Carolyn fiddled with the hem of her shirt, twisting it between trembling fingers. "And it's not just about me anymore. I've got someone in my life I care very much about. I want this someone to be proud of me, not only as a professional, but as a person. One way to do that is to be friends with a few special people like you, and to be true to them." Carolyn tried to disentangle her fingers from the shirt, while giving a faint smile. "Am I making any sense at all?"
Helen returned the smile, reaching out for Carolyn's restless hands. "Carolyn, don't worry about it. Yes, I've heard through the grapevine about your ambition. I'm a fairly uncomplicated person with a simple outlook on life. You, Annelie, and now Jem have never treated me with anything but kindness and respect. That's so much more than I bargained for when I agreed to do the audiobooks and the movies. To be accepted into this inner circle of wonderful, caring individuals—that's pretty awesome. As for our budding friendship, I'd say it's more than budding. You're a good person underneath your facade, Carolyn. You just have to realize that for yourself."
Tears rose in Carolyn's eyes at her unexpected feelings of vulnerability.
"Hey, no tears," Helen exclaimed. "Annelie will fire me on the spot." Her face turned serious. "Maybe you've bought into the rumors a little too much? If people say things about you enough, you start believing them. When you go into your professional mode, you're very much Carolyn Black, diva extraordinaire. Maybe it's easy to lose sight of who you really are."
"The last few months have helped me see things from another perspective," Carolyn said. "Being in a relationship and seeing my sister several times, not to mention my niece, have helped keep me grounded."
"Are you happy?" Helen's voice was soft.
"I've never been this happy and content…or dizzy and infatuated either, for that matter." A tender smile played on Carolyn's lips. "You guessed pretty quickly, didn't you?"
"It took me a while, but when you rushed home to Annelie when her so-called father entered the scene, I was sure. You've got a bad case, my friend." Helen gave a cheeky grin, making Carolyn roll her eyes.
"Yes, I do."
"You're keeping it a secret?"
"We haven't discussed that yet. I guess we'll have to agree on a course of action before the whole hoopla around the movie begins."
"What hoopla would that be?" Annelie entered the room with a tray of steaming mugs. "I know you're supposed to cut back on caffeine, Carolyn, but I didn't think a very mild café latte would hurt."
"Thanks, love." Carolyn lit up, grabbing a mug before answering. "Maddox movie hoopla. We were just talking about all the hype about Dying for Fame. It's going to be brutal." She winked at Helen.
"We're going to be interviewed to death. Leno was just a small taste of what's to come." Helen moaned. "Can you imagine? Letterman, Conan…"
"Actually, the producers of The Oprah Winfrey Show have approached us." Annelie sat down next to Carolyn. "We'll do two whole shows based on the books first, and then the movies. This isn't until the premiere, of course."
"Oprah's another matter." Carolyn smiled. "I've never been on her show, but I look forward to it."
Jem slumped back into one of the armchairs. "Who knew, when Annelie signed Delia Carlton—completely unknown at the time—she'd write such an international hit?"
"Oh, that's right. I checked my mail earlier," Annelie added before sitting down next to Carolyn. "I didn't have a chance to tell you all the news."
"What news?"
"You've got to promise me this stays among the four of us." Annelie looked serious.
"Now we're all dying of curiosity." Carolyn turned her head, trying to determine what was up from Annelie's expression.
"Delia Carlton just submitted another manuscript. There's going to be a fourth Diana Maddox book."
"What?" Jem exclaimed, her jaw dropping. "When did you learn about this?"
"Just before Helen arrived. I meant to share it over dinner, but we started talking about other things."
"Does this mean another audiobook and another movie?" Carolyn raised her eyebrows.
"Possibly. I'll read it and then pass it on to my editor." Annelie winked at Jem. "If it's up to her usual standards, which it probably is, I foresee at least an audiobook."
"The fans will go crazy," Helen said. "The secret's safe with me."
"I'm so glad Delia Carlton wrote these books." Carolyn smiled. "So much has come from it."
"Clever lady, in all she does." Annelie raised her mug. "Here's to Delia, without whom none of us would be exactly where we are."
They all raised their coffee mugs.
"To Delia!"
***
Annelie pulled Carolyn onto her shoulder, nuzzling her hair. The familiar scent of her lover's shampoo made her relax into the embrace.
"You all right, love?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Annelie murmured.
"You have. Several times."
Not sure if Carolyn was being facetious, Annelie moved, looking down at her. "I was worried."
"I know, Annie, but I'm fine now. No headache, no dizziness. The new medication works like a charm."
Frowning, Annelie sank down on the pillows. "Please don't downplay it. You scared me today."
Apparently realizing how serious she was, Carolyn rolled over on her side, landing almost nose to nose with Annelie. "I know I did. I think you were paler than I was, at the hospital. I'm sorry."
"No, no, it wasn't your fault. You couldn't help being sick, but I need you to acknowledge my feelings. I sat in the cab forever, in the traffic gridlock from hell, and had no way of knowing how serious your condition was. I was rushing toward a hospital for the second time in a week, and—" Annelie stopped the gush of words when memories of another hospital, another time, overwhelmed her.
"And?" Carolyn prodded gently, wrapping her arms around Annelie, rubbing her back.
"And I was afraid I wouldn't make it in time."
"I'm guessing you didn't make it to the hospital in time when your mother died?" Carolyn's voice was soft.
"I tried to get to her." Annelie gave a muted sob. "I had a test in school, an important one, and I'd studied so hard for it. I took the test, and when I came out, the principal was waiting for me. She drove me to the hospital. Margo met me at the door and told me. Mom was gone."
Carolyn tucked Annelie's ice-cold hands into her armpits, and her freezing feet tangled between her own. "I'm so sorry to hear this, Annie. It must have been so hard for you."
"You went through something similar and you were only twelve, with siblings to raise."
"True."
"And at twenty-one, when you were left completely in charge. We've both been there in different, but still similar, ways." Annelie clung to her lover. "You feel so warm."
"You'll be warm soon too. What time is it?"
Annelie turned her head toward the alarm clock. "Two thirty. Wonder why I can't settle down. I'm keeping you awake too."
"Don't worry about it. It's Saturday. We can sleep in."
Annelie frowned. "Yes, but you still need your sleep. I'll go have some warm milk. Want some?" The disgusted look on Carolyn's face made her smile. "Guess not. I'll be right back."
Annelie grabbed her robe, tiptoeing through the hall toward the kitchen. When she passed the two guest rooms she spotted Jem coming from the bathroom. "You okay?" Annelie whispered.
"Yeah, just too much coffee. What's up? Can't sleep?"
"No, and I'm keeping Carolyn awake."
As Jem began to walk back to her room, something caught her attention. "What's she up to?"
Helen stood motionless farther down the hall, almost ghostlike in her long, white nightgown. Her hair was tousled around her shoulders, and she didn't appear to notice them.