Chapter 13
Harlow promptly dialed her husband’s number a second time. One ring. Two rings. On the third ring, she figured it was going to voicemail again. Instead, he picked up. “Hello, Harlow.”
“Hello, Robert.”
“How did it go with the physical therapist?”
“She confirmed what we already knew. I need to give my muscles time to heal along with targeted therapy, massages, stuff like that.”
“You’re a strong woman. I have complete faith you’ll recover and be back on your feet before you know it.” Robert’s voice grew faint. He said something in a low voice.
Harlow asked him to repeat it.
“I said I miss you. ”
“I miss you too.” Harlow could feel her lower lip tremble. “I’m scared, Robert.”
“It will be all right. You’ll see.”
Harlow heard a voice…a woman’s voice in the background. “Who is with you?”
“No one. Why do you ask?”
“I heard a woman’s voice.”
“You’re imagining things.”
Harlow’s scalp tingled. It was Robert’s assistant, Jillian. “I hear Jillian’s voice. You said no one was with you.”
“I thought you meant like a colleague or friend. Jillian is with me a lot. I mean, she works for me…for us.”
“For you,” Harlow muttered under her breath.
“What did you say? ”
“Never mind. I got a text, an addendum for the movie project. They’re giving me a few extra weeks to arrive on set.”
“Which is a very generous offer. I’m glad they finally sent it over. All you have to do is digitally sign it and send it back.” Harlow noticed a tapping on his end. “While we’re on the phone, I thought you told me you were going into seclusion to recover.”
“I am. I’m on Mackinac Island. My first physical therapy session is Thursday.”
“It doesn’t look that way.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I saw a photo of you out having lunch at a restaurant.”
Harlow explained how she’d gone to the doctor. After the appointment, Eryn, her father, and she had stopped at a nearby café to grab a bite to eat. “Paparazzi, fans, whatever you want to call them, found out where we were eating and showed up. ”
“As if you didn’t know this would happen.”
“Why does it matter? I’m injured. I’m sure the news has hit every social media outlet from here to Timbuktu.”
“Because it doesn’t look good. You still have the big movie project to think about. I’m waiting for Orlane to call me any minute, demanding to know what’s going on. Every casting director in the business will be wondering.” Robert droned on, ticking off a list of what she should and shouldn’t be doing.
Harlow tightened her fist, her nails digging into the palm of her hand. This. This was what it was all about. Robert’s reputation. How her injury and accident might tarnish his image. “Did you happen to notice I was in a wheelchair?”
“Of course.” His voice grew muffled, as if he was on the move. Harlow pictured him pacing like a caged animal. Angry. Furious even. “To be blunt, it doesn’t look good. ”
“Doesn’t look good for who? For you?” Harlow could feel her anger build. “Because anyone with any sort of common decency or ounce of caring probably wondered where you were.”
“That’s a low blow, Harlow.”
“Is it?” she asked. “I would think a loving, concerned husband would be by their wife’s side after a serious car accident.”
“And whose fault was it? It’s not like I was the one who caused the crash.”
Harlow felt as if someone had sucked the oxygen from her lungs. She began to feel lightheaded. Robert blamed her for the accident. In his mind, it was all her fault. “Do you think I crashed my car on purpose?” she asked in disbelief.
Silence. Dead silence on the other end of the line.
“You think I wrecked my Ferrari on purpose?”
“Let’s not forget about your father and the fire. ”
Harlow cut him off. “What does the fire and my dad have to do with my car accident? Are you saying he started the fire, and it gave me the idea to crash my car for attention? Your insinuation is seriously sick.”
“You yourself have mentioned multiple times you weren’t sure if he was behind the fire and your mother’s death,” Robert pointed out.
“I’ve changed my mind. My father didn’t start the fire, and I didn’t crash my car on purpose.”
“Really? So, you have proof now he wasn’t behind it?”
Harlow ignored the question and posed one of her own. “Why didn’t you let Orlane and the others know there’s a chance I might not be able to fulfill my obligation for the movie deal instead of asking for an extension?”
Again…silence.
“You’re not listening to me. I don’t know if I’ll be able to work those long hours, day in and day out. The sooner you let them know, the better. Or better yet, I’ll do it.”
“No, you won’t!” Robert exploded. “Unless you never want to work in Hollywood again. There’s no reason to jump the gun. We still have time.”
“I’m in a wheelchair.”
“But you will walk sooner rather than later.”
“Walk? I hope so, but to be on my feet for hours at a time? Highly unlikely.”
“The set can work around you,” he argued.
“I was in a serious accident and am covered in bruises. My thumb is broken. My car is totaled. I’m on pain medication.”
“Look, clearly you’re having a bad day.”
“Having a bad day? How about a bad week?” Harlow changed the subject. “Did you let the real estate agent in the UK know we’re not moving forward with the purchase? ”
“Yes. For the record, and as you already know, we lost out on a great deal.”
“Oh, well.”
“Man, you’re in a crappy mood. Tell you what…I’m going to give you a day or so to chill out and we’ll talk again. I gotta go.” Robert hesitated. “Hang on. One more thing. Please do me a favor and try not to go out in public too much.”
“If you do the same,” Harlow shot back.
“Very funny.”
“I’m serious. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Maybe then you can hide the fact you’re a million miles away from your injured wife.”
“You’re being ridiculous. I’ll let you go.”
“When…” Harlow started to ask him how long he was going to wait before letting the studio know there was a chance that she wouldn’t be able to honor her contract, at least to the extent they expected. It was too late. He’d already hung up .
She stared at the phone. It had been an awful call. One of the worst they’d ever had. Most of their married life had been all sunshine and lollipops. Travel. The best of everything. Beautiful homes, from coast to coast. All the toys Robert could dream of…or dream up.
Harlow sucked in a shaky breath, closing her eyes as a tear leaked out of the corner. Not once during the call had Robert told her that he loved her.