thoughtfully.
He was puzzled. Elizabeth was not prone to sadness, and yet for the last few days, she seemed almost depressed. He walked up to her quietly, as she sat absently strumming and staring into space.
“Hey,” he said easily.
“Oh!” she started. “Hey,” she replied.
“I heard you got good news.”
She nodded her head, looking very pleased. “I’m very excited. This is something I’ve been dreaming about for so long. I just hope I don’t screw up too much. I’ve never done this before and I’m certainly not an actress.”
She looked for a moment as if she was going to push him away, and then her face changed and she spoke. “My mom called today,” she began. “She told me that a good friend of mine from college is pregnant.” Elizabeth smiled in embarrassment. “And it’s kinda bothering me. This girl is my age, and she’s going to have a baby. Be a mom. All that responsibility for someone else.” Her eyes widened at the idea. “I can’t imagine being in that place. I’m just so not ready for anything like that.” She looked at Darcy. “Does that make any sense?”
He nodded. “It makes a lot of sense.” More sense than he could tell her.
Elizabeth nodded. “I’ve been putting all my energy and my attention into my music and my career; it’s almost impossible for me to think about a family or settling down. I guess I’m worried I’m missing something.”
“You are committed to your career, Elizabeth. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s where you should be. Children can come later, if you want that. Right now you are creating music that touches millions of people, and that’s no less valid than being a mom. You should be proud of what you’ve done.”
Elizabeth looked into his eyes and smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Darcy, that helps.”
He smiled softly. “Anytime.” He was painfully aware of the distance between them. She was deeply committed to her career, and he respected that in her. But it didn’t stop him from wanting her. He wanted to help her, to ease her way. He could. He could make it so easy for her, if she would only let him.
But she wouldn’t. She would tease and play, but she would never let him close. She was so guarded and focused. He smiled mirthlessly as he recognized himself in her. The difference was that he had a career already and was willing to make room in his life for her.
He had no idea how to close the distance between them, or even if he should; would she welcome him, if he did? Yes, they had both shown an awareness of each other, but could they move beyond it?
He was almost to the point of despair when she went back to her song. Still, listening to her words again, he knew there was hope. It would take time and effort, but he had hope.
Richard smiled lustfully at the woman before him. She was a tall, leggy blonde with beautiful blue eyes and a charming, quiet manner. He met her earlier at the meet-and-greet and was delighted at her ability to make him believe that he was her first choice, as opposed to being a poor replacement for Darcy. Gently he lifted her chin and kissed her, tasting her sweetness.
“Richard?” a soft voice spoke to him from behind.
He stopped, puzzled by what he heard. It was like his thoughts had invoked her presence and for a second, he doubted if he had really heard her. The reaction of the woman in his arms, however, made it clear that Charlotte was really there. He frowned at her in confusion. “Char?”
“Um,” she appeared to shrink before him. “I was wondering if I could talk to you, but I see you’re busy.”
Richard looked from her small face to the blonde and back. “Oh, Char, this is Suzanne. Suzanne, Charlotte Lucas, of Long Borne Suffering.”
Charlotte nodded and smiled politely to the blonde, who smiled coldly back.
Richard looked confused. “Is it important, Char?” he said uncomfortably. They were backstage, and Richard had only a short time before the buses would be leaving. He really wanted to be with the hot blonde, but he was concerned about Charlotte. He had never seen her looking this worried before.
“No,” she shook her head. “It’s nothing,” she said as she turned away.
“Char?” His voice stopped her. “Is something wrong?” he questioned her, clearly torn.
She shook her head, not looking back. “It’s nothing, Richard. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
Elizabeth felt like she was walking on air. Winnie, the video commissioner from De Bourgh, had just spent the last two hours discussing plans for the video. It was going to be a challenge; she had never done anything so complicated or expensive before. The “Everything You Are” video had simply filmed them during their rehearsal. The money involved in the new video had definitely given her a moment of uneasiness, but Alex assured her that they had made enough from the tour to cover it, even if CD sales fell flat, which was highly unlikely. “First Impressions” was still in the top forty, and all the predictions were that it would be moving up rather than down.
In less than a week, they would fly to a race car track in Ohio, the setting for the video. They would meet the director and spend two days shooting. Elizabeth’s excitement had reached a new high, and she was ready to celebrate with her friends.
She invited Alex and Winnie to join her in going out for dinner, but they declined, being too busy crunching numbers. She then found Jane with Charles in his suite, the door left open as it usually was. They were working on a song together. Elizabeth smiled with genuine happiness for them. It really seemed like they were made for each other.
“Congratulations, Lizzy!” Charles said when he noticed her there. He stood and gave her a friendly hug. “Jane told me all about the video. I’m really happy for you!”
“Thanks, Charles,” she grinned. “Do you two want to come out for dinner?” It was a rare night off, and Elizabeth wanted to have fun.
The smiling pair agreed and Elizabeth walked across the hall to Darcy’s door. She knocked determinedly. He wasn’t going to beg off this time.
He was in a robe and holding his guitar when he opened the door. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Why are you in your bathrobe?”
“I was playing,” he answered in his soft voice.
“What? You play in the nude?” she asked teasingly.
“Yes,” he answered her with complete seriousness.
Elizabeth’s lips formed an O and her cheeks warmed slightly, but she maintained her nerve. “Well, get dressed. We’re all going out,” she announced.
“Out?”
“Yes, out to dinner to celebrate the newest Long Borne Suffering video, starring me.” She smiled happily.
Darcy smiled back, enchanted by her infectious happiness. “Give me a moment.”
“Okay, you can meet us at our suite. I’ve gotta find Char,” she answered as she walked off. Darcy watched her move away, admiring the view, then shut the door.
Elizabeth opened the door to her suite, a wordless tune of joy on her lips. She walked to Charlotte’s room, where she heard noises. The door was open and she looked inside. The tune died.
She stared, her eyes not able to understand what she was seeing, her mind unwilling to process the image. Before her was Charlotte, pulling her shirt down, and sitting on her bed, far too close to her, was Bill Collins.
Shock and confusion froze her into place. “Char?” she whispered, completely unable to believe what her eyes were telling her.
