CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
WHITNEY
Dani sat with her sisters at the café for lunch and an update of what she’d found out about Carolyn. It was nothing more than they already knew.
Taylor spoke. “I talked to GG about Carolyn, as you asked. She didn’t’ really know the family well. She thought Mr. Maynard was a bully to his family and didn’t like him. She said that Carolyn was not allowed to date like other girls her age, and she suggested I look her up in the high school yearbook.”
“And what did you find?” Whitney asked.
“Nothing. A big fat zero,” said Taylor.
“She probably was homeschooled,” said Dani. “Funny, Brad’s mother mentioned she wasn’t a fan of Mr. Maynard, either. I think it’s odd that he was able to act that way and remain a minister at one of the churches in town.”
“Both GG and Mary Lou are strong women,” said Whitney. “Maybe that’s why they didn’t like him. But perhaps others didn’t see anything wrong with his behavior.”
“Yeah, that could be,” said Dani. “But I can tell you my future mother-in-law wouldn’t let any man walk over her.”
“GG said there was some kind of rift between Carolyn and her mother after Mr. Maynard died,” said Taylor. “After Carolyn left, Addie would never talk about it.”
“I can well imagine why Carolyn might have left,” said Whitney. “She probably wanted to spread her wings a bit. Twenty years isn’t that long ago. For her to be so restricted must have been very difficult for her.”
Dani checked her watch and stood. “Sorry, ladies, but I’ve got to go to the site. They’re doing some work on the house for Brad and me, and I want to be there. Keep gathering information. In the meantime, I assume no one is ready to move into the cottage?”
Whitney and Taylor shook their heads.
“They’re supposed to start painting the cottage tomorrow,” said Whitney.
“I’ve got the landscapers lined up for a week after they’re done,” Taylor said.
“Okay, so we have another week or so before we’d better start moving in,” said Dani. “We have to make that time count.”
After Dani left. Whitney turned to Taylor. “I’ve got an appointment with Linda at her dance studio. I’m going to ask her to be on the board of the foundation I’m forming.”
“It’s helpful to have a local community member on the board,” said Taylor.
Whitney checked her watch. “Oh, I’m late! See you later.” She jumped to her feet and rushed away, bumping into Nick, who was entering the café.
“Sorry,” she said automatically and then looked up into his face.
His blue eyes were without their usual sparkle as he moved out of her way.
She wanted to reach out to him, but she didn’t dare. She couldn’t hurt him more than she already had.
She climbed into her car and sat a moment, fighting tears. It was difficult to do the right thing by being so honest with Nick. But her entire body cried out for him. Maybe it was time for her to go home to Atlanta for a couple of days.
###
That evening, Whitney told Taylor she was thinking of going to Atlanta for a break.
“I understand how you feel,” said Taylor, “but running away isn’t going to help. You must decide for yourself what you want to do about Nick.”
“I’m afraid if I try to get back with him, he’ll think of me when he’s in a dangerous situation and it may cost him his life.”
Taylor shook her head. “That’s crazier than thinking we have a ghost at the cottage. I’m going to New York to spend some time with Cooper. That will give you time alone to sort things out.”
“Okay. You’re right. I can’t run away. I only hope I can make the right choice.”
Taylor gave her a steady look. “You’ve hurt Nick, so you need to be careful. He’s not going to hang around for too long while you make up your mind.”
Whitney made a face. “How’d you get to be so smart about love?”
“Research,” said Taylor quickly, making them both laugh.
###
The next day, Whitney was working on plans for the foundation when her cell rang. Her agent, Barbara.
“Good morning, Barbara,” said Whitney trying for a cheerful tone. “What’s up?”
“I had a talk with Todd earlier and discovered that a friend of his roommate is the one who got your private cell phone number.”
“What? How?” Whitney asked.
“It seems I sent him a message with your information in it, asking him not to give it to anyone else. She, someone named Cynthi Desmond, looked through his phone. Todd says he didn’t know it happened, that it must have been during a party at their apartment. I’m so sorry.”
“Why would she want my number?” Whitney asked, uneasy.
“I asked him the same question. It seems she’s part of the Zaniac group. He didn’t know that either. He’s severed all ties with her, but I wanted you to be aware that she has the new number you gave me.”
“I haven’t received a recent call on that line,” said Whitney. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll rest easy. It’s odd to me that someone would care so much about getting back at me for something I didn’t do.”
“Todd is very upset about it, which is why I’m keeping him on. But if I see any signs of activity through him, I’ll let you know right away. How is everything else?”
“Not great. I have a few things I need to sort out. I’m not ready for any jobs at the moment, but I might be sooner than I expected.”
“Good news for me,” said Barbara. “In the meantime, I’ll keep people from you for a while longer.”
“Thanks,” said Whitney, waiting for Barbara’s “Kiss. Kiss.” before ending the call.
She sat in the kitchen, absently rubbing Mindy’s ear. She had to come up with a plan.
###
Whitney sat on the rock outside the cottage, sifting through her thoughts. At the moment, her life was as adrift as the small branch she saw floating atop the lake water at her feet. She couldn’t go on living this way, afraid of what lay ahead. While she still needed time to think about her relationship with Nick, she knew there was something she could do to change things.
Feeling better, she walked into the water and floated on her back. Looking up at the clouds drifting above her in a bright blue sky, Whitney thought of her life going forward. If she didn’t make a move now, she might be trapped in a life she hated.
Mindy barked, reminding Whitney that she’d better do what she’d planned. She climbed out of the water and leaned back on a towel she spread across the rock’s surface. Allowing the sun to dry her, she knew what she had to do. Quickly, before she changed her mind, she made a couple of phone calls.
Then, satisfied, she headed up the slope to the cottage. Standing outside the building, the memory of Bud aiming a gun at Nick flashed in her mind. Shaking off the bad feelings, Whitney called to Mindy and headed to her car. She stopped and looked up at the deck, pleased that their plan had come together so quickly. But then, GG’s working with Collister Construction had turned out to be excellent in so many ways.
At her car, she gazed at the garage and reminded herself to look into identifying the owner of the items in the box she and her sisters had found there. Maybe it belonged to one of the people Mrs. Maynard helped or one of the refugee families. She didn’t have time to dwell on that now.
At home, she quickly packed her clothes. If she left right away, she could catch an evening flight to the west coast. Dani had already agreed to watch Mindy.
Whitney picked up the dog, gave her a kiss, and told her she’d be back soon.
Then she locked the house behind her and left with her carryon suitcase. She couldn’t get away fast enough. She had to get her life in order.
###
Whitney surprised herself with a long nap on the plane. But then she’d been so stressed about everything that she was emotionally and physically exhausted and probably could’ve slept anywhere.
As promised, Barbara picked her up at the airport.
Seeing her, Whitney filled with gratitude. Barbara hadn’t hesitated to offer her a place to stay. Unlike her last visit following Zane’s death, this visit promised to be a happier one for her. Or so she hoped.
“Hi, Whitney,” said Barbara giving her a hug. “I’m so glad you decided to come. I’ve arranged a few things for you to do.”
“Okay,” said Whitney. “I want to make a splash, make sure everyone knows I’m back in town.”
“Well, we still need to make sure you’re safe. You’ll meet with Todd’s friends at some point. But we don’t have to worry about that tonight.”
Whitney smiled. She never would have agreed to it if she didn’t believe this visit and the activities Barbara had planned would set her free from her past.
As usual, Barbara had a limo waiting for them. They headed out to Beverly Hills.
Sitting in the back with Barbara, Whitney said, “Thanks for putting me up for a few days. Both my condo and Zane’s house are rented out.”
“You wouldn’t want to stay at Zane’s house, regardless. It’s become a shrine of sort for him.” Barbara shook her head. “You have your work cut out for you.”
“I don’t see any other way to put things to rest,” said Whitney. “As much as I love living in Lilac Lake, I don’t want to give the Zaniacs the impression I’m hiding out.”
“True,” said Barbara giving her a soul-searching look that made Whitney want to squirm. “But I know you well enough to know there’s something else going on.”
Whitney fought the sting of tears. “Nick Woodruff, the police chief in town, and I are in love. But he was almost killed by a drunk man, something I witnessed. In a way, I was partially to blame for it. I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself or move forward with the relationship.”
“That’s something we can talk about while we’re relaxing later on. Tomorrow, I have an appointment for you at the spa you like. You’re to get the full treatment so you’ll be ready for your grand entrance at The Golden Eye.”
Whitney’s stomach knotted. There was a part of her that wanted to be back in Lilac Lake where she knew she could be herself.
###
The next morning, Whitney sighed when the limo pulled up in front of Henri’s. It had been a while. She used to come here for pre-red-carpet treatments.
She got out of the limo and blew a kiss to Barbara. “Thanks. I’ll see you later.”
“Relax and enjoy it,” Barbara said. “You’ll be happy you did this. I’ve lined up some paparazzi to add to your moment and you’ll want to look good.”
Whitney swallowed hard. Then, straightening her shoulders, she walked into the salon.
A tall, beautiful Eurasian woman named Kali greeted her. “Whitney, it’s so nice to see you again. We’re going to make sure your stay is as wonderful as always. Henri knows you’re here and will attend to you and your hair later. Amberleigh is set to do your makeup. But we’ll start with a massage and facial before attending to your other needs.”
“That sounds delightful,” said Whitney, realizing how tense she was. A massage at Henri’s was exactly what she needed to ease back into Hollywood life. An image of the cottage and the sunning rock flashed in her mind, but she pushed it away.
Whitney changed into the special spa robe that would be hers for the day and went for her massage. Lying in the dim lit room with soft, relaxing music playing, Whitney lost herself to the sensation of being totally relaxed while the attendant massaged away the tenseness of the last couple of months. She thought of the way Nick touched her body and sighed. He was such a wonderful lover. The thought that she might’ve caused him physical injury ate at her. Logically, she knew she wasn’t the one who’d aimed a gun at him, but maybe if she hadn’t been so eager to help Jamie and cause Bud to be upset, he might’ve let go of his beef with Nick with a simple argument.
After her massage and facial, Whitney sipped lemon water as the manicurist did her toes and fingernails. Then it was time for a calorie conscious lunch. Hardly worth calling it a meal, but it was tasty nevertheless, with a few slices of fruit atop a collection of lettuce leaves.
The best part of the day was meeting with Henri. An older man in his fifties, with a headful of gray hair that he upswept in a style of his own, he had an uncanny ability to know how best to style someone’s hair.
After kissing her on both cheeks, Henri said, “One of my favorite customers. Lovely to see you, Whitney. I heard you’d escaped and are now living a simpler life.”
“Yes, and no. I do have a home in New Hampshire, but I’m here to show the world I’m not afraid of what Zane’s followers are accusing me of, that I have no reason to hide.”
“Ah, I see. We’ll make that very clear.” He stood back and studied her. “Please turn.”
She turned in a circle slowly wondering what style Henri would come up with.
“I think we’ll do something simple, something classic. Trim the hair to your shoulders and let it move naturally. Your natural blond is beautiful, but we’ll add a couple pops of lighter color for contrast. You’ll love it. I promise.”
Whitney smiled. She’d always loved what Henri had done for her in the past. There was no reason not to trust him now.
###
Later, examining herself in the mirror after Henri and the makeup artist, Amberleigh, had finished their work, Whitney could hardly believe it was her. She’d become used to wearing little or no makeup. Now her bright-red lips seemed almost garish, but it went with the classy look Henri had wanted for her.
Henri, standing by, clapped his hands with approval. “Magnifique!”
Going along with his accent, Whitney smiled. “Merci beaucoup.”
The limo driver Barbara had hired arrived to take her to Barbara’s house for a rest before they went out to dinner.
Sitting in the back of the limo, Whitney felt like a fraud. She’d wanted to come to California to prove a point, but her heart was still in Lilac Lake. Still, she’d put on a good show. She was an excellent actress.
On a whim, Whitney asked the driver to take her to Zane’s house. She still owned it, but would eventually sell it and put the money into the funds for the foundation.
“Please drive by slowly,” she told the driver.
He complied and while she sat in the back, she gazed out at the front lawn of the house. Flowers were placed in front of a sign that read, “We still love you, Zane.” Another sign said, “You’re my hero, Zane.” Still another said, “The Zaniacs will prevail.”
The people renting the house must be so frustrated, Whitney thought. They’d complained to her, of course, but until she saw the tributes herself, she’d had no real appreciation for the mess all this adoration created.
“Okay, thanks,” said Whitney. “Please drive on.”
Whitney felt sadness hit her like a blow to her belly. It was all so senseless. But then, unless someone decided to fight it, the drugs always pulled a person down. For Zane, a handsome, talented, vibrant man, to fall so drastically was painful. To be reminded of him in this way hurt her to the core.
As they continued to Barbara’s house, Whitney filled with resolve. She had to be honest in a way that still respected the man she’d once loved.
###
The Golden Eye Hollywood, no affiliation to the restaurant in Santa Barbara, was the place to be seen. The entrance to it had a short red carpet in front of the brass double doors leading inside. A uniformed staff member held the door open to the interior while those who wanted to be seen posed on the carpet before entering. Inside, discreet photographs were taken of those who were either famous or were on their desperate way to achieving it.
Barbara, who tended to be flamboyant anyway, was in her glory as she posed in front of the restaurant for the paparazzi she’d hired and others who usually hung around the restaurant hoping to catch sight of stars coming and going. She put an arm around Whitney and held up the other arm in triumph announcing that Whitney Gilford was back on the scene.
Whitney was glad she’d been at Henri’s most of the day, but she still she’d never gotten used to the fact that strangers cared what she looked like or what she was doing. It struck her as invasive.
Yet, if she was going to complete her mission, she had to play the game.
Dinner was delicious even if she didn’t dare order much. You never knew what would be reported.
Barbara circulated through the room chatting with new clients, old ones, and a few she hoped to make hers. Whitney didn’t mind. Barbara was talented at what she did, and Whitney was grateful for her help.
She looked up in surprise as the star of the latest Robot Hero movie, a tall blond from Australia sat down beside her. “Hi, Whitney. Glad to see you back in town. I hope we can get together sometime. I’d love to catch up with you.”
Whitney couldn’t hide a smirk from appearing on her face. “Did Barbara ask you to stop by?”
“Actually, she did,” he said honestly. “But I jumped at the chance. I’d really like to see you sometime.” He beamed at her just as cameras flashed.
“We’ll see,” said Whitney. “I’m here to take care of business with the group called the Zaniacs. It’s an apt name. They’re maniacs when it comes to Zane’s memory. I have to straighten them out.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard about them,” he said, rising and kissing her on one cheek then the other.
Whitney was aware of more picture-taking, but she could do nothing to stop it.
Barbara walked over to her table. “I see you’ve made some progress on your comeback. It does my heart good to see it. I was talking to Harry DeLeon at Sunrise Productions. He’s interested in having you read for a part.”
Whitney shook her head. “I’m not ready for that. But tell him to keep me in mind.”
Barbara studied her and finally nodded. “Okay. But you don’t want to stay out of the mainstream for long.”
“It hasn’t been that long since Zane died. People will understand I need time to do as he asked. Besides, I have a life I like in Lilac Lake.”
“Including a certain police chief,” said Barbara.
Whitney let out a long sigh. “I’m still trying to figure that out. But I don’t want to make any rash decisions.”
“Okay. Are you ready for the next stop?”
“Not really,” said Whitney, “but I know you’ve worked hard for this, so I’ll go along with you.”
The next stop was Wilbur’s, a classy nightclub with music, beautiful women, and men considered big shots in the industry. One was as likely to see a couple making love in one of the private booths as two men shaking on a business deal that would impact the industry.
She and Zane had come here with other couples for a few times until Whitney figured out what Zane was really doing in the men’s room. She’d been shocked at first, then disappointed and angry when she realized it was only the beginning of doing drugs for Zane. She still hated the place.
Barbara led her inside and went right to one of the booths near the dance floor. “We can watch from here. Or better yet, others can watch you.”
Whitney placed a hand on Barbara’s arm. “I’m warning you that I’m not staying long. It brings back too many bad memories.”
“Okay,” said Barbara. “We’ll make sure you’re noticed and then leave. Between here and the Golden Eye, you’ll have made a splash.”