“Glory,” I repeated the name.
“She’s been with me for five years. Suzie found her working at a coffee shop and fell for her. Anyway, Frank follows me around after I emerge and broods in a corner somewhere while I do my workout, and then hides again while I have my coffee. Suzie always sends an agenda the night before, so Frank knows where I’m going and what I’m doing. He doesn’t like surprises.”
“You’re kidding.” I raised an eyebrow before having another slug of my coffee.
“He takes his job seriously. You should see him when he requests any extended time off. He agonizes over his replacement. It’s usually a friend of his.”
“Well, I will say keeping you safe is a priority, so let Frank do what he does.”
I noticed her latte was getting low, so I stood and fetched the second one, already perfectly crafted, on the cart, refilling my mug while over there.
“Maybe I’ll replace Glory,” I teased while handing it to her.
“Never.”
Seated again, I said, “Tell me the rest.”
She ran a hand through her hair, several blond strands flying in her face. “Suzie works from home but pops into my condo or set as needed. She’s the master of all the details. Usually for me it’s a long day full of running lines, photo shoots, interviews, and meetings. Nothing exciting. When I’m on set, Glory only works half days, leaving whatever I need for later. Which is nice for her, because when I’m not on set she can be at my house until nine or maybe later. During production she leaves my dinner for me. Oh, I said that. You see, I need the quiet when I’m done for the day after filming. After a whole day of playing someone else, I just want to be me.”
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine a life with Billy. My hectic schedule, bombarded with calls, certainly didn’t seem to mesh.
“You okay?” Billy asked, a tinge of anxiety in her tone.
“You’re not scaring me off. It seems like a never-ending jungle you have to spear your way out of though.”
This made her laugh. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“Listen, I do have to go make rounds though…” I sadly admitted.
She stood and spoke quickly. “See you at the party?”
“You bet.” I took her mug and set it with mine, and pulled her close, running my lips on her cheek. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
And then I left without bothering to text Frank. I was sure the doorman could let me out the back…
Billy
“She’s beautiful,” one of my mom’s oldest friends gushed over Laurel.
Ford was holding her and not allowing anyone else to touch his sweet baby swaddled in a green crushed velvet blanket. He’d been making rounds all night; I was exhausted watching him.
“He’s going to collapse,” Jamie said, standing next to me.
“He’ll be fine. He’s in DEFCON Dad Mode. Let him be.”
“At least I can avoid your mom and her friends.”
This had us both laughing.
“Truth,” I declared. “Not to mention Ford said Laurel is going upstairs soon, away from the germs and the crowd.”
A quick nod from Jamie confirmed what I’d been told and let me know my mother would be further displeased.
“By the way, you look stunning.” My sister-in-law ran her hand in front of my red sequin jumpsuit. “Super sexy…maybe for a certain doctor?”
I shook my head. “Shhh. No doctor. I’m leaving for California tomorrow. You know I hate Christmas dinner with Scotty and his brood. It’s all about how he’s perfect and had kids andyoudidn’t, meaning me.”
“You could eat with us. We’re not going. This was Beatrice’s consolation prize. This party. We head out in a few days. Stay with us…”
