Toby’s head snapped up. Glaring, he snatched his hand away. Did I remember reading something in People that Toby got his start modeling underwear?
“Not cool, dude!’’ the young star said.
“I’m not making fun of you, Toby. You stepped up and admitted what you did. I just wish you’d be as forthcoming about everything in your life.’’
Toby’s face was scarlet—whether from anger or embarrassment, I couldn’t tell. He turned and stomped into the woods. Johnny followed him more slowly, holding his side and walking gingerly. Everyone watched them go.
“Cue the ominous music,’’ some wisecracker said, and several people laughed.
I glanced toward Tilton, who had returned to the picnic table. He was unwrapping half of his sandwich, but his eyes were fixed on the retreating figures of Toby and Johnny. His expression was hard to read. Was he interested? Amused? Did he like being a troublemaker?
“I’m going to talk to Tilton,’’ I said to Mama.
She automatically reached in her pocket and offered me her Apricot Ice. “And smooth some of those snarls out of your hair, honey. That rain has left you looking like my little dog, Teensy, before the groomer gets a hold of her.’’
“I’m not trying to get a date, Mama.’’
“Oh, I can see that, darlin.’’’
I stalked away, leaving Mama standing there with the lipstick tube in her outstretched hand. She might have followed me, but Sal was coming into the camp at the same time. She Apricot Iced her own lips, and ran to meet her husband.
Tilton was still staring off in the direction Toby and Johnny Jaybird took. He didn’t seem to notice my presence.
“What’s up with those two?’’ I asked him.
He turned to me, a blank look on this face. He put down the sandwich. I nodded in the direction the two men had taken.
“Jonathan’s obsessed with trying to get young Toby to be honest; to get in touch with who he really is. We’re all waiting to see how long it’s going to take.’’
“For what?’’ I asked.
“For Toby to admit to himself that he’s gay.’’
I lifted my jaw from the ground. “Gay? Does Jesse know about that?’’
He gave me a knowing smirk, and bent his head toward the edge of the crowd. Jesse had just arrived, accepting praise and compliments on her performance as she made her way toward her trailer.
“Why don’t you ask her?’’
A few minutes later, I was doing just that. The adoring crowd was dispersing. Someone had handed Jesse a cold soda from craft services. “Got a minute?’’ I asked.
“Hi, Mace. What’d you think?’’
For a moment I wasn’t sure if she was referring to Toby and Johnny. Of course, she meant her scene. “You nailed it! Really outstanding. I believed every word you said.’’
Her face lit up. I guess even when you’re famous, you never get tired of hearing you’ve done a good job.
I quickly caught her up about the strange encounter between Toby and the assistant director. “I thought you and Toby were a couple, Jesse. I saw the way he looked at you after the incident in the parking lot. He told you he loved you.’’
She sipped at the soda, shrugged. “Toby’s confused about his sexuality. It happens.’’
“But, I thought that day you two came out of your trailer …” I was going to say he didn’t seem the least bit confused then, strutting as he zipped his jeans. She interrupted me.
“There’s real life and then there’s Hollywood, Mace. We’re all about fantasy and make-believe.’’
She took a long swallow of soda. And then she was silent, seemingly examining the nutritional rundown on the back of the can. I watched her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. Her face was blank. Finally, she raised her eyes to mine.
“Toby’s mistake is thinking I can save him. I am nobody’s savior.’’
“I wonder if Jesse would give me some notes on my character’s motivation. Do you think I should ask her, Mace?’’
I was half-listening to Mama’s dissertation on everything Jesse had done right in playing her big scene as the terrified, bereaved older sister. Of course, I was far more interested in some of the other roles she’d been playing: Toby’s sexual conquest; a sworn enemy of Norman; supplicant to Norman’s ex-wife and business partner, Barbara.
Mama nudged me in the arm. “Well, do you, Mace?’’
“Do I what?’’
“Think that Mama should go bother one of Hollywood’s most famous young actresses for tips on how to read her one line,’’ Maddie said.
Mama sniffed. “It’s actually two sentences, Maddie.’’
“That’s right. And Rosie’s part is essential to the plot.’’ Sal looked adoringly at Mama.
“I stand corrected,’’ Maddie said.
My sisters had finished their business in town. They met up with Mama, Sal, and me under some shade trees in base camp. We hid from the late afternoon sun, as we waited out one of the many delays on the set. Now that I knew a little bit about filmmaking, I realized it was amazing that any movies ever made it to the theater. Hurry up and wait.
Marty suddenly clutched my hand. “Don’t look now. Carlos is headed this way.’’
Everyone except me immediately shifted or turned in their chairs to watch him approach. Subtle.
“Sal, I need a word.’’ He nodded, unsmiling, at the rest of us.
“No problem.’’ Sal started to rise, when I saw Mama place a restraining hand on his tree-trunk-sized thigh.
“Carlos, honey, why don’t you have a seat and rest a bit. You look like something the dog dragged up from under the porch.’’
He offered Mama a weak grin. “That bad, huh?’’
I thought he looked gorgeous, if a bit tired. I wanted to smooth the frown line from his brow, and kiss the tension off his lips. I resisted an urge to reach over and straighten his hair. Whenever he was deep in thought, he scratched at each side of his head near the temples. It left his thick hair sticking out in peaks over his ears.
I interlaced my fingers on my lap so I wouldn’t be tempted. I was still angry about the way he’d left me standing at the horse corral, calling after him like a desperate, needy girlfriend.
Marty slid over on a bench seat, patting a space for Carlos. “Mama just means you look tired. You’ve been working so hard. Why don’t you take a break?’’
Marty looked up at him with that sweet, imploring way she has; the way I don’t have.
He glanced at me, raised his eyebrows in a question.
I shrugged. “It’s a free country.’’
I immediately felt a pinch on my thigh hard enough to leave a bruise: Maddie.
Mama said, “Ignore my middle daughter, Carlos. She was raised by wolves.’’
“Sorry. Do have a seat,’’ I mumbled. “We’d love to have you join us.’’
“Don’t mind if I do.’’ Ignoring the frost I tried to put in my voice, he squeezed in next to Marty, sitting across from me. “Where’s your good friend, Jeb?’’
I could feel my blood pressure rising. “I tried to explain, Carlos. I recall you stomping away and refusing to listen, as usual.’’
A worried look passed between my sisters and Mama. Even Sal looked concerned.
“Jeb Ennis?’’ Maddie snorted. “That broken-down, no-account, ex-rodeo cowboy? He doesn’t have a pot to piss in. I saw him getting coffee this morning; probably after a drunk last night. His looks are going, too.’’
“No, they’re not, honey. Jeb is still one fine-looking man.’’ Mama winced a bit, and I knew from her glare that Marty must have kicked her. “You’re right about the pot, though. I heard Jeb lost everything he owned, again.’’
“Well, he still has his cattle dog, right Mace?’’
I narrowed my eyes at Carlos. What kind of game was he playing? Did he want to get a rise out of me? Was he trying a lame joke in an attempt to make up? I couldn’t tell. He had his cop face on. So, instead of saying the wrong thing, I said nothing.