As she walked toward the reception area in the hotel with Annelie, Carolyn heard a man yell. She turned toward the tumult just as one of the bodyguards threw his arm out to shield them, pushing them farther to the side.
"Damn it, she's my daughter! You can't stop me from seeing my own flesh and blood!" A tall man, wearing jeans and a gray jacket, lurched toward them. Reaching out, he grabbed for Annelie.
"No!" Carolyn shouted.
"Hey, look at me, girl!" the man seethed. "Don't you recognize me? Get these idiots off me! I'm your father, damn it!"
Annelie stumbled backward, and only Harvey's grasp prevented her from falling. He simultaneously pulled Annelie toward him and put his arm protectively around his wife. "What the hell…"
Amid the uproar, three bodyguards quickly wrestled the man to the ground. The remaining men hustled Annelie and her party toward the elevators.
"This way," the man in charge instructed. "We've already arranged for your check-in. The penthouse suites are ready."
Once at a safe distance, Annelie stopped to glance over her shoulder, a hesitant look on her face. "Is he the one…?"
Moving closer, Carolyn put her hand in the small of Annelie's back, her touch meant to comfort and protect. "If it is, we'll find out. Hotel security and our guys will take care of the situation. Let's go now."
As they resumed walking toward the elevator, increasingly concerned, Carolyn noticed Annelie was frowning. "Are you all right?"
Annelie merely nodded, apparently too taken aback for conversation. She stood rigidly and stared straight ahead, her eyes vacant. After a silent elevator ride, the group emerged on the penthouse floor where Annelie had reserved three suites for the six of them.
Carolyn watched Annelie anxiously as the bodyguards left them at their door, assuring them they would post a man outside their suites and investigate the incident in the lobby.
After Annelie had mechanically overtipped the bellboy, she closed the door behind him. She leaned against it for a moment and took a deep breath. "God, I wish I knew what that was about."
Carolyn draped her jacket over the back of a chair on her way to Annelie. "I'm sure they'll let us know as soon as they learn anything," she said gently, putting her arms around her lover.
"So you're saying don't assume until we know more?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying, love. They'll get back to you when they've sorted things out."
"I know." Annelie sighed, leaning her forehead against Carolyn's. "I wasn't prepared for such a…"
"Violent display? I don't blame you." Tucking a long tress of hair behind Annelie's left ear, Carolyn smiled faintly. "Good idea about the bodyguards, right?"
"God, yes." Annelie shivered in her arms. "I don't want to think what could have happened if they hadn't been there."
"But they were."
"Yes." Annelie's voice still trembled as she let go of Carolyn and turned toward their bags. "Want me to help you choose between your outfits?"
Realizing Annelie needed something to do to normalize the strange mood after the incident, Carolyn nodded. "Sure, go ahead." As she strolled over to the window and pretended to admire the view, she realized her head was throbbing. Furtively rubbing her temples, she knew she had to have some relief. She couldn't go on Leno looking nauseous.
"Hey," Annelie said, putting down Carolyn's bag. "Do you have a headache? Want me to rub your shoulders?" She walked up behind her lover.
Carolyn shook her head. "You know what I really want? I'd like to go swimming, to try and relax. Come with me?"
"I wish I could," Annelie said. "But I promised Gregory we'd go over some last-minute details about the convention. We put it off all week and now…"
"It's okay." Carolyn smiled. "I'll find the pool and just do a few laps before I leave."
Annelie cupped her lover's cheek. "I'm still going with you to the studio, naturally."
"Thanks, but if you get stuck in meetings, I'll understand…" With
no idea why she was almost about to cry, Carolyn shrugged, feeling ridiculous.
"I won't get stuck." Annelie gently brushed her lips over Carolyn's. "Go have your swim, and I'll be here to help you get ready when you come back. Okay?"
Forcing back her stupid tears and clenching her teeth against a sudden stabbing pain behind her eyes, Carolyn nodded. "Fine. I'll just change and grab a quick shower, and then I'm off."
Apparently sensing Carolyn's struggle for control, Annelie glanced toward the alarm clock by the bed. "You know, I've got twenty minutes before Gregory arrives. I'd love to take a shower with you."
Carolyn didn't realize she had a knot in her midsection until it began to unwind. "Yes? You're sure?"
"Of course. I need to make sure you're okay." Annelie began to unbutton her shirt, pale skin appearing as she undressed. "A very definite yes." She reached out, unbuttoning Carolyn's blouse, sliding it back over slightly freckled shoulders. "Surely you know I want to spend every possible minute with you?"
Comforted by the desire mixed with love she saw in Annelie's eyes, Carolyn allowed Annelie to lead her into the bathroom. "I don't feel so good right now," Carolyn confessed. "And…I'm sorry for acting childish."
"You're not acting childish." Annelie started the shower with one hand while caressing Carolyn with the other. "You dropped everything to stand by me last week."
Efficiently, Annelie undressed Carolyn before shedding the rest of her own clothes. "That guy scared all of us, and you have a headache to boot. Come here. Let me rub some of the stress away before you go swim."
Standing under the hot running water with Annelie's hands roaming her body, Carolyn began to think she would find strength to get through the evening after all.
***
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Carolyn Black!" Annelie made herself comfortable on the couch in the green room at the Tonight Show studio, not taking her eyes off the screen. Carolyn walked toward Jay Leno with her arms stretched out to greet him. After they kissed the air next to each other, Carolyn gracefully sat down in the chair next to the desk. She looked radiant dressed in a sleeveless, emerald green dress that ended just below her knees. Annelie smiled, knowing the diva mode was on.
"You look amazing, Carolyn. Welcome to L.A. You flew in today, right?" Leno echoed Annelie's admiration.
"I did. For the Maddox convention tomorrow."
"Well, we're of course delighted you'd come on the show at such short notice. I hear you flew in on a private jet, with the rest of the Maddox movie cast."
"You heard right, Jay. The production company chartered a jet to save us time, wear and tear. We're getting ready to shoot the movie."
"Sounds like a luxurious way to travel, though I guess the lovely Ms. Peterson can afford it."
Annelie held her breath, seeing Carolyn's eyes narrow. "Ms. Peterson is a very generous boss," Carolyn asserted. "We're all lucky."
"Now, I've just met Annelie Peterson, and she strikes me as a very low-key, unpretentious woman."
Carolyn leaned forward to emphasize the importance of her statement. "You know, she's the kindest person I've ever met—and the most giving. She could be sitting idly on her wealth. Instead she puts it to good use, making life a little easier for the less fortunate. I know you've contributed to her charities over the years, Jay."
Annelie chuckled and thought Leno probably regretted sharing that bit of information in the green room. He looked both flattered and embarrassed. "It's a worthy cause for kids," he said. "There was an interesting development with the man claiming to be Ms. Peterson's father. What do you think about that?"
Annelie pressed her lips together at the intrusive question.
"That's totally up to Annelie Peterson to comment on—or to choose not to, Jay. All I can say is this—I wish the press would do their homework better, instead of going head over heels for a scoop. The damage to people's lives isn't worth it."