Starlet's Web (The Starlet Series, #1) (37 page)

“There's more. I have a tumor on my pituitary gland that is going to be removed next week. The tumor caused the gland to stop functioning as it should. I look so young because it stopped producing growth hormone. I'm pretty scared about the brain surgery but I'm more scared about what would happen if I don't have the surgery. What I have is called hypopituitarism, and the headaches I've had were from the tumor. Hopefully, the doctor will remove it, and I'll finally be able to grow up.”

I smiled and nodded to Mom to have her rescue me. I was done. My eyes watered but I did not lose it like I had the night before. I sat down and held Manuel's hand while Mom started talking. She answered everyone's questions.

I saw Evan look at his phone, surely Googling hypopituitarism. In the next moment, Evan darted out of his seat and embraced me.

I knew what he learned. I learned it, too. Neither one of us would ever participate in our own exploitation again. We would never cave to the changing whims of fans and social media. We would stay true-to-ourselves to protect our ‘self' and never again live a lie to fill seats in theaters.

He whispered, “I'm sorry I thought like your mom.”

 

At the end of the night, Manuel and I were snuggling into each other while we listened to Ira's story about how he transitioned from producing music videos to owning a huge independent motion picture production studio. It was all about money. He got a big investment and went for it on
Left to Die.
His start was my start, and Mom's re-start. I cursed that investment money.

“Hey kids, can we have a minute with you both?” Dad asked. Celia excused herself from a conversation and stepped to Dad's side, holding his hand. She was smiling beautifully.

“We are so proud of both of you,” Celia praised. “Thank you Manuel for loving Lia. Your support and presence in her life has helped her be strong and to become a new woman.  Lia, we are so proud of you and love to be witness to your positive transformation.”

Dad added, smiling, “I noticed that you both wear half of a heart that together you both make whole. You unite the guardian and the angel. We want you to know that we think that it's very sweet and precious.”

Celia presented me with a jewelry box. “Lia, Tom wanted to add this to your half of the heart.”

I opened the box. They gave me a lovely pendant of a horse.

Dad explained, “The horse represents freedom of movement, safe running with sure footing, and ability to overcome adversity. Just as your tribe and the Flathead Nation has endured oppression, your spirits will guide you. Together with the strength from your Guardian Angel, you will get through this, my filly.”

Manuel took off my guardian necklace, added the filly to it, and clasped it back around my neck. I hugged him, Celia and Dad.

“Thanks for my tattooed heart, Manuel, and for my totem, Dad. I love you all.”

Confident I could find the inner strength to face whatever obstacles faced me or entangled me in the web, I accepted their support, saying quietly, “Thanks for loving every piece of me.”

 

 

 

~   
buenos sueños
    ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I truly appreciate all those who helped me write the Starlet novels. In particular, I'd like to thank the following:

Those
who have inspired me: Ben, Kaylin and Carson Hanna, my parents and
family, Kay Kessel-Hanna, Marcia Stevens and Marcia Sherrill, Celia
Shells, Jen Shen Chang, Traci Arnett, Grace Kimura, Attila Gogos, Lynne
Kawakami Gogos, Mira Scott, Jenny Mitchell, and Christina Cheney.

Those
who read and improved the drafts of my novels: Peg Beer, Valerie
Waters, Deanna Rhee, Maddi Dullea, Beth Dullea, Taylor Williams,
TraciLyn Clark, Jennifer McCullum, Brooke Montz, Terrie Hannum, Cheryl
Sanders, Tiffany Wright, Marnie Rocklin, and Lisa Iveslatt.

Thank
you to talented editor Martha Cargill and professional copyeditors:
Kendall Slee and Grace Kimura Lambert. Thank you to Ricci and Taylor
with Freebooksy for your guidance.

I
also appreciate the inspiration from my interaction with A-list actors
who were kind to me and my kids when we lived in Santa Monica. They
helped me create Liana Marie Michael, a sweet and smart fictional
actress who I learned could be a very real product of Hollywood.

 

Designer bags from AnabellebyMarciaSherrill.com.

Brownies from Café Attila, San Ramon, CA.

Pretzel croissants from City Bakery.

Cover design by Maari Casey.

 

 

Liana Marie understands the web, but understanding herself has just begun

 

What happens next?

Read
book two,
Starlet's Run

Book three:
Starlet's Light

 

    
    

 

www.carlahanna.com