Chapter Six

Sorry this is a little late today. I've been posting at lunch, but today I went and exercised. If I hadn't gone when I did, I would have kept my too plump rear in my chair and not gotten up until it was too late to go. So, in the interest of getting back into my favorite pair of jeans before cheer season starts, I delayed my post for today. I'm glad I did; exercise was good. I now feel all pleasantly tired and proud of myself.

Hello to my latest follower, Kat. Although Kat is not a stranger, I'm going to count her as one since I've only met her once, and she's not morally obligated to join as my friend. That earns her a big gold star for joining my BLOG. Thanks!!

To all of you mothers out there, do you ever think back to those days right before your first baby was born? Do you remember how quiet it was and just how delusional you were that you'd always have a level of peace and quiet? The moment you have kids life is constant chaos except for those few, rare moments when you get to be completely and gloriously alone. I love my kids, but those moments are the absolute best. I got one of those nights last night. From 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM I was alone. Yeah!! I put that time to good use too. I wrote over 1,200 words last night. Double yeah!!

In Chapter 6, Kate finally arrives in Houston. Up to this point, she's only really thought about how her Mom's career revival will cause her to leave her friends and family. Sure, she thinks about the other stuff Bridgette has promised, but its all secondary to the thought of leaving those she loves behind. In Houston, she begins to realize that leaving Mapleton is only the tip of the change iceberg. Once again, poor Kate, but don't worry. Lots of really cool things are going to start to happen soon. That's Chapter 7 though... For now, welcome to Houston.

Chapter 6

“The captain has announced our final descent into Houston, Texas. All electronic devices must now be powered off. Please stow all carry-on luggage, put your trays in their locked and upright position, and buckle your seat belts in preparation for landing.” The seat belt sign pinged in confirmation of the flight attendants words.
Removing all traces of the eye make-up I had applied before leaving Minnesota, I rubbed my eyes and ran my hands through my hair. I stretched in an attempt to fully wake up. Melanie would be horrified, but I never could obtain her level of orderly personal perfection. Why try and start now?
Once the cobwebs cleared, I expected to feel far more rested than when we boarded the plane. A late and restless night and an early morning had left me exhausted, and although I didn’t remember much of my first flight as Bridgette Broucheriou’s daughter, I was glad I would face my temporary home well rested.
The entire experience of traveling as a VIP was a bit overwhelming. The few times Mom and I previously traveled, we always flew first class, but our trip to Houston was the first time I ever traveled in a true VIP manner. Plush and luxurious, the limousine the studio hired to pick us up made a mockery of the limo Erik had hired to take us to prom this past spring. Mom and I were dropped off at the door to our terminal. We were met by an airline representative who solicitously arranged for our excessive amount of luggage to be checked in, handed us our boarding passes, and escorted us around the long security line to a private screening area.
There were whispers and stares, but everyone looked excited rather than annoyed. A few people even pulled out there phones, flipping them open and pointing them in our direction. It took me a few seconds to realize they were taking pictures of us. Gone was the anonymity of my first sixteen years. It was as if a big neon sign was flashing over my head, saying “LOOK AT ME!”
It all made perfect sense when I passed one of the airport stores and noticed a younger version of Mom’s face splashed across most of the weekly entertainment magazines. I stopped dead in my tracks. MY mom was on the cover of magazines – lots of them! Amazing! Who could have imagined? Okay, I know I shouldn’t have been surprised. I grew up with the knowledge that Mom was far from ordinary. I just never actually believed it.
The magazine bylines splashed the news.
“Bridgette’s Back!”
“Savannah Out! Bridgette In!”
“Welcome Back Bridgette!”
Mom looked at the newsstands and only smiled. I suppose she was used to it all – or at least had been. To me, the growing concept of my mother’s fame was incredible.
The stares followed us to our gate where the attentive airline representative handed us over to an equally attentive gate agent. Since the plane had already finished boarding, we were spared the attention of the other passengers as we were escorted onto the plane and shown to our seats. No one bothered us – probably because the attentive first class flight attendant glared at anyone who even looked like they were thinking of approaching Mom.
“Ready, Kate?” Mom reached out to grab my hand as the plane glided to earth. I knew she could see the slight daze in my eyes and would understand just how much her fame shocked me.
“Ready, Mom.” I squeezed her hand, releasing it to run my hands through my hair and over my eyes again. I had the horrible, sneaking suspicion that I looked dreadful. In Mapleton, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now that I knew people would be watching, I was oddly uncomfortable at the thought of looking less than perfect.
While the rest of the plane gathered their belongings, the flight attendant retrieved our carry-on luggage. As soon as the airplane door opened, we were led off the plane and handed over to yet another airline representative.
“Welcome to Houston, Ms. Broucheriou,” the representative’s slight drawl greeted us as she shook Mom’s hand. “It’s an honor. I’m one of your biggest fans!”
“Thank you, Kelley.” Mom’s mega-watt smile lit up her face as she smoothly greeted the representative by name. A quick glance at her nametag confirmed she was, indeed, Kelley.
“I’m afraid your arrival was leaked to the press. They’re waiting for you outside security. I can take you through an alternate exit if you would like,” Kelly looked at Mom anxiously, obviously hoping to make a good impression.
“That won’t be necessary, Kelley. I’d be happy to say hello. Besides, I suspect the studio is fully responsible for the leak.” Mom’s smile never faltered as she reached into her bag, grabbed a tube of lipstick, and swiped a fresh coat on her lips.
The press?!? Waiting for us! I looked at Kelley, waiting for her to make the same offer to me. When no such offer was made, I reached into my bag for my lipgloss. It wouldn’t make much of a difference, but at least I made the effort.
Mom paused at the top of the escalators leading to the baggage claim area where we would exit security. She grabbed both of my hands, squeezing them as she looked at me with a mixture of regret and comfort. “I suppose I should have prepared you for all this before we left. I didn’t think it would start this fast. I thought I would have time. I’m sorry.”
Rather than comforting me, Mom’s words freaked me out. How bad could a couple of reporters be?
“Just smile and don’t say anything. I’ll do all the talking. Follow my lead, and it’ll be over before you know it.” With a final squeeze, she released my hands. Reassembling her smile, she stepped onto the escalator.
Noises and blinding flashes of light greeted me at the bottom of the escalator. Chaos ruled as a crowd of determined reporters eagerly pressed against a makeshift crowd control barrier.
“Bridgette!! How does it feel to be back??”
“Bridgette! Over here! How does it feel to be playing Anna again after all these years?”
“Bridgette! How does it feel to be working with Kyle Thomas again?”
“Bridgette!! How does Savannah feel about your return? There’s a rumor of hard feelings??”
Mom calmly raised her hand to quiet the crowd. The reporters responded quickly, the roar quieting almost instantly.
“Thank you, everyone. I appreciate you all coming out to welcome me back home to Texas. It feels great to be back - to Texas and to acting. I’m honored to have been asked to join the cast of Dawn’s New Light. I’m sure I speak for Kyle too when I say I’m thrilled to be working with such incredible young talent. I can guarantee none of you will be disappointed in this sequel.”
The cameras flashed while Mom posed. I did my best to be invisible as the camera flashes lit the baggage claim area. After a few moments, Mom turned to grab my hand and leave.
“Bridgette! How does your family feel about your return?”
Mom paused and turned back to the growing crowd of spectators and reporters. “My family is the most important thing in my world. Without their support, I wouldn’t be here. My daughter Kate….,” she turned to pull me slightly forward. “My daughter Kate is here with me, and we’re both very excited to be able to experience this adventure together.”
I smiled dumbly, blinded by another round of camera flashes, until Mom signaled Kelley that we were ready to leave. With the help of several enormous security guards (definitely not the normal airport crew!), we walked through the crowd and out through a door marked “Passenger Vehicles” where another limousine waited. As we approached, the limousine’s passenger door opened and a tall, dark haired, dark eyed man exited the rear of the limousine. He paused to stare at us both, seeming to shake himself before finally stepping forward.
Kyle Thomas! Wow! I suddenly understood what Mom meant when she said he was gorgeous. He was even better looking in person than on screen.
“I see you’ve still got it Bridge. You dazzle them as usual. Welcome back.” He stepped forward to pull Mom into a hug that spoke of a level of intimacy I had only ever seen Mom share with Dad. It was now obvious why Dad was still so jealous of Kyle. Mom and Kyle had clearly been way more than casual boyfriend and girlfriend.
Mom reached up to kiss Kyle lightly on the cheek. She glanced over her shoulder at me before turning back to hug him a second time. “Kyle! I can’t believe you came to meet me. It’s so great to see you again.” Camera’s flashed, capturing Mom and Kyle’s reunion. I read enough gossip to know that this unplanned, unscripted meeting would sell a lot of magazines. I could almost visualize Dad’s stormy expression.
Mom and Kyle didn’t seem to notice the attention.
“Are you kidding? I couldn’t wait to see you. I never thought I’d see you back in the business, Bridgette.” Kyle’s eyes flashed with excitement as he looked deeply into Mom’s eyes.
“I couldn’t resist when Peter called. And Kate has been so supportive,” Mom said, turning to me. “Kate, come over here.”
The cameras continued to flash as Mom stepped back to put her arm around my shoulders. Her voice was strangely formal as she introduced me. “Kyle, this is my daughter, Kathryn. Kate, meet Kyle Thomas.”
“Hello, Kathryn. It’s wonderful to finally meet you,” Kyle reached out his hand.
Somehow I forced my hand to take his, but when I tried to say hello the words froze in my mouth. My eyes grew wide.
Mom laughed at the expression on my face, turning to Kyle to scold, “You could always strike me speechless too, Kyle. I’m afraid Kate isn’t used to the Hollywood scene. I’ve kept her pretty sheltered.” I blushed deep red as Mom and Kyle both turned to look at me.
Mom shook her head in mock exasperation. “He’s just a regular person, Kate. You’ll see. Come on now, let’s go.”
The drive from the airport took forever. Although the driver told us it wouldn’t take long, apparently “not long” meant something different in Houston than in Mapleton where going from one end of town to the other took less than five minutes. It took 45 minutes to finally pull onto our new street which was lined on either side by tall trees and, hidden behind the trees, huge, beautiful homes that looked like they belonged on the cover of a home magazine. Any one of the houses could have swallowed my little ranch style house in Mapleton multiple times over.
The drive gave Kyle plenty of time to fill us in on all the gossip. Well, fill Mom in, but I listened in fascination as he talked. Kyle included me in the conversation too, asking about my school and friends. I couldn’t imagine why this handsome, famous man cared, but I did my best to answer his questions without stuttering.
“Peter insisted on a house for you and Kate. He said you’d want to keep things as low key as possible. The rest of us are staying downtown. I’ll let you get settled in and plan on seeing you tonight at the welcome party,” Kyle said as the car deposited us in front of a large brick house surrounded by elegant trees and a garden full of colorful flowers. Before waving goodbye, he kissed Mom on the cheek (that was two kisses if you’re counting like me) and smiled widely at me. The stunning effect of his final smile didn’t dim until Mom ushered me into the beautifully decorated home and told me to pick a room.
“Unpack and get some rest, Kate,” Mom suggested. “The real excitement starts tonight.” A mischievous smile lit her beautiful face – a face that seemed to have transformed in the past hours. It was still my Mom’s face. But something else was there. A confidence and surety of self that might have been called arrogance on anyone else. On Mom – or maybe it was on Bridgette – it just looked right.
“You know, Mom, I think I may have had enough excitement for the day.” I shook my head in disbelief.
“Oh, no, Kate. Not near enough. Not nearly enough.” She smiled again as she walked down the hall toward the master bedroom. What could she be talking about? A week ago, I wouldn’t have been worried. Today, with those words coming from Bridgette Broucheriou rather than Mom, I was terrified. Brace yourself, Kate. You’re not in Minnesota anymore!

© 2008-2009 Elizabeth Johnson