“And your answer is?”
“He loves me,” Roz said. “That’s my answer. Mick loves me. I even believe he craves me.”
Charles stared at her. “But?”
“He’s addicted to that adrenalin rushcalled his life,” Roz said. “And I’mafraid an addiction beats a craving any day of the week. That’s the but.”
Tears appeared in Roz’s big,beautiful eyes and Charles, his heart broken for her, placed his arm around herwaist and then pulled her against him. He wanted to tell her not to worry, that he’ll come around. But nothing was that simple with Mick.
Roz knew it too. She sometimes wondered why she even came toCharles’ house with her problems. But hewas the only one on earth with any real influence over Mick. He was the only person on earth who couldstill kick Mick’s ass.
They stopped embracing and sheremoved Charles’ handkerchief from his suit coat. But he kept his protective arm around herwaist.
“Feel better letting it out?” Charlesasked her.
“You make crying sound like a fart,”Roz said.
Charles laughed. “It is, in a way.” Then he looked at her sadly. “Seeing you crying stinks too.”
“Ah, Big Daddy,” Roz said and leanedagainst him. “That was so sweet. You’re going to make me start bawling allover again.”
Charles let out a harsh exhale. If only Mick knew the kind of wonderful womanhe had! “Go get some rest, Rozzie. Don’t let the kids see you like this. They’ll start worrying too. And we don’t want that, do we?”
Roz couldn’t agree more. “No, we don’t want that,” she said. “Children first.”
Charles, as the father of sevenchildren, agreed immediately. “Always,”he said.
Roz squeezed his hand as she wasabout to stand up. “Thanks, Big Daddy,”she said, and he gave her a kiss.
But then the cell phone she hadsitting beside her rang. Wondering if itwas Mick, she grabbed it quickly. Whenshe saw that it was Billy Lancer, the man offering her the only promising gigshe had on the horizon, she answered quickly anyway. “Hey,” she said.
Billy, in the backseat of hislimousine, smiled. “How are you?” heasked. “It’s been longer than a coupledays, and I haven’t heard from you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“We still need to get together, Roz,and get that paperwork signed. And, moreimportantly, to make sure you understand in what direction we want this productionto go. Where are you?”
“I’m in Maine,” Roz said, glancing atCharles.
“Maine? Now that’s a place I’ve only saw from theair! But guess where I’m headed?”
“I have no idea.”
“To The Carson. To your husband’s hotel, believe it ornot. I’ve got reservations.”
Roz exhaled. “That’s nice.”
“You don’t sound like it’s nice! Truth is, whenever I’m in New York, this iswhere I stay anyway. I like the style ofthe place. The Carson-Benning makes theWaldorf look like chicken shit to me.”
Roz smiled.
“Didn’t realize your husband owned ituntil recently.” He was lying, buteffortlessly. “Listen, we need to gettogether, that’s a fact. How about nextweekend? Will you be back in Philly bythen?”
“Actually, no, I’ll be in Canadathen. In Montreal. At my sister-in-law’s wedding.”
“Oh, that’s right!” Billy said. “What’s her name? Amelia Sinatra? Mick Sinatra’s sister? She’s marrying Hammer Reese is it?”
“That’s correct.”
“Sounds like an odd pairing to me,but who knew? I’ll tell you what. Since I’m on the east coast right now, andyou aren’t that far away, how about I come over tomorrow night and take you todinner? How does that sound?”
Roz knew if she signed that contract,there would be no turning back. Shewould be committed to living and working in London for at least two years. But she also knew it was the role of alifetime, especially if Billy Lancer’s name was going to front the marquee, andhe didn’t even make her audition for the part! How could she turn that down? Because Mick won’t like it? Hehadn’t even called her since she left his ass. He might even be with that Charlotte woman for all she knew.
“Sounds good,” said Roz. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Text me the address,” Billy said,they said their goodbyes, and Roz ended the call. Then she stood up.
But Charles was too curious to justlet it go. “You’ll see who tomorrownight? Mick?”
“No, that wasn’t Mick. That was Billy. Billy Lancer.”
Charles was stunned. “Billy Lancer? THE Billy Lancer? That producer?”
Roz smiled. “I didn’t know you knew the names ofproducers. Most people don’t.”
“Most people don’t know the names ofordinary producers,” Charles admitted. “But Lancer’s right up there with Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, WaltDisney for crying out loud. I mean, maybenot Walt Disney,” he said, and Roz laughed. “But most people know those names! Besides, he was married to Natalie Stanley, everybody’s favoriteactress, God rest her soul. But what’sit about?”
“Just business.” Roz wasn’t ready togo public yet. She hadn’t even talked toMick yet. “He’s going to pick me uptomorrow night and take me to dinner. Todiscuss a possible deal,” she felt a need to point out.
“Look like a guy like that would havethe lawyers handle the business end, wouldn’t you think?”
“We’re old friends,” Roz said. “He used to be a struggling actor on Broadwayright alongside me, believe it or not. That’s why.”
“Still sounds like he’s going aboveand beyond,” Charles said.
“We’re friends,” Roz said again.
Charles only nodded on that, makingRoz feel as if she was doing something wrong just by having a business dinnerwith an old friend. But she knew BigDaddy was stern like that. He was neverwith the bullshit, even when it wasn’t bullshit. “I see,” he said, looking at her with thatgaze of his.
Roz expected him to say more, or toask more questions, but he didn’t bother. “Anyway,” she said, “I’m going to take you up on your suggestion and goand get some rest.”
“We’ll call you when dinner’s ready,”Charles said.
“Thanks,” Roz said, and headed backinside of Big Daddy’s house.
But as soon as she left, Charleswasted no time. He pulled out his cellphone and called his knucklehead of a brother.
But the call went straight to VoiceMail, which meant his cellphone was off, which meant Mick, more than likely,was out handling some business of his own.
Charles didn’t leave a message. Something that monumental, as least that washow he felt about a man like Billy
