Page 34 of Child of Mine

“No problem,” Henry says. “We can do it. Right, guys? No matter how long it takes.”

As a working mom, I do have an actual out time, but I sense that we all need to pull together if we’re going to make this work, so I nod.

The smile on Henry’s face at the outcome of the meeting is way more rewarding than I’d like to admit.

Now that we’re going to spend even more time with him, you really need to fess up,Izzy whispers.

So we can get laid,Quinn adds. Because she’s Quinn.

Chapter 7

“OFF SCREEN: Dickie Tatum, one of the fine stars onPrivate Hospital, seems to be really making the steady scene with Carla Bayliss from the cast ofRyan’s Wish. Rumor has it the pair has escaped together for a romantic getaway in the mountains. We also hear that when they can’t be together, the phone lines buzz with calls between them.”TV Tattler, July 1989

HENRY

The days fly by leading up to our group departure for New Hampshire and what Carol delights in calling “Boom Camp.” I never went away to any kind of camp—my summers were always full of football practice. New Hampshire in June will be cooler and less humid than North Carolina in August, but that’s about the only thing I’m happy about.

It feels like there’s a lot riding on this. My bravado and bluster can get me out on a limb sometimes, and that’s where I am right now. What if our ideas fall flat? What if I can’t create a promo commercial that’ll wow both my bosses and audiences enough to launch a successful first season?

What if I’m so distracted by every little thing about Bella York that I can’t even concentrate?

If any of these things lead to failure, I’ll have flown too close to the sun again, and my melting wings will have me crash-landing back to earth. With nowhere left to start over.

As I drive to the station on the day of our departure, after leaving poor Ribsy at a kennel—another reason I’m not so happy about leaving town—not only am I tense about having to interact with the kids, but I’m nervous about spending so much time in close proximity to Bella. She’s been an amazing partner to work with, full of smart ideas and willing to stand up for them. She’s also been a useful buffer with the other APs—all so young they feel like kids. In fact, they’re as intimidated by me as a bunch of five-year-old girls, so I’m glad Bella has been in all the meetings with them. She’s the only one who seems to get that my energy comes from a passion for the work, not anger. Any time I growl with impatience, the other APs flinch.

Bella doesn’t flinch, but if I get too close, she scoots away or gets up suddenly or makes an excuse to leave the room. That day I visited her bookstore, we had a moment where I thought a kiss might be possible, but she hasn’t let me get that close since. I even changed my aftershave in case that was bothering her. Maybe she’s just making it clear that even though she’s not married, she’s no longer into me.

Which she definitely was the evening we spent together seven years ago. I’ve tried my best to bury those memories, but her smile, her laugh, her warmth, her gorgeous body—basically everything about her—reminds me of those precious few hours of pure physical passion.

Have I changed that much? I’m not a young buck anymore, that’s for sure. I’ve got a couple wrinkles and my hair might be thinning a tiny bit, but she doesn’t seem like she’d be that superficial.

Right now, though, I’ve got to park those feelings along with my car because I’ve arrived at the station and the bus awaits. Avoiding the cast members, I chuck my bag in the hold and hustle over to check in with the small crew I’ve hired to shadow us all week. It’s only a camera operator, a sound guy, and a general utility guy, but their equipment fills the back of a Ford Bronco. I make sure they’ve got directions to the retreat center and a plan to shoot theBoomcast and crew’s exit from the bus once we arrive, then send them on ahead, wishing I could ride with them instead of taking the bus.

Half an hour later, I’m really wishing I were in the Bronco. Carol must’ve been a camp counselor in her youth because she’s led one inane, repetitive song after another. I know I’m supposed to join in, but since the only seat available was in the very back, I pretend I’m carsick and try to nap.

Next thing I know, I’m blinking awake and the bus is emptying. “Shit,” I hiss before muttering a “Sorry” to one of the kids, wide-eyed at my use of the expletive. Jumping to my feet, I press my face to the nearest window. Thankfully, the crew is covering the kids and staff as they climb down the bus stairs and take in the beautiful scenery. The sloping mountains and green trees are a perfect visual contrast to the industrial complex we left behind in Boston.

Blowing out a breath, I grab my briefcase and make my own way down the aisle. Stretching my back before reaching under the bus to get my duffel, I catch sight of a disaster about to happen: a couple of boys are roughhousing right next to the lighting equipment. Not only do I not want to get charged for broken rentals, I doubt we’d be able to find replacements anywhere nearby, so I sprint over to literally pick them up by the backs of their collars.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” After dropping them to the ground, I point to the light stand they knocked over. “This is expensive stuff. You can’t just screw around here, same as when we’re onstage. Got it?”

Nodding, both boys back away like I’m the dangerous one.

“Sorry, M-Mr., uh… ” the bigger one stutters.

“Henry. You’re supposed to call us by our first names,” I grumble.

“Oh-k-kay, Mr. Henry.”

Before I can snapJust Henry, Carol’s at my side. “What’s going on?”

The smaller boy’s chin is trembling, making me feel like an ogre, but I jump in anyway. “They were screwing around and knocked over the equipment. I was just trying to stop them before anything broke.”

After she takes in the boys’ faces, Carol raises a brow and addresses all three of us. “It is important to show respect for everyone on the team, and that includes any gear that we might be responsible for.”

Before I can say,Exactly, she continues, “But yelling will not be tolerated. Or physical aggression. From anyone or to anyone. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the boys say.

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