Page 16 of Child of Mine

Fuck.

* * *

BELLA

I could be babbling nonsense, I could be answering their questions, I could be reciting lines from either of the shows Shakespeare Boston’s putting up this summer. Unfortunately, this is no comedy of errors, and it’s worse than any tempest the Bard could imagine.

Oh. My. God. It’s him,Quinn’s voice says. The voice I mimicked just a few days ago with Cal. Brassy, sexy, and always only out for herself.

Ohhh. Him.Her counterpoint echoes. The innocent voice, the one that doesn’t know how harsh the world can be. Izzy.

The sexiest guy I’ve ever been with,Quinn whispers reverently.

Great. Not only do I have a moral dilemma the size of Manhattan to deal with, but I need to make a quick exit before any of the pieces of me says something I’ll regret.

I’ll just make an excuse, and once I’m safe at home, I’ll call Carol and tell her thanks but no thanks.

There’s no way I can take this job. If even one of the stupid mistakes I made as a young actress in the big city gets dredged up—secret addict runs away from it all to hide the baby she conceived in her dressing room with a guy she met once—PBS wouldn’t want me within ten feet ofBoom.

Not to mention what that kind of attention would do to Lilah.

Carol’s hand on my shoulder brings me back to earth, but not quite all the way. I’m still hovering above it all, watching myself. “Bella, are you all right?”

“I’m not sure,” I manage.

James gestures to a chair. “Do you want to sit for a minute? I’ll get you some water.”

“I’m so sorry; it’s probably something I ate. I need to go.”

Carol’s brow furrows. “Are you alright to get home? Should I call you a cab?”

“No, I… I think I can make it.” Just a glimpse in Hal’s direction has my stomach roiling. I don’t even have to pretend to be sick as I make myself say “Nice to meet you” before I sprint to the door.

* * *

HENRY

“Well, that was odd.” James says as the doors close behind Izzy. Bella? I think that’s what Carol said her name was. It was all so surreal. “It was like she saw a ghost.”

Yeah, and I’m pretty sure that ghost was me.

What I don’t get is why she’d run away. Our past encounter makes things awkward, but I’m the one who should be embarrassed. I left her in that dressing room without saying goodbye or explaining what happened. In my defense, all I knew about her was that she was Izzy fromBoom. She was in her twenties and gorgeous, so I figured I was just another notch on her belt. I mean, in New York in the early eighties, anybody with a pulse was sleeping with anyone and everyone. And she was the one who came on to me.

I think. That night is a bit of a blur in my memory. Dreams came true, then turned into nightmares.

“Are you okay, Henry?” James’s laugh is forced. “Maybe there’s some sort of bug going around?”

I shake my head and paste on a smile. “No, I’m good. What’s next?”

Following Carol and James to a conference room, I pack the memories away. Once I’ve found my bearings here, I’ll find Izzy and apologize. Or Bella. Whatever she goes by now.

If I can. This time, she’s the one who’s done a disappearing act.

Chapter 4

AND NOW… A FEW WORDS FROM OUR READERS!!

Q: Can you tell me if the young woman who played Quinn onATERwill be returning to TV? I’d love to see her on my screen again. Thank you for all you do for us fans. Jane Whitley, Clearville, FL

---