, but I suppose if the doctor says it’s okay . . .

“Not yet.” Shelly gives me a little happy squeeze. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Hot tea?” I ask hopefully. It’s bone-chillingly cold out there, and I could use a little warm-up.

“Sure.”

Brian moves in behind Shelly and taps her shoulder. “I’ll get the tea. You two go into the living room so you can put up your
feet for a while.”

Hmm. Brian’s sort of sexy when he gets all bossy and manly and overprotective. That’s sweet, isn’t it? Shelly blushes, obviously
thinking along the same lines. She turns, and he kisses her upturned lips.

Uh, hello? Remember me? I feel compelled to step in.

“Okay, cowboy. Take it easy with my little sister.”

They pull apart, without even the decency to look the least bit apologetic.

That was some quick work on Brian’s part. Shelly’s definitely carrying the glow of a woman in love. I have to say, all in
all, these two are a good match. Good going, Mom. Right guy, wrong daughter. But it all worked out in the end, didn’t it?

My folks show up a few minutes later, uncharacteristically tardy. Dad actually looks better than he has in a while. He’s happy,
thinner, and thoroughly enjoying the fact that Mom can’t do enough for him—and she hasn’t griped even once since she walked
through the door.

“You look very nice, Tabby,” she says. And that’s it. No “You’re too thin” or “You’re too fat”? Who is this woman and what
has she done with my overbearing, critical mother? Hmm. This will definitely take a little investigation. And I know just
where to look.

While Mom, Shelly, and Brian (who seems to be a permanent fixture at Shelly’s ribs) set the table and whisper amongst themselves,
I turn my attention to my dad.

“So, this new woman you’re married to…”

Dad tosses back his head and gives me a full laugh. A happy, satisfied, gleeful laugh that makes me so happy, I laugh right
along with him and the moment takes me back to our days watching Monty Python and the Three Stooges. “You’ve noticed, have
you?”

“Kind of hard not to. She hasn’t said a word about my new hairstyle.” A little pixie cut I’m wild about with some great auburn
highlights. But I know how Mom is about short hair on a girl.

“All right, you didn’t hear this from me. But your mother feels responsible for this Brian upset.”

My jaw goes slack for a sec. Then I realize he’s serious. “You mean she thinks I’m heartbroken over Brian, and it’s all her
fault?”

He grins. “In a nutshell.”

I give an incredulous shake of my head, my loopy earrings flowing with my movement. (And just as an aside, let me say that
I’m glad big earrings are back. They make me feel powerful, yet feminine. Know what I mean?)

Okay, back to Mom and her silent guilt.

“Is it horrible that I’d like to milk this kindness from her for a while?”

“Yes. Honor your mother and father that it may be well with you.…”

Okay, father
and
mother.

“I’ll talk to her.” I give him a grin, feeling like a kid again under my father’s amused expression. “Later.”

“Dinner’s ready,” Shelly announces. “I guess Mike and Joy are going to be late.”

“Oh,” Mom says, “they’re coming?” Her face pinches into a scowl. I knew the new her was too good to last for a whole evening.

“Yes. I thought you liked Joy.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say ‘like’ exactly. But…”

Poor Mom. It’s hard to get past the tattoos, piercings, and salty flavor of her speech. But Joy is a hardworking college student
and adores my brother. (They’re an unlikely pair, but who’s to say opposites don’t attract?)

The buzzer goes off, and Brian pops up from his seat to let my brother and his girl into the apartment.

We actually have a nice dinner—filet of sole, braised carrots, and Waldorf salad. I settle back in my chair and start to relax,
enjoying the fact that Brian has obviously put a lot of thought into this dinner.

After a nice dessert of German chocolate cake, Shelly pours decaf coffee in honor of Dad’s no caffeine issue. She’s a little
nervous, and I can tell something’s up by the way her gaze shifts to Brian as she sits and gives him a little nod.

Brian clears his throat and takes Shelly’s hand across the table.

“We, uh, have an announcement to make.”

Mom lets out a little gasp, and I think we all know what’s coming.

Brian reaches deep into his jacket (yes, he’s wearing a sports coat—who is this guy?) and produces a jewelry box. “I asked
Shelly to marry me last week, and she said yes.”

He opens the box and lovingly slips a respectable-sized diamond ring on her finger.

“Well, then…” My dad stands as one would expect of the bride-to-be’s father and walks over to Shelly. He hugs her. “Congratulations,
sweetie.” He reaches out and shakes Brian’s hand. “Welcome to the family.”

And that part of the ceremony is over. Suddenly I feel all eyes on me. What? Oh, I guess since I’m the so-called jilted one,
I have to give a convincing performance all about how happy I am. And not that they’d ever believe me, but I am genuinely
happy for my sister and Brian.