“Yeah, and she paid for it. Little minx wouldn’t tell me how much it was.”
First, Athena gets attacked, and now my dad has had some sort of accident, and I didn’t even know. I point at the toilet and motion for him to sit. Begrudgingly he does, and I remove his work boot and sock followed by the medical boot.
Dad touches my shoulder. “Thank you, son. I’ve got it from here.”
“You sure? I don’t mind helping.”
Dad smiles as tears well in his eyes. “I’m old, but I’m not that old. Now, get.”
“Okay, Dad. I’ll get you some pajamas to change into. Yell out when you’re done.”
I close the door behind me and go back into his bedroom where Mrs. Boswell has already put the clean sheets on and is bundling up the dirty ones for the wash.
“I’ll put these in the machine but won’t turn it on just yet. Are you going to go change?”
“Yes, ma’am. Just waiting on him to shower before I go, in case he needs help.” Mrs. Boswell nods and goes past me. “Why didn’t anyone contact me about the bathroom?”
She stops and looks over her shoulder at me. “Why didn’t you know?”
There’s no accusation in her voice, it’s merely a question, one I don’t have an answer to. Mrs. Boswell continues on, and I’m left feeling like a horrible human being. I wanted so badly to make it in the movie industry that I neglected everyone around me who was important to me, who is important to me. A pounding on the front door draws me out of my self-recriminations as I go to it.
“Hey, Kris. Does your dad need help?” asks Ashlea.
“What are you doing here?”
“I left work early. Doc doesn’t mind.” Ashlea pushes past me. “Is he in his room?”
“No, in the shower.”
“Kris!” yells Dad as if on cue.
“Coming!” Ashlea smiles at me. “Could you go and grab him some fresh pajamas? They’re in the top drawer of his dresser.” As I take a step away from her, Ashlea grabs my hand.
“Do you need help with him in the bathroom?”
I frown. “I don’t think he’d like that.”
Ashlea shakes her head. “I’ve been your dad’s nurse before. It’s not a problem.”
“How about this time you grab the PJs, and I’ll make sure he’s decent?”
“You know I’m a nurse, right?”
“I can see why TB is marrying you.”
Without waiting for an answer, I go in to help my father.
***
I’m back at the motel sitting on the bed with a towel wrapped around my waist. Dad is with Mrs. Boswell and Ashlea, and they told me to take my time. Sophia opens the door between our rooms and walks in.
“Do you know how to knock?”
“Oh, please, you don’t have anything I haven’t seen before.”
“Sophia,” I reply warningly.
Ignoring me completely, she sits beside me on the bed. “Where have you been?”
“With my dad. He hurt himself, and I’ve been at the medical center with him.”
Sophia’s hand rests on my knee, and she turns into me, so her breast is on my arm. “Are you okay?”
Tilting my head to look at her, Sophia reaches up with her other hand to cup my face, then she moves in to kiss me.
I stand and walk toward my suitcase on the floor. “I’m fine, and my dad will be, too.”
“Oh, don’t be like that.” Looking back at her, she’s leaning back on one arm while the other undoes the top button of her blouse. “I’ve been so bored.”
“Did you hear me say my dad got hurt? I have to get back to him. There’s a nurse with him right now.”
I don’t feel the least bit guilty that I haven’t told her it’s Ashlea.
“What about me?”
When I turn around, she’s undone another button and is pouting.
“Masturbate?” Sophia stands and scowls at me “Besides, we are going out tonight, the press will be there. I thought you’d want to get ready?”
“What time?”
“Yacht club at six.”
“What are you wearing?” I point to a long-sleeved white shirt and light blue pants that I have hanging on a hook. “Fine, I’ll wear that white dress with the low back.”
“Whatever.”
I pull out the clothes from my suitcase that I’m changing into—jeans and a black V-neck t-shirt.
“How long will you be at your father’s?”
“If he’s okay, I’ll leave him at five, come back here and change then go to the chapel. Do you think you can make your way to the yacht club?”
Sophia’s lips turn down, and she fixes me with a stare. “We had a deal. Happy ever after until I say so. How’s it going to look if I go to the yacht club by myself?”
“Sophia, my father is hurt. What do you want me to do?”
Sophia walks toward me, places her perfectly manicured finger on my chest, and drags it down my body. “Keep up your end of the bargain.” Then she tugs on my towel, lets it fall to the floor, and stalks out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Well, at least she left. I change quickly, rap on the door between our rooms, and then open it. Sophia is sitting on the bed glaring at me. I toss the keys to the rental car at her, and she catches them in one hand.
“At least you can turn up in style. I’ll be waiting in the parking lot, so we can walk in together. I’ll tell the press you had errands to run. No one will be any the wiser.”
Sophia licks her lips. “They better not be.”
Chapter Twelve
Athena
I’m wearing a red dress that clings to my body and six-inch black heels that I’m not sure I can walk in. Todd helped pick out my outfit, and from the way Dad’s eyes opened when I arrived, I’m not sure if I look good or slutty.
Walking into the chapel, TB is up talking to the priest. Keeping my eyes glued to him and not my feet, I walk up the aisle. He turns and smiles, then lets out a wolf whistle.
“Dang, sis! You look good.”
“Hush, TB, you’re in church,” admonishes Mom.
The smile that breaks out on my face is so huge it hurts. I do a twirl for him, manage not to break my neck, and continue up the aisle where TB kisses my cheek.
“Thanks, TB. I thought because we were going to the yacht club, I should dress appropriately.”
“Definitely not a church dress, and I think he’ll like it,” responds TB.
“Who?” I ask, feigning innocence.
TB shakes his head and winks. “I guess no one.”
The priest, Father Daniel, clears his voice. “Is the bride far away?”
“No, sir. There was a medical emergency, and she wanted to check on a patient before she came here.”
“Ahh, yes, I heard about Leonard.”
Father Daniel is probably twenty-five, maybe twenty-eight but definitely under thirty, and to hear him call Mr. Livingston by his first name seems strange.
“Poor Mr. Livingston,” I say.
Father Daniel is also the town’s gossip, he knows everything. “Oh, you heard? Just terrible that a container dropped on Leonard’s foot. It’s not broken, but he’ll have to stay off it for a while.”