Chapter 6
“Christina June, this is Lorna. Lorna, my daughter,” Buck made in the way of introductions upon his return.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Lorna said, addressing the four-year-old girl clinging to her father’s leg shyly.
“What do you say, C.J.?” Buck encouraged.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” a tiny muffled voice replied.
Buck smiled and shrugged, an indication that it was the best they could hope for as they stood in the front foyer of the house. Lorna had already been standing there, looking at the framed photos on the walls when they had come in through the front door.
“She’ll warm up to you. Very shy around strangers,” Buck said.
“I’m sure we’ll get along fine soon,” Lorna said.
She smiled down at the little girl, who had begun to peek around her father’s legs, checking out the strange woman that was now in their house. Still, she stayed out of sight.
“I didn’t realize you knew so many people,” Lorna replied, waving a hand in the direction of the photos.
“Yeah. Hazard of the business, networking with people ad nauseum.”
“You were in the film business?” she asked.
Buck laughed and smiled. “I might have dabbled a bit. Retired now, though.”
“You’ll have to tell me about it sometime,” Lorna replied, curious as to what he had done, if anything. He seemed to know a lot of famous people, but she had never heard of him.
“I will. Sometime. For now, I need to get this one to bed. She’s had a long day. We’ll talk in a bit when I get her settled in.”
“Okay. Goodnight, Christina June,” Lorna replied.
“You can call me C.J.”
“Yeah? Okay. See you in the morning, C.J.”
The little girl smiled and pulled her father toward the stairs that led up to the bedrooms. He made a surprised face toward Lorna and smiled.
“Be back in a little while. Make yourself comfortable in the living room or den if you want or I’ll stop by your room and fetch you when I’m done.”
“I’ll be down here,” she replied.
He nodded and disappeared up the stairs with C.J. in tow. Lorna wandered into the den and had a seat, turning on the television and zoning out for a bit. She couldn’t even tell you how long it was before he came in. It seemed like no time at all.
“That stuff will rot your brain,” he said.
Lorna jumped at the unexpected presence and glanced toward the TV. Some reality show with the latest batch of housewives was on the screen. She laughed. It was nothing she’d ever watch if she’d been paying attention.
“I agree,” she replied, clicking the off button.
“So, you okay with your accommodations?”
“Yes. It’s a lovely place.”
“I like it. A bit secluded for some folks, but I like the privacy.”
“I suppose you would. Gives you a lot of freedom to, well…you know.”
“Yes. It does that. No need to worry about mentioning that in this household. It’s no secret among the staff.”
“No? Okay. Are they shifters too?”
“No. Not all of them. Just the nurse.”
“Yes. She came to see me after dinner. Melanie is her name?”
“Yes, Melanie.”
“She asked a million questions and told me all about what to expect. A lot of information to absorb in one sitting.”
“Yeah, well, don’t worry. She’ll tell you again and again,” he laughed.
“I take it you’ve known her a long time?”
“Yes. She’s my sister.”
“Oh. Wow. She didn’t mention that.”
“Sounds right too. She’s not thrilled about me doing things this way, but she’s supportive.”
“Why did you decide to do things this way? If you don’t mind me asking. I mean, I know it’s none of my business, so feel free to say so.”
“No. It’s okay. I know it must seem odd to you or anyone else, for that matter. As you know, it’s very difficult for me to find someone compatible. I spent years the first time finding a mate.”
“C.J. is from surrogacy as well then?”
“No. I was married to her mother. She was also a shifter. I lost her in an unfortunate accident when C.J. was only a year old. Anyway, that’s the reason I didn’t look for another mate. I wasn’t ready to attempt another relationship just yet. I just didn’t want C.J. to grow up alone like I did. I retired from my work to spend more time with her. As time went on, I found that it just wasn’t enough. So, here we are.”
“Makes complete sense.”
“In some regard, it does. Some folks think I’ve gone out of my mind.”
“Like Melanie?”
“Yes, like Melanie.”
“I’m sure she is just trying to watch out for her brother.”
“Yes, she is. She’s only a year older, but you’d think she was my mother at times.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Shows you are loved.”
“I suppose it does. How about you, Lorna? Who loves you?”
“I don’t know. My best friend, I suppose.”
“Your parents, they are still living, according to your paperwork, but you have no siblings.”
Lorna took a deep breath and squirmed a bit. It didn’t go unnoticed.
“I’m sorry, Lorna. You don’t have to answer that.”
“No. No. It’s okay. I just haven’t thought about my parents for a while. It’s sort of selective memory, I guess. I grew up in a not so nice place, what a lot of people would refer to as trailer trash. My parents both drank. My father took out his frustrations on my mother and my mother, well, she took them out on me. So, I ran away to Hollywood where I could be someone else, anyone else.”
“That’s a hard story. Do you keep in touch at all?”
“I tried. They didn’t want to talk to me. I stopped trying.”
“It’s all you can do sometimes. So, about Hollywood. What made you give that up to become a surrogate? This is bound to interfere with your flexibility as an actress.”
“I wasn’t very successful at it in the first place and then this producer sort of blacklisted me, so everything dried up,” she confided.
“Blacklisted you? For what?”
Lorna took a deep breath and told him the story of Dallas Dalton, expecting the usual dismissal she got from men when she talked about it. After all, he hadn’t raped her or pinned her down. He had merely suggested they have sex and she had refused, then badmouthed him for it. She made him look bad simply for trying to make a connection. That was the way a lot of people saw what happened. Never mind that he had come for her career. That was perfectly okay, because she had gone for his first.
“Dallas Dalton, huh? I can’t believe no one has cut his junk off for him yet.”
“You know him?”
“Yeah. I’ve worked with him on a few of my films.”
“I see,” she replied.
“No. I don’t think you do see. No one approves of what he does, but he’s got a lot of money. I chose to stop working with him after I realized what a piece of shit he was, but not everyone is willing to do that.”
“But you didn’t speak up, either.”
“You think I should have.”
“Yes,” she said, being as honest as she knew how.
“How did that work out for you?”
“Not very well.”
“It would have been even less effective if I had said anything. I wasn’t involved in anything first-hand. It would have been dismissed as hearsay and, unless those women were willing to stand up beside me, there was little I could do.”
“You could have tried.”
“Yeah. I could have tried. I should have tried. You did. Granted, it didn’t turn out that well, but at least you stood up and said something. I can admire that.”
“I don’t know. I suppose I can see why you didn’t. You’re right. It wasn’t your place. I guess I just wish there had been someone in my court to back me up. I know there are other women out there that he has treated like that, but none of them stood up with me. They just left me to flounder alone.”
“I’m sorry you were treated that way. I guess there are two sides to every coin, huh?”
“Yes.”
“So, well. This conversation has gotten heavy. How about we discuss something else?”
“That would be good. Tell me about your work in film. I’m sorry if I should know who you are, but I don’t recognize the name from anything.”
“No? You wouldn’t. I retired before you joined the ranks and I worked under a different name. Carlos Hanover.”
“Oh my God! You have got to be kidding me! I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”
“No need to be sorry.”
“I’m honestly a big fan. I’ve seen so many of your movies. You’re like one of the biggest directors and here I am clueless.”
“Was a director. I’m just a stay-at-home father now.”
“You don’t miss it?”
“Sometimes, but I’d miss my time with C.J. more. Besides, there is so much drama and backstabbing in the industry. I don’t miss that part of it.”
“Understandable, I suppose,” she replied, trying to stifle a yawn, unsuccessfully.
“Someone is tired,” Buck replied, glancing at his watch. “Wow. I didn’t know it was so late. I’ll let you head off to relax or sleep, whichever direction you’re going.”
“Thanks. I guess it has been a long day. I could use the sleep.”
“It’s settled then. I could stand some sleep myself. Shall I walk you up?”
“That would be nice,” she replied, standing and walking with him toward the stairs.
Lorna realized that there was a stirring in her belly, one that she hadn’t felt for a long time. Buck had shown more thoughtfulness, more understanding, in the brief time they had spent talking than anyone had for a very long time. It had touched her and that had made her want something more, something that wasn’t on the menu. Pushing the thoughts away, she continued on to her room, parting ways with Buck as they reached the door. She got ready for bed and sank down into the pillows, falling to sleep peacefully for the first time in quite a long time.