Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“Yes. I understand what it means to put someone’s happiness before your own.
Because knowing they’re feeling loved gives you pleasure.
I don’t wonder anymore about what I might be missing.
” I cast a loving look at Sterling, whose pain reflected in his eyes.
“I have everything I need right here. You two are the most important people in my life.” I kissed Gil’s cheek. “I love you both, very, very much.”
“And Sterling, you’ve been quiet. I sense something is troubling you.”
I squeezed his hand. “Mon cher, you can trust him. Gil is the great keeper of secrets.”
He bowed his head, uttering a wrenching sigh that tore through me.
I hated how this was ripping him to pieces.
“I’ve also had trust issues. Where Denis had a family who gave up on him, my mother never acknowledged me, choosing fame, and ultimately money, rather than tarnish her sweet, girl-next-door image. ”
Gil’s brows drew together. “I am lost.”
I leaned into Sterling. “May I tell him?”
Sterling nodded, and after I recited Sterling’s family history, Gil couldn’t stop shaking his head, his pain and disgust evident.
“Mon dieu…incroyable. Dahlia Dumont? I remember her. Beautiful woman. My wife loved her movies.” With a slight smile, Gil’s scrutiny of Sterling intensified. “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I can see the resemblance.”
“She passed away two days ago. It hasn’t been made public, but I’m sure the news will trickle in very soon. And once that happens and the sharks start sniffing around, my name coming out as her child won’t be far behind. There’s no way I can hide from all this publicity I hate so much.”
“Get in front of it.”
Gil’s statement surprised both of us, and after Sterling and I exchanged bemused glances, he hitched his chair closer. “Meaning what?”
“You wouldn’t be the first scandal, but because of your status as a news anchor, you have the ability to shape the narrative. Use your platform and say your piece, instead of scrambling to explain yourself.”
“But we’re leaving tomorrow morning for California.”
I saw Gil’s point and shifted gears to convince Sterling it was the right move.
“Do it tonight. Ask if you can make a statement on air, but don’t tell them about what.
Look, I’ve had experience with the gossip world and reporters who just want something ugly to print about you for clickbait.
Tell the world first, on your terms, and you deflate their sails.
Take away their story as they want to tell it with your truth. ”
“Do you really think it’ll work?” he appealed to Gil, and I loved how Sterling turned instinctively to the father figure in my life.
Gil covered Sterling’s hand with his. “Absolument.”
Sterling chewed his lip for a moment, gave a sharp nod. “All right. I’ll call the news director and tell him I need to go on tonight’s broadcast to make an announcement.”
“Bien.”
A tall woman in a chic navy pantsuit approached us, her gray hair in an elegant twist. A colorful silk scarf was tied at her neck, with a beautiful pearl brooch pinned to the lapel.
She used a cane, but her posture was straight, her brown eyes bright.
Faint lines were the only marks on her face, and her minimal makeup was artfully applied.
“Excuse me, Gil. We were going to go to the two o’clock movie together?”
“Ahh, mais oui. I am so sorry. Please, let me introduce you. Denis Bouvier and Sterling Forest, this is Sarah Packard. She is a new resident.”
“Enchanté, Ms. Packard.” I smiled.
“Very nice to meet you,” Sterling added.
“Oh, two stars, imagine that,” she exclaimed. “I watch you on the news every night, Mr. Forest, and of course Denis Bouvier is a household name for me. My late husband was a Blades fan through and through.”
“Gil, we will leave you to your movie date. I’ll let you know how it goes.” I kissed each cheek. “Au revoir.”
“Please do. And I’ll make sure to watch the news tonight. Sterling, c’était un plaisir de te rencontrer. Au revoir.”
We watched as he and Sarah left the garden room.
“I’m glad he’s found people here. I hope it makes him less lonely and isolated.
” Knowing he had a lady friend made me feel it was the right decision to insist he move close to me.
I slipped my hand into the crook of Sterling’s arm.
“Let’s go home, and you can plan what you’re going to say. ”
We waited for the car in the vestibule of the front office, and in a rare display of public affection, Sterling put his arms around me and hugged me tight.
“Thank you for bringing me here. It put a lot of things into perspective.”
“Such as?” I held him, enjoying this quiet interlude, understanding that once he made his announcement, nothing would be the same.
He gazed up at me. “That no matter what, as long as we stand by each other, we’re going to be all right. I don’t think I could do this if I didn’t have you to lean on.”
“Then it’s a very good thing I’m not going to be anywhere else but by your side.” The car pulled up in front. “Come. Time to go home.”