Page 22 of Hollywood King
Heath snorted. “I saw both of your bad choices, and you’re right. They were terrible.”
“I didn’t ask you,” Hindley snarled.
I stared at the paper again. The empire our family built over a hundred years can be declared dead by a single slip of paper. It hollowed out my chest in a strange way. Heath folded up the paper and tucked it into his jacket. “We will figure this out later. Right now, we need to put on a show, and you need to play your part.”
Hindley sneered, and Heath surged into his face again. “You will play your part, or I’ll lock you in the backroom until everyone leaves. This little bit of information about the company will hit the papers soon, but no one is going to report an incident here today. Do you understand?”
Hindley hiked up his chin and pursed his lips. I could see the pulse beating at his neck he was so angry, but he gave Heath one jerk of the head, and then we all paraded back into the group.
We mingled, we talked, we drank champagne, and we smiled. As we said goodbye to our father, I fucking smiled so hard, my face hurt. My phone ringing in the small clutch I carried gave me an excuse to slip away. I went upstairs to my old room. Still the exact same way I left it.
I plopped in the bed, made perfectly, and opened my phone. Two messages from Dr. Rogers. I called the voicemail and waited. Both messages asked me to call immediately. I wasn’t ready to go back to the party, so I dialed his number, and he answered after a couple rings.
“Dr. Rogers, this is Dr. Earnshaw. You asked me to call you.”
He let out a long sigh and said, “Yes, one moment.”
I heard papers shuffling, and he went quiet. “Dr. Rogers?”
“Yes, Sorry. I wonder if you’d have time to come in person to speak?”
I rolled my eyes. Patients yes, I could see him wanting to deliver news in person. “Doctor, I’m a grown woman, and I can take whatever you need to say. Besides, I’m at my father’s wake. I can’t leave, or my brother will do something stupid.”
He chuckled softly. “I know all about difficult families. Well, I’m glad you have people near then, because this isn’t easy to tell you. Your cancer is back, and worse than it was before. I’m afraid it’s quite aggressive.”
I could hear him, but it was like through a tunnel from far away or out of a tin can connected to a string. I swallowed, trying to maneuver my brain around what he was saying. “Can I treat it?” I managed to squeak out.
“We can try with chemo and other methods, but I’m afraid it might be too invasive this time. There are some experimental procedures. I can send you some things to look over.”
“Yes, please,” I whispered.
“I’m sorry, Doctor. I had to tell the board. I believe they plan to call you and put you on medical leave until you are well again or on a treatment plan which allows you to handle your previously vigorous schedule.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“I’ll need you to come in for more labs and tests when you are able.”
“Yes.” I hung up. I had nothing left to say. I could barely push out the few words I’d given in response to the news. I sat on my bed, the same bed I lived in for years the last time my cancer was bad. And this time, it was supposed to be worse.
Somehow, I found myself lying on the floor staring up at the ceiling. I’d slid right off the edge of the covers and onto the plush beige carpet. Heath found me there a few minutes later, rushing in, closing the door behind him, and then to my side. He gripped my hand like he was going to help me up, but I shook my head. So instead, he lay down on the floor next to me and held my hand.
“Are you ok? Sick again or…”
Is it father?he asked without saying it. I didn’t answer, let him think what he wanted.
“Why is it so easy for you?” I asked him instead.
“Easy?”
“With the people, fitting into this world. You make it seem effortless. Like you were born to do it, and no one should have ever doubted that fact.”
He snorted and rolled to face me, still clutching my hand. I rolled too. “It’s never been easy. I’m just a good actor.”
I wanted to tell him right then and there, about the years we’d been apart and about the cancer, all of it. But I couldn’t say the words. Not after the way he left me, the way he treated me when I was sick. He’d feel responsible for me, and I couldn’t allow that to happen again.
I sat up, breaking the moment and smoothed my dress. Then I collected my phone and got to my feet. He stood too, with a lot more grace. “We should get back down there.”
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”
I leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. He sucked in a breath, and I stepped back. It wasn’t enough, not nearly enough to sate the desire I held for him since I’d grown old enough to even understand what I felt. I’d wanted him then, and even more now, with a woman’s desires.
“Did you just kiss me to distract me from the question?” he prodded.
I shrugged and left the room and my childhood behind. It had no place in my future. But did Heath? Could I leave him behind too?
For his own good, I had to.
