Chapter 23
Rose
The house smelled like turkey and birthday cake and the general mess of a party that was about to start.
Rose stood at the kitchen window at seven in the morning with her coffee, watching Tori move around.
Having a cleaning lady had been one of the perks she’d most enjoyed about being married to a celebrity with enough money for such things.
Well, one of many. Chiefly among them said celebrity herself. If anyone had told her a few weeks ago that she and Lizanne would truly fall in love with one another, she would have declared them insane. However, she was well and truly in love with Lizanne Connors. And Lizanne with her.
Rose had to admit, when she’d first heard about Trina’s split with Marcus, she’d worried that this would be the end.
That Lizanne would take Trina back. However, when she’d voiced this worry, Lizanne had only taken her hands in hers and told her Trina would never enter their lives again, in any shape.
And Rose believed her.
She watched as Lizanne piled gifts on a table, the teddy she’d bought for Daisy after returning the ridiculous necklace included.
By eleven, the terrace was full.
Dana Maloney showed up with her husband and twin boys, who immediately started chasing Daisy around the house.
Until Daisy teamed up with Alfredo, her friend from day care, and turned the game around on the twins.
Two other cast members brought their kids, ranging from three to eight, who soon joined, along with Daisy’s other friends.
Daisy led the pack while the adults mingled by the pool – the cover of which was finally shut as she’d requested.
Craig and his partner Peter arrived at noon. Peter brought wine. Craig brought eighteen years of opinions about Lizanne’s life and the assumption that they were welcome.
Rose was at the food table when she heard them corner Lizanne on the terrace.
“I’ve never seen this house look like this,” Peter said. “It looks like people actually live here.”
“People have always lived here,” Lizanne said.
“You know what I mean. This would never have happened with Trina. There’d have been some crisis at the studio and she’d have been in the corner on her phone all afternoon. This is a real party.”
Lizanne was quiet for a beat. “I really wish everyone who had thoughts about my relationship with Trina had shared them before I spent six years in it.”
Peter touched Craig’s arm. Craig looked down at his wine.
“Yeah, well. That’s done. What you’ve got here with Rose seems like a good thing. Is it?”
Rose braced herself but Lizanne smiled. “A very good thing.”
Rose’s heart leaped with joy. Satisfied, she walked into the kitchen to get more ice when she noticed her mom standing by the gift table. She stared at a card in her hand.
“What is it, Mom?”
Her mom turned to her. “A card. From Jeremy. I opened it. I hope you don’t mind.”
Rose marched across the room and snatched the card up. It was a card with a large cartoon elephant on the front who held a red balloon with its trunk. All the best for my little girl from Papa was written inside.
Instinct took over and she tore the card up. Six years he had been out of her life and now he was back. No.
Just no.
“I bet he saw the show.”
She looked at her mom. “And I bet you’re right. Not a word of this to anyone. Not Quinn. Not Lizanne. Alright?”
Her mom nodded.
“Least of all Daisy.”
“My lips are sealed but what if…”
“No, Mom. There’s no what if. Jeremy is out of my life and he will stay out.”
Her mother gave her a quick hug and exited just as Lizanne entered. The look of determination on her face took Rose by surprise. Even more so when Lizanne cupped her face.
“Listen. This is everything I wanted. A marriage, a kid in the house, a birthday party. I could burst with happiness, alright. But… I can’t because for the last few weeks it’s like we’ve been playing house and… And I don’t know what we are. I don’t know if this is what you want or ….”
She placed her hands on top of Lizanne’s.
“I’ve been attracted to you since before I met you,” Rose said.
“It’s embarrassing and Quinn will never let me hear the end of it, but it’s true.
” She looked at her. “And I’ve been falling for you since the wedding.
Since you went down on the ground for Daisy without a second thought.
The attraction was true before then, but the falling for you emotionally started then. ”
Lizanne just looked at her, her long lashes blinking.
“I know it’s crazy,” Rose said. “But it’s how I feel.
I want this.” She wasn’t sure if it was the sudden reminder of the crappy life she’d lived with Jeremy, or something else but in that moment she knew she had to be honest. Totally honest. “I’m falling in love.
No. I am in love with you. I adore you. I… love you, Lizanne.”
“Oh, Rose…” Lizanne leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips.
Rose kissed her back. It was quieter than the wedding night, quieter than the sunroom. It felt different. But right. When they parted, Lizanne continued to hold on to her hand.
“I was thinking we could have a real day after that. Just the three of us. No cameras. I overheard Daisy talking about wanting to see the sanctuary in Malibu, the one with the rescue animals.”
The fact that Lizanne had paid enough attention to know this melted Rose’s heart.
“She’ll talk about it for a month if we take her there.”
“Good. I want to know her better. I want to…The day she said her friend and two dads and so she should have two moms….” Lizanne looked out at the garden. “I didn’t realize how much I wanted this until then.”
“I wasn’t sure how to talk to you about that,” Rose admitted, because that little outburst had been on her mind as well. “I’m glad it’s out now. It’s what I want too. But we need to go slow with her. She’s six. We don’t put the weight of this on her yet.”
“Slowly,” Lizanne agreed.
Then, she grinned. “Speaking of slowly, am I insane or is there something brewing with Kayla and Quinn?”
Rose rolled her eyes. “I caught them making out twice already. Yes… They are definitely hooking up and maybe more. At this rate, we’ll need to rename the show From Wedding Planner to Bride featuring From Assistant and Unemployed Actor to Power Couple.”
“That’s a mouthful. I don’t think they’ll go for that.”
Rose laughed. “Probably not.”
“Also, I love how everyone is mentioned in the title but me.”
“You mean, the actual star.”
Lizanne poked her tongue out. “I mean…I am the only one with an Emmy Award.”
The two stood in the kitchen hand in hand, and laughed and the card with the elephant slipped from Rose’s mind once and for all.
***
By nine the guests were gone. The terrace was clean, the food was put away, and Daisy was in bed with Biscuit and the new bear she’d named Professor. After saying goodnight to Quinn, who was texting with Kayla.
“I’m…”
“Heading over for a booty call. Got it.”
She threw a pillow at him from the recliner. “I’m not the only one.”
“Oh, Kayla and I are more than a booty call. As are you and Miss Movie Star. Speaking of which, I’m taking Kayla to the beach tomorrow. You’re ok with Daisy?”
“We’re taking her to the sanctuary to see the animals.”
“Aww a family outing. How sweet.”
Rose rolled her eyes. If she’d had another pillow she’d have thrown it, but as it was, she had to content herself with the prospect of seeing Lizanne. All of Lizanne.
Except…Her head throbbed and the unpleasant tickle in the back of her throat announced the onset of something unpleasant. Something that would definitely prevent the kind of activity she and Lizanne had in mind.
Lizanne sat on the edge of the bed. She looked up when Rose came in, and Rose walked over to kiss her. However, Rose pushed her backward just as a horrific sneeze escaped her.
Rose rubbed her throat. “I think I might be—”
“Getting sick.”
“I’m fine.”
“You sneezed on me.”
“I sneezed near you.” She sneezed again.
Lizanne went to the bathroom and came back with a glass of water and tablets. “Drink that and get in bed.”
“I’m fine. We have plans—”
“We do, but if you’re getting sick then you’re getting sick. Now. Get in this bed and let me take care of you. And hopefully tomorrow, you’ll feel better. If not, we’ll go to the sanctuary another day.”
And thus, Rose did the only thing she could do. Get in bed and hope for the best.