AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ve never been there. What was it like?”
“I’d call it fulfilling.”
It’s not quite the answer I was expecting. Breathtaking? Romantic? Unforgettable? I fumble for what to say next. “How far into the script are you?”
“The third act. I’m working on the ending.”
“Wow. So, it’s almost done.”
“Yes. And I’ve edited as I’ve gone along, so it’s in really good shape.”
“Does it have a happy ending?”
She thinks before she answers. “Well, the bad guys get theirs, and the heroine gets what she deserves. What she’s always wanted.”
“That sounds good. I hate when the bad guys get away with murder.”
“Me too.”
“You should show it to Ned when you’re ready. Maybe he can read it and hook you up with some film producers. He knows everyone.”
“I will…when I think I can knock him dead.”
“What about your family?” I ask, changing the subject. On her website, there was no mention of her family in her bio, nor were there any photos on her Instagram.
Nurse Marley pales. “What about them?”
The sharp-edged tone of her voice says don’t pry, but I persevere.
“Are you from LA?”
She shakes her head. “No, about three hours north from here…Fresno.”
I have no clue where that is. “What made you move to LA?”
“There were opportunities here that I didn’t have back home. Lots of wealthy parents that can afford the luxury of a night nanny. Plus, I had personal things I wanted to achieve.”
“The same with me. Except my interior design career has been on hold since I got pregnant.” I set my glass back down. “And I haven’t had the chance to explore LA since moving here from Vegas and being holed up in this house.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t be for long,” says Nurse Marley, her voice oozing with optimism. “Once you get stronger, I’ll be glad to show you around. I know all the best places to take babies and to meet other new mothers. The A-list playgrounds. Mommy and Me groups. Postnatal yoga classes. Even the best places to buy baby clothes can help you connect with other new moms. Form friendships.”
Having friends is something that has eluded me my entire life. My nomadic mother moved around all the time when I was an adolescent, from apartment to apartment, each one smaller, giving me no chance to make neighborhood or school friends. And honestly, I was a bit of a loner, preferring to bury my head in a book or draw things in my sketch pad than to participate in group activities like sports and after-school clubs.
Unable to afford a college degree unless I paid off a hefty student loan, I got a certificate from an online interior design program, so that didn’t make for friends either, and except for creating Pinterest boards, I’ve had little presence online. Facebook friends and Instagram followers have not been my thing. I was in LA for less than a week when I met Ned, and during our three-month whirlwind romance, I never connected to any of his A-list mover and shaker friends. Well, except for his partner, Gabriel Lucas.
Gabe…
And now, Nurse Marley. She’s beginning to feel like a friend.
“Did you decorate this house?” she asks, getting my mind off Gabe. Fingers crossed he and Ned will go straight to the Beverly Hills Hotel coffee shop after their tennis match (their ritual: whoever loses buys breakfast) and I won’t have to see him again today. Or for a long while.
“Hardly,” I tell her. “It’s all Ned’s doing—well, except for the nursery. I designed that room.” I don’t tell her how much I hate his cold, masculine, minimalist furnishings. Yes, the house is tasteful but not my taste. It looks like it was mail-ordered from one of those trendy Italian furniture catalogues.
“In my opinion, the best part of the house are the views. You can see The Valley, downtown, and, on a clear day, all the way to the ocean. Have you checked out the backyard?”
Marley squirms. “I haven’t. I don’t remember if I told you, but I have a fear of heights.”
A bit ruffled, she goes on. “The way you describe your hillside property makes me anxious…that it’s not safe for Isa. And the pool concerns me too. Though I have a CPR certificate, I’m not a great swimmer.” She looks outside. “You and Ned should get the pool gated for the safety of your daughter. And build some kind of retaining wall. Your baby will be crawling in no time.”
