The Courage To Love

Chapter 8

  “Would you like your bags in the bedroom?” the bellhop asked, carrying her luggage into the hotel suite late Sunday afternoon.

  “That’s fine. Thank you.” Mia dropped her shoulder bag and room card on the kitchen table as the young man disappeared into the bedroom.

  “If you need anything else, please call the front desk.” The young man smiled, accepted a tip, and left.

  Kicking off her sandals, Mia made herself comfortable on the sofa before dialing her sister, who’d arrived in Boston Thursday afternoon. When they’d talked that night, Avery had asked her to come to Boston then. She’d insisted they could have some fun before filming started on Monday, shopping as they usually did when arriving early on location. A month or so earlier, she would’ve joined Avery, but not this time. She wanted to spend her last few free days with Sean. Once the production got underway, her days would be booked solid. There wouldn’t be much time for anything personal, even visits with her family.

  But with North Salem and Sean miles away, it was time to check in with Avery. If for no other reason than to let her know she’d arrived. Later tonight she’d call Sean. Before she’d left that morning, she’d promised to call him after her dinner with the movie’s director.

  “It’s about time you got here, Mia,” Avery said as she gave her a hug when she walked into the suite later. “I thought you’d be here before lunch.”

  Mia returned the hug and kissed her sister’s cheek. “I figured there was no need to rush. Bob isn’t expecting us until seven, or did that change?”

  Avery shook her head, her large gold hoop earrings swinging back and forth. Even before she’d adopted her new pixie hair cut the earrings looked big, but now with the super short style, they looked huge.

  “No, dinner is still at seven. The limo will be here at six thirty.” Avery grabbed a mineral water from the refrigerator. “Did you read over the schedule for the week?”

  “I glanced over it,” Mia answered, not meeting her sister’s eyes. In truth, she’d opened the email, saw it was the upcoming week’s schedule, and then closed it again.

  Avery rolled her eyes. “What the heck kept you so busy up in North Salem anyway? You never called, and you blew off my emails and texts.”

  “I started seeing someone.” Mia played with the fringe on a throw pillow.

  “From around here?”

  “Yes, well, North Salem. Do you remember me mentioning Sean, the owner of the bed and breakfast?” At the mention of his name, she thought about their time together that morning in his bed. Soon heat warmed her face.

  “How did he take it when you ended things?” Avery asked cautiously

  “Why do you think I ended it?”

  “Ah, because in about a month you’ll be back in California,” Avery answered as she opened her water bottle.

  Sean had expected an end to their relationship, too. She didn’t get it. People did long distance relationships all the time, so why couldn’t they? “You make it sound like I live on the Moon, Avery.”

  “No, but why do the whole long distance thing, especially with someone not in the industry? You tried it with Luke Mull when he was on location in New Zealand. Do you remember how hard that was for both of you? You said you would never do it again.”

  Sure, long distance relationships involved difficulties, but they could work. After the failed relationship with Luke, she never tried it again because she’d never met someone that meant enough to her. However, something kept telling her that Sean was worth the risk, that somehow they could make it work despite the thousands of miles between them.

  “Do you think this guy will be able to handle it when you leave Boston? What about the next time you’re in Europe? Or you have a love scene with a co-star?” Avery used her know-everything big sister tone. The very one that drove Mia up the wall.

  “Even with the negatives, I’ve already made up my mind. And when he comes here on Friday, I’d like you to meet him.”

  “Can’t wait,” Avery said her voice full of curiosity. “He must be interesting if you’re willing to keep it going when you leave.”

  Time to change the subject. “Why don’t we look at this week’s schedule?” Mia said as she pulled out her laptop and brought up her email account.

  Sure enough her in-box contained more than half a dozen emails. Several were from Avery, but she also had one from her cousin Sydney and another from her sister Angelina. “Which schedule is the correct one?” Two different emails claimed to be schedules for the upcoming week.

  Avery glanced over at the screen. “That one.” She pointed to the second of the two.

  Opening the email, she read through it. Ugh, makeup at four on Monday morning.

  “So what is so special about him anyway?”

  Mia finished the sentence she’d started to read and met her sister’s gaze. “You’re not going to let this go are you?”

  “Nope,” she answered with a shake of her head for added emphasis.

  How did she best answer? There was no one word that explained what made him special. No simple answer to why she wanted to risk heartbreak with a long distance relationship.

  A hand passed in front of her face.

  “You still awake over there?” Avery asked.

  “I don’t know how to explain it. When you meet him, maybe you’ll understand.” She looked back at the schedule. “Tell me this means one o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday and not in the morning.”

  “It does.” Avery closed the laptop on her sister. “At least tell me what he looks like.”