Page 98 of Child of Mine

“Decided that you didn’t deserve to have a career?” I finish, stuffing my hands in my armpits to keep myself from touching her.

“It would make sense.” She tips her head to the side. “You know, I wasn’t aware of anyone losing their job because of me, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. If it did, they might still be angry.”

“Lost their job because they gave drugs to a minor. Not because of you,” Carol says sternly. “I want you to know that I don’t blame you or think less of you. This was not your fault. You were a child.”

Bella nods. “I appreciate that. But I’m not going to letBoomtake the fall for me. If you feel like you need to fire me, at least publicly, do it.”

“That might help, actually,” I say.

Bella’s focus ticks over to me. “How?”

“If the person thinks they’ve won, then they might be easier to find.”

Carol taps her chin. “We could announce that you’ll be taking a leave of absence due to a family matter. That might buy us some time. We wouldn’t necessarily be giving in to the threat, but it might make them feel like we’re taking it seriously.”

“That makes sense,” I say.

Bella scoops the photos up. “Whatever you decide to do, I need to take a trip down to New York. Talking to some people in person will get us answers faster.”

I stand and set a hand on Bella’s shoulder. “If it’s okay with you, Carol, I’d like to join her.”

To Carol’s credit, she just raises a single brow. We haven’t yet told her our entire story, and maybe it’s not really her business. But at this point I don’t give a shit because I need to be by Bella’s side. I do add, “I have a contact in the legal department at NBS who might be able to help.”

Carol checks the large calendar on the wall by her desk. “Since we wrapped up shooting Friday, I suppose that means you can take a day.” Eyes on me she clarifies, “Oneday.”

By the time Carol and I finish tying up a few other loose ends, the color is back in Bella’s face and she’s got a page full of notes.

“Thanks for your help,” she says to Carol, her voice steady. “Hopefully, we’ll be back quickly with some answers.”

“Keep me posted.” Carol’s gaze flicks to the hand I’ve placed on Bella’s shoulder, but she just says, “And let me know if there’s anything else I can do. You’re an integral part of the team. Both of you.”

Chapter 21

“The effect on viewers of this touchy story line has been utterly dynamic. People have been writing in by the hundreds! But I’m all for controversial subjects on daytime TV. Aren’t you?”TV Today, August 1989

BELLA

An hour later, we’ve packed a couple of bags, dropped Ribsy at the kennel, explained everything to my mom, and are on the way to the Big Apple.

After passing through the toll plaza and accelerating to merge onto the Mass Pike, Henry reaches over to massage the back of my neck. “I couldn’t help but notice that ‘Dad’ was at the top of your list.”

“Yeah, well, he went from being my hero to my teacher to my roommate to a stranger.”

“That must feel pretty shitty,” he says, after a quick glance in my direction.

An unwelcome lump forms in my throat, but I just swallow around it. The man doesn’t deserve any sentimentality. “I have no idea what he’d be capable of. He already cleaned out my trust. He may need more money. And he did have a Polaroid camera.”

“Probably half the people you knew had one.”

“True, but there were specific departments that always used them. Props, hair and makeup, the script supervisor.” As I list the departments, I put an asterisk next to names corresponding to those departments. I add an extra star by the people who actually supplied me with drugs, as opposed to just partying with me. At least as far as I remember.

Dropping my head back against the car seat, I shudder. “That girl? The one in the Polaroids? I just don’t feel like she is me.”

Henry rests his hand on my thigh. “For what it’s worth, I don’t either.”

“But itwasme. I can’t forget that. I may have been underage at first, but I was old enough to know better by the time my mom got me into rehab.”

He doesn’t say anything, which I appreciate. Nothing would make me feel better right now. Except perhaps doing exactly what we’re doing.

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