Chapter Sixteen

Give me one second to rant before I go on to the wonderful Chapter 16. What is happening to the United States? I'll admit it; I hated both Bush's. I'm a true blue Democrat. However, no matter what, I would never have yelled "You Lie" while attending a joint session of Congress, especially if I were a Congresswoman. Regardless of how you feel about the man, we as Americans should respect the office of the Presidency. Some Republicans seem to think whoever yells the loudest wins. What fools!

That's it. Rant over. And, to any of you who are Republicans, I apologize for any generalizations. I live in Texas, and during the past 7 years, I've learned both respect and tolerance. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what your political affiliation is. We all just want to live our lives comfortably, watch our kids grow up, and die at an old age with our families surrounding us. We just look at things differently. If people kept that in mind more often, maybe things would run a little smoother.

Deep cleansing breath...

Okay... Chapter 16... fast forward to the end of summer. It has everything - love, happiness, betrayal, and fury. Hold on to your hats. Wow! (If I do say so myself.) That's all I can say. My lips are sealed. Read and see for yourself :)

Chapter 16

“Oh my God! I can’t believe the summer is almost over,” I yelled over the roar of the blow dryer.
“Well, sweetie, you’ve spent it with the amazingly hot Logan St. James. Of course the summer passed quickly. I could lose a week just looking into those smoldering eyes of his.” Johan grinned at me over the top of my head.
“I know. I think that’s where the first week went. Between his eyes and those lips! Johan, his lips are magic. Ahhhhhhhh,” I sighed.
I’d been right; it had been a spectacular summer. Logan and I spent every free moment together. We talked and laughed, learning each other’s quirks and oddities in a way I never did with Erik. There were long stretches of loneliness for me – Logan was often tied up for days at a time with filming. But there were days of uninterrupted togetherness too. Those days were gloriously happy, filled with laughing and touching and exploring. After seven weeks officially together, I’d never been happier.
“Katie, you live a charmed life. I worried about you after that witch Savannah set you and Logan up with those pictures. I thought for sure the public would turn on you, but I was wrong. You’re everyone’s sweetheart. Did you see the “Children of the Stars” article in US Weekly last week? They love you!”
Yep, that’s me. Kate Broucheriou. America’s Sweetheart. Not that I ever did anything but be born to one superstar and date another one.
Savannah, on the other hand, had somehow lost the ability to pass her scandalous behavior off as charming. I called it Karma. Logan considered it justice. Regardless, Jackson spent much of the summer trying to combat bad press while Savannah drank and flirted (Let’s just say she’d developed a LONG list of “friends”!) her way through Houston and the surrounding metropolitan area. Ha!
“This summer may be charmed, Johan, but it’s almost over. This is it. Logan is filming his last scene tonight. Mom, Kyle, and Savannah are done today. We’re off to Los Angeles tomorrow. I’m going to miss you!”
It was all set up. I was enrolled in some fancy private school and another house was rented until we could find one to buy. My precious car would be loaded on a moving van tomorrow afternoon. By tomorrow night, we’d be in Los Angeles. Hollywood, here I come!
Dad had been furious when I told him I wasn’t coming back to Mapleton for the school year. Livid was more like it. This time I understood and tried not to get too upset. He missed me and was worried. I suppose it wasn’t easy being my father right now. Mom and I both did our best to explain; I couldn’t leave Logan, and despite her best intentions, Mom couldn’t bear to be apart from me. It took a full week of daily calls to calm him down, and though he was no longer actively yelling, he still seemed hurt.
Melanie was disappointed too, but she, more than Dad, understood how I felt about Logan. She knew how he made my heart flutter and my head spin. She knew every moment we were apart I longed to be with him. Plus, more importantly, she knew, even if we were apart, I could be with Logan and still be her best friend.
Although I remained focused on Logan for much of the summer, there hadn’t been a repeat of my earlier summer abandonment. Melanie and I talked nearly every day. Long, detailed conversations that stretched late into the night. I helped Melanie through an angry breakup with John, and Melanie shared in the highs of the early stages of my relationship with Logan. It was amazing, but out of the dust of my break-up with Erik, my relationship with Melanie emerged stronger than ever.
“Sweetie, call me anytime. I’ll be on a plane before you can say “help.” I don’t like the idea of any of those Hollywood hacks cutting your hair!” Johan cringed at the concept.
“You’ve told me where to go and where not to go. Don’t worry. If anything too bad happens, I’ll call you. Now, do I look okay? Logan and I are having our final Houston date tonight before he has to film his scene.” I twisted my head from side to side, admiring Johan’s artistry.
“Okay doesn’t start to describe it. You look fantastic. You’ll make Logan’s hunky heart go pitter patter.” One final spray of his super-hold hairspray, and I was declared ready to go.
“Oh, Johan, I love you. I’ll miss you terribly.” I hugged him tightly.
“I love you too, Kate. Be nice to Logan…. and make him be nice to you. You deserve it sweetie. Now go!” He hugged me back then practically shoved me out the door. I saw tears in his eyes before he turned away.
I understood how he felt.
I didn’t have much time to brood. I’d cut my day too close, wanting to visit Johan one last time before I left. Logan would be picking me up in less than an hour, and it would take me every minute of that hour to get ready. I needed to look perfect; Logan promised that tonight was going to be special.
Special. Logan always made my life special. Sigh!
By the time I got into Logan’s car, my heart was beating fast, and it had nothing to do with the fact that I’d taken the stairs two at a time when I’d seen him pull into the driveway. It had everything to do with Logan himself. People magazine was right; he was one of the most beautiful people in the world.
“Hey, babe,” I said as I hopped into the car before Logan could get out and open the door for me. Logan shook his head in exasperation. Ever the gentlemen, he hated it when I didn’t wait for him to do things like open doors or pull out a chair for me. I took advantage of his distraction to lean over and kiss him soundly.
“Kate,” his smile lit up his gorgeous eyes.
For a moment I lost myself in those amazing eyes. His lips came down on mine a second time.
“Drive, Logan. There will be plenty of time for kissing me breathless later,” I teased. “I’m anxious to get started on my “special” night. Are you ready to tell me what we’re doing yet?”
Logan had been oddly secretive about his plans. I knew we weren’t going far; we only had a few hours. Duty was calling Logan to work. Tonight he would shoot his final scene to be filmed on location.
“Kathryn Swanson, just be patient. I’m allowed to have some secretes – even from America’s Sweetheart,” Logan teased. Shit, I would never live that title down!
“Okay, Mr. Beautiful,” I teased right back. Let him live that one down. We both broke out laughing as Logan’s car headed downtown. I loved the way we laughed with each other. Logan rarely took anything serious – especially his ever-expanding fame.
I was surprised when he turned into his hotel’s front drive.
“Logan?” My voice wavered a bit with nerves. What exactly was Logan planning?
“Just come on in, Kate,” He directed. Handing his keys to the valet as he pulled me out of the car. “This is a good surprise. You’ll love it.”
I’m sure I would, but… I just wasn’t sure I was ready for this surprise. Not yet at least.
“This way.” Logan’s expression was wicked as he pulled me towards an open elevator.
“Logan, I don’t know….” I tried to make my mouth smile, but I just didn’t know how to approach this. We hadn’t even discussed taking this step.
I was so nervous I didn’t watch to see what floor he selected. When the doors opened on the roof, I knew I’d made the wrong assumption. A deep breath escaped from my chest. Logan laughed softly, kissing me gently on the top of my head and pulling me down the short hall to the pool area. A sign on the door proclaimed “Closed.”
“Uh, Logan, I don’t think we can go out there. The sign says it’s closed.”
“Not for us, Kate,” Logan replied. I watched while he took a small brass key out of his pocket and unlocked the door.
Before pushing the door open, he turned to me and took both of my hands in his. “Almost three months ago, I met a stunning girl up on this roof. She was a sleeping beauty, and I longed to kiss her awake. But she was a stranger. I never expected how much that stranger would come to mean to me. Kate, I created this for you.”
Logan pushed open the door to the rooftop pool, revealing a fairy tale scene. A small table set for two was placed near the walled edge of the roof. A candle was set in its exact center. Every available flat surface was covered with red roses, and small, white twinkle lights were strung through the potted trees that surrounded the edges of the pool deck. Soft jazz music played from the speakers hung from the building.
As if choreographed, the sun blazed red as it sunk into the horizon. I turned to step into Logan’s waiting arms.
“It’s beautiful, Logan. How did you do this?” My eyes reflected the joy that was in my heart.
“It’s not nearly as beautiful as you, Kate.” He pulled me closer to his body. His eyes told me exactly how much my reaction meant to him.
Suddenly embarrassed by the intensity of my feelings, I blushed and broke away to look over at the table. Logan let me go.
“You ordered dinner,” I questioned when I noticed a small table, partially hidden behind the larger table, holding silver platters. I grasped his hand as I walked over to the table, unwilling, despite my nerves, to lose all physical contact.
“Sit down, beautiful. Tonight I get to serve you,” He pulled my chair out and motioned me to sit. When I did as he asked, he pushed my chair into the table.
For the next hour, Logan and I dined. When one course was finished, Logan would get up and serve the next – not letting me help in any way. He seemed determined to pamper me.
As the sky grew darker, the night became magical. The darkness sparkled with the shine from the twinkle lights. The smell of the roses filled the softly blowing air. Even more beautiful than the rest, Logan’s eyes glowed with happiness.
As Logan cleared our final dishes from the table, I stood and walked over to the raised wall of the pool deck, to look at the beautiful Houston skyline. The lights of the tall buildings illuminated the night sky. I waited patiently for Logan to join me. Everything inside me told me there was more to this enchanted scene than just dinner. My heart clenched and my stomach fluttered in expectation.
All of my tension evaporated as soon as Logan wrapped his arms around my waist. He laid his cheek on top of mine and hugged me close. Feelings of peace and belonging flowed through me. It felt right and perfectly natural when Logan turned me in his arms to mold my body to his as our lips met. My arms reached up to twine around his neck. Our emotions, the setting, the closeness of our bodies, they all combined until our kiss grew and expanded to the point that it burned us with its heat.
Without breaking contact, we moved to a cushioned chaise lounge set near the pool, stumbling slightly as our bodies lowered to lie on the soft chair. Impossibly, our passion grew; the new, reclined position of our bodies allowed for greater intimacy. I could feel him with every inch of my body while touching the firm, strong planes of his body and tasting the sweetness of our passion.
Logan twisted, using his position of power to trap me as a willing prisoner under his body. Our legs tangled in an effort to eliminate even the smallest separation. While his lips moved from my mouth to trail down my neck, his body moved restlessly against mine.
Restless myself, my hands moved from their position atop his clothes to find new glories beneath his shirt, gasping in pleasure at the heat of his bare skin. I tried to touch and feel everything at once. The tight muscles of his back as he moved over me. The strength of his muscled shoulders. The smooth expanse of his stomach and chest.
It was Logan who pulled back first. As our hearts thudded loudly and we tried to settle our breathing, he shifted his position slightly so he was no longer directly on top of me
“I’m sorry, Kate,” Logan gasped when he could speak again.
“What are you sorry about?” My muddled mind refused to process his apology.
“I didn’t bring you here to attack you. I brought you here to tell you I love you and now I’ve messed it all up.” He was visibly annoyed with himself.
A huge smile flashed across my face, and my heart nearly burst with happiness.
“What did you say?” I wanted to hear him say it again.
“I said I messed everything up. I just can’t seem to keep my hands off of you.” Proving his point, an errant hand trailed slowly down my body to rest on my hip. I could feel it burning through the thin fabric of my dress.
Unable to resist, I leaned in to place a lingering kiss on his lips. “No, before that. What did you say before that?”
I watched as his eyes widened in realization. “I said I loved you. I didn’t mean to tell you that way, but I do. I love you more than I ever dreamed I could love someone. Kate, you’re everything to me,” he whispered.
He leaned over me once again, this time being careful not to let it grow into more, and kissed me reverently. My heart nearly stopped as it sought to expand enough to contain all I was feeling. This kind, loving, fantastically gorgeous man loved me. And I loved him back.
Once again he pulled back to look me in the eyes intently. My heart broke a little at the uncertainty in his expression.
“I love you too, Logan. I never knew I could love someone like this – with every bit of who I am. But I do, more than you can imagine.” My eyes were soft and deeply emotional. Logan’s expression cleared moving from uncertainty to elation.
Those were the last words we spoke for a long time; we simply didn’t need words to communicate. Our synchronized heartbeats spoke for us. The casual touches along our still fevered bodies spoke for us. The very atmosphere around us vibrated with our love. This moment, our togetherness, was all either one of us needed.
It was a shock when Logan’s phone rang from its place on the table. He mumbled a few expletives but moved away from me to stand. An empty feeling accompanied the loss of his touch.
“Yes, I’ll be right down,” Logan said.
He turned to me with regret in his eyes. “I’ve got to go, Kate.”
“I know. Let’s find me a car, and get you on your way. You can remind me how much you love me on the way downstairs,” I smiled to let him know I understood.
And he did, many times, as he walked me down to the lobby and placed me in one of the studio’s cars. Even the ever-present noise of the paparazzi couldn’t distract me from my focus on Logan and our love. Let them see. Let them know. I didn’t mind if everyone knew how much I loved him. I waved, refusing to break eye contact, as we pulled away.
I still hadn’t come down from my cloud when the car pulled up in front of the house. Kyle’s car and the light shining from the living room warned me I wasn’t alone. Although I would have much preferred to be alone to relive the past hours over and over in my mind, I wasn’t surprised he was at the house. Kyle and Mom were so deeply in love they were rarely out of each other’s sight. For the way he loved my mother and his strong confident presence during this summer of change, I found myself caring for him too.
I quietly opened the front door. If I was very careful, there was a chance I could escape up to my room without being noticed. It was the soft sobbing that stopped me. I’d never heard my Mom cry. The sound of indistinct urgent, pleading words highlighted the desperation behind her sobs.
I slipped my shoes off to creep closer to the living room entrance, being careful to hide in the shadows. I knew instinctively I didn’t want to hear what was causing my Mom so much pain. I also knew I needed to understand what was causing the pain.
“Please don’t hate me! I love you so much. I’ve always loved you. Oh, God, how long have you known?” Mom’s question ended on a broken sob. I peaked around the corner to see her on her knees in front of where Kyle sat on the couch. Her hands rested on his. Her head lay in his lap.
“I’ve known from the moment I saw her at the airport, Bridgette. All this time I’ve been waiting for you to tell me. I wanted to hate you. I really did, but even then, standing outside the airport and seeing my daughter for the first time…,” Kyle’s voice caught at the word “daughter”. “… even then I couldn’t see past the joy of having you with me again. So, no, I could never hate you. I love you too much.”
My heart stopped at his words. I felt the solidness of my world shatter into a million sharp fragments. Mom’s betrayal went far beyond a secret fiancé.
“I never meant for it to go so far. You’d left me, and I was with David before I knew I was pregnant. When you begged my forgiveness, I thought I would burst with happiness. I intended to tell you then, but I was afraid. If you got cold feet at the thought of marrying me, how would you react to a baby?” Mom’s head lifted to look into Kyle’s eyes.
I was Kyle’s daughter. My entire body froze in shock. I was paralyzed.
“I would have married you and taken care of my child. I wouldn’t have shirked the responsibility,” he responded.
“That was the problem!”
I stepped back into the shadows of the hallway as Mom jumped to her feet. She moved with quick, jerky movements as she struggled to explain. “I didn’t want you to stay with us because you felt responsible. I wanted you to need to be with me, us, because you wanted to be. Because you couldn’t bear not to be. How could I bind you to me when I knew you were only there because you felt responsible.”
Mom sunk to the couch, collapsing on Kyle as a fresh wave of sobs poured from her soul. Tears filled my own eyes. My whole life was a lie.
How was I ever going to put it back together?
“I loved you, Bridgette. I couldn’t bear to be without you. It nearly killed me when you married David.” I watched as Kyle took Mom’s face in his hands and kissed her with all the pain and emotion caused by eighteen years of separation.
“I can see that now. But then, I was pregnant and scared. David loved me – more than I deserved. He accepted Kate and me together. He was her father in every sense of the word.” Kyle’s face contorted in pain. Apparently the concept that my Dad…. Oh, God, he wasn’t my Dad was he? The concept that David acted in his place as my father caused him pain.
Dad had known.
David Swanson wasn’t unwittingly duped by a beautiful superstar into being a father for her bastard child.
Everyone I loved had lied to me.
Every person but one. Ignoring my body’s need to scream and rage, I turned to leave. The urge to escape propelled me out the front door and to my car. Even knowing that Logan wouldn’t be there for hours; I was drawn back to his hotel. Where else did I have to go? Logan was all I had left.

© 2008 - 2009 Elizabeth Johnson