Authors: Alexandra James
“True,” John shrugged breaking off and heading right while the women went left toward Lou’s office.
“John said you wanted to see us,” Shelby said in way of greeting as she and Lily entered Lou’s office.
“I did. Sit ladies, please.” Lou waited until they sat in the two chairs facing his desk.
“What’s going on, Lou?” Lily asked.
“First I want to know how you’re doing, Lily.” The man sat in the chair behind his desk and leaned forward on his elbows watching Lily carefully.
“So far, so good, Lou. I’m not going to let Cora’s mistakes effect my work on the show if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m worried about you, sweetie,” Lou’s thick accent came through. “Really, how are you? More details are coming out about what your mother is being charged with, Lily, and I’ve been fielding calls for the last hour.”
Lily sighed, “What’s the latest, Lou?”
“That Shelby is the one pressing charges,” Lou eyed his star and waited.
“I am.” Shelby ran her hand through her hair distractedly and then decided to just tell him what was going on. “Cora tried to blackmail us and I contacted the police. We set up a sting and she was caught on tape trying to blackmail money from me.”
“What on Earth could she try and blackmail you about?” Lou asked.
“Our relationship,” Lily’s voice was soft and she was also relieved that Shelby had the foresight to close the office door when they’d arrived. “We’re dating, Lou. Though my mother didn’t really know that. She just threatened to tell the world that I’m living with her and warned us she’d spin things to make it look strange.”
“How could she possibly do that?” Lou asked in confusion.
“She saw us at the park one day having a picnic,” Shelby picked up the story. “She overheard Lily calling me mama and decided to…”
“To use our in-house joke to her advantage,” Lou filled in.
“Yes,” Shelby confirmed. “She texted pictures later that day with captions that could easily be misconstrued. I decided I wouldn’t put up with it and contacted the police.”
Lou nodded his head and stared at his fingernails for a long while. Standing he eased back around his desk and sat in the black leather chair before pointing his index fingers together and bringing them under his chin. “Okay, as far as your relationship, I don’t care what you’re doing. You’re both adults and the show isn’t being effected. Does anybody else know?”
“I don’t think so. We don’t want it getting out yet and now that Cora has been arrested I think it best if we keep our private life private.”
“I agree.” Lou looked hard at Lily once more and leaned across the desk to study her better. “Are you sure that you want to go on tonight?”
“I am,” Lily smiled at the man. “I thank you for your concern but the press would eat it up even more if I decided not to go on. So unless this mess starts to effect the show or my performance we’re just going to pretend it’s not happening eight times a week.”
“Alright, kid. Whatever you say.” Lou stood up once more and intercepted Lily as she stood as well. Pulling her into a rare hug, he shrugged at her with a sheepish smile. “We protect our own, Lily. Don’t worry about this. You and Mama go do your thing tonight and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Thanks Lou.” Lily automatically reached out for Shelby’s hand and Lou smiled again as he watched them leave his office. Sighing heavily he headed back to his desk and picked up the phone, “John, we need to have extra security tonight. I’ll be damned if some of those vultures get in here and ruin the show for Lily or Shelby.”
* * *
Hearing a loud curse Shelby released Lily’s arm and turned sharply to see an unknown man fall to his knees picking up pieces of what used to be a camera. John had already retrieved the now visible memory card and Shelby noticed with interest that he had slipped it into his pocket without the photographer noticing.
“So sorry about that,” John said with no remorse. “You were told no reporters backstage or in the wings. You shouldn’t have been taking photos.”
“That’s no reason to kill my camera.” The man stood to his full height, which was still a few inches shorter than John. “I want to see whomever is in charge.”
“I’m in charge of backstage security. If you want to see anyone else you’ll have to use the proper channels and make an appointment.”
“Fine, just know that this isn’t the end of it.”
“I hope for your sake that it is,” John looked over the reporter’s shoulder, “Hey, Jake, take Mr. Nosy here and show him the door. Let security outside know if they see him again he’s to be detained so we can turn him over to the local cops for trespassing.”
“Will do, boss.”
Things began to move normally again backstage and John slowly made his way toward Lily and Shelby. “You and I need to talk, Mama.” He smiled down at Shelby and then looked hard at Lily. “And you need to stop giving Mama such a hard time.”
Blushing Lily nodded and turned to Shelby. “I’m going to get ready to leave, Mama.”
“Meet me in my dressing room when you’re done, Lily.”
Waving her hand that she’d heard Lily headed toward her dressing room as John escorted Shelby to hers. It was rare for John to escort the actors anywhere backstage and even rarer for him to visit one in their dressing room. Entering the room behind Shelby he closed the door quietly and then leaned up against it.
“What did you want to talk about, John?” Shelby asked sitting in her makeup chair taking off her shoes and trying to relax.
“Any idea of what happened with that reporter?”
“No but I have a feeling that you’re going to tell me.”
John smirked and nodded, “He got a picture of you swatting Lily. Nobody who works here thinks anything of it anymore, Mama, but he would have made something of it.”
Shelby leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples. “Thank you for taking care of that, John.”
The man smiled. “I protect my own, you know that. Besides that little girl needs you and you need her just as much, Mama. Not everyone is going to understand the relationship that you have with Lily but it’s clearly what you both need.”
“John?” Shelby’s eyebrow raised in question and the man let out a deep laugh.
“Think you’re the only one with a little girl of their own, Shelby?” The use of her name made Shelby shake her head.
“And here I thought you were just teasing me by calling me mama all the time.”
“Nah, just letting you know that I understand.” John grinned at Shelby’s expression. “I’ve been lucky myself. Been with my little girl for close to fourteen years now. I think you and Lily will be one of the lucky ones as well. Let me know if you ever need anything. I make one hell of an uncle according to one of my wife’s best friends.”
It was Shelby’s turn to laugh at this bit of information. “I’m sure that you do, John and I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks again for having my back.”
“Anytime, Mama, anytime,” the big man nodded to Shelby before leaving her to think about things as she got ready to head home.
A few minutes later Shelby’s door opened and a smiling Lily entered. “I’m ready to go home, Mama,” she announced.
“I’ll be ready in a few minutes, baby.” Shelby headed to her bathroom and finished her nightly routine before returning to her dressing room.
Sitting down on the couch next to Lily Shelby saw one of the girl’s favorite picture books in her lap. “Enjoying your book?”
A wide smile met Shelby’s question, “Yep. I love it when the pig outsmarts the wolf by getting a massage and a bath and everything.”
“Me too,” Shelby agreed before closing the book and taking it from Lily. “I’ll read this to you before bed tonight but right now we need to talk, Lily.”
“Talk about what, Mama?”
“Do you remember the attitude you gave me when we came off stage tonight?”
Lily’s eyes dropped to her lap. “It wasn’t a big attitude, Mama. I just wanted to go out and get burgers and fries with Steve and Cally.”
“What’s the rule about going out after shows, Lily?” Shelby asked.
“That we don’t do it unless it’s already planned, a special occasion or Sunday because we don’t have to work on Monday,” Lily replied quietly.
“Also, with the media I think that it’s best that we don’t go out for a while and I don’t want you out without me.”
“Oh,” Lily sighed heavily.
“So why did you get such an attitude when I told you that you couldn’t go?” Shelby pressed.
“Because I really wanted to go and I was hoping you’d forget the rules.” Lily leaned her head against Shelby’s shoulder. “It’s not fair, Mama. Steve and Cally get to go out.”
“I am not Steve or Cally’s mama, Lily. I am your mama and you do not go out after the show for a burger and fries. I didn’t appreciate the attitude you gave me.”
“Is that why I got a swat, Mama?” Lily whispered.
“Yes, that is reason you got a swat and you are very lucky that you aren’t getting more swats, little girl.” Shelby’s voice was firm and she looked into Lily’s face. “If you continue with the attitude you will be getting more than one swat, do you understand me?”
Lily nodded her head quickly, “Yes, Mama, I understand you real good.”
Shelby smiled and kissed Lily on the top of her head, “Glad to hear that. Now, let’s go home.”
* * *
“No! You can’t make me!” Lily stomped her foot at Shelby and shook her head in frustration.
A week had passed since Cora’s arrest. Big Lily had not been seen since the photography incident and Shelby wondered how Lily was going to cope at the D.A.’s office the following day. Little Lily’s temper had been worse than Shelby had ever experienced and right now Shelby was at her wit’s end.
“Lily Anne, go to your room and wait for me.” Shelby’s voice was almost too calm and her body language spoke volumes to Lily.
“You’re just being mean!” Lily shouted before stomping down the hallway and slamming her door.
Heading to the kitchen, Shelby took a bottle of water from the fridge and took a long drink. Noticing that it was still early she decided that an extra yoga class just might be what she needed. Picking up her phone from the counter she scanned through her contacts before pressing the button.
Smiling as she ended the call Shelby headed to her room. Getting ready to leave rather quickly she then moved to Lily’s room. Hoping that Lily wouldn’t have yet another tantrum Shelby knocked briefly and then entered the room.
“Lily,” Shelby sat down next to Lily on the floor. “What are you doing?”
“Reading to Albie,” Lily didn’t look at Shelby and seemed to be trying to pretend she wasn’t there.
“I see.” Shelby put her hand on Lily’s knee causing Lily to look at her.
“Are we going someplace, Mama?”
Shelby shook her head. “We are not going anyplace. However, I am going out for a little bit.”
“You’re going to leave me alone?” Lily’s eyes were wide and she looked at Shelby with a scared look on her face.
“I am not going to leave you alone, Lily. You are going to have a babysitter.”
“A babysitter?” Lily’s eyes registered shock.
“Do you remember when we talked about John and the photographer?”
Lily nodded, “Uh-huh, you said he has a little girl too.”
“That’s right, I did.” Shelby put her arm around Lily and pulled her close. “Uncle John is going to babysit you today.”
Lily’s brow wrinkled in a frown as she thought for a few moments, “Is his little girl coming too?”
Shelby shook her head, “No, she had plans for today already. It’s just going to be Uncle John. How do you feel about that?”
Lily shrugged. “Is he gonna spank me?” she whispered.
“I hope he doesn’t feel the need to spank you, Lily,” Shelby began and then pulled Lily onto her lap. “He will not spank you, Lily. Uncle John might put you in time out, but if he thinks you’ve earned a spanking then he will talk to me and I will decide what needs to happen.”
Lily began to play with Shelby’s fingers as she thought. “I guess it’s okay if Uncle John comes to babysit. Do you think he likes to color?”
“I think he might enjoy that.”
The ringing of the doorbell interrupted the conversation and Shelby was glad that Lily didn’t tense at the noise. “Would you like to help me let Uncle John in, Lily?”
Standing up Lily nodded happily. “You’re gonna let me unlock the door and let him in?”
Shelby nodded and then laughed as Lily took her hand and tugged on it, “Come on, Mama. Let’s not keep the man waiting.”
“Who is it?” Lily called through the door.
“Uncle John,” the big man’s voice boomed and Lily giggled as Shelby nodded.
Reaching up on her tiptoes Lily unlocked the door and let him in smiling when he picked her up and swung her around. “I hear we’re going to spend some time together today while Mama goes out.”
Lily nodded trying to keep her balance as he put her down in front of him. “Yep. Do you like to color, Uncle John? What about cookies? I bet you could reach the cookies without using the step stool.”
“No cookies, Lily,” Shelby admonished. Seeing the pout on Lily’s face Shelby cracked. “If Uncle John thinks that you’ve earned a treat then he may give you a couple of cookies.”
“Oh boy,” Lily’s grin spread across her face. “They’re the best cookies ever, Uncle John.” Lily’s excitement was evident and John chuckled at the girl.
“I love cookies so I hope you earn a treat.” He bent down and tapped Lily on the nose. “How about you go pick out something for us to do while I talk to Mama before she leaves?”
“Will you say goodbye to me, Mama?” Lily asked nervously.
“I wouldn’t dream of not saying goodbye, Lily,” Shelby replied.
“Okay, I’ll go pick out some stuff to do then.” Lily headed down the hallway as Shelby and John sat in the living area.
“Thanks for coming early, John.”
“No problem.” John leaned back in the over-stuffed chair he’d chosen. “So I take it you have a few questions,” he stated.
“Not questions so much as a few last minute things.” Shelby put her hands in her lap and gathered her thoughts before speaking. “First, I told Lily that you wouldn’t spank her but if you felt she needed one then you would tell me.”