Secrets (30 page)

I think he's screwing Gabrielle, Sabina had said bluntly.

Maybe it'll do him good. He smiled at her. Maybe they're in love.

Sabina smiled. She liked Mel's romantic streak. He lavished plenty of it on her, and she was happy these days. They all were. So tell me about our trip.

What about Cannes? And Venice for a week?

It sounds divine. She tilted her hat over her face, and only one green eye peeked out, and she was smiling at him. You're very good to me, Mr. Wechsler.

Am I? He reached under his newspaper and pulled out a small box. The wrapping told her it was from Bulgari.

What's that? The single green eye looked intrigued, and he handed it to her.

I guess the paper boy left it for you, Miss Quarles. You'd better check it out. He handed it to her, and with a single gesture, she flung the hat aside, and began unwrapping the gift. He still thrilled her with his constant gifts. This one was a beautiful emerald ring, and she grinned broadly when she opened it, and slipped it onto an impeccably manicured finger. She kept herself beautifully. She was a star, and that was something she never forgot, especially these days. And neither did he.

It's beautiful, Mel.

It reminded me of your eyes.

She thanked him with a long kiss, and they walked slowly inside, she in a white bikini, and the splendid emerald ring. And he in his bathrobe. And it was a long time before they came outside again. And when they did, they were both smiling.

On the last day of shooting, everyone was tense, watching the final scene. It was a scene no one really wanted to see, yet they found they couldn't help it. It was the additional scene Mel had had written, in which Bill was killed ' in case he didn't come back to the show. It was a confrontation between him and Gabrielle, in which her boyfriend shot him. And at the very end, Sabina got the news her son was dead. It was a powerful scene, and everyone stood silent as they watched it. And Bill looked grim as they shouted Print, and he got up.

Everyone remained silent, awed by the implications of it. And Bill looked around ruefully, as though saying good-bye to them. The tears on Gabby's cheeks were genuine, and even Sabina was quiet for once. Zack touched his arm as he walked away.

They'll never have to use it, Bill. Don't worry. His eyes were kind, and Bill wanted to thank him, but he was too choked up to speak. The cast crowded around him and Gabby put her arms around him unselfconsciously and cried. It was a hard day for all of them. The last day of the first season's shows. They were going on hiatus for about two months. And Mel had ordered a splendid lunch for all of them, and the cast and crew mingled as everyone started to relax and talk about their plans for the summer.

Gabrielle blew her nose, and Jane put an arm around her. Relax, it's all over. The scene was, but they all realized that Bill's problems weren't. He had to face the trial in nine days, and he was dreading it and so was Gabby. She had put off her summer plans, and she had decided to stay with him. They were going to Lake Tahoe the next day, and then coming back to spend a week conferring with his attorneys.

Jane and Zack were leaving for Rome the following week, and going on to Venice after that, and then on to the French Riviera for a month. Paris for a few days after that, and a week in London on the way home. She could hardly wait. And Sabina was leaving for Paris and her appointment with Fran+oois Brac. And the crew all talked excitedly about their plans, Europe, the Grand Canyon, a number of them were going home, some were going east, and others were just hanging around to relax before they started shooting again in August.

It feels like the last day of school, Gabby said, as Bill smiled at her. She was still so young, and so sweet, and she had been so good to him. He was deeply grateful to her, and to everyone. By the time they left the set that day, everyone had said a word to him, touched his arm, shaken his hand, said some word of encouragement wishing him well. They really were a family now. And Mel made a point of saying a word to him too.

I'll be in town, if your attorneys need me to take the stand on your behalf. He had already told them as much, but he wanted Bill to know it too. We're all rooting for you, Bill. But he still didn't know if he'd keep the job. Everyone else had been given new contracts to sign before they left. Everyone except Bill. But he couldn't worry about that now. He was worried about his life, and the trial. It was hard to believe that it was almost time to face the music. He had thought about calling his parents once or twice, and he suspected they must have heard the news, but they didn't contact him, and he didn't really want to talk to them either.

Are you going anywhere? Zack asked Gabrielle as they ate egg rolls and chow mein on the set. It had been catered by Chinois, and there were also pizzas from Spago.

Not for a while. He understood why, and nodded somberly, and then glanced at Jane. They were both excited about the trip. They were spending that weekend with the girls, and then leaving as soon as the girls left for camp on Monday.

We'll give you our itinerary and you can call us when ' after it's over. Bill walked over to them and put an arm around Gabby's shoulders, and answered for them both.

We'll call you, Zack' . And then, I hope I see you next year ' all of you. It was a difficult day for him, and he took everything out of his dressing room when he left. There was no reason to think he'd be coming back after all. And Gabby helped him carry everything to the car, shopping bags and a suitcase, and two plants she'd given him. It was depressing doing that, but he had insisted that there was no point leaving it for someone else to do later.

You'll just have to haul it all back here in August, she encouraged and he smiled.

I sure as hell hope so. But he didn't look convinced and they were quiet as they finally drove off the lot, having kissed and hugged everyone, and cried some more. It was more like leaving home, than like leaving work for the summer. The show had come to mean a great deal all of them, and they were all curious about the plot of the scripts for the following season. Mel had made a little speech, wishing them all a good vacation, and hinting at big surprises in store for everyone.

I just hope they don't surprise me by killing me again, Jane had whispered. She had gone through it once on Sorrows and was terrified of it's happening again. She had come to love this show, and the people she worked with.

There's no chance of that. He thought she was a much better actress than Sabina.

Ready for the mountains? Gabby asked, as Bill drove her home. I've got all my stuff packed.

Almost. He smiled over at her, the grief at leaving the show beginning to dim a little bit. He was looking forward to a few quiet days with her, alone in the mountains. They had debated about where to go, Yosemite, or Lake Tahoe, or somewhere else. And he had finally decided to rent a condo on the lake. He just wanted to go fishing and lie in the sun and be with her. They both needed the rest, especially given what was in store for them. There was no way of knowing how it would turn out, and although his attorneys were optimistic, they could make him no promises. Want to stay at my place tonight, Gab?

I'd love to. She picked up the bags and equipment already waiting in her front hall. She had her own fishing pole and hiking boots, a sleeping bag in case they decided to camp out. It was a far cry from the six matched Louis Vuitton suitcases Sabina was taking to Paris. And Bill smiled as he helped her carry her gear to his car.

You certainly have the right equipment, Miss Smith. Do all debutantes wear hiking boots?

Always. Especially at the cotillion. She grinned at him. She had always loved the outdoors, and she was thrilled to know he did too. She had gone on a three-week pack trip in Wyoming once, while she was at Yale, and it had been the high point of her college years, especially when their guide had shot a bear. She told him about it as they drove to his house and he laughed at her.

Don't expect me to do that, kiddo. I'd run like hell, with you under one arm and my ass under the other.

She laughed. It was fun' . She had also shot the rapids on the Colorado River two years before, and she wanted to go to Brazil, to the Amazon, one day.

You're supposed to want nothing more exciting than lunch at the Polo Lounge and a charge account at Giorgio, he teased, but he was happy that she didn't. She was someone very real, and if anything, she disliked all the frivolous accoutrements of her career. She was much more excited about going to Lake Tahoe with him than she would have been about going to a Hollywood party.

She helped Bill pack his gear late that night, and the next morning at five o'clock they set out on the twelve-hour drive north to Lake Tahoe. They stopped for a quick lunch on the way, and arrived in the clear mountain air of Lake Tahoe at four thirty. And Gabby looked like an excited little girl as she flung her arms wide and grinned at him. The condo was beautiful, and they had plenty of privacy, with a hot tub in a little private garden.

They went for a swim in the lake, and went to a steak restaurant Bill knew and liked in Truckee, and they took a long walk in the mountain air before they went to bed. It was an idyllic life for both of them, and a relief after the strain of leaving the set of Manhattan.

I've never been happier, she whispered to him as they walked home, feeling peaceful and quiet. But Bill was quiet, deeply troubled about the trial. Nothing seemed real to him anymore, everything he touched was tainted by the threat of the trial, and what might happen to his life in a few days ' in two weeks he could be in jail, possibly for years ' it was a sobering thought as he took her hand and they went back to the condo. She wanted to make him forget everything, but it was difficult now. They sat in the hot tub before they went to bed, and they made love in front of the fire, but in his eyes she could always see the worry and the terror. There was no getting away from it anymore, and she felt a ripple of fear too as she watched him sleep that night. And she got up before dawn, to make cinnamon rolls they had bought at the store, and a fresh pot of hot coffee.

Rise and shine. She kissed his ear and he brushed her away, and then opened one eye to look at her.

What are you doing up at this hour? It was dark outside, and his voice was deep and sexy.

I thought we were going fishing in the lake? They had rented a small boat the night before, and she had all their gear neatly arranged by the door.

What time is it?

Five fifteen. She grinned at him. I thought you'd want to get an early start.

He laughed and sat up in bed. Oh, sure ' of course ' why didn't you wake me up at three, and then we could have caught some poor unsuspecting fish sound asleep in his bed? You really take this stuff seriously, don't you, Gab?

Sure. In Wyoming, we got up at four every day, to catch fish to eat for breakfast.

He made a face, as she handed him a piping hot cinnamon roll and a mug of steaming coffee. She was wearing her blue jeans under her nightgown. She had put them on when she got up because her legs were cold.

I like your outfit ' a lot. Fran+oois Brac?

No. She smiled. Gabby Smith. How's the coffee?

Terrific. I may have to hire you to make me coffee every day back home. As it so happens, the position is open. He had wanted to ask her live with him when he moved, but he had restrained himself. It wasn't fair to her start something that would only be painful for both of them if he got sent away. The trial affected everything he did, and it had for months, no matter how much they tried to pretend it wasn't coming. Even now, they were trying to crowd three weeks of vacation into two days. But she was such a good sport about it. And he was surprised at how relaxed he felt by that night. She had caught three fish and he had caught one, and they'd had a picnic near the lake, and then gone swimming again. She cooked dinner for him in the condo that night, and they avoided everyone. Neither of them had any interest in the gambling and night life on the Nevada side, and the next morning they went fishing again, and then came back to the condo to eat lunch and make love, before driving back to Los Angeles.

I hate to leave. She looked around nostalgically, as though she were going to remember it all for a lifetime.

So do I. Maybe we can come back in a few weeks.

She was thinking of something else, as they packed the last of their things. Want to come east with me instead? She hadn't mentioned it to him before, he had so much on his mind, but this seemed a good time to ask him. It would give him something to look forward to, and assure him that she was confident about the future.

To see your folks? He was touched when she nodded.

I think we'd better wait before we think about things like that.

They want me to come to Newport, and I said I'd try. But I want to go to Maine, I have friends who lend me a house there every summer, for a few weeks, if I want it. It's very primitive, it's on a little island. But I really love it.

My nature girl. He had never realized how much she liked the outdoor life. It was a far cry from Sandy and her depressing addictions. How'd you ever get this way?

An aberration, I guess. My parents think I'm crazy.

I don't. He reached over and pulled her onto the bed, and unzipped her jeans, and they made love again before they left on the long drive. Her hair was flying free in the wind, and he looked more relaxed than he had in months. She had been right. The trip to Tahoe had been just what they needed.