When Goldie was very pregnant and had let her hair get dark, under the cover of a big floppy hat, she’d walked the streets of Siena. No one recognized her, and she was charmed by each cobblestone step of the place. Siena was all good things.
She was Siena’s mother. But slowly, she decided to settle into being Siena’s beloved aunt.
Goldie kissed Siena’s sweet head goodbye. There were tears when they all prepared to part.
Goldie, Siena, and Siena’s chosen parents all lived in a beautiful bubble for a time. But it was time to go back to her real life. Having this baby was never the plan.
Having someone to care about, care for, and worry after, was new to Goldie. In the end, she knew this about herself, that she could provide all the things this child needed but couldn’t protect her from the prying eyes. If anyone got wind of how sweet Siena came to be, she’d be the illegitimate baby that ruined Dustin Toms’ perfect life. That was not what Goldie wanted for her beautiful daughter. So, they decided Siena would always know that Auntie Goldie was her biological mother, but Goldie would be Auntie. It would work. It had to.
“You’re sure. You can change your mind.”
“No one can know, and because of your open heart, I know this is the right thing. She’ll have a lovely life with you. As long as you let me be the fairy godmother movie star that showers her with pixie dust.”
“Of course, I never dreamed I could be so lucky.”
“Same.”
They hugged, with the sweet baby between them. Goldie’sgood friend was now Siena’s mom and her husband, Siena’s new dad. They were a new kind of family. Their own kind.
“I’m going to be really crazy busy for the first few months, but then, maybe in the summer?”
“Whenever, always. However, she’s your daughter, too.”
“Auntie Goldie is just fine. I’m fine with it, okay?”
“Okay.”
They secured little Siena in her car seat. The new family of three drove off. Goldie watched the car go. It was the first time her baby was physically so far from her. She would get used to it.
She flew home in a private jet, and another week went by. Hair, makeup, OptiFast shakes, wardrobe, meetings, scripts. It all came back into her life at a pace that was faster now thatTenuredwas about to premiere.
The film was a critical and commercial success.
Goldie was nominated for a SAG Award, a Golden Globe, and a Critic’s Award.
She’d come back from Italy, and its relaxed clock, its luxurious pace, to the frenzy of her career. There was one more nomination that she coveted. The big one and it was the last one to announce.
It was early when the phone rang. She’d forgotten how early this happened because they liked to announce live on the morning shows that aired on the East Coast.
“Congratulations, you’re nominated. Best Supporting.”
It was Mitchel Ozock on the other end.
“Great, Dustin too?”
“Yeah, best actor, best director, best-adapted screenplay, and you. Now get skinnier. You’ve got a lot of red carpets to walk.”
She’d be photographed a million times for awards season.
Goldie rose to the challenge of it. Only two months after having a baby, every inch of her was photographed. There was some speculation that she’d had a boob job.
She was photographed in her designer gowns. She was oneveryone’s best-dressed list for every red carpet she walked. Even Joan Rivers praised her looks at each event.
“I’m not worthy,” said the acerbic comedian when she saw Goldie on Oscar night.
This all fit the plan. This was Goldie’s career leveling up, shining in a way she dreamed of when she was a kid.
Dustin Toms and his wife were lovely on the red carpet. They all posed for pictures. Press praised Laura for her post-baby body. She was writing a fitness book on how to bounce back.
