“Gee, thanks. I can’t wait.”
“Maybe you should’ve been an actress.”
“Are you saying that all good-looking women should be actresses?” Cat. exclaimed. “How sexist is that!”
“You know what I mean.”
“Well, anyway, here we are,” Cat sighed, helping herself to another cheese cracker. “Both of us about to get divorced.”
“I didn’t say I was getting a divorce,” Shelby said quickly.
“It sounds to me that’s what you have in mind.”
“It’s complicated,” Shelby said unsurely, “I have to talk it through with my therapist.”
“I’d never go to a shrink,” Cat said, snatching up a handful of peanuts. “All they do is look bored and try to make you cry. They’re all sort of the Barbara Walters of the doctors’ brigade.”
“I gather you’ve had experience.”
“Oh yeah, when I was fourteen my dad thought it was a cool idea. How dumb was that?”
“Therapists can be helpful, Shelby said gently. “It’s not general knowledge, although it’s been written about in some of the more in-depth articles about him—but Linc suffered an extremely violent child» hood.”
“What happened?” Cat asked curiously.
“I don’t want to get into it now,” Shelby said evasively.
“I can’t stand people who blame everything on their parents.” Cat said, wrinkling her nose. “I could’ve been a total fuckup because of my parents. I mean, even though they were rich and kind of spoiled me, I never got any real love and attention from them. So I became a druggie at fifteen, living mostly by myself in New York, until Jump came along and rescued me. It’s only now that I’ve finally taken control of my life.”
“And. a very good job you’ve done,” Shelby said. “I have to say you’re extremely mature for your years.”
“Yeah, I’m an old soul,” Cat said, grinning. “That’s what everyone tells me.”
At LAX they were greeted by airline personnel waiting to meet Shelby. Several lurking paparazzi hovered outside the terminal. Cat tried to distance herself from Shelby, which made the photographers notice her, and wonder who she was.
“Shit!” she muttered. If Merrill saw photos of her at the airport he’d be pissed. Although how could he be pissed when she was already back in L.A.?
They shared a car from the airport into town.
“See you Monday on the set.” Cat said, when Shelby dropped her off.
“I’ll look forward to it,” Shelby replied.
Cat couldn’t wait to get back to work. It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She had her stuff—no more connections. Jump was history.
It was a delightful feeling of freedom.
• • •
Lola rode in the ambulance to the emergency room. Selma was lying on a stretcher, unconscious. She’d been hit by two bullets. One had grazed her temple and the second was lodged somewhere near her thigh.
The entire evening was a nightmare—the shooting, the police, the crowds of gawkers who came out of nowhere, the flashing cameras that wouldn’t quit.
Big Jay had been hit in the shoulder, although it didn’t seem to have affected him too much; he was still on his feet. Tony was unscathed; so was Lola, “Want me to come with you, babe?” Tony had asked as she’d climbed in the ambulance.
“No,” she’d said, barely able to look at him. Didn’t he understand? It was all his fucking fault.
The ambulance men were very kind. They allowed her to sit next to Selma, keeping a tight hold on her hand.
“Will she be all right?” she kept on asking.
“Can’t tell until the doctors take a look at her.”
“She’s got to be all right,” Lola insisted. “She’s got to. This all happened because of me.”
“How’s that?” one of the attendants asked.
“She came to New York to be with me. If I hadn’t taken her out tonight, this never would’ve happened.”
“Mustn’t blame yourself,” the attendant said. “Violence is everywhere. You have no idea how many gunshot wounds we handle each day,”
“I don’t want to know,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “This is my sister» And she will not die, because I won’t let her.”
There was more chaos outside the emergency room. The paparazzi were everywhere and the flashing cameras wouldn’t quit—the photographers were like rabid bees, buzzing around, getting in everyone’s face.
Lola wanted to kill them all. What a bunch of lowlifes. Why did they feel they had the right to intrude on such a private moment of tragedy?
Pale and serious, she rushed in beside Selma’s stretcher, still clutching onto her hand.
Doctors hurried forward and immediately took over.
Lola knew she had to call her mother before she heard it on the news.
She slumped against a wall, desperately trying to control herself. With shaking hands she took out her cell and punched in the number.
“Mama,” she managed, choking back sobs. “Mama, get on a plane and come here at once. I’m . . . so . . . sorry. There’s been an accident. Selma’s been shot.”
• • •
Monday morning, the news on the set of Caught was all about the Lola Sanchez scandal in New York. A shooting involving celebrities was always a hot topic.
“Lola’s sister is in a coma,” someone said.
“She’s dead,” someone else said.
“The bullet was meant for Tony Alvarez,” someone else offered.
Stories bounced back and forth.
“My cousin’s best friend is a bartender at the club they were at,” the continuity girl. confided. “Apparently Lola dissed some guy in the club, and he came back with a gun. The bullet was meant for her, not Tony.”
When Shelby first heard about it, she was worried that Linc might have been involved. Unwilling to call him, she contacted his publicist. Norm, who assured her that Linc was not there.
“How’s he doing, Norm?” she asked, hoping the news was good.
“You know Linc,” Norm replied, noncommittal as usual.
“Yes, I’m afraid I do,” she said quietly. “And I also know he’s drinking again. So, for the time being, 1 won’t be in touch. If you should get any press inquiries, as far as you know everything between us is fine,”
“Of course, Shelby, I won’t say a word unless I hear it directly from you.”
“Let’s keep it that way We both know how-the press will jump on it if they think there’s any sign of trouble,”
Norm hung up the phone and. wondered if he should give an exclusive to Liz Smith in return for a future favor. Then he decided no, Shelby was a nice woman, and he still had some principles, even after years of being a P.R. to the rich and famous.
Shelby tried not to dwell on the scene between her and Linc in New York. Instead she threw herself into her work. When she spotted Pete coming toward her she was cordial toward him.
“Did you see our picture in People?” he asked, sounding kind of pleased.
“Yes, I saw it, and so did Linc.”
“Hope it didn’t ruin your weekend in New York.” “My weekend was okay,” she said guardedly.
“Only okay?”
“Pete, I think it’s best if we keep our distance.”
“I know that, Shelby. However, I do need to talk to you about the car stunt.”
“As long as it’s all about work.”
“You’re still upset about me driving you to the airport, aren’t you?”
“Yes, quite frankly I am.”
“Linc was pissed—is that what I’m hearing?”
“I repeat,” she said coolly, “let’s stick to work.”
“Fine. I was thinking we should try a few practice runs.”
“Very well. Schedule it. I’ll be there.”
And even though she was filled with sadness, she managed to carry on.
• • •
Still i
n a drunken, stoned haze, Linc was having a fine time. Now that Shelby was no longer on his case, he could do whatever he wanted, which involved a lot of cocaine and plenty of heavy drinking. No more behaving like a man with no balls.
Over the weekend, he called up a few buddies from his single days and hung out with them. It was just like old times. The poker game in his suite, several pretty girls hanging around, plenty of booze, plenty of food, plenty of anything he wanted.
Why had he thought marriage was so great? This was the life.
Monday morning he awoke with a massive hang-oven Christ! The jackhammers were back, pounding his head to shit. Fuck! He had to get sober for work.
Where was Shelby when he needed her? He was still mad at her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t miss her.
How come she hadn’t walked off her movie for him? Bitch! She was probably screwing Pete, and that’s why she’d run back to L.A. so swiftly.
He was determined that he was not going to be the one to give in. She would have to come begging for his forgiveness.
Knowing Shelby as well as he did, he was sure he’d hear from her soon.
• • •
“I hear you went to New York,” Nick said, blowing smoke rings into her face.
“Who told you that?” Cat asked, waving the smoke away.
“Word gets around,” he said, giving her a lazy stare. “I might’ve gone with you if you’d asked.”
“Didn’t need company, thank you,” she said curtly. “Besides, I wouldn’t dream of dragging you away from your overactive love life.”
“Love life?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Listen, I’m into casual fucking—anything wrong with that?” “You’re so crude.”
“What’s crude about casual sex?” he said, genuinely perplexed. “You should try it sometime—you might even get into it.”
“Not with you I wouldn’t,” she answered quickly.
“Why’s that?” he asked, shooting her a quizzical look.
“ ’Cause you’re probably riddled with the clap or some other unspeakable disease.”
“Charming,” he said, the perennial cigarette dangling from his lips. “Aren’t you a lady.”
“Right back at you,”
Entertainment Tonight was visiting the set that afternoon with a full crew. The handsome and personable Mark Steines was conducting the interviews. Shelby had already done her turn; now it was up to Nick.
“Watch your language in front of the cameras,” Cat warned him.
“Jeez!” he complained. “You’re nineteen, for fuck’s sake. You sound like you’re forty-three.”
“It would be nice if they could use your interview,” she retorted. “If every other word is “fuck,’ it’ll be a wrap.”
“No way. They’ll bleep me out like they do on The Osbournes.”
“Excuse me, Cat,” Jonas said, appearing out of nowhere and shooting Nick an unfriendly look. “When you’ve got a moment, Mr. Zandack wants you to call him.”
Man! What was that about? Had Merrill found out about her trip to New York?
“I’ll call him later.”
“He’s still in New York and he’s anxious.”
“Okay. Soon she said impatiently.
“What about you, Cat?” Mark Steines asked, strolling over, “Can we get you in front of a camera?”
“I don’t do interviews,” she said, grimacing. “Besides, I’m too busy.”
“How about a few sound bites?”
“You know me,” she said awkwardly. “I prefer the other side of the camera,”
“Sometimes we actually even interview directors,” Mark said, smiling. “Especially beautiful ones.”
“I’ll wait until the movie comes out. You don’t mind, do you?”
“As long as JE.T. gets first shot.”
“It’s a promise.”
She stayed behind the TV camera, watching Nick as he sat for his interview. He had a peculiar charm that worked on both men and women, and he said “fuck” only three times.
She shook her head, Nick Logan was quite a character.
Hmm . . . Character or not, she had no intention of getting to know him any better.
As she kept on reminding herself, Nick Logan was one vice she didn’t need.
CHAPTER
* * *
32
A week later, when Selma still hadn’t regained consciousness, Lola realized they were in deep trouble. She’d spent every day by her sister’s bedside, holding Selma’s hand and praying. Several years earlier, much to her family’s dismay, she’d abandoned the Catholic Church. This had happened after her second abortion. Abortion and keeping the faith did not seem to go hand in hand.
Now she wondered if giving up her religion had created bad karma. Was Selma in a coma because of her? Suddenly she rediscovered her faith with a vengeance. If praying would help bring Selma back, she was there.
Mama and Isabelle flew to New York together. The two of them were inconsolable; they kept a vigil at Selma’s bedside, pale and consumed with worry.
Lola was suffused with guilt. She knew they blamed her. And in turn, she blamed Tony. If he had not taken it upon himself to have Tyrell White beaten up, then Tyrell White’s people would never have come back with guns. She was sure that’s me way it had gone down. A vendetta. Two macho men with shit for brains.
It was an ongoing nightmare. Over the last few days she’d spent several long hours at the police station with her New York lawyer, being questioned about what had taken, place.
“I didn’t see anything.” she’d said.
“Did Mr. Alvarez shoot back?”
“He doesn’t have a gun.”
“His bodyguards were armed. They returned the fire, didn’t they?”
“I know nothing about that.” she’d said.
Faye was in full I-told-you-so mode. The publicity was insane. Lola had “never thought the day would come when she didn’t want, to be on the front pages. That day was definitely here.
Elliott Finerman had come through for her; he’d rearranged the schedule on New York State of Mind, allowing her a week off. The delay on the movie was costing a fortune, but Elliott didn’t complain. She had not expected him to display so much compassion;, it was quite touching.
Unfortunately a week wasn’t enough. She needed to be with Selma until she regained consciousness.
According to the doctors, they were not sure that would ever happen.
Lola refused to believe their words of doom. She sent Jenny out to buy every book she could find on comas, while Isabelle combed the Internet for information. Between them they decided the doctors were wrong. Selma could wake up tomorrow, or in two years. It might be a miracle; however, miracles did happen.
The people at the hospital were extremely caring and considerate. They gave her a private room next to Selma’s, where she sat every day with her mother and Isabelle. They didn’t say much, although sometimes they hugged one another and wept; it relieved the tension.
She had not seen Tony. She did not want to see Tony She blamed him for everything, although she could not summon, up the strength to tell him.
When he called, she was curt. “I can’t see you,” she said. “I have to stay at the hospital”
“Can I do anything?” he asked. “You have to eat. Come over to my hotel and we’ll eat together.”
Was he insane? Did he actually think she would go to his hotel and have sex with him while her sister was lying in the hospital? He could forget it.
In spite of his injury, Big Jay was back at work, his arm in a sling. “It’s nothing,” he said. “If I could find the shooters, I’d crush ’em like little bugs.”
She’d never heard Big Jay be quite so eloquent. He stayed at the hospital with her, hiring extra guards to sit outside Selma’s room.
The paparazzi were everywhere. This was a major story for them—a story that contained every element: a shooting, a hot romance, a gorgeous movie star, a famous druggie film dire
ctor, a girl in a coma.
God, how Lola hated them!
Staying in New York was ä hardship for both Claudine and Isabelle, and although Lola did not want Selma taken away from a place where she could be with her, she knew her family had to leave, while she had to get back to work.
With Elliott Finerman’s help, she conferred with the administrators at the hospital about arranging for an air ambulance to fly Selma to a facility in L.A.
Eventually arrangements were made, and her mother and Isabelle left with Selma.
Lola went to the airport to say goodbye. They were all hugging and crying. It was a sad scene.
“I’ll be back as soon as I finish this movie,” she assured her mother.
“I know you understand why this is best,” Claudine said, her face somber. “Your papa is alone, Isabelle has her children to care for, and Selma’s children need their family close.”
“Anything I can do, Mama, anything at all, you know I’ll be there.”
“Yes, Lucia, we all know that,” Claudine said, hugging her youngest daughter. “This is God’s will,” she said quietly. “You cannot blame yourself.”
“But Mama—” Lola said, her face streaked with tears.
“No, Lucia,” Claudine said sternly. “Guilt is not good. Go to church, talk to the priest, he will help you. You must recover your faith, my daughter. You will see—things will be good again. Selma is going to recover. Well all pray for her. Your strength will come from prayer.”
When they left, Lola was devastated. She returned to her hotel feeling empty and alone. Her entire world of money and fame and stardom had been turned upside down. She would give it all up for Selma to recover.
Was she being punished?
For what?
She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
• • •
The weekly tabloids made the New York papers look tame. Truth and Fact hit the stands with a headline that screamed, LOLA CAUGHT WITH MARRIED CO-STAR! And next to it there, was the infamous photo of Lola and Linc kissing outside the restaurant.
Inside the magazine there was a huge double-page spread of pictures. And another headline, IS RECENTLY SEPARATED LOLA SANCHEZ FALLING FOR HER MARRIED CO-STAR, LINC BLACKWOOD? AND WHERE IS MRS. BLACKWOOD, THE BEAUTIFUL SHELBY CHENEY?