Chapter Twenty-one

Hey there all of my readers. You cannot believe how busy this week has been. It's all been work too, so my week has way sucked! But, today is an off Friday, so although I've been working for the last 3 hours, I'm done!! I'm going to go to the grocery, get some gas, and write. Then, tonight I'm at the Pavilion for the symphony and tomorrow freshly colored hair!! Yeah me!!

Oooohhhh.... wonderful news!! I have a sixth follower. I have no idea who it is, so it may officially be my first follower who I don't know. Welcome and thank you whoever you are. Don't forget to tell your friends, especially if you have a friend who happens to be a big important agent or book publisher. It's not that I don't value all of my readers, but I'd really like to do this for a living. Make some money! Not have to stay up until past my bedtime checking piping drawings... I dream.

Chapter 21 is full of happiness and drama. Finally, the sun is shining brightly on all of us. Almost. We still don't have Logan back, but... Well, read on and find out what happens.

Ciao and happy Friday.

Chapter 21

I was buoyant on the drive home. It was a relief to let go of the anger and bitterness that had filled me for nearly a week. I wasn’t stupid; there would be moments when I’d want to yell and scream at both Mom and Dad for their lies, but I wasn’t going to let anger and resentment set the course for the rest of my life. I wanted more.
I parked my car in the driveway. Parking it in the garage would have wasted precious time, and I’d need it soon anyway. As fast as I could throw some things in a duffle bag and say goodbye to Melanie, I’d be on the way to the airport. If I hurried, I could make-up with Mom and be in Logan’s arms by nightfall, assuming I could find him. I’d look as long as it took.
Melanie’s frantic yell and the slam of the front door interrupted my packing. “Kate! Thank goodness you’re here. Turn the TV on. You’re never going to believe what they’re saying about you.”
“Melanie! Calm down! What’s wrong? You must have practically run here from school. It’s barely four,” I said. A kernel of alarm formed in my stomach at the look on her face. Something was wrong.
Melanie flicked on the TV, flipping the channels until she found a channel broadcasting the afternoon news. She pulled me down on the couch before speaking again. “Mom called me as soon as school got out. She was online when the reports first surfaced,” she rapidly spit out her news still breathing hard from her mad dash to my house.
“Kate, they’re saying that Kyle Thomas is your father,” she confessed.
Everything went black as a surge of pure adrenaline hit me. As the powerful wave hit, my jaw dropped open and my head dropped between my knees. It was impossible to think, I was too busy feeling.
“Kate, of course I don’t believe them. God, what are you going to do? They can’t get away with telling such terrible lies.” Ever loyal, Melanie was ready to do battle.
“It’s not a lie,” I whispered.
It was Melanie’s turn to have her jaw drop in shock. “Oh…”
The newscast interrupted my revelation. “In entertainment news with a local twist, rumors arose today about the stars of the sequel to Midnight’s Dawn, Bridgette Broucheriou and Kyle Thomas.” She seemed almost cheerful as she discussed Mom’s secret.
“Bridgette Broucheriou lives right here in southern Minnesota, right Susan,” her male counterpart chimed in.
“Yes, Scott, she and her daughter Kate live in Mapleton. As many might know, Bridgette and Kyle were involved during the filming of Midnight’s Dawn. What nobody knew until now was that Bridgette and Kyle had a child – our own America’s Sweetheart, Kate Broucheriou,” she said, almost gleeful at the news.
“Wow, Susan. Has Bridgette commented on the reports?” The answer to his inane question was obvious, but “Susan” answered anyway, shaking her head regretfully.
“No, Scott, Bridgette has not been available for comment. We’ll keep you all posted as we learn more.”
Sure they would. Why would they hesitate to drag my private life out for public consumption? That they would be horrified to have similar discussion about there own life didn’t even occur to them.
“It’s true, Kate. For real?”
“It’s true, Melanie. I just found out myself,” I replied.
“Well that explains what’s been wrong,” she shook her head as if to clear it. When she finished, a small smile was on her face. “Your father’s hot, Kate.”
The teasing was forced, but I appreciated the effort. I knew Melanie wouldn’t care. Forcing myself past the shock, I teased right back, “Ewww! It’s bad enough being forced to think about Mom having sex. Adding the thought of Kyle being hot, that’s low.”
The sound of my ringing cell phone caused us both to jump. I glanced at the display to see it was Mom. I hadn’t even thought of Mom or Kyle or even Dad. I pushed the correct button to answer.
“Kate! Are you okay? Have you been online or watched TV,” Mom was in full panic mode. Her voice was rushed and breathless. The sound of a running car and Kyle’s voice could be heard in the background.
“I’m fine, Mom. Really. I heard the news. Melanie’s here with me,” I assured her. Despite the circumstances, I felt happier than I had in along time. It felt wonderful to hear her voice.
“I’ll kill her for real this time, Kate. It was Savannah. She’s been hinting around that she knew something ever since you left. I’m so sorry to have brought her into our lives, honey. I’m so sorry about everything…” Tears were thick in her voice.
Savannah. Of course! It all made sense. She’d said she hated Mom and me. Between my drunken ravings in the bar and what she already knew about Mom and Kyle, it wasn’t a stretch to believe Savannah figured it out. If Logan had, Savannah certainly could have too. She would have been gleeful at the revelation. It would be one more way to hurt Mom and me. One more way to teach us a lesson. Or, maybe it was as she had said. Maybe she was just having fun.
“Mom, calm down. I’m fine. I’m on my way to the airport. I’ll be in LA soon,” I tried to comfort her.
“NO!! Don’t go anywhere!” Mom’s voice was emphatic.
“Okay, Mom. Really, relax. Why can’t I go anywhere?” I was puzzled at her vehemence.
“Because, you’re safe in the house. The Mankato stations should be there any minute. The Twin Cities stations won’t be far behind. The national news will be swarming before the end of the night. Kate, this is big news. It’s better gossip than they’ve had in a long time. Better than Brittany, Lindsey, or Tom. Stay where you’re safe, Kate. Kyle and I are almost at the airport; the studio’s letting us use their plane. They have a publicist working things on this end, but I insisted on coming to you.”
Oh! The picture of swarming news people had me rushing to the window. Although for now the front yard was empty except for Mrs. Johnson’s poodle, I had no trouble visualizing how it would look within an hour. I’d lived with media attention for most of the summer. I just never expected it to follow me to sleepy Mapleton.
“I won’t go anywhere, Mom. Hurry. Please,” I begged. I wasn’t sure I could do it without her.
“Bye, Kate. I’ll be there soon. Don’t answer the phone. Don’t open the door. Don’t do anything,” her voice was calmer but still concerned.
“Bye, Mom. Mom,” I paused. There wasn’t time for a big, dramatic scene, but I needed her to know how I felt. “I love you.”
The line was quiet for a moment before Mom responded. Her voice was soft and filled with emotion; the problem of stalking gossip columnists was temporarily forgotten. “I know, honey. I love you too.”
The line went dead.
As Mom predicted, the first news trucks showed up minutes later. I watched through the sheer blinds as cameras were set up on my front lawn. As the lawn filled, the home phone started to ring. I let the calls go to voice mail but couldn’t help but hear the messages. Everyone wanted my comment. How did I feel? Was it true? Would I agree to an interview? Horrible, yes, and hell no. But, I didn’t answer.
Somewhere around the time the stations from the Twin Cities arrived, Mrs. Carlson snuck through the lilac bushes in the back yard, ducking behind the towering willow tree to call Melanie. When we cracked the door open, she sprinted across the small space of the backyard and through the back door.
She wasn’t able to do much other than pace with Melanie and me, but her presence was comforting. Melanie and she held my hand as the afternoon newscast, morphed into the evening newscast, which heralded the evening entertainment news shows. “Entertainment Tonight” spent nearly its entire half hour on the history of my life, complete with footage of my house filmed hours before. It was a zoo, and I was the zoo animal.
Mom called when she landed in Minneapolis, angry at the distance and time that it was taking to reach me. No matter how many times I told her I was fine, she refused to believe it. Finally, I talked to Kyle who, although his voice held nothing of its typical sophisticated smoothness, was a bit easier to reason with than Mom.
I knew Mom had arrived when pandemonium broke out in the front yard. Moments later, head lights cut across the front window and a long black limousine pulled into the driveway. Bodyguards proceeded Mom and Kyle out of the car and followed them to the front door. As Mom and Kyle opened the door and stepped inside, I saw the two gigantic men station themselves on either side of the front door. I shook my head briefly in wonder (What had my life come to??) before being enveloped in Mom’s arms.
She felt so good I wanted to weep in relief. The lies, the hurt, the anger, not even the media zoo outside the front door – none of it mattered. I had my mom back.
I fell asleep that night on the couch in Mom’s arms like I was a two year old. We’d talked for hours - Mom, Kyle, and me. Our discussions were happy and sad, calm and passionate, and emotional and clinical. By the time I drifted off to sleep, I didn’t exactly understand how we’d got to this point, but I knew I could go on with my life – a life that now included two dads.
The sound of rattling dishes and voices woke me the next day. I reached over my head, lengthening my spine to stretch out the knots and lumps that had formed as a result of sleeping on the couch. The curtains were still drawn, but I could hear the sounds of the still (likely) large crowd outside. The indeterminate pleasant feeling I had upon waking evaporated with a “poof.” Sure, Mom and Kyle were with me, but no matter how happy I was to be with them once again, the lurking presence of the media out front couldn’t be erased.
Or the fact that Logan wasn’t answering my calls.
I’d tried at least twenty times the night before. While pacing the living room with Melanie and Mrs. Carlson, when Mom had gone to make coffee for us all somewhere around midnight, after Mom, Kyle, and I had talked ourselves out, I’d dialed his number over and over. Every time it would ring and ring but ultimately go to voicemail.
It was impossible to ignore the stab of hurt that pierced my heart with every unanswered ring. More than anything, I wanted to curl up, pull the blankets over my head, and admit defeat. All my fault. It was all my fault. I deserved Logan’s anger. I’d been stupid and hurtful to the best thing that ever happened to me.
Oh, whoa is me. Whine, whine, whine! Sure I was seventeen. Sure I’d been through more life trauma in the last week than any one person should have to experience. Sure, all things considered, I’d managed to work through it all admirably quickly. But, for crying out loud, if I let myself pout, I deserved to lose Logan. I was the one in the wrong. I’d damn well be the one to fix things.
As soon as my friendly neighborhood stalkers deigned to leave me alone long enough to board an airplane, I’d fly to Los Angeles and beg Logan for his forgiveness.
I’d take a lesson from Mom. I wouldn’t repeat her mistakes. I’d been too willing to throw away the love Logan offered, careless in my disregard for the precious gift it was. No longer would I take love lightly, not now that I knew Mom’s story. No, I’d fight for Logan’s love. I’d fight for what I knew was meant to be.
I practically lunged for the coffee pot as I stumbled into the kitchen, letting the hot liquid burn my throat as I gulped half the cup before completely opening my eyes. As soon as I felt the precious caffeine molecules enter my bloodstream, I cracked open my eyes to peek at the clock. Wow! How had I managed to sleep straight through breakfast and well into lunchtime? Stress and a late night of emotional conversations, I suppose.
“Morning, Mom. Hey, Kyle,” I mumbled.
Mom chuckled lightly, reaching out to squeeze my hand (the one not gripping the coffee cup like a lifeline). “Morning, honey. I didn’t think you’d ever wake up.”
“I’m not. It’s a figment of your imagination,” I said.
“I don’t have that good of an imagination, kid,” Kyle teased. Only when I opened my eyes fully did I notice the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Oh, God, what now?
“What……,” I asked, trying not to cringe.
“Nothing, babe. It’s nothing we need to discuss,” Mom said firmly.
“Bridgette,” Kyle argued. “It should be her decision.”
“No, Kyle. I’m her mother, and it’s my decision. No way am I going to ask her to do what they’re suggesting.”
“But, Bridgette, it may be the only way,” he responded. This fight had obviously been going on for a while. They both seemed to have their arguments and responses memorized.
“Kyle, Mom. What! Tell me,” I interrupted. I wasn’t going to like the decision I was going to have to make, but no way was I going to let Mom make it for me – whatever it was.
“Fine, tell her, Kyle. You’re the one who thinks it’s a good idea,” Mom scowled.
Ignoring her expression, Kyle turned to me, “The studio’s publicist has an idea. She thinks it’ll clear the vultures out of the front yard. Your Mom doesn’t like the idea. I think it’ll work.”
“Of course I don’t like the idea. It’s not the publicist’s life. Her family won’t be the one drug through the mud. Her past won’t be on display,” Mom stalked across the kitchen to stare out the window set above the kitchen sink.
“What do they want us to do, Kyle?” It must be terrible to cause Mom such intense agitation.
“They want us to do an interview,” he paused to watch my expression darken.
He must to be joking. “I thought the whole point of us hiding in her like criminals was to AVOID being on the news,” I asked incredulously.
“They’ve picked one of the best reporters in the business to do the interview. It’ll all be managed – the questions will be pre-approved by the publicist and only the reporter and her camera crew will be allowed in the house,” he explained. His eyes urged me to make my own judgments.
“Ha! No reporter is a good reporter. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way,” Mom sneered.
Ignoring Mom, I considered the options. We could hide in the house for the next several days until the reporters and photographers outside got bored or had a better scandal to report. Or, I could face the angry lion head on and get my life back on my own terms. The decision seemed obvious.
“Fine. Let’s do it,” I said. Kyle beamed. Mom shook her head angrily.
“NO! Kate, we’re not doing it. I won’t ask you to go through this,” she yelled.
“Mom…,” I walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. “It’s okay, Mom. I want to do it. Let them ask whatever they want. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Of course it does, Kate. This is my mess. You shouldn’t have to do this,” her eyes burned with anger and frustration.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have to do this. Either should you. But, if this is the only way to get rid of them – on our terms, I’ll be fine,” and I would. Truly, it no longer mattered. It was nobody’s business – the world’s need to know made me mad, but I didn’t really care who knew what anymore.
Hanging her head in defeat, Mom hugged me back, “If you’re sure…”
Unwilling to chance Mom changing her mind, Kyle quickly picked up the phone and called the publicist. A short conversation later, it was all arranged. The report would arrive mid-afternoon in time to ensure her taped interview would be ready to air during the evening news. The American public would digest my family’s secrets along with their evening meal.
Most of my afternoon was spent getting ready for my first television interview. I couldn’t help but be nervous. It was illogical; I’d just spent my summer having every public and many private moments photographed. To be nervous…it just seemed silly. But, until now, I wasn’t expected to do anything more than smile at the photographers (public moments) or ignore them (private moments). What if I sounded stupid? What if I embarrassed myself or worse Mom and Kyle?
I compensated for my nervousness by spending more time on my appearance than I ever had before. I combed through my Kate Broucheriou clothes to find the perfect outfit. After settling on a simple dress, I started on my hair. Makeup was the easy part. Apply it heavy and precisely Mom had directed. When I was all put together, I looked polished, sophisticated, and confident.
I was as ready as I was going to get.
The camera crew had been set up in the living room. The living room had always been on the small side, but filled with a studio full of camera equipment, it looked even smaller. As promised, the only people who’d accompanied all of the expensive looking equipment were the reporter, who I instantly recognized from years of evening entertainment programs, and a rumpled looking cameraman.
Kyle stood in the middle of the living room speaking to the reporter, perfectly handsome and seemingly unconcerned with pending interview. Mom stood against the wall and glared at the reporter and her cameraman. If looks could have killed, a major network would have been missing one of their most recognizable personalities.
“Hello, Kate. It’s so nice to meet you finally. I’m looking forward to speaking with you.” The pretty blond broke away from Kyle as soon as I walked into the room. She confidently walked across the room to greet me, sticking out her hand to shake mine. I hesitated. Did I mimic Kyle’s ease or Mom’s outright hostility? I opted for the middle ground – I smiled at the reporter but ignored her offered hand.
“It’s nice to meet you Ms. Shannon,” I said politely. “I’m sure you’ll understand that I can’t share your sentiment. I’m not looking forward to speaking to you at all.”
“Oh,” she responded, her professional smile slipping slightly. Underneath the smile, her expression was cool and calculating. She plastered her smile back on her face before continuing, “Don’t worry, Kate. This will be painless. I promise. Just a couple of questions and you can get on with your life.”
“I doubt that, Barbara.” Mom’s clipped words were thick with undisguised resentment. “Can we just get on with this?”
“Of course, Bridgette. We can start whenever you’re ready,” the reporter motioned for us to take a seat on the couch. Mom waited for me to sit first then arranged Kyle on one side of me while she sat on the other. When we were settled, she glared at our interrogator with impatience.
“Start, Barbara,” Mom sneered. “And if you so much as even think about asking a question that isn’t on the approved list, not one major star will ever consider speaking to you again. It’ll be the “D” list for you for the rest of your career.”
The reporter’s smile turned icy. “You insult me, Bridgette. I wouldn’t dream of breaking the rules.” She raised her hand and motioned toward the cameraman. A light flicked on the camera, and the interview began.
“Bridgette, Kyle, Kate. Thank you so much for agreeing to speak to me during this challenging time. It must be so difficult for you all,” the reporter’s manner transformed from friendly professionalism to a “girl next door” best friend. Her manner urged you confess all. After all, who would she tell?
“Thank you, Barbara. It’s been a bit difficult, but we’re adjusting. I’m personally overjoyed to be here with my daughter and the woman I have always loved.” Kyle’s voice was smoothly pleasant and sincere.
“But you didn’t always know she was your daughter?”
“No, I didn’t. Those times don’t matter anymore. What matters is that we’re together now,” he responded.
“Bridgette, how does it feel to be here with Kyle and Kate, together at last?”
I tensed waiting for Mom to snap. Her shoulders were stiff, and her hand on my knee was tight. Her voice, though, was polite when she answered the question and everyone that followed. She went through her breakup with Kyle, how she met my Dad, and the years that followed in Mapleton. There were no details, thank God, but the story she wove was compelling and heart wrenching. There would be no dry eyes in TV land tonight.
Through it all, Kyle was quietly supportive. His blatantly loving looks said he forgave her, as did mine. The picture we portrayed said we were a perfect, happy family who’d been through too much. The families contently eating dinner would watch and think, “Look at them. They’re going to make it. How amazing.”
I’d almost begun to relax when the reporter turned to me. Mom’s still ridged body stiffened further. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kyle’s eyes narrow. Barbara was going off script.
“So, Kate, you’ve been reported to be involved with Logan St. James. For someone who’s not actually in the movie, you are certainly a central figure in Dawn’s New Light. Your Mom’s the heroine, your biological Dad is the hero, and you’re dating the villain,” she smiled at me with total innocence. Since she hadn’t actually asked a question, I just nodded.
With a quick glance at Mom and Kyle, her eyes narrowed and she continued, “You and Logan haven’t been seen together since before the story of your parentage broke. I was hoping to get your response to the reports that Logan and Savannah Sears have recently been reported to be spending a lot of time together?”
“I…” What?! Savannah and Logan? Never.
“In fact, I was hoping you could respond to these exclusive pictures of the two of them together last night, looking rather “involved.” She thrust the pictures into my lap. Her expression reminded me of a lioness coming in for the kill.
And I was the prey.
Logan and Savannah were cuddled together in the booth of a popular LA restaurant. Their hands were clasped and their eyes were locked. Barbara was right. They looked very involved. I had only a moment to look at the pictures before Mom yanked them out of my hands.
A minute was enough time to burn the images into my brain. I struggled not to fall apart as Mom leaped to her feet. “This interview is over. Get out of my house. NOW!”
“Barbara, I’m agreeing with Bridgette. It’s time you leave,” Kyle’s previously easygoing expression turned cold.
I heard them all, but none of the words registered. Logan and Savannah. I’d lost him. I loved him and now he was no longer mine. The camera was still fixed on me, it’s red light blinking, so I stayed sitting upright with dry eyes.
Oh, God!
No! It wasn’t true. I couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t believe it. Logan hated Savannah. No way would he ever choose to be with her.
But, Savannah was beautiful and charming when she wanted to be. She’d wanted Logan from the beginning, and as she was quick to point out, Savannah usually got what she wanted. The pictures proved she’d finally accomplished her goal. She and Logan were together.
Never!
Maybe it was true. It didn’t matter, though. She wasn’t going to get him. Logan was mine. I’d promised myself I’d fight for us and this didn’t change anything.
“The American public is going to want to hear her answer, Bridgette. Kyle, you know it’s true,” Barbara’s smooth voice worked to calm the situation.
“OUT! Now!!! If you’re not out immediately, I’m calling the police, and you can film that. Shut the camera OFF,” Mom practically screamed. I snapped out of my shock in time to see her advance on the cameraman, her hand to the lens.
I reached out a hand to stop her. “I’ll answer, Mom. The American public might not deserve an answer, but Logan does.”
“No, Kate,” Mom stopped to look at me with surprise.
“Kate, honey, you don’t need to,” Kyle said.
“What does Logan deserve to hear, Kate?” Barbara pounced. I turned to her and looked directly into the camera.
“Logan deserves to know I love him. I treated him badly. It was my fault. When I learned about Kyle, he was there for me, and I pushed him away. If he’s with Savannah now, she’d better watch out. Logan is mine, and I will prove myself worthy of his love again.”
The room went quiet. Mom and Kyle stared at me. The reporter waved to the cameraman, a pleased smile on her face, and the recording light blinked on camera. The interview was over.
I managed to wait to collapse until the equipment was packed and out of the house. I’d been confident in front of the camera. That same confidence wasn’t so easy to keep once the adrenaline of the fight wore off.
Unshed tears burned in my eyes as the images of the pictures played over and over in my mind. I could hear their laughter, feel their adsorption in each other. Logan would be sweet and kind. And when the camera’s turned away he’d be sexy and sensual. Savannah would be more than happy to indulge that side of Logan.
Logan was everything I wanted. How could I exist without him now that I knew how much I would be missing? If I lost him for good, well… I’d survive, but for the rest of my life I’d regret his loss. There would always be a piece of my heart that belonged to Logan St. James
“Can we leave tomorrow, Mom? I need to get to Los Angeles.”
I would go, dwindling confidence be damned. I would get Logan back. Logan was mine, and no one, especially Savannah Sears, was going to take what was mine.
“Whatever you want, honey,” Mom assured.Whatever I wanted? I wanted to be in LA. I wanted to be where Logan was. Savannah’s time was done. This time it was my time to get what I wanted. And I wanted Logan.

© 2008-2009 Elizabeth Johnson