Maid for Martin (21 page)

Allowed, she laughed. That wasn’t the right word. After all, it wasn’t like he’d pushed himself on her. She’d been just as eager for all of the times he’d kissed her as he seemed to be. She shook her head. She didn’t want to think about how any of this would look or sound to her parents.

When the front door came open, signaling with a small beep, Randi turned. She was about to go give Bandit his next dose of antibiotics. She stuffed the pill and a piece of bologna into her apron, not sure who it would be. She sighed when she spotted Emma. “I don’t mean to sound bossy, but where have you been?”

“That’s a good question. As my husband dropped me off this morning, I met Celia on her way out. She said the catering was back on, and she wanted me to go down in person and re-activate the order."

“I guess you found your car keys on the table.”

“Yes, and then I turned around and went downtown. The caterers weren’t happy, but with some smiles and promises, they relented.”

Randi kept her voice low and glanced out into the rest of the house. “I talked to Lillian earlier, Mrs. Taylor, I mean. She decided it would be best to let Celia run the show. I could tell it wasn’t easy for her to make that choice.”

“I’d say not, but I think it might be best, and before anyone else comes in, how’s our patient?”

“Oh he’s so sweet, and still sleepy, but I think by the evening he’ll be wanting to romp around. I slipped him out for a bathroom break early this morning. He and Lady were so happy to see each other. She wasn’t happy either when I brought him back in the house. I had a time getting in without her.”

Emma laughed and set her purse on the table. “They are a pair. I know we talked about this some. Are you thinking about taking them? They’re not really in the way, but if Celia ever sees them, I’m afraid she’d call the pound.”

“I don’t doubt she would.” Randi’s brow furrowed, but then she smiled. “I’m going to talk to mom about it. I mentioned it this morning in passing that I’d like to have a pet. You know, kind of lowering the boom slowly.”

“That’s a good plan. I’d love to take them, but I’m not home enough. I hope she’ll let you take them. If not, I’ll do all I can to keep them from going to the pound.”

Randi was about to speak when the phone rang. Emma picked up the phone, but seconds later turned to Randi. “Do you know where Mrs. Taylor is? This is her daughter.”

“Sure, she was on the veranda a few minutes ago. I’ll take her the phone.” Randi reached out.

“It’s muted, and thanks. By the way, do you know what everyone’s doing for dinner?”

“Yes, they’re going out, and the rest of Celia’s family will be here Saturday. Tomorrow Lillian is cooking dinner, Lasagna and salads.”

Randi found Mrs. Taylor and gave her the cordless phone. She was turning to leave but Lillian whispered, “This won’t take but a moment. Have a seat.”

The phone call didn’t take long and consisted of Lillian telling her daughter what to pick up at the store. When she was about done, she looked up to Randi. “I’m forgetting something, but what?”

“Bread and dessert?” Randi offered.

Lillian laughed, talking to her daughter. “That’s just what Randi said. Get some cake flour too, if you can find it, and everything to make my strawberry pound cake. Yes, I think that’s it. Talk later, bye now.” Lillian turned the phone off and laid it on the table.

“I hope she doesn’t forget anything, Addison’s been off in her own world of late. I’ve been trying to get her to help me finish my Christmas shopping for the last week, and her mind is somewhere else. I’m afraid it has something to do with her boyfriend.”

“That happens to the best of us,” Randi smiled, feeling out of place sitting at a table when she should be working. She didn’t rise, not wanting to offend Lillian, “Would you like some more tea, or a snack before dinner?”

Lillian leaned on the table, shaking her head. “No, but I have a question. I have a few things I’d like picked up from the store. I hate to ask but could you get a couple of last minute gifts for Addison? I can give you cash.”

“I can do that but I’ll have to ask Emma if I can use her car.”

“That would be wonderful. I don’t drive, and if I did I wouldn’t dare try to go downtown here. Later in the day I’ll get you the list and the money, and thanks, dear. I’ll be sure and tell Martin you’ve been very helpful.”

Randi smiled and rose from the table. “Thanks, I appreciate that.” She walked away, thinking that this whole party was going to be said and done and she wasn’t even going to get to lay eyes on Martin Taylor.

Chapter 36

Celia

“I told you she would be late.” Addison glanced at her watch then up the stairs, then back to her mother.

“You were right, but we must be polite,” Lillian admonished.

“I will be, but I don’t have to like it. She’s taking her sweet time on purpose. I know she’d rather be doing anything than joining us for dinner. This is going to be a long holiday.”

“I’m afraid you’re right about that, and I expected this. Martin’s talked about her being late and a bit spoiled.”

“A bit?” Addison scoffed.

“Okay, a lot.”

“And inconsiderate.” Addison let out a breath and crossed her arms. “We managed to be on time. She’s thirty minutes late. If she’s not here in—”

“Finally, she’s coming.” Lillian whispered as she turned away from the stairs and toward Addison, and brushed away imaginary lint from her daughter's sleeve. She didn’t want it to seem too much as if they’d been there terribly long, waiting.

They had both dressed well tonight, Addison wearing a white pants suit with a green blouse, and she wearing a conservative gray skirt and jacket, with a maroon blouse. Addison sill faced the steps.

Lillian wondered what Celia would wear, and from the look on her daughter's face, it must have been a bit shocking. Lillian was known for her tact. Addison wasn’t. When her daughter raised a brow and shook her head slightly, then turned to take something from her purse, Lillian wasn’t sure she wanted to turn and greet Celia.

She turned to find Celia coming down the steps. She was wearing a silky-looking black dress with a low cut front, and a slit up the side. She managed not to stare or look shocked. What was she thinking when she picked that dress?

Lillian forced a smile. The black dress spoke of desperation, not of a night out with one’s future mother-in-law. This is going to be a long night. She wanted to tell Celia she looked nice, but that would be a lie. You’re late and you look a bit desperate, is what she wanted to say.

Instead she kept the smile on her face and finally thought of something to say. “Did you call a cab, dear?”

“Yes, he should be out front any minute.” Celia said, flashing her own forced smile.

“Good, then we’ll step out and wait for him. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, Martin's used to my being late. It’s good to keep them waiting now and then.”

Celia stepped forward, opened the door and went out. She didn’t hold the door for them to go first. Addison held the door with one hand and gestured for her mother to step out.

Things did not improve on the ride to town. It wasn’t just a cab, but a limousine. It was crazy to spend this kind of money just to take a ride into town. It was hard for her to think about anything but what this ride was costing her son. Thankfully, Addison was able to at least try to carry on a conversation with Celia.

“Is Martin working on anything now?”

“Not so you’d notice. He’s been reading some script but that’s all. It can take months to get a part in a movie. I keep telling him to try to get a part on one of these sitcoms, or one of the crime dramas.”

“I suppose steady work would be better.”

“That’s what I tell him all the time. Take a part, any part. He could invest in the market more, or in real estate.”

Lillian wanted to ask Celia if she was thinking about getting a job, but she knew from what Martin had said, that Celia was not job-hunting, nor would she be. Celia’s parents were not rich, but it was easy to see she knew how to spend money just the same.

*****

Martin sat at the restaurant waiting for the three women in his life to walk through the door. The fourth woman, the only one he really wanted to see at the moment, wasn’t invited. He leaned back, thinking about Randi. He couldn’t keep the smile from his lips.

She is something else, and I can’t wait for more. Did I ever feel this way about Celia? He doubted it. It just wasn’t the same. He couldn’t think of anything but Randi. Every waking moment of the day, something would bring her to his mind. No, it was never like that with Celia.

He wondered if it would last, or if it was just something to get his mind off his troubles. Things had been going downhill with Celia for a couple of months, and her attitude about his career had been frustrating for even longer.

Down deep he knew he couldn’t focus if the woman in his life wasn’t supporting him. Once again his mind went to Randi. What will she think about my acting career? Will she even want to speak to me once she knows everything there is to know?

He could just kick himself for letting this go on so long, but every time he was with her, he just couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to be Mike and forget all of the problems that went with living in the public eye.

It still amazed him that she had no idea who he was, or that she’d never seen any of his movies. It wasn’t like he was terribly famous, but some of his movies were good, and well-advertised. It felt strange and strangely good to know there were still people out there who had no idea who he was.

Martin reached down to touch the small present in his pocket. He pulled it out, looking it over. The set would suit Randy perfectly. He tilted the box to the light, watching the jewels sparkle. Now that Randi was sneaking around his house, taking care of Bandit, the gift would fit her even more.

He could imagine giving it to her and pulling the gold chain around her neck, fastening the clip just before he kissed her on the neck. A smile crept across his face and he snapped the lid closed, pushing the box deep into his pocket.

Another image flashed before his eyes. It was of Randi ripping the necklace off and throwing it at him. That one didn’t make him smile, and he sure hoped it wasn’t a premonition of things to come. Tonight he would know for sure. He could only hope, and even dare to pray, that he hadn’t messed things up too much.

He wished he was getting ready to have dinner with Randi and his sister and mother instead of Celia. He knew down deep it wasn’t completely fair to Celia to blame so much of this on her. It was just as much his fault for not paying attention to what he was doing.

They’d both been moving along, not noticing that things were progressing in the wrong direction. One of them should have been willing to step up to the plate and say this isn’t working. One of them should have wanted more out of the relationship, but instead they both had been willing to settle.

Celia might not be ready to give up but he was. Celia might not want to admit that they were on two different paths now but he was. He would give her this time with her family. She deserved that. Then, after the dust settled, he’d tell her it was over.

Martin looked up quickly, coming out of this thoughts as the front door opened. He actually tensed as if he’d been caught in the act, again. This secrecy was going to have to come to an end. He was becoming jumpy and it was going to show if he wasn’t careful. When he saw it wasn’t his family he relaxed and took a drink of water.

Martin hated the situation he’d put himself in. He couldn’t even go to his own home without worrying who he might find around the next corner. Now, things were even worse. Addison knew about his little indiscretion, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she might accidentally say the wrong thing.

As he pictured his family with Celia, he couldn’t help but smile at the three of them in a cab on their way to meet him. His mother, of course, would be polite. Addison would be quiet and Celia? Well, he wasn’t sure what she would be. Sometimes her manner was soft and caring, and others she could be a real . . . the door opened again and Martin glanced up.

This time it was his cue to rise and greet his family. They walked in, Addison, his mother, and Celia. Martin wanted to sink into the floor when he saw what Celia was wearing. His mother had to be appalled. Most LA residents wouldn’t think twice about what Celia wore, but his mother would think it too revealing.

His mother gave him a weak smile, Addison gave him a "What now?" look and Celia tried to kiss him. He recalled his promise to Randi that he wouldn’t kiss Celia, so he turned his cheek and whispered. “What were you thinking with that dress?”

This comment won him a scowl, but it disappeared quickly. There was small talk around the table, a few comments about how nice the place was, that it looked like rain, and that they were all hungry.

Next, his mother spoke. She reached out, taking his hand, and smiled. “I’ve heard from your dad. He’s going to be here tomorrow if all goes well.”

“Great. We’ll get some time alone, before the rest show up.” He glanced around the table and then felt Celia place her hand on his arm.