CHAPTER THIRTY
WHITNEY
The next morning, Whitney was lounging by the pool at Barbara’s house when Barbara emerged waving her iPad in her hand. “We made the news. Good job. I’ve got an interview lined up for you this morning before you meet with one of the Zaniacs group.
‘Okay. I want to get this over with,” said Whitney. She glanced at the images on the iPad Barbara showed her and sighed. It was a picture of her and the movie star smiling at each other at The Golden Eye.
She’d just laid down the iPad when her cell rang. Dani.
“Hi,” Whitney said, happy to hear from someone she considered steady, sane.
“What’s going on?” said Dani. “The entertainment sites are showing pictures of you at a restaurant and in a club. And is that hot guy with you really Troy Atkins? You sure know how to make a return to Hollywood.”
“Hold on, Dani. This is only for show, remember?”
“Oh, right. But it sure doesn’t look that way. I’d better go. Just wanted to say you’re looking good, sis. Enjoy.”
Instead of being pleased by the phone call, Whitney was irritated. And when she got a text from Nick she fought to keep from crying.
His text read:
“I understand now where your heart truly lies, and it isn’t with me or Lilac Lake. I’m disappointed, but as I said all those years ago, all I can do is simply wish you luck. Have a good life.”
This time, Whitney couldn’t hold back her tears. What she’d had with Nick was so special, so full of the kind of love one can only dream of. Yet, he thought she’d thrown it away. She punched in Dani’s number.
“Hey, what’s up?” Dani said.
“You’ve got to help me,” said Whitney. “I haven’t made up my mind about Nick, but I’m not here in California to do anything more than meet with the Zaniacs and let people know I’m not hiding anymore. They will have to learn the truth about Zane. It’s only fair. I was sure Nick would understand that I have to clear my name. But, apparently, he doesn’t.”
“So, you’re not going to date that hot guy, Troy?”
“Dani, you’re my sister. Why on earth would you say that? You know me better than that,” sputtered Whitney.
“Sorry. It’s the way the report on Hollywood news made it seem. And you must admit you haven’t quite been yourself lately,” said Dani with a note of apology.
“I know,” Whitney admitted, “but I’m the same person you’ve always known. Can you do me a favor and set anyone straight if they mention it? Especially Nick.”
“Okay. Will do. Sorry you’re going through this mess. But it’s good to get everything out into the open. That way, it can be put to rest.”
“Yes,” said Whitney. “That’s what I’m trying to do.”
A little later, Barbara came out of her office and said, “There’s been a change. Your meeting with the fan group has been put off until tomorrow. So, rest easy for the remainder of the day. Todd will be in tomorrow, so you’ll be able to meet him.”
“Okay,” said Whitney unable to hide her relief. As determined as she was to go ahead with the meeting, she was glad for a reprieve. She wanted to have a better sense of what she intended to say.
###
The next day, Whitney met with Barbara in her office to go over job opportunities. She didn’t want to give up acting jobs forever, but the more she listened to possible parts the more she realized that as she’d told Barbara earlier, she wasn’t ready. She thought of Jamie and the other kids who’d worked in the play and knew she had something meaningful to contribute to Lilac Lake and beyond.
And Zane’s foundation was coming along, but that too needed work in order to be completely established. A lawyer, one GG had used in the past, had agreed to work with her on it. It would be another way to put the past behind her so she could have a meaningful future.
Todd arrived for work, and Whitney was able to chat with him for a while. She decided she liked the rather quiet man. Apparently, his roommate, his significant other, had been as upset about a friend sneaking Todd’s phone for long enough to get Whitney’s new cell phone number.
“Do you know why Cynthi Desmond wanted it?” Whitney asked.
“Her girlfriend is the one who wanted it. Not her,” Todd explained. He was of medium height, obviously worked out to have a fit body like his, and with brown hair and blue eyes, he was cute rather than handsome. “I told her not to fuck with me or my job. I’m happy working for Barbara. She’s willing to teach me a lot.”
“I hope you don’t have all of Barbara’s clients and their information on your phone. Discretion is a very important part of your job.”
“No, no, I don’t,” Todd protested. “I just needed to send a text to you regarding an opportunity, and as I was on my way out of the office, I thought I could take care of it on the go.”
“I see,” said Whitney. She knew Barbara had threatened to fire him if anything like that happened again.
“Will you be at the meeting this afternoon?” Whitney asked him.
“Oh, yes. I’m taking notes for you. Names, comments, etc. even as we record the meeting. That way we’ll have a true accounting of what’s being said and by whom.”
“Okay, good. Nice to meet you Todd,” Whitney said, shaking his hand and getting a firm grip from him.
After she left the office, she went back to her room. She wanted to do some investigation of her own. The name Cynthi Desmond rang a bell. But who was the girlfriend? Todd couldn’t remember the name.
Sitting in front of her computer, Whitney looked up Cynthi Desmond. The minute she saw Cynthi’s photo, she recalled the young woman who did makeup on the set for the television show. Zane had often teased her about being his girlfriend, but then he teased a lot of the women that way. It was harmless fun, nothing sexual. Whitney had always thought his teasing demonstrated his insecurity.
Whitney left her room and went out to sit by the pool. The sound of a fountain, combined with the sunny morning helped to make her relax. Lying back on a chaise lounge, she thought of Nick’s text to her. Somehow, she’d have to make him understand the true purpose of her trip to California. But first things, first. She had to confront Zane’s misguided fans. He’d almost become a poster boy for drugs.
###
Barbara had set up the meeting to take place in the sales training room at a friend’s real estate office, so the confrontation would involve as few people as possible and yet make it meaningful.
Whitney dressed conservatively in a black linen dress. She wanted Zane’s fans to know she, too, grieved for him. She and Barbara were the first to arrive. Whitney was quiet as they waited for the others to show up. She wanted to be as unemotional as she could while portraying herself as someone who cared about the feelings behind this group of radical fans. She hoped they would allow her to speak.
When about thirty group members showed up, Whitney was surprised by their varied ages and appearances. A couple of the young women were dressed in black jeans and T-shirts that had Zane’s photo on them. One older woman looked as if she could be Zane’s mother with her chestnut brown hair and similar features. But one of the tattoos covering her arms said, “Life’s a bitch!” Others were more ordinary in appearance but looked as grim.
They were about to begin the meeting when a man strolled into the room.
It took Whitney a moment to realize it was Nick in civilian clothing. But anyone could see the gun at his waist when his blazer moved aside as he walked toward the front of the room.
Tears sprang to her eyes. “What are you doing here?” she whispered to him as he came up to her.
“We’ll talk later,” he said tersely. He held out his hand. “Hi, Barbara, I’m Nick Woodruff. Thank you for asking me to come.”
Hearing his reason for being here, Whitney felt deflated but vowed not to show any weakness in front of the people waiting for her to speak.
Nick stood aside and leaned against the wall beside her, facing the crowd with a look of determination.
Barbara stepped up to the microphone place on a table at the back room. “Thank you all for coming. As Zane Blanchard’s agent and friend, I felt it was important to clear the air and speak of the troubles Zane faced. Some of you have come to believe his unhappiness with his relationship with Whitney Gilford was to blame for his drug use and eventual death. Both Whitney and I are here to tell you otherwise.”
She stopped talking and motioned for Whitney to come to the microphone.
Whitney took a deep breath and moved forward hoping she’d choose the right words.
“Hello. I’m not here to talk to you about Zane with any disrespect to him or you. I know how much you loved Zane Blanchard and why you feel the need to blame someone for his untimely death. Like you, I loved the man whom I thought I knew. What I didn’t realize was that he had demons inside him he couldn’t battle, and the man I thought I knew didn’t exist. Yes, we broke up, but it was a mutual decision. Not something he didn’t want. He wanted to be free from the responsibility of disappointing others and himself. I worry that by promoting him as a sort of hero, a man who was wronged, you’re making him a hero when he was someone who used drugs, who refused help over and over again and hated himself for that. The foundation he asked me to set up for him will help young people with mental issues. If you want to remember Zane Blanchard at his best, use your voices to help promote his foundation and others like it.”
A young woman stood. “But he told me he loved me, that he’d be with me except he was scared you’d find out.”
Whitney let out a breath and lowered her head. “That was Zane, all right. Making promises he couldn’t keep. Not because of me, but because that’s who he was.”
“But he was so talented. When you broke up, he was so upset he couldn’t remember his lines. That’s what was reported in the Hollywood news,” said another woman.
Whitney gave her a steady stare. “Do you really believe that?”
“Yes,” the woman said stubbornly. She glared at Whitney. “You’re trying to make Zane look weak. What did he ever do to you to make you turn on him?”
“Nothing,” said Whitney. “It wasn’t a case of turning on anyone. It was a matter of making a life choice on how each of us wanted to live.”
Barbara stepped forward. “Look, I know how lovable Zane could be, why you want to promote him as a Hollywood bad boy who was irresistible because of the things he said to you, how he could make you feel when he paid attention to you. He would hate that you’re trying to blame Whitney for his own mistakes. Believe me, I talked to him plenty of times about this. Let’s do something life-affirming in his name instead.”
“You’ve a social media presence. Use that for good,” said Whitney.
“But for all you say you loved him, now you’re dating Troy Atkins,” said the woman with the tattoos.
“The fact is I’m not dating Troy Atkins,” said Whitney in a firm voice. “He just stopped at my table to say hello. We worked together on a film once.” She glanced at Nick and turned back to the audience.
“Why did you run away after Zane’s death?” a man asked. “A sign of guilt.”
“More a case of grief,” interjected Barbara. “People sometimes forget the actors you see on screen are real people with real emotions. You want them to be the people you dream up, but they aren’t. Any more questions?” Barbara asked the group. “If not, we’re concluding this meeting. For those of you who want to volunteer to help Zane’s foundation, I’ve left a sign-up sheet on the table here. My assistant will take down your information. Thank you for coming here. Let’s turn this into a positive thing we can all be proud of. Make this something that Zane would be proud of too.”
While some people went up to the desk to sign up, others milled about. Whitney left the group and went to find Nick.
He was standing outside the office. He’d taken off his blazer and even without his uniform looked formidable. The shoulder that had been wounded was healed and his arm hung freely. Seeing him standing there, Whitney drew a deep breath. She’d thought she’d need time to decide, but he’d changed everything with his appearance.
She walked over to him. “It’s so wonderful of you to come. I feel like a damsel in distress whose knight has galloped up to her on his white horse.”
His bright blue eyes studied her for a moment. “It shouldn’t surprise you. I once told you I’d always protect you. And I will.”
“Barbara asked you to come?”
He shrugged. “No. After talking to your sisters and finding out what was really going on, I called her. It was more me telling her I was coming to help you whether you wanted me to or not. We both agreed it was a good idea.”
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. We need to talk.”
“Yes, I know.” He led her over to a stand of trees on the side lawn where they could stand in shade.
“I’m sorry about that text. I was a bit of an ass, but I understand better why you’ve made the trip here. I thought …”
She covered his mouth with her manicured fingers. “No need to tell me. I should’ve taken the time to explain things to you. But I was still pretty mixed up.”
“And now?” he asked.
“Now I know who I am and where I should be.” She wanted to say more but suddenly couldn’t. Her throat was clogged with tears.
“And does this new Whitney know who she should be with?” he asked. His gaze bore into her.
Still unable to speak, she nodded.
“Come here,” he said softly and drew her into his arms.
When his lips met hers, all thoughts except one escaped. “I love you,” she said when they finally pulled apart. “It scares me to death to know the danger you’re in, but I want to be there for you, to trust that you’ll do your best to be safe.”
“We still have a lot of things to work out, but I want to start with that,” said Nick.
“Me, too,” said Whitney, meaning it with her whole heart. As people began to come out of the building, she said. “Excuse me, I need to talk to a couple of people.”
Whitney hurried over to the two women wearing T-shirts with Zane’s photo on the front. “Hey, Cynthi,” Whitney said. “I need to talk to you.”
Cynthi held up a hand. “I’m so sorry I intruded. It was wrong of me, I know.”
The woman beside her said, “She took down your number for me. I was going to have my brother call you again, threaten you. I know it was all wrong. But like the other woman, Zane and I met up at the studio a couple of times and he made me believe he truly loved me. I should’ve known better.” She was short and a little heavy, but she had a lovely face with golden eyes that drew attention.
“I understand why he might’ve said that to you, and I’m sorry you were hurt by it,” said Whitney. “I hope you know now that his behavior was out of anyone’s control. Even his.”
“It’s very nice of you to set up a foundation in his name,” said the woman. “I’m Sarena Smithson. I worked in the costume department.”
“If you’re interested in helping with the foundation, I could use a creative mind like yours,” said Whitney. “But no more threatening calls.”
Sarena blushed with embarrassment. “Let me think about it. I’ve already added my name to the list.”
“Thanks,” said Whitney. “I’m happy to hear that.”
As they went on their way, Whitney turned back to Nick. “Where are you staying?”
“At Barbara’s house. She said she had plenty of room,” said Nick.
“Of course,” said Whitney holding in a laugh. Barbara was as bad as her sisters about making sure she made some good choices about men in her life.