CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
WHITNEY
Whitney waited until after play rehearsal to seek out Dani. Taylor had been right to mention Dani’s role and the need for her approval.
Though it was close to dinnertime when she arrived at The Meadows, Brad and a crew of men were still working on Ross’s house. Dani, she could see, was acting as gofer for them, bringing them different tools, helping in any way she could.
When she saw Whitney, Dani raised her hand and waved.
Whitney hurried over to her. “Got a minute?”
“Sure. The crew wants to get the roof done now because showers are expected later. But come sit with me under the tree. We can talk there.”
Once they were settled on a blanket, they faced one another. “What’s going on?” Dani asked.
Whitney drew a deep breath, hoping she’d be successful. “I want to tell you about a plan Aaron suggested for the cottage. As you are the architect in the family, Taylor and I feel you should have the final say, but we both love the plan. I’ve even offered to pay for any extra costs as it seems I will probably be living there more than the two of you.”
“It must be fantastic if you’re willing to pay,” teased Dani with a twinkle in her eye.
Whitney laughed. “Hear me out.” She told Dani about adding a balcony and sliding-glass doors. “I even went up to the attic to get a better idea of what it would look like.”
“Hold on. You went up to the attic alone in the house?”
“Yes. We’ve got to get over this story a of a ghost living there.”
“Did you see any special signs anywhere?” Dani asked.
Whitney thought for a moment. “Not until Nick came to surprise me. When I went to meet him, I did see those sparkly lights everyone has talked about. But that’s it. Remember, it’s a sunny day.”
“Okay. Just asking. As to the balcony, I love it. But, Whitney, it’s going to take quite a bit of extra money to do it right. We’d need to cantilever the balcony like Aaron said, redo the entire floor, think about some structural things and all. And remember, we don’t want to destroy the character of the cottage, so we want to keep the proportions exactly right.”
“Yes,” agreed Whitney. “That’s why I want you and Brad to talk to Aaron about it. The only problem I see is getting the work done quickly. We’re running out of time. Our lease is almost up.”
“Leave that to me,” said Dani. “If I’m not mistaken, the challenge of doing this will be enough for them to focus on the work. That, of course, is something I’ll encourage.”
“I love you, sis,” said Whitney, giving Dani a quick embrace.
She grinned. “Love you too. How’s everything else going? Nick surprised you at the house?”
“He did. Oh, Dani, I think I know what you must feel being with Brad. If I’m very honest with myself, being here in Lilac Lake has brought back lovely memories of that summer with Nick and how special he was. Now that Nick and I are both grownups, our relationship is so much better, much deeper, even at this new stage.”
“Be careful not to hurt one another,” said Dani. “It’s happening pretty quickly.”
“In some ways, yes. But in other ways, it’s continuation of what we once shared. We still respect each other’s wishes as far as career choices go. Even though I’ve stepped back from Hollywood, I love acting, and if a chance for something worthwhile comes up, I need the freedom to choose.”
“Absolutely. I’m glad Nick appreciates that,” said Dani.
Brad approached them. “What are you two up to now?”
“Building a balcony,” said Dani. “Wanna help?”
He grinned. “Maybe. What are you talking about?”
As he stretched out on the grass beside them, Dani filled him on the details.
He sat up. “Sounds intriguing. When Aaron and I were looking at the house to buy, he never brought it up. But it’s perfect. You’ve given the house an open, airy look, and this will complement that.”
“That’s what I think too,” said Dani. “There’s one problem. We’ll need to divert some of the crew to get it done. Please?”
Brad put an arm around Dani. “For you, anything. We’ll work it out.”
Whitney gave Dani a thumbs-up sign, impressed by Dani’s ability to get Brad to agree. But then Brad was so in love with her sister that anything was possible.
Brad left them to do some clean-up work at the site, and Whitney turned to Dani. “When I talked to Taylor, she was a little stressed by the way some of Cooper’s friends were treating her. You might want to give her a call. I gave her a pep talk, but I’m curious to know how things are going.”
“I’ll get right on it as soon as I get home and take a shower,” said Dani.
“Good, that’s what sisters do for one another,” said Whitney, grateful for hers.
###
The next morning, Whitney got out of bed and wandered down to the kitchen.
She made herself a cup of coffee and carried it out to the patio. The showers that had been promised had left drops of water on the grass and landscaping. When a burst of sunlight emerged through lingering clouds, Whitney gasped with pleasure. A thousand rainbows were reflected from raindrops acting like crystals. Mother Nature could sometimes be cruel, but she also delivered moments of awe like this.
Staring out at the yard, Whitney reflected on how her life was changing. She’d gone from feeling guilty about Zane death’s to discovering new purpose with kids and now to finding love. Life seemed perfect.
Whitney clapped a hand to her heart and told herself to erase that thought. Every time life seemed perfect to her, something bad happened.
She was still feeling that way when her cell phone rang. Without checking the caller information, she snatched it up thinking it was Nick. “Hi, darling.”
There was a pause at the other end, then a gruff voice said, “I’ve got you in my sights.”
“Hello? Who is this?” she asked.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Zane might be gone, but he’s not forgotten. I’ll make sure of it. You were the cause of all his troubles.”
“Who is this?” Whitney said.
But all she heard was silence. She checked her phone for recent calls. An L.A. phone number. Feeling a coldness wash through her, Whitney decided to call her agent. She knew Barbara Griffiths well enough to know what an early riser she was.
Sure enough, Barbara answered on the third ring. “How’s my favorite actress?”
“At the moment, I’m not so sure. I need your help. There’s apparently a fringe group of Zane’s fans who are blaming me for his death. I just got an upsetting call from what I think was one of them. A call from an L.A. number.” She told Barbara what the man had said and continued, “I’m worried. There are so many crazies out there. And for some reason he has his sight on me. Can you spread some positive PR about me to counteract this kind of crap?”
“How did he get your cell phone number?” Barbara asked. “That alone is cause for concern. I suggest you change it. And why would a man be so angry with you?”
Whitney paused and then said, “Toward the end, Zane was into everything. I think he had several one-night stands with both men and women. Maybe he’s one of them.”
“Good heavens! I loved that boy, but he certainly got messed up with drugs,” said Barbara. “If he were here now, I’d want to kill him.” She laughed without mirth. “Guess it’s too late to do that. But still, for such a talent to be lost to a life like that is enough to break anyone’s heart.”
“I know. The whole thing is enormously sad,” said Whitney.
“I admire your wish to treat the memory of Zane kindly, but maybe you’re doing yourself a disservice by not speaking up. As his agent, I can’t badmouth him.”
“I can’t either. What we had in the beginning was very precious. I have to remember the man he once was, or the last four years of working with and loving him become a joke.” Whitney heard the bitterness in her voice but didn’t care. It was a struggle to remember those early times. Especially now with a group of his fans blaming her for driving Zane to his death.
“Is there something you can do? Maybe talk to them?” Whitney asked Barbara. “Or maybe make another announcement about Zane’s death indicating his drug use?”
“I’ll make some calls and see what I can do. In the meantime, is there someone you can talk to there about this?”
“I’ll speak to Nick, our police chief. I know he’ll help at this end,” said Whitney. She didn’t tell Barbara about their relationship. That could wait until later.
“Okay, keep me informed. Call me anytime. I’m concerned and will do what I can at this end.”
“Thanks.” Whitney said.
“Kiss, kiss,” Barbara said and ended the call.
Whitney sat back in her seat, feeling totally lost. What had Zane told others to make them so upset? Or was this a case of someone wishing they could blame her for something gone wrong in his life? Either way, it hurt.
She punched in Nick’s number.
“Good morning,” Nick said cheerfully. “Did you miss me as much as I missed you?”
“More,” she said smiling. She told Nick about the phone call. “I’m worried that this is a real crazy person who somehow has gotten his life mixed up with Zane’s and wants to do me harm.”
“Give me the phone number. I’ll put a trace on it,” said Nick crisply, indicating his concern. “And if you see anything unusual, anything at all, let me know. We can’t pretend this isn’t serious.”
“I know. I’m relieved you understand my concern.”
Nick’s voice softened. “I love you, Whitney. I never want anything bad to happen to you. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re safe.”
Whitney’s eyes filled. She loved him too but hadn’t told him.
They talked a few more minutes and then after she ended the call, she went online and changed her Verizon cell phone number. With some thought, she decided to drive into Portsmouth to get a new phone. She needed an upgrade anyway, and the thought of that nasty message on her old phone was disturbing to her.
###
Portsmouth was an interesting port city on the coast at the southeastern corner of the state, leading into Maine. For a small city, it was quite remarkable. Lovely 17th-and 18th-Century homes in town included several within the “Strawbery Banke Museum” where costumed staff demonstrated traditional crafts. GG had made sure the girls visited the museum several times as they were growing up, so they’d have an appreciation of how history had changed things. And that’s not all Portsmouth offered tourists. A submarine was on display in a park, and Market Square had cute shops and restaurants.
She’d been driving awhile when Whitney remembered the unfamiliar car that she’d seen parked outside their cul de sac. She hadn’t paid attention to it and knew only that it was a dark gray color. She’d tell Nick about it, and next time, she’d be more observant.
It bothered her that she was being unjustly blamed for Zane’s death. Any sane person could follow his career from the height of success and see where drug use had led. Didn’t this man understand that? Was he a druggie too? Was that why he was being so unreasonable?
Whitney’s thoughts flew to Zane’s behavior when he was stoned and worse. He was like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde creature come to life, his goodness blocked by his inner demons. She sighed and drove on.
In town, Whitney drove to the Verizon store and went inside. It took less time than she thought it would to purchase a new phone and have all her information from her old phone transferred to it. Leaving the store, a new sense of comfort filled her. No one would be able to call her except the few people who had to have her new number—family, friends, and her agent, Barbara.
Whitney decided to go to the waterfront for lunch at an old favorite of hers, the River House on Bow Street. She already knew what she was going to eat. Her mouth watered at the thought.
As usual, the restaurant was busy with tourists and locals alike. On a beautiful day like this, it was the perfect place to eat.
She was seated on the outdoor deck next to the railing. As she waited for her waitress to come to her, she breathed in the smell of the river water and let out a sigh of satisfaction. A few boats were on the water, and the decks of a nearby restaurant were also crowded with people for her to watch.
She smiled as the waitress approached. “I already know what I’m going to have. You do have the lobster roll and chowder special today, don’t you?”
The waitress grinned back at her. “It’s our special every day. And what would you like to drink?”
“Lemon water, please,” said Whitney, her mood upbeat. What had been an upsetting day was turning into a nice one. No one had recognized her with her straw hat and sunglasses, which made things so much easier.
Whitney took the time to send messages to her parents, GG, and her sisters, giving them the new number. She hesitated and then sent another message to Barbara, reassuring her that the old number was gone.
Her lunch, when it came, was delicious—Maine lobster served on a toasted brioche roll, a cup of seafood chowder, and hand cut potato chips. Whitney was very full by the end of her meal, but it was a good feeling. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t go crazy eating a lot while she wasn’t working, but a splurge like this was worth every calorie.
She’d paid and was about to leave when a young woman came over to her. “You’re Whitney Gilford, aren’t you?”
Whitney nodded and then braced herself.
The woman shook a finger at her. “What’s the deal with you and Zane? How could you wreck his life? He was doing fine until he met you and then you broke up.”
Tired of this kind of bullshit, Whitney said quietly but firmly, “I wasn’t the cause of his death. Drugs were. He was deep into them when he overdosed.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s not what all the Instagram posts say.”
“Well, it’s time to put a stop to that. Will you help me?” Whitney said.
“Me? How?” The woman edged away from her.
“Don’t believe everything you read on some site. I tried to convince Zane to get help. I begged and pleaded, but he wouldn’t listen to me,” Whitney pleaded. “Now, I’m getting unfairly blamed.” She got up from the table and moved quickly to the exit, anxious for others not to recognize her. The lunch that she’d loved roiled in her stomach. She was so mad she could hardly breathe. It had been several weeks since Zane had died. Who kept those rumors going?
###
On the way home, Taylor called her. “What’s up with the new cell phone number? Are you in trouble?”
“Not really. This morning, I got a nasty call and decided to change my number. I don’t know what’s happening, but someone is spreading rumors about Zane dying because of me and our break-up. It was the drugs. He overdosed and though we thought it was intentional, it was decided it wasn’t. The news reports all said that.”
“I didn’t realize this was going on. Are you safe?” Taylor asked, her concern evident.
“I’ve told Nick and my agent about the issue. Nick’s trying to trace the number now. If things get really bad, I’ll move in with him.”
“It’s great that he’s on it,” said Taylor. “Keep me informed. By the way, thanks for the pep talk earlier. I ended up organizing a whole new volleyball game and getting everyone, including the women, involved. It turned out to be a good move. Cooper’s old girlfriend and I will never be close, but I made friends with some other people.”
“I’m glad, Taylor. I need to remind myself that we Gilford sisters are strong, and I shouldn’t let gossip mar my happiness. But it’s easier said than done.”
“I can imagine,” said Taylor. “Dani called me, and she’s excited about the balcony idea. I’m glad that’s going to happen. And sooner rather than later. If things get worse for you, maybe you can hide out at the cottage. No one could find you there.”
“Not even Mrs. Maynard’s ghost?” said Whitney, trying to inject some humor into the situation.
“You know, like it or not. I think we should have one of Crystal’s friends who’s into such things help us get rid of our unwanted ghost in the cottage.”
“We might have to do that soon,” said Whitney. She didn’t want either of her sisters to feel uncomfortable in the cottage. It was turning into a beautiful property.
On a whim, Whitney decided to call Barbara to ask her to make a new announcement about Zane’s death in the hope of stopping the hurtful blame games that were going on.
A male voice answered. “Barbara Griffith’s phone.”
“Is Barbara there?” Whitney asked, puzzled by a man answering her phone.
“Yes, but she’s busy with a client. I’m her new assistant. Her old one has left.”
“Oh, I see,” said Whitney. “I’ll call later.”
“May I take a message?” the man asked.
“No, thank you,” she said, suddenly wary. She ended the call and sat back. Barbara’s assistant, Diana, had been with her for almost five years. It seemed strange that Barbara hadn’t mentioned a new assistant. Must be a recent change.
A few minutes later, Barbara called her. “Sorry, I couldn’t take the call. Todd told me you called.”
“Todd? What happened to Diana?” Whitney asked.
“She and her boyfriend are moving to Hawaii,” said Barbara. “He’s got work there, and she agreed to go with him. She’s hoping to marry him, but I don’t see that happening. Not that she’s listening to me.”
“That’s too bad. I called to ask you to put out another notice about Zane’s death, telling the real story once more, that it was due to an overdose caused by a long drug habit.” Whitney sighed. “Apparently there are a lot of rumors on Instagram and other social media outlets. We need to stop this. I was confronted by a fan when I was having lunch in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for god’s sake.”
“Okay, dear girl, I’ll do what I can. Any news on the caller this morning?” Barbara asked.
“Not yet. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay. Must run. Kiss. Kiss.” Barbara ended the call.
Whitney made her way back home, each mile closer brought a sense of relief. When she drove by the lake and entered the outskirts of the town of Lilac Lake, she felt as if it was a haven for her.