***
Carolyn's head ached, a dull foreboding pain, making her reach for her bag.
"Excuse me. I'll be right back." She rushed out of the room where she'd been sitting with Helen, Harvey, and several other actors, reading the first scenes.
In the privacy of the ladies' room, she used her nasal spray, grimacing at how it stung but hoping it would stop the headache. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed hard. While running cold water on her wrists, she noticed she was pale, but not gray and sweaty as happened during her worst attacks. Checking her watch, she was relieved to see it was almost noon.
When she returned, everyone was breaking for lunch. "Are you okay, Carolyn?" Helen looked concerned.
"I'm fine—just hungry, I guess. I…" Suddenly her phone rang, and Annelie's name flashed on the display.
"Annie, what's up?"
After a pause, her lover spoke. "Am I interrupting? I was hoping you were on your lunch break."
"We're just heading out."
"I'm on my way to the office to talk to Margo. Could I swing by and pick you up?"
Carolyn thought she could detect a slight tremor in Annelie's voice. "I've got an hour. Is that okay?"
"Should be. See you outside the studio in five minutes."
"See you soon, love."
Helen cleared her throat. "Carolyn, I couldn't help but overhear. If you need more time, just call. We can work around you."
Eying Helen suspiciously, Carolyn nodded. "Thanks. But I hate to be the diva on the first day."
"Don't worry about it, Carolyn." Helen winked. "Go take care of your girl."
***
Annelie sat in the middle of the couch, motioning for Carolyn to sit next to her. Margo sat down on her other side and clasped both of Annelie's hands.
"What are you going to tell me?" Annelie whispered, her voice barely audible. "Please, Margo." She felt Carolyn's arm circle her waist.
"This isn't easy," Margo said, her voice serious. "I've waited until I was certain. I need to hold another press conference, and then our troubles will be over."
"Then why are you looking at me like that? What did you find out?"
Margo's stormy eyes were unreadable.
"Sweetheart, I'm afraid my news is good for everyone…but you." Margo grasped Annelie's arm. "Your father is dead."
Chapter 15
What?" Annelie's voice was emotionless.
"The man in California causing all this commotion isn't your father. Stuart died almost five years ago."
Grateful for her lover's supporting arms, Annelie leaned back heavily against her.
"And who's this idiot trying to pose as her father?" Carolyn demanded.
"We don't know yet. We should have more details any minute." Margo still held on to Annelie but let go when she got up and started pacing.
"So this man's motive is money?" she said huskily. "And fame?"
"That's as good a guess as any. Whatever he's after, he's not too smart. Your father had a record, so it'll be easy enough to compare fingerprints."
"How long have you suspected?" Carolyn leaned back against the couch, her eyes narrowing.
"Ever since I saw copies of Stuart's mug shots. Remember, I knew Stuart for several years. Even if the TV footage fooled me, compared to your father's mug shots…" Margo shrugged.
"So my father died and no one notified me," Annelie said from where she stood over by the window. "He probably didn't have anything that suggested he had a child somewhere."
Carolyn rose to embrace Annelie. "We don't know the circumstances yet, do we, Margo."
"No. I hope the investigator lets me know something soon."
Annelie looked down at Carolyn, noting her scowl. Suddenly she realized Carolyn was also pale and trembling. "You're missing your lunch. Margo? Can you get Carolyn something to eat? She has to go back to work soon."
"Sure. I'll be right back."
"Are you okay?" Carolyn rubbed her left temple. "This was quite a shock, for you, for all of us."
"Yes. I don't know what to think…or to feel." Annelie raised her arms, hugging Carolyn closer.
"It's normal to mourn, love."
"Is it? He was gone all those years. Five of them because he was dead and I had no idea—and didn't bother to find out, I guess." Annelie swallowed hard. "And what was this imposter thinking?"
"Who knows? But the puzzling part is he knows enough about you to make his story somewhat credible." Carolyn rubbed Annelie's back with long, soothing strokes, then patted her. "It makes me furious," she growled. "If I ever get a chance to give him a piece of my mind, I would—"
"Have to get in line, Carolyn. You're not the only one. Once the news hits, Annelie's friends are going to have to take a number to get a crack at him," Margo said. "We're in luck. They'd overordered from the coffeehouse down on the corner. Sandwiches and café latte."
Carolyn had paled considerably after her outburst. Her hands shook as she reached for a mug of coffee, and small beads of sweat broke out on her upper lip. Annelie sat down on the couch and patted the spot next to her. "Join me?"
Carolyn nodded, taking another large gulp of coffee. "Oh, this is great. Thanks, Margo." She bit into a turkey sandwich like she was starving.
"You're welcome."
They ate in silence, Annelie noticing how Carolyn's color gradually returned. She seems to be feeling better now. Thank God. Annelie frowned slightly as she nibbled her sandwich. I don't know what to think…or feel. He's dead, but I still have so many unanswered questions. I used to think it didn't matter, that I didn't care. But I do. Why did he leave us? And now…who's this man? What does he want? Everything has gone so fast I can't keep up. She glanced up at Carolyn. Then again, I do know what I feel about her. That's the only thing I'm sure of right now, and even that could blow up in my face. The questions whirled in her mind, leaving her feeling queasy.
"When we're in the air is a great time for the press conference,"
Carolyn said, wiping a daub of mustard from her face. "That way, we're incommunicado when the press goes crazy, because they will. Now they'll focus on this idiot instead of Annelie, but she'll still be in the spotlight."
"Oh, God," Annelie murmured. "They'll want to hear what I think about him, won't they?"
Carolyn nodded. "Probably. They won't give up until you make a statement, but you can still do it through Margo. Think about it for a day or two. You need time to find your bearings, love."
She's right. I feel like running as far away as I can. That old pattern. I'm numb, like icicles are hanging from my heart, my feelings in suspended animation. Well, maybe I won't cut my losses and run, for a change. And then there's you, Carolyn. You're the only one who can reach me now. Everything else seems unimportant.
Annelie shook her head as if waking from a dream. "I'll work on a statement later today. Now I might as well try to get some work done here at the office."
"Good idea." Margo nodded. "I'll see if the investigator has come up with any more information." Leaning forward, Margo kissed Annelie's cheek. "Chin up, girlie. This'll be all right. I promise."
"Thank you. I know it will." Annelie tried to sound convinced.
Carolyn slid closer after Margo left the room. "Need a hug?"
"Desperately." Annelie rolled her eyes at herself but enjoyed feeling Carolyn's strong arms encircle her.
"You're so tense. I despise that jerk for doing this to you."
"I'll be fine. I just need to wrap my mind around it all. I've sometimes wondered if he was still alive, or…" Annelie shrugged, hiding her face against Carolyn's shoulder. "It'll take me a while to deal with this, I suppose."