The Perfect Location (19 page)

He had slept in the master bedroom. When he asked where she slept she had evaded the question. He had woken early to look for her but couldn’t find her anywhere in the house. She was an enigma wrapped up in a riddle, he decided.

Sapphira returned. ‘Done,’ she said. ‘We have to shoot tomorrow and you have one week to find a replacement actor. Any news?’

‘Yes, I have a few options for TG and I’ve emailed him from my BlackBerry. Once this all comes out, we’ll have to move fast and quietly to keep it all hushed up. Enough of that, though, we just have to wait and see what happens. What shall we do today?’

‘Babe, you can do what you like but I’m going to read. Feel free to use anything or go anywhere. Okay?’

‘Where will I find you?’ asked Jack, wondering where she was planning on reading.

‘I will find you,’ she said as she closed the door behind her.

Jack gave a little laugh. The girl sure knew how to make an exit.

‘Jesus, have you heard?’ Rose asked Kelly as she arrived on set on the Thursday morning.

‘Yep,’ she said, setting her brushes in order. Kelly liked order, especially on mornings like this.

‘I can’t believe it. I’m always shocked when I hear about a scandal. I suppose I like to think the best of people,’ said Rose as she settled in the chair in front of her.

‘Really? I never do. You hear the strangest things in this chair. Nothing shocks me anymore,’ said Kelly laughing.

When the scandal broke overnight and Raphael had been charged with drug possession entering LAX, the studio had been on the phone right away, insisting TG fire him and recast and re-shoot the scenes with Calypso.

‘But drugs? A dirty bag of heroin in his pocket! What a fool. He probably thought he was a big enough star to get them through, but LAX is a nightmare now. All that checking and scanning. Poor TG, what a mess. What’s he going to do?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know. I’m staying away until I’m asked otherwise.’

‘Wise move, lady,’ said Rose and she closed her eyes for Kelly to work her magic.

Rose walked onto the set looking for Max. He hadn’t been in make-up when she was there and she was looking forward to seeing him. Heading into town the day before, she had bought some Perugian chocolates in the shapes of different animals. When she saw them in the shop, she thought of the boys immediately.

‘Is Max around?’ she asked Chris as he walked by her while she waited for the shot to be set up.

‘I think he’s in his trailer,’ said Chris, waving in that general direction.

Rose went to her trailer and took the bag of gifts to Max’s trailer. Knocking on the door, she waited for him to answer. ‘What?’ she heard Max yell from inside.

‘It’s Rose.’

The door opened and Max stood in the door, expressionless.

‘Um, hi. I saw these in town and I thought of you,’ stammered Rose nervously.

Max seemed nervous, too. ‘Thanks, you didn’t need to do that,’ he said, taking the bag from her.

‘I wanted to. It’s just some chocolate, everyone likes chocolate. I put labels on them so you know which one is for which boy. I got Milo the cutest chocolate teddy bear and Jasper …’

Max interrupted her. ‘Listen, Rose, that’s very kind of you, thanks. I will make sure the boys send a note but I’ve a few calls to make if you don’t mind.’

As he shut the door in Rose’s face, she was shocked. He was unfriendly; it was the Max she had first met without the yelling. What had happened to create such animosity, she wondered.

The mood on set was tense. Max was terse and unresponsive to Rose unless they were acting. It was a tough day and as Rose walked to her trailer at the end of the day, she felt herself wanting to cry. Max was being totally unreasonable and Rose didn’t know why she cared so much. She had worked with other bad tempered and rude actors before but Max was more than just another actor to her.

Max was in his trailer preparing to go home for the day, when he saw the bag of chocolates Rose had given him. Opening it, he saw a teddy bear for Milo, a toolset for Jasper and a motorbike for Dominic. She knew them perfectly, he thought, as he put them back in the bag.

Max felt awful. He had tossed and turned all night thinking of Rose and feeling guilty about Alice. His solution was to punish Rose and now he felt like a prick. He was a prick, he decided.

‘Fuck,’ he said, as he realized Rose had left for the day. What should I do, he wondered as he drove home. Make some big gesture or would that be weird?

Entering his villa, Milo came to greet him, after spending a day with his brothers and their Italian nanny. ‘We went on a bear hunt in the woods,’ said Milo, climbing up his father’s leg.

Max picked him up and walked out to see his sons, who were playing in the back garden.

‘Boys,’ he called. They ran over to him. ‘Rose bought something for you all and asked me to give them to you.’ Handing out the chocolates, the boys ripped off the wrappings and started to stuff their faces.

Max watched them tenderly. It’s so simple for them, he thought. Why do adults make things so confusing? Then he stopped. ‘Boys, can I ask your advice?’ The two elder boys looked at each other, confused. Their father never asked them their advice.

Max went on. ‘I’ve made a mistake and I was a bit rude, actually a lot rude, to someone and I think I was wrong. What would you do?’

Jasper piped up. ‘Say sorry.’

Dominic interjected. ‘No! Give them a present.’

Milo looked his father in the eye, his mouth covered in chocolate. ‘Kiss them.’

Max smiled at them. ‘How did I get such smart men?’ he asked. ‘Do you mind looking after the boys for a bit?’ he asked the nanny. ‘I have to see someone.’

As Max drove back up the driveway, Dominic turned to the nanny. ‘It’s about Rose. Dad’s a loser around her though,’ he scoffed, as he stuffed more chocolate into his face.

Max parked and nearly lost his nerve. What the hell was he doing there? Summoning up his courage, he walked to Rose’s door and rang the bell. Lucia answered. ‘
Buongiorno
, Signor Max, I will let Rose know you are here,’ she said conspiratorially, as she led Max into the sitting room.

Max waited nervously and then Rose came into the room. Her hair was wet from the shower and she was wearing a white cotton dress and no shoes. She looked like an angel! Warily, she stood in front of him. ‘Hello,’ she said.

‘Hello. I believe I have to apologize to you. I’m very sorry for being such a shit today. I’ve not been myself and I’m afraid you keep seeing the worst in me.’

Rose waited. She had nothing to say and Max seemed to have a lot on his mind. ‘You see, the thing is, well fuck, I will be honest with you. Excuse my language.’

Rose shrugged her shoulders, not caring about his use of profanities.

‘I’m being a schoolboy. I’ve had feelings for you since our dinner and I feel like I’m betraying Alice. I’m sorry, it’s not your business or your fault. You are just being you, which is lovely, by the way. I’ve no right to act like I did today and I hope you will forgive me.’ He wrung his hands and then put them in and out of his pants pockets, unsure of what to do with them.

Rose sat down, shocked at his candour and slightly exhilarated at the same time. So she hadn’t imagined it, she thought. He did have feelings for her.

Max continued, ‘I’ve not had feelings for anyone since Alice died and it’s too much almost. I never thought I would think about anyone again and then I met you. I feel guilty in some ways, yet when I’m with you, I feel at peace again. It’s bloody awful. I promise to not let this get in the way of making the film in any way. I’ve been a dickhead, I know that. My feelings are not your responsibility but I want to thank you all the same.’

‘For what?’ Rose asked quietly.

‘For bringing me back to life. Even if these feelings aren’t reciprocated, it does feel good.’

Rose smiled. ‘Oh Max, you’re an idiot. I was being nice when I bought the chocolates, not asking for your hand in marriage.’

‘I know, I am an idiot, aren’t I?’ he said as he paced on the rug. Bending down in front of her, he took her hand. ‘I’m not socialized enough, the nuances pass me by.’

Rose held his hands tight and then leaned forward and kissed him on the mouth. Chaste, but lingering. Max pulled away and looked her in the eyes. ‘Is that the kiss of friends?’

‘Yes, I feel sorry for you.’ Her eyes twinkled as she spoke.

Max was serious. ‘Rose, I’ve got three children and I haven’t been with anyone since Alice. I thought I was done.’

‘Oh Max, again, I’m not proposing marriage. I’m talking sex,’ said Rose, laughing.

‘God, I’m hopeless. Christ.’ He hung his head in shame.

‘Come on then, sympathy sex, nothing better,’ said Rose and pulled him towards her. She was surprised how much she wanted him, it was lust and laughter mixed together.

Max fell back on top of her and Rose embraced him. Their kisses were so tantalizing, Rose wondered if she actually wanted him to stop. This was almost enough, she thought, and then she felt his hands holding her breasts. He unzipped her dress at the back and pulled the cotton off her shoulders; her wet hair brushed against his cheek. Her dress pulled down to her waist, he touched her wondrous breasts and Rose sat, being worshipped and explored. She undid his buttons and pulled off his shirt, kissing his chest and running her hands over his back. ‘I have wanted to do this since the day beside the pool,’ she murmured, her voice thick with lust.

‘You have no idea what you did to me that day, what I wanted to do to you,’ he said huskily.

Rose laughed and wriggled out of her dress; underneath she was wearing just a pair of silk underpants. ‘Then show me now,’ she said, lying back on the rug.

Max undressed and lay next to her. They began to explore each other’s bodies, slowly and rhythmically, the touch electric when their skin came together. Max entered her and she sighed in ecstasy. It had been so long since either of them had been with anyone and Max and her fitted perfectly. Wrapping her legs around him, they moved together until Rose came quickly and then Max came after. She held him close inside her, until he rolled off and she rested her head on his chest.

Max kissed her and held her close. ‘I asked the boys what I should do to apologize and they said I should say sorry, kiss you and give you a present. I’ve done the first two but not the last one I am afraid.’

Rose nestled her head into his chest. ‘Yes, you did. I haven’t had an orgasm in a long time. That’s the best present a woman can ask for.’

‘Well then,’ said Max, ‘I can give you one of those as often as you like, my lovely Rose.’

‘Sexellent!’ she said, and lifted her head and kissed him passionately.

Max responded and rolled on top of her again. ‘I haven’t been able to do this since I was a teenager, but I think I’m ready to give you another present.’

Rose felt his erection against her and lazily opened her legs for him. ‘Come on then, you sad sack,’ she teased, as he entered her again.

Leaving Rose’s villa that night, Max returned to his boys, who were about to be tucked into bed by the nanny. ‘How did you go, Dad?’ asked Dominic as Max came to say goodnight.

‘Very well, thanks, Dom. All is sorted. You were right and all is forgiven.’

‘Say hi to Rose for me,’ said Dominic cheekily as he pulled the covers up around him.

Max was startled. Kids are smarter than we realize, he thought as he turned off the light.

Rose and Max slipped into intimacy easily. Both were longing for connection again and their joy at being with each other and the boys was infectious. Max and the boys spent most of their time at Rose’s villa, almost moving in. The boys delighted in her company and Rose was able to fall in love with them as fast as she was falling for Max. Their energy was obvious on set and TG found their connection transferred into the scenes they filmed together.

On their days off they spent time with the boys, exploring the countryside or lazing by the pool. Lucia revelled in them being a family, cooking and minding the boys when Max and Rose went out alone at night for dinner.

It was everything Rose wanted and she didn’t want it to end, saying as much to Max at dinner in town one night. ‘Perhaps we can stay here forever?’

‘I’m not so sure that would work, lovely Rose,’ said Max as he ate his pasta.

Rose moved the silk shawl around her shoulder; she was aware time was slipping by and soon the filming would end. ‘So, it’s a fling? A summer romance?’ she asked, overcome with sadness.

‘I don’t know, Rose. We need to work out a lot of things. We lead very different lives. I’m just a jobbing actor in London, and this is the biggest film I’ve ever done. The kids are at school. I don’t know what we will do, Rose, but let’s enjoy it and see what happens. If Alice’s death taught me anything, it’s just to enjoy the moments and not plan too far ahead.’

Rose looked into her wine. She had waited for a man like Max for a long time and yet she had a different life to him in LA. There was no way she could give it all up for something she didn’t know had a secure future.

It was just a summer romance she reminded herself. Just for Italy and not for forever.

TG was desperate. He wanted to see Calypso smile again and he would do anything to make this a reality. He wanted to tell her he loved her and would slay any dragon to fix it all, to hold her close and stroke her hair and touch her face.

TG had moved the schedule as much as possible to accommodate her but they were due to shoot again next week and the producers would not let her have any more time, threatening to fire and sue her simultaneously. TG’s insistence that her condition was serious and private and he had it all under control was the only lifeline Calypso had – not that she knew any of this.

The shock wore off after the night Raphael came into her room and then shame took its place. Calypso ran the night over in her head repeatedly and she still blamed herself. If she hadn’t opened the door, if she had put a robe on, if she had taken more pride in herself. The reasons she was at fault were endless; it drove her into a deeper depression.