“I’ll send them to you. Most of them I wrote over a year ago. I’ve just been sitting on them. I had plans of doing lots of writing while in Hope Falls, but that hasn’t exactly happened.”
Marnie busts up laughing. “I can see why. With that man around twenty-four/seven, I don’t know that I would get anything done either.”
30
Nora
I love you.
Three simple words I’m dying to say are strong enough to keep me awake.
Grayson is fast asleep, snoring softly beside me. I keep watching him, wondering what I did to deserve someone like him in my life.
He hasn’t given me those three words, but I know he feels them or he wouldn’t have let me into his life, into his children’s lives, and into his heart—a heart that has already been broken once.
I’ve thought a lot about what Marnie and I talked about earlier, and I think I’ve finally come to my decision. I’m ready to take a step back. I’d like to keep my name somewhat prevalent—maybe a summer tour the way she suggested, and a few guest spots on TV shows or movies thrown in here and there. Just enough so people don’t forget who I am, but not so much that it consumes every second of my life.
I wait for the doubt to creep in, something to tell me I’m making the wrong decision, but all I’m met with is complete and utter contentment.
Happy with my career and with a dull ache between my legs from hours of lovemaking, I curl up next to Grayson and close my eyes.
I’m at the edge of sleep when I hear a buzz.
No, not a buzz. A vibrate. My phone.
Half asleep, I fumble around on the nightstand until I grab my cell.
“Hello?” I say, pushing up to my elbow.
“Nora, it’s Louise, Grayson’s mom. I’m sorry for bothering you, but Grayson isn’t answering his phone.”
The panic in her voice has my heart beating wildly.
“What’s wrong? Are the kids okay?”
Please, please tell me everyone is okay.
Grayson is still asleep as my lungs constrict so tight, I’m afraid I won’t be able to breathe.
“Yes, dear, the kids are okay. For now.”
“What do you mean for now?”
“Nora?” Grayson shifts, sleep think in his voice.
“What’s going on, Louise?”
Grayson shoots up in bed, sleep replaced by fear. “Nora?”
“The paparazzi found out who Grayson is. They dug up everything in his past. The story of Lorelei and how Jack found her is all over the news, as well as his ties to you. They’re here, Nora. The photographers are all over town. One of them was taking pictures of us earlier at the park, and now they’re staked out around the property. I was going to call you earlier, but I didn’t understand what was going on until I turned on the news. I’m scared, Nora. The kids are scared too.”
“Stay inside, Louise. Davis is there with you, right?”
“Yes. He’s pissed, Nora. I wouldn’t put it past him to go deck one of these photographers.”
“Tell him not to do that. Don’t go outside, and don’t talk to anyone. We’ll be home soon. I promise you I will ge
t this taken care of.”