Forever and a Day (24 page)

Suddenly big arms wrapped around her waist and she quickly came up off the sand. It was Thomas, his deep voice trying to calm her down. She saw the next scene unfold from up in Thomas strong arms and it startled her to her senses: It was Joseph, his face was deep purple with rage, his eyes were bulging and as wide as saucers, his teeth were clenched and his mouth was set in a snarl that bode a frightening look full of fury. She watched in stunned awe as Joseph reached down with one mighty hand, grabbed hold of Johnny’s foot, picking him cleanly up off the sand. In one spinning motion, Joseph threw Johnny’s flopping body towards the nearby copse of trees.

Everyone watched in stunned silence as Johnny’s body sailed through the air and came crashing down in the brush by the trees some fifteen feet away. Joseph roared like a Samoan God of war and began bounding towards where Johnny lay.

Halo knew that look of rage that Joseph wore, she looked up at Thomas’s angry face, “S—stop Joseph before he kills him! Thomas hurry!” She yelled.

Thomas set her down and JJ quickly covered her with a blanket then wrapped her arms around her tightly, “Halo! Did, did he?” Halo could only shake her head no. “Are you ok?” Halo nodded as she watched in horror as Joseph bounded up to Johnny’s sprawled out body.

Thomas took one bounding step towards the distant Joseph and bellowed, “JOSEPH! STOP!”

In horror, everyone watched silently as Joseph kneeled down next to Johnny, watched as his fist came up high as Thomas bellowed out something in Samoan.

To Halo the events at present became surreal; Thomas’s voice sounded like thunder echoing down the beach and off the nearby cliffs. Everyone continued to watch in fascinated horror as Joseph’s fist began moving down towards its intended target. At the last possible moment, he stopped his immense fist millimeters from Johnny’s ragged and bleeding head. He turned, his fearsome rage still plastered upon his face to a still bellowing Thomas as he pointed towards Halo.

Halo met Joseph’s wide bulging eyes and she nodded to him and beckoned him to her with a slow, wave from her bruised and swollen hand. They all watched Joseph stand up with snarl then spit on Johnny’s face. With a lightening like move, he reached down, grabbed Johnny’s foot and began dragging him through the brush and sand. Coming up in front of Halo, he dropped Johnny’s limp body in front of her.

In his deep gravelly voice full of anger he spoke to Halo, “I am sorry it is still alive… I missed the tree.” He nudged Johnny with his foot and it elicited a groan from the gravely injured man. With anger still boiling in his voice Joseph continued, “In old days, we would have cut out his heart and feed it to the pigs.”

Halo could only nod; her mouth still open in shock at the force in his words as they washed over her like a huge ocean wave.

Thomas moved close and set his big hand on Joseph’s massive shoulder, “Maybe she disciplined him enough?”

Joseph nodded, “Our little sister was like Nafanua of old times. She struck down her enemy like a true warrior.”

Thomas grinned; relieved Joseph’s battle lust was dissipating, “Yes! You are right cousin, Nafanua would be proud of our little sister, Halo.”

Deacon came cautiously over as if he was on ice, with a glance at Johnny he cried out for the paramedics. He turned back towards where Joel stood, his face was ashen and his eyes wide under his black framed glasses, “Joel! Get off my set and go with your buddy to the hospital. Now!”

Joel opened his mouth to say something and he locked eyes with Halo’s. He quickly closed his mouth, turned and headed up towards the vehicles in silence. Deacon pushed everyone back away from the bleeding and groaning Johnny as the paramedics came running up.

JJ pulled Halo away from Johnny, her two giants following as Halo began limping. JJ turned to her shocked friend, “Halo we need to get you to the hospital too. Your head has a goose egg already and look at your hands, they are bruised and you are limping. JJ lost it and began crying as she embraced Halo in her arms, “Oh Halo! I’m so sorry!”  

Halo patted JJ on her back, “I’ll be ok, just a little dizzy and sore.” She said muffled by JJ’s shoulder. She pulled back and took in a breath as JJ helped balance her, “Thank you, all of you.”

Thomas spoke up, “You did all the work. We should not be paid for today.” Thomas looked to Joseph who nodded in agreement.

“Oh forget that, you are getting paid for sure. Just tell me one thing?” She saw Thomas shrug, “Who is this Naf- uh Nafanua?”

Thomas elbowed his cousin, urging him to speak. Joseph set his big hand gently on Halo’s shoulder, “Nafanua is our ancient Goddess of war. Unbeatable, she killed twelve to her warrior’s one.”

Thomas added, “You do us honor, little sister Halo.”

Halo felt tears well up in her eyes, “Thank you.”

She turned to JJ, pointed her bruised finger at her and exclaimed, “Get Xander Kostinos down here, right now!”

The last of her adrenaline faded and she began to wobble, her hand came up to her head and Joseph swooped in and swept her up off her feet and into his arms like some little girl.

Thomas turned to Deacon with a dark look, “We will take Halo to the hospital.”

Halo heard Thomas speak and she suddenly felt very sleepy as well as dizzy. Feeling safe in her giant’s arms, she let the darkness envelope her.

“Yiayia, what movie do you want to watch tonight?” Athena asked holding up two DVD cases in front of their TV. “Mean Girls or Pitch Perfect?”

“Empire Strikes Back!” Xander called out from his easy chair jokingly.

“Dad!” Athena groaned out as she shook the DVD cases at him.

Yiayia smiled, “Let’s watch a movie with the Halo girl in it.” The Kostinos family room went deathly quiet as Yiayia looked over at her daughter next to her on the couch and waited.

“Really Manah?” Evie said with a hint of exasperation.

Yiayia gave her daughter a single nod, “What if they call him to come make a movie? What if he gets to be famous actor someday?” Yiayia said addressing her daughter’s jealousy.

Evie snorted, “Xander, famous? No, I don’t think so. Sorry Xan.” She looked to her husband who shrugged back at her.

Athena interrupted, trying to diffuse some of the building tension, “Halo is filming in American Samoa!”

Evie rounded a steely gaze at her daughter, “How do you know?”

“Uh, I follow her on Twitter, Ma. She posted up a picture of the beach outside her hotel yesterday.” Athena looked at her father who looked back a bit surprised. Evie followed her daughter’s gaze to her husband.

Xander held out his hands questioningly, “What are you guys looking at me for? All I knew was that they were filming in the South Pacific, and no,” He shook his head for emphasis, “no one has called and I doubt they will.” Xander had tried to sound defiant but he thought it actually came out rather lame.

“American Samoa, really Xan?” Evie shot back.

“Hey, I told you it was in the South Pacific.” Xander countered.

Evie furrowed her brows and him and gave him a tight-lipped glare then when she looked to her mother who was watching her, Evie took in a breath, “Sorry, it just hit me on how far away it was.”

Xander gave her a little complacent look, “Yeah it is a ways away. I think Athens is farther away though.”

Evie sighed, “The pizza is getting cold. Pick a movie already.”

Yiayia patted her daughter’s arm, “Let Athenoola pick, ok?”

Athena held up ‘Pitch Perfect’, “Mom doesn’t like it when dad and I sing…” Athena looked at the dark long TV stand and the neatly placed DVDs, and pulled out different selection then held it up, “How about ‘The Big Wedding’? We haven’t seen it yet.”

Xander groaned, coughed and muttered, “Chick flick.” He chuckled and looked to his wife who was giving him her ‘it wasn’t funny’ look, “Alright… I heard it was good, that’s why I bought it.”

Evie added, “You buy almost every movie. We all could fly to Greece with all the money sitting in those movies there.” She gestured to the bookcases behind her, filled with a huge selection of DVDs.

Xander ignored her comment, “Hey! We can watch ‘Adjustment Bureau’ again!”

He got a collective and emphatic, “No!” from all three women in unison.

Xander laughed and slapped the leather armrests with his hands, “Just kidding! Sure, let’s watch ‘The Big Wedding’ Yiayia will like all the actors in it.”

Athena put the DVD in the player and sat down next to her Yiayia on the couch. Evie turned to Athena, “I never said I didn’t like your singing. You have a beautiful voice.”

“Thanks, Ma.” Athena said, knowing that her mother would get embarrassed for her father whenever he sang; it went back to some incident at her baptism and the party afterward. The DVD cued up and she pointed the remote at the TV and hit play.

They soon finished their pizza and were half way through the movie, when Xander looked over to the women on the couch, “Anyone want popcorn? I’ll make it.” Xander said and stood up.

“I do!” Athena replied.

Evie got up off the couch, “I’ll make it.” She demanded, “You don’t have to pause it.”

“Evie I can make it, please sit back down.” Xander replied kindly.

“Sit down.” Evie stated and patted her husband’s shoulder as she passed by him and headed into her kitchen.

Xander looked to Yiayia; she gave him her sideways nod meaning: leave well enough alone. He sat back down in his chair and turned his attention back to the movie.

Soon the ding of the microwave went off, signaling the popcorn was ready. After several minutes, Xander turned expectantly towards the kitchen and saw Evie standing in the doorway with his phone in her hand. A chill shot up his spine as he remembered that he neglected to delete Halo’s message. He looked from the phone in Evie’s hand to her face and saw a concerned and confused look as she looked to him and held out his phone to him.

“You have a text and two missed calls.” She said quietly holding out the phone.

Xander swallowed hard, “Who’s it from?”

“Who is this JJ?”

Xander sat stock still in his chair, his breath on hold—he could only blink repeatedly at Evie. Athena paused the movie, nudged her Yiayia, and whispered, “It’s Halo’s assistant!”

Yiayia smiled, “Xander, sikothite!” Get up! She called out excitedly.

Yiayia’s voice snapped him out of his shock. He slowly arose off the chair and accepted the phone from an annoyed Evie. He opened up the text and read it aloud:
Xander, this is JJ. You are up to bat! Calling your agent now. Text me back ASAP!
”

He looked at the time the text came in and saw it was only several minutes ago, the calls were from JJ. Xander looked at Evie and shrugged, “What do you want me to do?” He saw from the corner of his eye Yiayia shushing Athena. He watched Evie’s body go rigid; she seemed to be steeling herself.

With a glance to her mother, she grabbed Xander’s hand in hers and squeezed, “Text her you can’t…”

The room seemed to go dead silent as Xander felt his stomach turn sour at the ‘can’t’. It was his turn to steel himself and break his word to Halo and JJ—

“…wait to get there and start moviemaking.” Evie said finishing her statement with, “Find out when you need to go.”

The getting punched feeling faded as air filled his lungs with a deep inhale. He stood unmoving staring at his wife. Evie patted her husband’s chest and put on the best smile could manage, “What are you waiting for, text her back.”

Xander nodded slowly, he suddenly felt relieved that he programmed JJ’s name in rather than Halo’s. Xander began typing his reply into his phone:
This is Xander. I am good to go whenever you need. Thank you!

“Dad!” Athena yelled happily, “You got the job! You got the part!” Athena began laughing, jumped up and hugged her father then reached over and pulled her mother in close for a group hug.

Xander’s phone vibrated back with JJ’s text:
Can you leave tonight? There is a flight to Brisbane leaving Portland in 3 hours. Your agent is not responding to calls or email. I will call you personally in 5 min.

Xander read the message aloud. Evie nodded to him giving him her ok, “I will go start packing for you.” She turned to Yiayia, “Manah? Come help, ok?” Evie asked quietly.

“Don’t worry dad, I’ll help with mom.” Athena said quietly when the two were out of earshot.

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” Just then, Xander’s phone vibrated, “Here we go…” He smiled nervously at Athena and answered his phone, “Hello?”

“Hi Xander, it’s JJ. How are you doing?”

“Good, and how about you?”

“Well, busy that’s for sure. Hey what we discuss here is confidential, ok?”

“Yes, I understand.” Xander replied and heard voices in the background; he thought he recognized Halo’s voice.

“Here is the short version: Johnny screwed up big time, Halo put him in the hospital. Don’t ask, you’ll find out when you get here. Your next question is how is Halo? She is being looked after in the hospital too, she should be ok. So, Johnny is fired and will be facing criminal charges, do not tell anyone that. Halo told me to get you here ASAP. We need you on that plane tonight. You will be flying first class on Virgo, courtesy of Halo. Flight leaves at eleven PM. We are four hours behind you by the way. Can you be there?”

“Yes!” Xander replied enthusiastically.

“Good. Ok now the nitty gritty, your agent has not responded to my email or calls so we will have to talk about your contract right now. Uh, hold on a sec, Halo is saying something…”

Xander heard some muffled talking coming over his phone, “…uh you sure Halo? That hit scramble your brain? Ok, you are the boss.”

“Xander?” JJ asked.

“Here, JJ.” Xander replied.

“Well it’s your lucky day Xander Kostinos. Halo said to match his contract, so here it is, $275,000 dollars. Your expenses will be covered, including flight, hotel, and transportation. You also agree, if invited, to attend the premier of the film at our cost wherever it may be. Any criminal charges while filming on set will result in forfeiture. There is more, but it will be in the email I send you. I need you to read it, and sign it so I can confirm your flight. We know that it is not done this way, but time is wasting. You in?”

The dollar figure was still bouncing around in his head and it took him a moment to find his voice. He looked at Athena and mouthed the amount, he smiled when her eyes flew open wide, “Uh, most certainly. Please give Halo my sincere gratitude! Hell, I would have done it for the minimum…” He did not finish as he felt Athena hit his arm with a loud audible smack. Xander heard some laughing in the background and realized Halo must be listening in. JJ sounded like she was laughing when she responded.

“Uh, Halo sends her regards to you and your family. Ok, it looks like I or someone from the production will be meeting you in Brisbane at the airport and I believe we will be flying to Pago Pago from there, not sure what day yet. Is the email you gave still good?”

“Yes.” Xander replied.

“Sign it when you get it. Scan it and email it back to me then fax or email a copy to your agent. I will text you all the flight details, any questions?” JJ asked.

Xander stumbled out his reply, “Uh… no? I guess a big thank you is in order. I won’t let you guys down.”

“Halo says thank you and sorry it is such short notice. See you later, safe trip to you Xander. Bye.”

“Uh, bye.” Xander replied and heard the line go dead.

“Oh wow! Dad you gotta tell Ma!” Athena blurted out, “I can’t believe you said you’d do it for minimum!”

“Just kinda slipped out.” Xander felt his cheeks flush.

“Better be glad mom didn’t hear you!” Athena laughed, “Don’t worry I won’t tell mom.”

From behind them they heard, “Don’t tell mom, what?” Evie asked with her hands on her hips.

Xander and Athena spun around to face Evie and Yiayia looking at them. Athena looked at her father, “You tell her the news.”

Xander smiled, “Well it’s about how much they are going to pay me.”

Evie face darkened, “What? They are not going to pay you?”

Xander and Athena both began laughing, Xander held his hand up to Evie smiling, “Well Evie? All they can afford to pay me—“

“What is this? All they can afford?” Evie shot back.

Xander held both hands out to quiet her, “They can only pay me $275,000.”

Evie’s face went slack as she mouthed the outrageous number back to Xander and watched him and Athena nod back, “Panagia mou!” She exclaimed with her hand over her mouth. She turned to her mother who gave her a smile and a nod. Evie turned back to Xander and pressed her inquiry, “How? Why? Is this normal?”