Carolyn saw the warmth in Helen's eyes and smiled. "Could be."
Jem approached them with hot plates and utensils. "Won't be long now. What are your plans for the weekend, ladies?"
"You know we had plans for a little get-together, but since I'm under orders to rest, I'll just relax, study the script, and swim every day, of course." Carolyn helped her set the table. "What about you, Helen?"
"I'm going to my temporary home later and kick back, watch TV, and like you, reread the script. It's a nice day outside, so I think I'll walk home. It's only six blocks or so."
Jem exchanged glances with Annelie. "Helen, if you like, I can walk you part of the way, since I'm going grocery shopping for tonight. Marco's is on the way, I believe."
"That's very nice of you, Jem." Helen looked pleasantly surprised. "I'd like some company."
"And remember, in New York six blocks is farther than you think," Annelie cautioned. "Take a cab part of the way if you don't feel well."
"Goodness, you're all like mother hens." Helen gave a mock groan. "I sleep funny once, and all of a sudden you're going all protective on me."
Carolyn patted Helen's hair, exaggerating a worried expression. "It's because we luv ya, babe," she drawled.
Helen broke out into a fit of laughter, taking the others with her. Once they calmed down, the waffles were ready and Jem filled their plates. "Enjoy."
Carolyn let maple syrup run over her waffles. "You sure you need to go home Tuesday, Jem?"
Helen looked up, swallowing her first bite with a dreamy expression on her face. "Oh, Jem, we sure will miss you."
Jem rolled her eyes at the comments. "You only want me for these carnal pleasures," she muttered good-naturedly. Despite the broad grin on Jem's face, Carolyn noticed a vulnerable expression in her eyes.
***
"I want to show you something." Annelie walked into the living room where Carolyn sat on the floor by the fireplace, leaning against an armchair.
"Yes? Come sit by me, then." Carolyn scooted to the side, making room for Annelie.
"I went through some of the letters my mother wrote my father, and when I looked into the package they came in, I found these." Annelie handed over some yellowing clippings.
Carolyn browsed through them with careful fingers. Annelie leaned her cheek against her lover's hair, watching.
"These clippings are of you as an adult." Carolyn turned one of them over. "Look, here's a date on the back of this one. March 12, 1994. Here's another one. April 28, 1999. Did they belong to your father?"
"I think so. This explains how Trevor White knew who I was. The thing is, they also raise a whole new set of questions. Why did White delay until now to try and get money from me? Why did my father keep clippings of me? If he took such an interest—I mean there are at least fifteen clippings—why didn't he try to contact me?" Annelie swallowed. "I'm getting upset again, and I promised myself I wouldn't." Tears ran down her cheeks.
Carolyn placed the clippings on the chair behind them and took Annelie in her arms. "Listen to me, love. You can cry on my shoulder any time you want. As for your father, I don't think we'll ever know his motives for saving these clippings. But I think it's safe to say this is how White made the connection. Perhaps your press coverage sparked his interest and made him think he could pull it off. It wasn't the smartest of plans."
Annelie had to laugh through her tears. "No, it wasn't. I believe they're holding him on several charges." Wiping her cheeks, she moved closer to Carolyn. "I'll just have to accept it—some parents simply don't want to be parents."
"I know. He didn't deserve you. He blew his chances with you a long time ago."
"Somehow I must have known a reconciliation was out of the question, ever since I was little and gave up hope he'd come back. I never tried to find him."
Carolyn didn't say anything but stroked Annelie's back in long, languid movements.
"I had my mother and, later, Margo. I told myself I didn't need a deadbeat dad." Annelie moved, placing her head in Carolyn's lap, pressing her face into the soft fabric of her T-shirt. Carolyn kept up the soothing motion of her hand. "The truth is, if he'd come back…I'd have listened and told him how much I'd missed him. I wouldn't have turned my back on him, even if it had been all about money."
"That's because you've got the biggest of hearts, love," Carolyn whispered. "You're that kind of person."
"He lived in misery. Why didn't he ask me for money when he discovered who I was?"
"Pride, regrets, some shred of honor…who knows, Annie. At least you know that the man who tried this scam wasn't your father. That's always something."
Annelie put her arm around Carolyn's waist, feeling safe and cared for. "Yes," she breathed. "It's something."
***
Carolyn looked up from her script as Helen walked through the door. "How was lunch?"
"Oh, God, you did the right thing, staying here with a sandwich." Helen sat down on the couch with a thud. "Monday. Lunchtime. New York." She made a face. "Ew. It got ugly at the cash register."
"Did you get anything to eat? Want a sandwich? They're actually not bad."
"No, thanks. I managed to get a salad. Next time the kids try to drag me away for lunch, remind me of this."
Laughing, Carolyn promised she would. "I've got a few issues with the big scene between Erica and Maddox that everyone's making such a fuss about."
Helen nodded, reaching into a bag by her feet for her script. "What's your problem?"
"Well, I've done my share of love scenes, and they're not my favorite part of the shooting. I don't like to have the crew there. I'm sure Regina will be sensitive enough to shoot these scenes with a skeleton crew. Still…"
Carolyn regarded Helen carefully, wanting to be sure she understood. "Normally, with a man, we have rehearsal, very schematic, and usually very cut and dried."
"I know," Helen said, "and I really want to get it right. I'm not worried about feeling awkward, since both of our characters are supposed to be reluctant and nervous."
"That's exactly it. When Erica confronts Maddox in her office in the middle of the night, they're both tired and frustrated. Erica's angry, feeling Maddox is running instead of dealing with the obvious attraction. Maddox is angry with herself for being afraid of her own feelings."
"So they kiss, and neither of them can say for certain who started it." Helen dragged a hand through her hair. "As I've already told you, I've kissed a woman once in my life, but it was a very chaste kiss. We didn't deepen it, and I was rather young."
Carolyn was grateful for her candor. "You know I'm with Annelie, but that's where my expertise on the subject ends."
"And? What's your verdict, kissing men versus women?" Helen made a funny face. "Any major difference?"
"Stubble."
Helen's jaw dropped. "What?"
"No stubble, beard, or mustache."
"And that's it? The only difference?"
Carolyn couldn't keep a straight face at the sight of Helen's perplexed look. Laughing, she had to pull a tissue out of her purse and wipe the corners of her eyes. "No, of course not. With Annie, it's softer, gentler, and, because it's her and I love her, it's more passionate and soul-claiming."
"Oh." Helen rubbed the back of her neck. "So is that what we aim for? To make the audience believe in softness, passion…and soul-claiming?"
"Yup, that's it. Think you can handle it, St. Cyr?"
Helen grinned. "I'll damn well try, Black."
"Speaking of Annelie, I believe she and Jem'll be here for a tour soon." Carolyn looked at her watch. "In a few hours, in fact. You must be looking forward to tonight."
"Yes, I am. Wasn't it great how Jem and I discovered our mutual passion for musicals? I've wanted to see Mama Mia for a long time. I was really impressed with how quickly Annelie managed to scare up two tickets on the Internet."