“I don’t need a few days. It’s all I’ve been thinking about.” Dani said. “Send me the ticket.”
Chapter 11
Dani rifled through her dresser drawers, preparing for her trip to California. She couldn’t believe that she was going to Los Angeles for the week. Leila knew that there was no getting around Dani and Mark meeting, so she hadn’t dared to put a stop to the trip. Mark still hadn’t spoken to the press, but he had assured Leila that he would handle the media once Dani was in L.A.
Sam sat perched on Dani’s desk chair, her legs crossed and hands clasped tightly in an attempt to contain her excitement. “Oh, my God! Oh, my God, Dani! What are you packing? What are you going to wear on the plane? The first outfit your father will see you in should be just right. You want to make a good impression, don’t you? Ick!” Sam gasped at the brown, sleeveless cotton dress that Dani was pointing to. “No, you are not wearing that ridiculous thing.” Sami’s blond bangs fell into her eyes as she stood up and marched across the floor toward the closet.
“I’m not in the mood right now, Sam. I just want to pack and get out of here. Get this over with.”
Sam frowned. “Well, if you’re so grumpy about it, why are you even going? I’d kill to be you right now! Loosen up!”
Dani folded a red tank top and sighed. “I’m not going because I want to. Now that I know this man is my father, I have to find out more about him. See what he’s like. But it doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to it. And I’d be perfectly happy to trade places with you so you can hang out with Mark.”
“I guess I can understand why this is hard for you, but just promise me you’ll keep an open mind, okay? This may be the best thing ever to happen to you.”
Dani shoved a stack of clothes into her suitcase and zipped it shut. “Things were fine before I found out about him. I don’t need him, but I can’t very well ignore him either. Besides, it’s only for a week, so if it’s a disaster, at least it will be a quick disaster.”
She surveyed her room. She wouldn’t be gone that long, but she was going to miss her bedroom. She loved this room, and Leila had slaved over its design, scouring the Internet for a good deal on the Tommy Hilfiger pattern that Dani begged her for. Well, it would be here when she came back.
“I’ll miss you, Dani. Try to have fun.” Sam looked at her hopefully. “Call me all the time. I want all the juicy details. And take a gazillion pictures of Mark for me. I have to go, so give me one last hug.”
Dani wrapped her arms around Sam and dropped her cheek onto her best friend’s shoulder. “Bye, buddy,” she whispered.
“Bye back.” Sam pulled away and blew kisses as she backed out of the room. “Don’t look so sad. I’ll see you in a week.”
Dani peered out the window to the backyard. She didn’t know what she was feeling. She wasn’t full of excitement the way Sam thought she should be, but nor was she bowled over with dread, despite Leila’s constant insinuations that Mark probably had the parenting skills of a tree stump. She would just wait and see what California brought her.
“You busy?” Alan popped his head into the room. “Your mom is going to take you to the airport in about twenty minutes. You all packed?”
Dani continued staring out the window, but nodded. “Just about.”
“I’ll take your bags downstairs for you if you want,” Alan offered.
“Sure. Thanks.”
“Hey, there,” Alan walked over to Dani and touched her shoulder. “This isn’t so bad, you know. How are you and your mother doing with all this?”
Dani shrugged. “Okay, actually. I get where she was coming from and why she didn’t tell me. I’m not even mad at her anymore. But, I mean, what am I supposed to say to this man? Mark doesn’t know anything about me, and he’ll probably think I’m a total dork.” She sighed. “It’s fine. Everything is fine. Actually, I’m sure he’s a very nice person.”
“You know, I wouldn’t blame you for having conflicted feelings about Mark. No one expects you to do cartwheels over this revelation. It’s all right if you’re angry with him. Just because he didn’t know about you doesn’t mean that you can’t still be mad at the situation. This is a very confusing hand you’ve been dealt, and there is no right or wrong way to react. Anger, fear, resentment…all totally understandable.”
Dani crossed her arms and spoke sharply. “I’m not angry at him! That’s ridiculous. What do I have to be angry about? This is excellent news, Alan. I finally have a father.”
Alan took a step back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s not like you and my mom are married! That’s obviously not what you want, right? If I’m angry at anyone, it’s you.” Dani tossed her hands up in the air. So much for not feeling anything. “Come on, Alan, you’re not my dad. You’re my mom’s boyfriend. You’ve been with my mother for ages now, and I don’t see you making any plans to change that.” She ignored the hurt that was beginning to shadow Alan’s face. “Now I have a real father.”
Alan put both hands on his hips and cocked his head to the side. “That’s not fair, Dani. I never said I was a father to you—”
“Well, you’re not! So what do you care? Oh, wait a minute?” Dani put her hand to her mouth in mock surprise. She knew she was getting out of control, but she couldn’t stop herself. “Are you jealous of Mark? That’s it, isn’t it? You’re jealous that she had a serious boyfriend who got her knocked up—”
“That’s enough!” Alan cut her off.
Dani sidestepped Alan and picked up her suitcase and carry-on bag. “ I’m leaving,” she responded.
“Do not leave like this, kiddo.” Alan worked to soften his voice. “I don’t know why you’re picking a fight with me.” His voice was baffled and hurt. “I love you, and I love your mother and there’s nothing I want more—”
“Tell Mom I’ll be in the car.” Dani stormed out of her room, down the stairs, and out the front door.
Chapter 12
“I guess this is it.” Leila stood with Dani at the security gate entrance and hugged her tightly. “I have a million things to say to you and to warn you about, but I know you don’t want to hear them.”
“I’ll be fine, Mom. Back a week from tomorrow, and I promise I will still be the same daughter who left you.” She pulled back and looked at her mother. “Nothing is going to change.”
Leila touched Dani’s cheek. “Everything has already changed.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s true. But that’s all right. You are a smart young woman, Dani, and I know you’ll be fine. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mom. I better go.”
“Call me when you get there.”
Dani nodded. “I already told you three times that I would.” She picked up her bag. “Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, Dani.”
“Mom, please don’t cry!”
“I am not crying!” Leila sniffed. “This dusty airport is irritating my eyes.”
Dani laughed as she turned to leave. “Okay, whatever you say. I love you.”
She made her way through security and headed toward the departure gate. Each time Dani peeked back, she saw her mother, waving and dabbing her eyes.
**********
Dani exhaled and unbuckled her seatbelt. The plane ride to California hadn’t been too bad, especially in First Class. Dani retrieved her bag from the overhead compartment, and stood patiently in line with the other passengers to exit the plane. This was the moment.
She had spent most of the flight thinking about meeting her father for the first time. Should she hug him? That didn’t feel right. And shaking hands was just ridiculous, although Dani had already decided that this was a possibility. Leila’s only advice had been to do whatever she felt comfortable doing, which didn’t help her at all. Dani shuffled behind a large man in a tweed suit and did her best not to start hyperventilating. After reaching the public waiting area, she scanned the crowds for Mark. Surely he wouldn’t be late, would he?
br />
“Excuse me, Miss. Are you Dani?” A young man in his mid-twenties tapped her on the shoulder.
“Yes, I am,” she answered hoping this wasn’t a reporter.
“Excellent.” The young man tipped his head forward. Did he just bow at her? “I’m Christopher, Mark Ocean’s personal assistant.” His entire appearance screamed obsessive-compulsive. He had closely cropped hair, not a single strand daring to move out of place. His crisp cotton shirt was tucked neatly into his dress pants, and Dani was nearly blinded by the shine from his shoes. “Your father,” he said in a whisper, “is outside in the car waiting for you. I’m sure you understand that he couldn’t meet you himself.” He gave Dani a knowing look. “The crowds would have been impossible, and that is not the way Mr. Ocean wanted to introduce you to the world.”
Dani refrained from giggling at the notion of being introduced to the world. “Of course. I’ll have to get my suitcases from baggage claim, though.”
“I’ll take care of that for you. Do you have your claim tickets? Wonderful. Right this way, Miss.”
Dani scurried after Christopher, who swiftly led the way out of the airport to a black limousine idling by the curb. The air was warm. The sky was brilliant blue. Dani regretted ever complaining about California weather.
“This is Mr. Ocean’s car,” Christopher announced just as a driver materialized to open the door. “I’ll be right back with your luggage.”
“Don’t you want to know what my bags look like?” Dani asked.
“I’ll find them. It’s my job,” he called to her, as he rushed back inside the airport.
Dani tried to peer into the tinted windows of the limousine. The limo driver held out his hand to Dani, and without thinking, she reached her hand out and shook his. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.” The driver shook her hand awkwardly and then tilted his head, indicating she should get into the car.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. Dani stepped inside the cavernous limousine and fell ungracefully onto the leather seat. “Oh, that’s squishy!”
“Dani? Hi.”
In the darkened interior Dani found herself seated smack next to the one and only Mark Ocean.
“Oh, sorry, I couldn’t see you when I was getting in, and then I sort of tumbled into my seat, and I’m lucky I didn’t land on you. That would have been weird, huh? So, anyway, I’m Dani, obviously, and you must be Mark. Again, obviously. And, well, so here we are!” God, she’d been so calm and cool about meeting her father, and now that he was in front of her, idiocy prevailed.
Dani looked at Mark. He really was quite a handsome man—thick dark hair, a strong, handsome face, dark eyes, and a solid build. He looked kinder in person than in his photographs. His soft white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, and even Dani, with her limited designer experience, could tell he was expensively dressed. He crinkled his eyes with an uncertain smile, and Dani felt reassured.
“Hi, Dani. It’s really great to meet you. Should we…I mean, are we supposed to…I don’t know, hug or something?” Mark tossed his hands helplessly in the air. “I’ve been sitting in this car for the past hour trying to decide what to do when I saw you. I didn’t want to just hug you without warning. But shaking your hand seems stupid, too.” Mark turned away as if embarrassed.
Dani smiled at him. They’d been having the same dilemma. “Let’s just go for a hug, okay?”
Mark smiled back, a look of relief on his face. “Yes. Good idea. We should get that first hug out of the way, and after that it’ll be less strange. Okay, here we go.” Mark leaned forward a bit and wrapped his arms around his daughter, patting her lightly on the back. Unexpectedly, Dani found herself squeezing him tightly. She tucked her head into his shoulder. The world felt like it was spinning, and Dani closed her eyes. She was determined not to create some sappy reunion scene by crying all over Mark’s pristine shirt. She pulled away and smoothed her dress over her knees. “Much less awkward now,” Mark said. “I’m glad we did that.”
Dani felt the trunk slam shut, and she knew Christopher had found her luggage. The door opened, and Mark’s assistant seated himself across from his employer. “We are all set, sir. What’s next?” Christopher asked, his phone already in mid-air as he waited for instructions.
Mark looked at Dani. “I thought we would go back to my house in Beverly Hills and let you unpack. I’ve got a room all set up for you. It has a deck with a hot tub, and the bathroom has a Jacuzzi. But you can look around, though, and settle in any bedroom you like. Maybe you’ll want to go for a swim and have something to eat? Sound okay?”
Dani stared, transfixed at her father. “You have a Jacuzzi? Nice.” Dani pushed her bangs out of her eyes. “That’s cool.”
“Dani?” said Mark.
“Yeah?”
“I’m, uh, I’m glad you’re here.”
Could Mark Ocean be a teensy bit intimidated by a fifteen-year-old?
“I’m glad to be here, too, Mar…” Dani faltered. “I mean, Da…” She looked to her father.
“Let’s just go with Mark for now. Sound good? We’ll figure it out. We’ll figure it all out.”
Dani leaned back in her seat. So far, Mark wasn’t half-bad.
Chapter 13
Leila’s hands flew over the computer’s keyboard as she furiously typed the list. Alan’s loud chuckling interrupted her train of thought. “What is so funny?”
“What on earth are you doing?” he asked, leaning over her shoulder as he read the screen.
“I’m sending an email to Mark. He’s never had a teenager, and I think he needs some guidelines. From what I’ve seen in the papers, he could use some guidelines of his own.”
“Hon, I get that you’re worried, but do you think you need to include number fourteen?”
“What’s wrong with, ‘Please refrain from semi-nude hot tub exploits with scantily clad women while Dani is in the house.’ It’s a completely reasonable request.” Leila continued typing.
15. I’m sure you will want to buy Dani a few gifts, but do not spoil her.
16. Dani is not to be driven by anyone that you do not trust with your life.
17. Her curfew is 9 o’clock during the week and 10 o’clock on weekends. If she is out, please have her call you every hour to check in.
18. Dani is not allowed to wear makeup and should be dressed appropriately for a fifteen-year-old. I don’t care what California girls are doing.
“Do you really think this is necessary?” Alan asked.
“Yes, I do. I feel guilty about this mess. But I can certainly let Mark know that there are boundaries.”
“I’m sure he will follow these to the letter,” Alan said soberly. “And it has not escaped my notice that these rules are stricter than your rules around here. Sneaky, sneaky.”
Leila hit Send. When it came to her daughter, it was better to be safe than sorry.
Chapter 14
Mark turned on the tap in his bathroom and watched the cold water fall into the spun-glass basin. I hate this stupid sink, he thought. The basin was nearly flat, and some spray always shot out of the sink. All he had to show for this expensive Spanish design was a permanent puddle on his equally expensive countertops and floor.
Mark placed his hands under the tap, enjoying the feel of the water as it cascaded over his palms. He splashed his face repeatedly, cooling himself. He peered intently in the mirror and was pleased to see that he didn’t look any worse since his daughter arrived. Mark had wondered if he might age instantly when Dani got into his limo—a pot-belly forming and hair falling from his head. But, nope, he was as solid and handsome as ever. He pulled up his shirt and flexed his abdominal muscles. Perfect.
Mark ran his hands through his hair while he pondered his first meeting with Dani. All in all, it had gone well. What Dani hadn’t known was that a photographer was snapping shots of Dani getting into his limo and then entering his house. The paparazzi had agreed to keep a low profile with the promise that they would get better shots later in the w
eek. He didn’t want Dani to think he was throwing her to the wolves on her first day.
Mark had to congratulate himself—who said he couldn’t act? He took his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Renna’s number.
“Lay it on me!” Renna’s voice barked through the receiver. “Is she hideous or will this work. Tell me everything!”
“You would have been proud of me.” He checked his reflection again in the mirror. “I was outstanding.”
“Yeah, but what does she look like?” Renna demanded impatiently.
“Skinny, on the tall side, long, dark hair. Fair skin.” Mark said. “With the right makeup and clothes, it’ll work. We set up an interview with Celebrity City that’ll air in a few days. The first day of the rest of my career, right?”
“You know it. Keep up the good work, darling.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow.” Mark shut his phone and placed it back in his pocket.
The show’s top reporter was coming over tomorrow afternoon for the big interview. The first time that America would see Mark Ocean as the adoring father. The family man. He got chills just thinking about it. He would have to get someone to the house to get her ready. That atrocious brown dress she showed up in had to go, and he made a mental note to take her shopping tomorrow before the interview and get her something flattering.
Mark had savored every moment of his phone call to producer Evan Dodd, during which he excitedly, but tentatively, let him know about Dani. Mark explained that he didn’t know any teenage girls, knowing that Evan had a daughter named Kayla about the same age as Dani. Perhaps the girls could get together? Mark had kept the conversation short and didn’t mention anything about movies, auditions, or turning careers around. Evan assured Mark that Kayla would be more than happy to meet up with Dani.
He reached into his pocket and took out a folded piece of paper. He read through Leila’s list of crazy instructions on how to take care of Dani. For God’s sake, he was perfectly capable of keeping the kid alive for a few days. He ripped up the paper and tossed it into the hand-painted ceramic wastebasket.