It was hysterical; the guy didn’t even know me. This was an occupational hazard we all bore the burden of—fans thinking they knew us.
Yesterday, when we settled in the jet to come back east for Laura’s ultrasound, Frank had stared me down and said, “No hijinks.”
I knew who he meant. The doctor. We’d had one date, and it had set Frank off. Primarily, it was my wanting time alone with Cal. Frank wasn’t used to that; most of my dates were media stunts and ended after photos were taken. In this case, I didn’t want any photos taken or the date to end—both items a challenge for Frank.
After Cal had texted that he’d seen the movie, I’d waited a few days to respond, hoping my pulse would settle from his complimentary text. It didn’t.
I’d missed Laura’s last doctor’s appointment because of a media blitz, but I wasn’t going to miss the twenty-week ultrasound. I’d told Cal as much via text when I’d said I was coming to town and couldn’t wait to see the baby moving…hopeful he’d take the bait and ask me out. He didn’t.
Desperate to see him, I’d casually texted yesterday, stating I’d arrived a day early and wondered if he wanted to grab a coffee. He didn’t wait to answer, quickly writing,Of course, Wilma.
My nerves over the doctor slightly settled, I’d called Frank in his nearby hotel room and told him my plans, which brought me to this shockingly scary moment where I sat in a rented-out patio, sweating in the early fall humidity in Mt. Vernon, Maryland.
It was worth it when I saw Cal round the corner of the building. Frank was his shadow, making sure no one else came back, nodding and leaving us be.
“Hi,” I stood and said quietly.
“Hi.” He matched my sentiment, but leaned in and kissed my cheek without preamble. “Hope you’re not going to ask me for any insider details on tomorrow’s appointment.”
“No, no. This is Jamie’s moment. I’m so happy for them.”
“And you’re going to be the greatest aunt.”
Smiling, I took a sip of my iced almond milk latte, trying to quench the urgency rising in my belly. I didn’t want to admit how much I liked the doctor. “What would you like? I’ll text Frank and they’ll bring it out.”
Cal ran a hand through his hair, pushing it off his forehead. The tiniest bit of gray catching my eye, peppering the brown locks around his ears. I’d seen it before, but this time, I thought, it might have been a turn-off to most, but not to me. Cal was a man with experience and patience when it came to life. It made me feel secure and safe.
“I can go in and get something.”
I knew he’d resist Frank getting him a drink. Those two were in some sort of cock-off since day one. “They have some arrangement, keeping this area cleared. I had a situation last week. Don’t ask…”
“Okay,” he easily agreed. “Coffee, black.”
I typed the order into my phone and came back to Cal, appreciating that he didn’t ask about the situation.
“Tell me, what have you been working on?”
I was excited to answer this. “Ford is making a new drama! We’ll probably start filming after the baby is born, but it’s a script about a pilot whose wife dies. Oh, I’m playing the stepmother.”
“Wow. Something new for both of you…and a long way from superheroes for Ford.”
“Ha, yes. Jamie convinced Ford to expand his wings when this script came through. The best part is he came to my agent asking for me. I don’t know if you know this, but I asked him to let me play Super Lady. He turned me down.”
“And then he gave you the French librarian part?”
I shook my head. “No, that was an afterthought, mostly around him needing an ally when he dragged Jamie on set, but it all worked out. Now he feels he owes me one.”
“It must be complicated, the two of you working in the same business.”
“It is and isn’t. It’s better than us being in politics like Scotty. If the three of us all went into the family business…yikes. Scott can do the senator thing with my mom making him her lackey.”
Frank appeared with Cal’s coffee. Without bothering to look at the other man, he turned to me and said, “You good?”
I winked and said, “Fine.”
Even though I was in a cashmere tank top and jeans, my body temperature heated at the embarrassment. Frank was acting like I couldn’t handle these situations, and I wanted Cal to think I was competent.
Finally, Frank turned and gave Cal a slight chin nod and started moving back toward his post at the front of the coffee place.
