Plain Jane in the Spotlight (11 page)

‘You’re doing a terrific job,’ he said. ‘I’m grateful. Look, there’s an audience waiting.’

The entrance was crowded with people who’d found an excuse to be there when Travis arrived.

‘You’re a star,’ he murmured.

‘Help!’ she squeaked.

His hand was around her waist, holding her close. ‘Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. This guy approaching is Vince, the director.’

Vince was about forty, vigorous, calculating but amiable. He looked Charlene over quickly and seemed pleased.

‘Glad to meet a lady I’ve heard so much about. Travis says you’re his guest of honour, so we’ll have to make sure you enjoy your visit.’

The day that followed was breathtaking. One by one, all the big shots came to greet her, size her up and nod their approval. It was clear that they had guessed the true situation, since Travis had been seen with her so soon after the scandal. Denzil Raines went so far as to give him the thumbs up and say, ‘Well done. Good move.’

Since she was protecting the studio’s most valuable property, she was assigned an ‘assistant’. This was Vera, a backroom girl who shadowed Charlene with instructions to take care of her needs. At lunchtime Travis took her to the studio cafe.

‘Sorry to have left you alone last night,’ he said.

‘Actually, I wasn’t alone. One of the TV channels showed wall-to-wall episodes, and there you were, all the time.’

‘You mean you couldn’t get rid of me.’ He laughed.

‘Let’s say it was useful for research. I noted the way you end every episode with some declaration about life.’ She struck an attitude and recited, ‘“Seize the moment whenever it comes. Don’t let the chance slip away, or we may regret it for ever.” Why, what’s the matter?’

Travis had groaned and covered his eyes.

‘You couldn’t have picked a worse example.’ He sighed. ‘Life imitating art and making a mess of it. I told you about going to the wedding of my brother Darius. While I was there they showed that episode, where I announced “Seize the moment”. Unfortunately, my brother Marcel saw it, and it gave him a mad idea. At the reception he announced his engagement to
his
lady love, Cassie.’

‘Why is that unfortunate?’

‘Because he overlooked the little matter of asking her first.’

‘Ouch!’

‘Exactly!’

‘Did she refuse him in front of everyone?’

‘No, she played along in public but refused him when they were alone. I gather they’ve now separated.’

‘But that’s his fault, not yours.’

‘I know, but it’s depressing. I want to do my family good, not harm them, even indirectly. I’d like to get closer to them. I know we’re in different countries but even so—’

‘You can be emotionally close even from different countries,’ she agreed.

‘Yes, we might if things were better, but something always goes wrong. Darius’s wedding was the first family celebration I’d managed to get to for ages. I had visions of a friendly reunion with my father. How stupid can you get?’

‘Wouldn’t he speak to you?’

‘He wasn’t there. He didn’t want Darius to marry Harriet and did all he could to split them up. When he didn’t succeed, he was furious and snubbed the wedding.’

‘But you’re all grown men. Who does he think he is?’

‘One of those Roman emperors we were talking about. Probably Nero.’

‘I promise never to tell him you said that.’

‘Thanks, though I doubt you’ll get the chance.’

There it was again, the hint of wry sadness beneath the cheerful mask. But it was gone in a moment. Something across the room had attracted his attention.

‘Lee’s here,’ he said. ‘In the doorway, watching us. But don’t look round.’

‘I wasn’t going to. I don’t want him to think I’m yearning after him. I must talk to him once, tell him he’s got nothing to worry about—’ She gave an ironical smile which made Travis put his hand over hers. ‘When I’ve done that we’ll draw a line under it and go our different ways, with no looking back.’

‘Isn’t there always some looking back?’ he asked gently.

‘A little, but we don’t have to be sentimental. What’s done is done.’

‘That’s very good. I just hope you can go on feeling like that. Yearning and regret for what can’t be changed can waste your life. Now, I have to go; they’re beckoning me.’

Left alone, she brooded. Travis’s remarks about the wisdom of not indulging in regrets made her remember his absence the night before. Was he already looking ahead to the day when she would be surplus to his requirements? She guessed he wouldn’t cruelly dump her. He would hand her gently into the arms of another suitor, thus preserving her feelings and her dignity.

She supposed she ought to be grateful to him. She couldn’t imagine why she wasn’t.

‘Can I sit down?’

Looking up, she saw Lee, smiling at her in a way that had once made her heart turn over.

‘Sure,’ she said.

‘I’ve been waiting for the chance, but I didn’t want to disturb you when you were with the great man.’

‘I tried to call you this morning but your phone was switched off.’

‘Yes, it still isn’t working properly,’ he said with an uneasy laugh.

Suddenly she pitied him. Maybe it wasn’t entirely his fault that he was a coward. Not every man could be brave and generous like Travis.

‘Stop worrying,’ she said. ‘It was a false alarm.’

‘You mean you’re not—?’

‘No, I’m not. It’s over.
Finito. Kaput.
Nothing for you to worry about.’

He beamed. ‘Oh, wow! That’s wonderful. Then everything’s all right.’

‘I suppose if you look at it one way, yes.’ It annoyed her that it didn’t seem to cross his mind that she might be disappointed. She wondered if anyone else’s feelings had ever crossed his mind in his entire life.

‘You’re quite sure, aren’t you?’ he asked anxiously. ‘There’s no chance of a mistake?’

‘No chance at all. Stop worrying.’

His whole being was brilliant with joy. ‘This is so wonderful.’ He leaned forward, seized her face between his hands and planted a smacking kiss on her mouth. ‘Bless you for being a great girl!’

He danced away. Charlene stared after him, confused. Where was the devastation she should be feeling? Where was the disappointed love?

Love!
said a scathing voice in her mind.
Is that what you called it? More fool you!

She’d longed to believe it was love, especially when she’d thought she was to have his child. But the bleak emptiness showed her a cruel truth. Her ‘love’ had been as much an illusion as his; a fantasy created by a lonely girl who yearned for a feeling of belonging.

There was even an incredible sense of relief that nothing now tied her to this irresponsible boy. She was free. Alone, but free.

‘Charlene, for pity’s sake, what’s the matter?’

Travis suddenly appeared in the seat beside her, seizing her, anxiously searching her face.

‘You look so strange,’ he said frantically. ‘I came back for a moment, and when I saw him kiss you I thought…I don’t know what I thought. But please, tell me you’re all right.’

‘I’m fine, thank you,’ she said lightly. ‘He kissed me from relief, that’s all. He’s got what he wanted.’

‘What about what you want? Did he ever think of that?’ he demanded, unconsciously echoing her own thoughts.

‘That would only have confused him.’

‘Do you want me to punch him?’

She shrugged. ‘Whatever for? Everyone’s happy.’

‘Are they?
Are they?
’ His eyes, fixed on hers, were angry and dark with meaning.

She was saved from having to answer by the arrival of Vera, offering to take Charlene to see some more of the studio.

‘That sounds great,’ Charlene said cheerfully. ‘Let’s go.’

Her mind seemed to have slipped into another dimension and she enjoyed the tour, especially the last part, where they crept into the rehearsal room just as Travis was confronting Lee in a scene.

‘It’s best to think a little before you speak,’ ‘Dr Harrison’ was saying. ‘Your patients will appreciate it.’

‘I do try,’ Lee was saying in character. ‘But things can get very difficult.’

‘Hey, what happened there?’ called Vince. ‘Travis, you’re supposed to simply stand there and look at him, not reach out as though you meant to hit him.’

‘Sorry,’ Travis said in a tight voice. ‘Something made me jump.’

‘OK, do it again,’ Vince called. ‘Travis, remember you’re full of warm feeling and generosity.’

‘Yeah, right!’

‘Let’s leave them to it,’ Vera murmured, and they slipped away.

Charlene recalled Travis saying he rarely lost his temper and found it hard to cope when he did. But surely he hadn’t lost his temper with Lee?

Yet the look on his face had surprised her, and possibly everyone else in the room. Anger coming out of nowhere.

At the end of the day she went out to wait for him in the car. There were nods and salutations from the others who were leaving, always with an edge of curiosity and respect.

I could get used to this,
she thought.
OK, so it’s all a con, but who says I can’t enjoy a con while it lasts?

After a few minutes Travis joined her and they relaxed in the back together.

‘Do you ever have to drive yourself?’ she asked.

‘I’m not
allowed
to drive myself,’ he said, grinning. ‘The bosses say they want me free to think of nothing but my “art”. The truth is that I’m not a brilliant driver and they’re terrified I’ll have an accident that will reflect badly on the show.’

As the car pulled away, Charlene saw Lee watching her from a distance. He waved and quickly stepped back into the shadows. She glanced at Travis, wondering if he’d noticed, but he was looking the other way.

CHAPTER SEVEN

T
HEY
got out a few blocks from his home, and went to dine in a small restaurant.

As they relaxed over the main course, Charlene said, ‘We need to talk about money. You give me too much.’

‘You deserve every penny. I want you to take more and equip yourself with more clothes.’

‘Then I’ll buy them myself.’

‘At LA prices? No way.’

‘I mean it. I’m your useful piece of stage equipment, not your kept woman. This is an arrangement of equals or it’s nothing.’

‘Equals?’ He looked comically alarmed. ‘I don’t do equals.’

‘You’ve never heard of women’s lib?’

‘I’ve heard of it but I try to ignore it. I don’t know! My girlfriend paying for herself. Whatever is the world coming to? Well, at least you have to accept this.’

From his pocket he produced a small jewel box. Inside she found the pearl earrings that he’d left behind on the first night.

‘Sorry about that,’ he said.

‘And the press thinks you’re the great romantic,’ she teased.

He fixed the earrings for her. She had to admit they were beautiful. He thought so too, from the way he was smiling.

They strolled home, yawning, for it was very late. As they got into the elevator a middle-aged man appeared, hurrying. Travis held the doors open for him, calling, ‘It’s all right, Sam, I’ve got it.’

‘Thanks,’ said the man. He smiled and nodded at Charlene.

‘Charlene, this is my friend, Sam Barton. He and his wife live on the floor below us.’

‘And you don’t have to tell me who this is,’ Sam said, shaking her hand. ‘You’re the talk of LA.’

The three of them exchanged pleasantries until the elevator stopped, and Sam bid them goodnight, departing with a curious look at Charlene.

‘Nice guy,’ Travis said as they finished the journey. ‘We must have him and his wife to supper. You’ll like Rita.’

‘Are they in the business?’ Charlene asked. She had fallen easily into the habit of referring to the entertainment world as ‘the business’ as though there was no other. In Los Angeles it was easy to believe that was true.

‘In a way. He works in one of the studios, on the financial side. She used to be a model and a dancer.’

In her own room she prepared for bed, then went to stand by the window and look down on the gleaming city. Just below, she could see the garden, and Travis, sitting there. He was leaning back against a tree, his eyes closed, his lips moving.

It would be fascinating, she thought, to be a bird in the nearby bush, and hear what he was saying. But she doubted she would ever understand him. Today he’d puzzled her afresh—calm, agitated, unpredictable, but never less than the kind man she valued so dearly.

She drew the curtain and stepped back.

Down below, Travis opened his eyes, glancing up to the top of the building. Again he murmured the words that had struck a nerve.

‘“Useful piece of stage equipment.” Well, I’ve been warned.’

* * *

They settled into a comfortable pattern, treating each other with the cheerful friendliness of siblings. At her suggestion, he began calling her Charlie.

‘She’s the real me, sensible and practical. Charlene is the fantasy version.’

He nodded. ‘Very clever.’

He had to be away for a few days, shooting outdoor scenes. Every night he called to ask how she was, and she reassured him. Neither of them ever mentioned Lee.

She was glad of a few free days free. It gave her some time alone, which she felt she needed. Now everything about her had changed. Heads turned in the street, people nudged as she went past. If she’d needed confirmation of Travis’s fame, she was getting it.

Now some of it seemed to have rubbed off on her. Cameras appeared, voices called, ‘Look this way.’ She obliged, careful to look pleasant, but always escaped quickly.

‘And they keep asking me to give them a quote,’ she told him. ‘I don’t, of course, but they’re getting pressing.’

‘I’m sorry you’re having a hard time.’

‘I didn’t say I was having a hard time.’ She laughed. ‘It’s got its funny side, but I don’t want to risk saying the wrong thing.’

‘We’ll sort it out, I promise. We need to arrange things so that they come out the way we want. I’ll be home soon. I had hoped it might be tonight, but there’s been a big delay. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

In fact the delay was cleared up sooner than expected, and he managed to make it home at three in the morning. The apartment was dark and he entered quietly.