Forever and a Day (28 page)

“Oh! Girlfriend, how many times was it you holding me? When dad died, a broken heart… you were always there for me. I love you too.” She held her best friend tighter before she gently let go. JJ reached up and grabbed a dry washcloth and dabbed at Halo’s red rimmed eyes, “You ok?”

Halo nodded and sniffed again, “Yeah, um I better let you shower too. We need to head to the airport soon.”

“Ok… Hey! Does it help to know how bad you fucked him up?” JJ asked quietly.

Halo shrugged, “Maybe?”

“Well don’t worry, I’m sure his ass will not be virginal for very long! And it’s gonna hurt,” She laughed, “Everyone here seems huge!” JJ smiled as that got a giggle out of her friend.

“I better dig into the makeup bag—by the way, Doug can come with us. Is everything set up with Alessandra?” Halo asked.

“Awesome!” JJ exclaimed, “And yes we are a go. The contract will be waiting.”

“Great job, JJ. You better call your man.” Halo said and JJ responded with a big happy smile.

Halo got ready and with an aching hand managed to get her makeup applied. She looked tired and hoped some sleep would help the dark circles peeking out from under her concealer. Soon they were all packed and headed to the airport.

Halo checked her phone to see what time it would be when they got there. Five or so hour flight, so when they landed in Brisbane it would be the next day but three hours earlier than their current time. It would be evening when they landed she thought.

Arriving at the airport, Thomas and Joseph escorted Halo and JJ to the steps of the waiting jet. Halo gave each of them warm embrace and they in turn to her. They promised they would be there for her when she returned in a few days with the new actor. Joseph seemed leery of another actor, but Halo did her best at trying to convince him that all would be better. He left her with a ‘we will see…’ and both men waved goodbye as Halo and JJ walked up the steps and into the jet.

Aboard the jet, Halo and JJ were welcomed by clapping and a chorus of greetings from her film crew, including Joel and Sarah.

“Wow! Thank you…” Halo replied, blushing.

Halo saw Doug waving and turned to JJ as the flight attendant closed the door to the jet, “Go sit with your man, I’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, Halo.” JJ smiled and went and sat down next to Doug as Halo found her seat across from Sarah who nodded and smiled to her.

Halo closed her eyes and before the jet had taxied to the runway, she was out like a light.

The black Lincoln Town Car left the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and headed out into the evening’s light traffic. A short time later they pulled up to the Emporium Hotel, the façade of the hotel was awash in red lighting and appeared chic and elegant. The hotel attendant opened the door for the girls as the driver went around and retrieved their luggage.

Halo did her best to step out without showing any pain. Once outside, she noticed the hospital band still was on her wrist, she quickly hid it from view. Fortunately, the hotel clerk was brief and cordial, although Halo did get some double takes and stares on her way to the elevator with JJ and the bellman in tow.

The bellman deposited the girl’s two bags and quickly showed her around her room, with a tip in hand the bellman took JJ next door to her adjoining room. Halo’s room was luxurious with dark colors, chrome and dark muted wallpaper. She headed off to the bathroom and was greeted with white marble, glass and shiny chrome fixtures.

Going back into the suite, she unlocked the door to JJ’s adjoining room, then went over to the dark espresso colored table, sat down and looked through the room service menu.

JJ knocked on the door, came in and up to Halo, “Menu looks good! What are you going to have?”

“A steak with pomme frites, I’m starving!” Halo chuckled, “You?”

“Veggie lasagna!”

“Ok, I’ll order. Wine to drink?” Halo asked as she picked up the room phone.

“After a day like today, hell yes! Pinot Grigio?”

Halo gave her a nod, dialed room service and ordered their late dinner. After the call, she limped over to her bed and fell face first on her fluffy white bed and stretched out, “God, I need another bath… how long have we been up?”

JJ shrugged and went and sat down next to her friend, “Not sure, the math and the time differences has me all screwed up. It’s been awhile, but feels like forever.”

Halo groaned, “No kidding.”

JJ set her hand on Halo’s shoulder and gave it a gentle rub, “How are you doing?”

Halo turned towards her, “Hanging in there, I ache all over though.”

“I’m sorry…” JJ whispered. After a several quiet minutes JJ spoke up, “Hey, thanks for getting me my own room.”

“Of course! With Doug here and all…” Halo let the innuendo hang in the air as JJ gave her big smile.

A knock came at the door, JJ got up and let room service in while Halo went and waited in the bathroom, not wanting to deal with anyone in her state.

Dinner was elegantly set up on the table and soon the waiter was pushing his cart out of the door with a smile at the generous tip. Halo walked in and heard her stomach rumble hungrily as she saw the food displayed so pretty like on the table, “Dinner is served!” JJ smiled and sat down as Halo quickly sat opposite of her friend. Both girls immediately and quietly dug into their meals.

With her last bite Halo sipped at her wine and sat back in her chair, her stomach content and happy, “That was really good.” Halo muttered to JJ who sat sipping her wine.

“Mine too!”

“So when does Mystery man come in?”

JJ picked up her iPad and scrolled through it, “Looks like day after tomorrow, eleven thirty two on Sunday.”

“Yay! We get to sleep in tomorrow!” Halo laughed and held up her wine glass at JJ and drank the last of it.

“Oh, an email from Joel, let’s see… plane is all set, contract signed. Plane will be here waiting Sunday morning. Joel says he wants to leave ASAP, but understands if you need time to get better.”

“Ugh… I dunno…”

“Uh, Halo?” JJ asked setting her iPad down and picking her wine glass.

“Yes?” Halo said sleepily.

“So, do you want to meet your Mystery man for an early lunch or something before we leave? Alternatively, we can stay another day and he can leave with Joel on Sunday. It will cost but we can have the plane pick us up on Monday.”

Halo picked up the wine bottle and gestured to JJ who waved off anymore wine, Halo poured the last of the wine in her glass, picked it up and looked at the amber liquid. She quietly swirled the wine in her glass and took a sip, “I don’t know JJ, I want to keep it professional and all… but I am really interested in meeting this guy face to face. I just don’t understand why I am so intrigued by this man. I know I’ve seen him somewhere…”

“Well… I have a question. Why did you give him Johnny’s contract, were you not thinking or what? You could have saved almost a couple hundred thousand.”

Halo shrugged and gave JJ a little smile, “Maybe part of the intrigue? He did save our asses by heading down here like at zero notice.” She looked at JJ who was watching her silently, not happy with her answer, “JJ we both know how difficult this business is for one thing, I felt bad pulling him away from his wife so abruptly. I am sure they are happy about it, what do you think?”

“Uh yes he is very happy about it, uh… he did say he would have done it for SAG minimum, and then I heard someone hit him, must have been his wife.”

“Yeah, I heard it too.”

“Sounded like he got smacked or something for saying that. I think he was in shock about the part still.” JJ set her wine glass down on the table, “No idea where you have seen this guy?”

“No freaking clue. He just seems so familiar, it’s almost like when I think I know where… then it disappears. Maybe I just like the way he looks…” Her eyebrow rose menacingly high up her forehead.

“Halo Raines! You just get those dirty little thoughts out of the pretty little head of yours!” JJ laughed at her friend.

“What? Who said I was thinking anything naughty!” Halo countered, “Well I can look, can’t I?”

“Just don’t forget, he’s married.”

“No shit. Well! I will tell you this: I will ask him where we met. You can count on that!”

“Halo, just take it easy on him. You know how you can get at times.”

Halo looked at her friend and nodded, “Yeah… I won’t rush up and ask him… even though I want to.”

“Ok! I think someone needs to get some sleep!” JJ said getting up.

“Oh God yes. I am getting a bit bitchy, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. You had one hell of a day girlfriend. I’ll leave my door open in case you need me.” JJ offered.

Halo got up and stepped over to her friend and wrapped her arms around her, “Thank you so much JJ for being there.”

“I wish I could do more.”

“Going to skip the bath, the bed looks too inviting.” She let loose of JJ and walked over to the bed as JJ organized the dirty plates into neat piles. She turned to Halo and saw she was already fast asleep on top of the fluffy white duvet. JJ found the spare blanket in the closet and covered her best friend up, turned off the lights and headed to her room to text Doug a ‘don’t work too hard tonight’ message.

It was late morning, when JJ quietly crept into Halo’s room to check on her. She found her sprawled out, fast asleep on the white sheets, with only her panties and t-shirt on. JJ saw the big bruise on her foot standing out like a black eye, more bruises were visible on her legs and the deep red scratches on her thigh by her privates. Anger welled up in JJ at the sight and felt deeply hurt for her friend; maybe Halo should not have stayed her hand to Joseph after all…

JJ thought back to their long friendship as she looked down with glassy eyes at the beautiful young woman sleeping. Unlike Halo, she was an only child. Her own father passed away at age sixty one of a heart attack when she was nineteen. The shock was enormous to her and her mother as well. Halo was by her side the entire ordeal. She had maintained a constant vigil over her for nearly a month, even going so far as to get a film project postponed. Halo’s mother, Jillian, was there and a well of support for her mother as well. In time, Jillian integrated her mother and herself into their own family, with them spending most holidays together over the years.

When her mother began showing signs of dementia a year ago, Halo stepped in and helped her mother get into one of the best and most beautiful senior memory care facilities in Beverly Hills. She remembered her mother’s jaw falling open at what Halo and Jillian had arranged. The opulence of the place was incredible. She remembered her mother saying it reminded her of some fancy Las Vegas Hotel after they got the tour.

There was no way under the sun they could have even paid for a week there. Halo’s father’s attorneys were instrumental at liquidating her mother’s assets and placing them in a trust. Halo and her family kicked in a huge sum of money into that trust, so that her mother would never have to leave due to not being able to pay.

The beautiful half-naked, bruised and battered girl on the bed before her was more than the sister she never had; she was her angel. She had been worrying these past weeks about Halo due to how close she and Doug were becoming. What would Halo do when there were no more late night swims, grocery runs, nights watching the ‘Bachelor’ or whatever singing show was on? Then there were the overnight sleepovers when Halo was lonesome? With a sigh, she resigned herself to having to discuss this with her friend and soon.

JJ quietly tiptoed back to her room and ordered up coffee service for Halo for when she woke up.

Halo had no idea what time it was, but the wonderful aroma of freshly made coffee filled her nostrils. She opened her eyes and saw that last night’s dishes were gone and replaced by a silver service set accompanied by a beautiful arrangement of fresh colorful flowers and a note from JJ. She looked to the adjoining room door and saw that it was closed. Halo smiled to herself, and it would stay closed tonight, as Doug would be spending the night with JJ this evening.

She yawned and tentatively stretched, she felt the stiffness in her back and it gave her a warning shot of pain before she stretched and moved anymore. She forgot about the meds before she fell asleep she remembered with a grimace. Gingerly she swung her bruised legs off the bed. With her feet on the floor, she slowly applied pressure to her foot. It sent a bark of pain up her leg but she continued adding pressure and the pain leveled off. She still had a slight limp as she made it to the coffee; she quickly poured herself a cup and dug into her purse for the meds.

She read that the muscle relaxer should be taken with a meal, so she set that aside and took two ibuprofen and downed it with her black coffee. She slowly made her way to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She stepped into the white marbled and glass shower and let the hot water wash over her for several minutes. She kept her eyes closed as she washed, not wanting to be visually reminded of her bruises.

When she was done drying her hair she opened her suitcase and chose a casual flowing ankle length light orange flower print skirt, then a lacy white bra with matching panties. She cursed to herself as she wriggled her hips back and forth when she put on her panties under her skirt, her back not liking that movement whatsoever.

Looking out the window, she saw it was sunny. She grabbed a bottle of her never ending supply of sunblock and applied it liberally over her skin. From her suitcase, she found her gauzy white blouse and gingerly put it on. Digging down to the bottom of her suitcase, she found a pair of white sandals that would mostly cover up her bruised foot and a wide brimmed hat to cover up her painful goose egg on her head.

She checked herself in the mirror and was satisfied. She went to her phone and texted JJ:
Where are you?