Authors: Jean C. Joachim

Lovers & Liars (19 page)

Gunther
smiled at his mother. “Thanks, Ma.”

“I
think you’ve got the perfect girl, too. Erica is just right. She doesn’t take
any crap from you,” she chuckled.

“Got
that right!”

“She’s
lovely. Do you want me to deliver her present now?”

Gunther
nodded. “We don’t have much time.”

Gunther
took her arm and brought her to the part of the club where Erica was camped out
with
Dorrie
. He showed her to the right room. Clare
went right up and knocked.

* * * *

There
was a rap on the door and a nervous voice called out, “Come in, unless you’re
Gunther.”

Clare
opened the door slowly. She gasped at the sight of Erica. Her white, strapless
dress was piped with white satin. The simple lines followed her figure
gracefully to the floor. She wore a gold locket around her neck and gold
earrings. Her golden hair was pulled back from her face then hung down in a
loose curl below her shoulders. An organza shawl rested on a nearby chair.
Dorrie
was there, helping Erica fasten her wide headband of
fresh, white flowers then attach the veil.

“You
look breathtaking, my dear. Gunther is a lucky man.”

Erica
hugged the diminutive woman. “Thank you, Clare.”

“I
was hoping, after this is over, you’d call me Mom.”

Erica’s
eyes watered. “I’d be proud to.”

“Oh,
here I am talking too much, when I have your wedding present from Gunther.”

“Now?”

“Oh,
yes. Perfect timing, I’d say.”

Erica
cocked her head slightly when Clare opened the door. The young woman gasped,
her breath caught in her throat. She covered her mouth with her hands and tears
poured down her cheeks. There stood Billy and
Chickie
,
in the flesh.

“What
are you doing here? I’m so glad to see you.”

“Gunther
got the lawyer to get the kids a few days off from school to come here for your
wedding,” Clare explained.

Erica
ran to them, taking them into her arms.
Chickie
cried
while Billy only sniffled, which was appropriate for a thirteen-year-old boy.

“There
goes the makeup,”
Dorrie
said, throwing up her hands.

“Oh,
dear. Hadn’t thought of that.” Erica turned to the children. “How are you? Are
you okay? You’re going to come live with Gunther and me someday, someday real
soon.”

“The
lawyer said we have to go to court, then they’re gonna let us live with you.”

“I
know. Isn’t that fabulous? Gunther bought a big house, plenty of room. Plenty
of food. New clothes, too.”

Chickie
cried louder. “I want to stay with you now.”

“I
know, sweetie. But I’m getting married then going away for a while. But it
won’t be long now. I hope you won’t miss your friends.” She looked at Billy.

“Nah.
Don’t have many, anyway.”

“Things
will be different when you come to live with us.”

“Who
is this Gunther guy you keep talking about?”

“He’s
the man I’m marrying today.”

“He
better be nice to you.”

“He
is, Billy. He is. And he loves kids.”

Clare
took the children back to find a seat.
Dorrie’s
husband showed up to walk Erica down the aisle just as
Dorrie
finished fixing the bride’s makeup. Erica’s hands shook a little. She couldn’t
tell if it was nerves, excitement, or a combination of both. She wanted to
marry Gunther and love him with all her heart. Bringing Billy and
Chickie
to the wedding erased even the slightest doubt from
her mind that he was the man for her.

Her
broad smile reflected her happiness at finding a new family. She was going to
have what she wanted, including her dream career. Before she left, she thanked
God for the end of her bad luck streak and the beginning of her new life.

Her
heart skipped a beat when she heard the first notes of Mendelssohn’s Wedding
March. With her arm safely tucked in her friend’s elbow, Erica walked slowly
down the aisle. Her gaze connected with Gunther’s right away. He wore the
broadest grin she’d ever seen.
He’s so
gorgeous in a tuxedo. It’s the perfect suit for him.

After
the ceremony and the reception, Erica was all tuckered out. Billy had kept her
dancing when Gunther had had enough.
Dorrie
helped
her change into a dark pink, silk pantsuit. She kissed the children and left
them in Clare’s capable care as she and Gunther entered their limousine.

“Where
are we going again?” she asked, staring at the wedding band on her finger.

“Mind
like a sieve. First, St. Thomas. Then, Costa Rica.”

“Beach.
Perfect.”

“The
wedding went off without a hitch.”

“Of
course. It was another Gunther Quill production,” she chuckled.

He
stared at her. “You’re amazing. I’m so lucky.”

“And
don’t you ever forget it, either.” She wagged a finger in his face. “I’m lucky,
too.”

“Damn
straight,” he said.

“Are
we going right to the airport?”

“Nope.
Gonna stop at the Beverly Hills Palace for tonight. Plane leaves at noon
tomorrow.”

“
Oooh
, good.”

“We
can get a jump on starting our own family,” he snickered.

“Our
own?”

“It’s
been long enough, according to the doctor. Are you ready?” He took her chin in
his hand.

“Am
I ready? Oh, so ready.”

The
driver pulled up in front of the luxurious hotel and stopped. Gunther offered
his hand. Erica threaded her fingers through his. Together they stepped out
into their new life.

Epilogue

The
Stylish Lady Salon

Erica
stood on the pedestal while Magdalena Oliver fitted a new dress.

“I
need one for the
Academy Awards
and
one for the Broadway premiere of
Strange
Bedfellows,
Maggie.”

“Silver
looks fabulous on you for Broadway, but let’s
try
gold
for the Awards, eh? Match the statue for luck.”

“Sounds
good.”

“I
have to let this out a little,” Maggie said, flashing a smile at the young
woman. “You’re up for an award, too, I hear?”

“I
won’t win. It’s an honor just to be nominated.”

“You
never know,” Maggie added a few pins to the hem. “Done. Go change. I need to
get this ready.”

The
bells jingled on the front door while Erica was in the back room getting dressed.
Gunther pushed the curtain back and joined his wife. She met him with a kiss.

“Got
the dresses set?”

She
nodded.

“Good.
Carly reserved a suite at the Plaza for the Broadway premiere. I thought we’d
bring the kids.”

“School?”

“Hell,
they can miss a Friday. We’ll fly back on Sunday. Get dressed. There are a
couple of scripts from Max I want you to see. One with a juicy part for you.”

“For
me?”

“Perfect
for you. Come on. We’ve got to check the guest list for the
Awards
after party. I’ve got a couple of
new names to add from Max.”

Erica
slipped into a pair of jeans.

“Oh,
I almost forgot. I got you something to wear to the awards ceremony.” He pulled
a rectangular box out of his breast pocket.

Erica
opened it to reveal a diamond necklace.
“Oh my God, Gunther!
It’s beautiful.”

He
held it up to her neck. “Even better on you.”

She
kissed him. He pulled her close, stroking her hair. “Happy?” she whispered.

“Delirious,”
he replied. He slid his hand down to cover her abdomen. “Did Maggie fix the
dress?”

“She
let it out, but in the next two weeks, I might be bigger.” She placed her small
hand on top of his.

“Only
six more months, doe-eyes.”

“And
I’ll be playing the best role of my life. Next to wife, that is.”

“Standing
ovation for the new mom.”

She
slipped into the
Ferrari
while
Gunther got behind the wheel.

“I
need to talk to you about something.”

“Uh-oh.
What did I do now?”

“Nothing
to worry about. It’s just that I’m surprised my dad and stepmom gave the kids
up without a fight.”

The
smile melted off Gunther’s face. “They didn’t.”

“What
do you mean?”

“They
fought tooth and nail.”

“You
never told me that.”

“You’d
been through enough. The miscarriage, the wedding, I wanted to spare you that.”

“I
don’t like secrets. We need to share stuff,” she said, clearly annoyed.

“So
says the master secret keeper of this family.”

“Enough!
We’ve been down that road too many times. What happened?”

“They
got a lawyer, though I don’t know what they used for money.” He hesitated,
slowing down to make a left-hand turn.

“And?”

“And
we settled with them.”

“You
bought the kids?”

“In
a manner of speaking.
Yeah. I guess you could say we
did.”

“Oh
my God.
How much did it cost?” Erica covered her face with
her hand.

“Don’t
worry about it.
Strange Bedfellows
is
doing great. We can afford it. Now we have them, and life is good.”

“Still.
How much?”

“I’m
not going to tell you. You’re pregnant, and I don’t want you to be upset by
anything. Okay? That’s my kid cooking in there.”

“You’re
right. I need to forget it.”

“That’s
right. That was the past.”

“Somehow,
I don’t imagine we’ve seen the last of my dad.”

“Probably
not. But we’ll deal with that problem if it happens. Remember, I’m great at
solving problems. It’s what I do.”

“That
and finding great scripts.”

“And
great talent.”

Erica
settled back in her seat and watched the scenery. She tried to shake off a
vague uneasiness about her father.
He
might return, and he might not. Depends on how fast he goes through the money
Gunther gave him. But I’m not alone. I don’t have to deal with him by myself.
Gunther is here.

She
closed her fingers around his upper arm and squeezed, shooting him a grin at
the same time.

“What’s
that for?”

“For
being you. And for being mine.”

They
arrived home and linked hands. Walking up to their magnificent, sprawling,
Spanish-style house, Erica smiled, her mind and body at ease. She had the man
she wanted. He’d protect her and the children. Their lives would never be dull.
They climbed the steps together, returning to their topsy-turvy, bi-coastal
life.

Pregnancy
meant Erica hit the sack by nine every night. Gunther babied her, bringing her
warm milk, rubbing her feet and ankles, and listening to her prattle on about baby
names and natural childbirth. He even agreed to go to Lamaze classes, which
surprised her.

Best
of all was that he joined her on her early nights. She loved his retiring with
her, as she hated being in bed alone. Often, he would sit up with a small light
on, working in bed, while she slept next to him.

“I
suppose it’s not fair you have all the discomfort of pregnancy, and I have the
pleasure of not using condoms.”

“I
love sex with no birth control,” she giggled. “And I’m hornier than ever.”

“I
know,” he snickered. “Never would have expected that.”

“Speaking
of horny,” she said, slipping her arms around his neck, sliding her naked body
up against his. Gunther glided his hands down Erica’s bare skin as his mouth
captured hers. The phone rang, interrupting their lovemaking.

“Who
is it?” she asked, clearly annoyed.

“
Dunno
.” He picked up the receiver.

There
was silence for a while.

“What?
She did? Damn. I’m sorry, Stephanie. Yeah. I had no idea.”

Silence
again.

“Right,
right. No. I understand. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Erica
sat up in bed. “What the hell was that about?”

“
Shyla
Hollings, Grant’s cousin.”

“The
one who you got that job for?”

“Yeah.
She’s a designer for that new TV show,
Marriage
Minded
.”

“So?
What happened?”

“They
fired her.” Gunther shook his head.