Logan
Back at the film festival two years later with my gorgeous wife, Maya Bexley—Mrs. Hammond in private—I’d like to tell you that she was carrying our child. Unfortunately, due to her filming schedule, we’re only in the practicing phase. No room for a baby when you’re married to a super hero who needs to wear form-fitting costumes and jumps from building to building in order to save the day.
We were busy for months traveling to film premieres once the production was complete with the new scenes. Thanks to Maya’s assistant and her three accomplices no longer being a threat, we were free to roam around again without added protection surrounding us. Things were back to how I liked them; only I was protecting Maya—as a husband should.
I had gone back to working a few assignment details with Maya off filming parts in action films and working on a new project that she was most excited about. I was back to protecting politicians mainly while she was living the sweet life. She had always wanted to star in a romantic comedy and she finally got her wish. I think she may have been swayed by the script alone since the story involved an ice cream heiress.
Tasting ice cream on the set sounded like a dream come true for her. It also required far more hours of cardio. For the second half of that filming schedule, I joined her on location and had her up at sunrise every morning running.
“Rise and shine! Oh six hundred hour! Let’s hit the pavement, Mrs. Hammond!
“Let’s workout in bed. An hour of steamy cardio.” She tried that several mornings.
As much as I wanted to give in to her, there was plenty of time for that after our run. I had eased her into adding a few extra miles since I was used to running ten to fifteen miles most mornings when I was alone. Keeping it interesting seemed to work the best. She loved to talk up a storm about things around us while we jogged along at a nice clip so I constantly changed up our route. It was a wonder that she never stumbled and fell since our first run together. She rarely paid attention to her pace or footing when pointing to things.
Being back in the desert, we stayed in the townhouse—our cold weather in LA getaway. “Getting you means getting a vacation home in the desert.” Not the exact words you want to hear when you propose marriage to a woman, but Maya was one of a kind. If she wanted me as a total package, that was fine with me.
“We need to clean out the one bedroom for family… That color over there would be great in the room and it will still go with your professional decorated stuff… Oh, maybe you can see if that design team can do the room.” She was pointing to lavender flowers blooming on several cactus plants right before we headed for home.
“Oh no, the little dictator has arrived.”
Maya slapped my arm and told me to be nice. Her new assistant was bossier than her last—a real thorn in my side—but at least she was my kid sister, Jordan, and I knew Maya was safe with her.
They became instant friends when they met at Jordan’s graduation from film school where she was learning every aspect of movie making to one day produce. Maya hired her on the spot and let her move into the guesthouse in LA. In the desert, we put her up in a hotel close to the festival action which she loved. Jordan liked to be in the mix and know what the latest trends were and how she could capitalize on them. She was already putting whatever amounts of money she could afford into indie films. She, also, had Maya investing too. Jordan loved to be in authority and tell people what to do. It never worked well with me, but Maya loved her madness—I say that lovingly.
“Good, your back.” My sister had just gotten out of her car with a folder bursting at the seams in her arms as we neared her standing just outside our garage. “Maya, I figured out the schedule and made sure nothing will pop up to surprise you. Did you talk to him about the room prep yet?”
“Oh hell, no! You are not moving in with us here. You have a hotel suite.”
Maya and Jordan both laughed at me. “Okay then… Apparently there has been no talk… So, I will just leave this information with you, Maya.” She pushed the folder toward Maya. “I know when I’m not wanted.” Jordan grinned and stuck her tongue out at me before stepping back toward her car door. “Remember to get him onboard gently and the schedule for interviews is in there too.”
I let out a big breath of oh-no-what-am-I-in-for air.
“Relax. Come make me breakfast and throw in some potato wedges.” Maya and her fries—I would never deny her.
In the kitchen I got everything out to make her favorites along with some other healthy choices, egg whites and lean bacon. I loved seeing her across the way from me, sitting on a stool with her arms propped up on the dark-stained concrete island. I didn’t love that she was about to hit me with the big plans she had been scheming with my sister.
“Here is the schedule…” she began. “Today is the suite-filled interview circuit. A screening tonight. Tomorrow morning show interviews…” Nothing I wasn’t familiar with. “A few dinners… a special screening of my film with a Q and A…” She took a breath between pulling out more sheets. “Call sheets for filming that begins in a month… the starting location involves travel… During that time we can have the room done…” She stopped.
“Go on.” I turned and tossed the wedges in the oven with my back to her. “We can discuss the room later.” I didn’t want to see disappointment in her face, but I really wanted our privacy.
“As I was say…” Maya continued and I noticed a grin threatening to appear on her face as I turned around and whipped the egg whites and herbs together a bit too aggressively. “The final part of shooting is local so there won’t be any trouble with my delivery.” She stopped again and sat looking at me, definitely grinning.
“Delivery?” She nodded her head. “The room’s not for my sister?” She shook her head and I dropped the fork in the bowl and walked around the island.
“You put a baby in me!” Maya exclaimed as I pulled her from the stool into my arms. “Your new assignment involves protecting mommy and baby.”
That was the best detail I could ever hope for!
THE END