Page 68 of Child of Mine

“Why can’t Laura or Keeley do this?” she asks as she takes the headphones from me.

“One, their voices are pitched too high for the synthesizer to create the best effect. Two, they’re not actresses. We don’t have a script, remember? You’re going to have to make this up on the fly.”

I risk a touch to her forearm when I make my final appeal. “You’re the only one I trust to get it right on every take.”

“No pressure, then.”

A brief squeeze from my overheated palm has her meeting my gaze. “You’ll be great. I believe in you.”

And then I get out of there before I do anything stupid.

* * *

BELLA

I’ll never admit to Henry how much fun I had playing BETTI during today’s shoot. From the improvisation it required to the kids’ faces when we finally revealed it was me to the feeling of accomplishment—Henry and I pushed for this change, and it actually seems to work—I had a blast at work today.

The kind of fun that gives you energy instead of drains it. I’m still raring to go when my friend Ben pulls up to give me a ride to the theater so we can both seeThe Tempestfor the first time. We worked together at Shakespeare Boston last fall, but since then he’s been working out of town. I’ve been juggling way too many things to get to it yet, so when he called this afternoon and asked if I’d be his date, I readily agreed.

Timing is everything, as they say, so of course Henry pulls up and parks right behind Ben. The glare that he levels at the internationally famous model appears to be fueled one hundred percent by jealousy.

Oh, he still likes you,Izzy sighs.

Likes you?Quinn sniffs.He’s ready to kill for you.

Calm down, ladies. This is an easily cleared up misunderstanding.

Before I can intervene, however, Lilah grabs Ben’s hand and drags him down the walk to Henry. “Daddy, guess what?”

Ben’s head practically spins on its axis, and his eyeballs bug out like a cartoon’s. The man really is a clown inside that gorgeous exterior. After I mouth “I’ll explain,” he refocuses on Lilah and Henry.

“Ben had a dog called Puck that was in a play with him and Mommy,” she explains breathlessly. “Ben’s friend Lucy taught Puck tricks for the play, and she’s super good. I bet she could help us teach Ribsy to do high fives and play dead and everything! Can we get Lucy to train Ribsy? Please?”

I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing at the procession of expressions that cross Henry’s face. To his credit, he finally shakes Ben’s hand. “Henry Smith. I am Lilah’s biological father.”

Since we seem to have neglected to discuss what to do when Lilah outs us, I’m impressed with his quick thinking. Luckily, I trust Ben more than most people, so he’s a good out-of-town tryout. I step in to add my bit. “Henry and I lost touch, but we’re now working together onBoom, so…” That’s when words fail me. I end up just gesturing back and forth between Henry and Lilah.

“I’m spending time getting to know my daughter. Good thing,” Henry finally jumps in, his tone icy. “It seems like her mom has a date.”

Ben seems oblivious to Henry’s obvious jealousy. Maybe because he’s in a committed relationship and assumes that everyone knows it since it’s actually been announced inPeoplemagazine. He just slings an arm around my shoulder. “She sure does. Got to have my favorite scene partner by my side when we go to see the play they didn’t put us in.”

I roll my eyes and bump hips with him. “First of all, Ben didn’t even audition for this season because he’s been too busy acting on Broadway and in a television show. And I told them I only wanted to be in one play.” I check my watch. “But we do need to get going. Can’t be late, or we’ll get a thrashing from the house manager.”

Squatting, I give Lilah a kiss. “Be good, honey.”

“You too, Mommy.”

“I will.”

Why didn’t you explain that you’re not really going on a date with Ben?Izzy asks, affronted.

Because it’s important to keep a man on his toes,Quinn advises.

And me? I haven’t a clue. About any of this.

* * *

The momentwe get in the car, Ben asks, “What the heck was that all about?”

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