Hometown Star

chapter Five

“How far off schedule are you?” Frank Rogers asked.

Star smiled into the phone. She paced the floor of the waiting room in Anchorage Regional Hospital. Too keyed up to sit still, Star had called her boss, hoping Frank would distract her. “One day, Frank. Ease up. I’m meeting with Evan tomorrow morning; after that, I’ll be back on track.”

Frank sighed. “I know you need to be with your sister. I understand, I really do, but we are two weeks out from the Fairbanks shoot.”

“I’ll be ready,” Star said to her boss. “Trust me, Frank. Have I ever let you down?”

“Okay, okay,” Frank agreed. “Oh, the segment on Bigger, Bolder, Brighter is on track. Vivienne’s in love with the project. Color is her thing.”

Vivienne LaRue was the top designer on Update This! Of the four designers working on the show, she was a ratings favorite. Her flamboyant style and French accent gave the show sophistication and class.

“Will you ask her to call me?” Star said. “I want to talk to her about the Seward house.”

“I’ll pass on the message.”

“Thanks. Go ahead and send me whatever you have via email.”

“It’s mainly the set up for the three homes on Bigger, Bolder, Brighter. Do what you do best, Star. Make it happen.”

“I will. Now, relax, Frank. I won’t let you down.”

“You better not. Give your sister my best.”

“Will do, Frank.”

Star ended the call and stared at the double doors leading to the birthing area. What was happening? Were Brandi and the baby okay? When she’d asked for an update earlier, the desk nurse had reassured her that everything was fine. Still, Star couldn’t help the anxiety that filled her. What if something went wrong? No, she refused to think that way. Brandi would be fine. The baby would be fine. Positive thoughts.

Her phone rang. Destiny’s name flashed on the screen.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Star?” Destiny asked in a voice that had a permanent husky note.

“It’s me.”

“How’s Brandi? Any news yet?”

“No,” Star told her. “I’m going crazy waiting.”

“My poor baby,” Destiny said the words dripping with sympathy. “I wish I could be there with her.”

“Why don’t you come, Mom?” Star asked, hoping against hope she’d say yes. “I have air miles. I could book you a ticket. My treat.”

“I don’t know,” Destiny hedged. “I have my job.”

Star could practically see her mother twirling her over–processed hair around her index finger, as if her conversation with her daughter bored her. Why couldn’t Destiny be a mom for once?

“Don’t you have some vacation saved up?” Star pressed, refusing to give up for Brandi’s sake. Star had learned long ago to expect nothing from their mother, but Brandi’s heart wasn’t as hardened. Destiny’s refusal to come would crush her sister.

“Some.”

“Think about it. Just say the word and I’ll book the ticket,” Star said.

“I said I’ll think about it, Star,” her mother replied, her tone slightly defensive. “Call me when you have news.”

The line went dead.

Star took a seat on a nearby chair. Her stomach churned. Darn it. She refused to let her mother get to her.

The chime of an incoming text message brought her attention to her phone.

Everything okay? Any news? Cade

Cade? She’d exchanged numbers with Cade yesterday, at his insistence, in case she needed anything, but she’d never expected him to call or text her. Should she reply? Why not?

No news yet. Star hit the send button.

Her phone chimed again. Do you need anything?

Aren’t you working? Star texted back.

We limited early. I’m back at the house.

Before she could reply, the door leading to the birthing area swung open.

Star forgot all about Cade and came to her feet.

“Are you Star?” a woman in blue scrubs asked.

“Yes,” Star said. “Is Brandi all right?”

“The doctor’s with her,” the nurse said. “Brandi’s husband asked me to tell you that the baby’s been born, a healthy boy.”

Relief filled Star. “That’s great.”

“But there was a complication. Your sister experienced a lot of bleeding.”

“What?” The bottom dropped out of Star’s stomach. “Is she okay?”

The nurse nodded. “She will be. Bud has asked if you can gown–up and come in. He’d like for you to hold the baby while he sits with Brandi.”

“Me?” Star said stupidly. “I’m not good with babies.”

The nurse smiled. “It’s easy. You’ll see.” The nurse started for the birthing area.

Star’s phone chimed.

Cade: Are you there?

Quickly Star replied, Brandi’s had complications. They are asking me to come in. Gotta go.

Star sent the message, gathered up her sweater and laptop, then followed the nurse to the birthing area.

* * *

Is this what it felt like to be hit by a truck?

Star felt drained, emotionally and physically, and she still had to make the two–hour drive back to Seward.

At least she could leave the hospital knowing that Brandi, Bud, and baby William were fine and well cared for. Brandi had stabilized. She seemed great, happy, but tired. In fact, Star had felt like an outsider for the last hour as she’d watched Brandi, Bud, and the baby snuggle together, but Brandi had insisted that Star stay until Star’s stomach had rumbled so loudly, Brandi finally realized that her sister had been without food all day. At last, Brandi had given Star the go–ahead to go home.

Star headed for the elevator, eager to get back to Patsy’s.

She passed through the waiting area, her focus on the elevator.

“Star.”

Star halted. Cade sat in the waiting area. He unfolded himself from the chair and stood. He looked so good, so strong, and for a moment, she wanted to lean on him, wanted to let him take care of her. She didn’t even want to know where that thought had come from.

“How’s Brandi?” he asked, as she approached.

“She’s all right now, but it was scary for a while. She had some bleeding they had trouble stopping.”

“And the baby?” Cade asked.

Star smiled. “He’s perfect. His name is William. Will for short. I held him for hours. I’d forgotten what it feels like to hold a newborn. Will’s so tiny, so fragile. Holding him took me right back to when Brandi was born. I did more than my fair share of holding her, diapering her, feeding her.”

“What? At nine or ten years old,” Cade said with a shake of his head.

Star frowned. “Destiny isn’t mother material. She enjoyed getting pregnant, it was what came after that she didn’t like.”

Cade touched her arm. “That’s rough. I’m sorry, Star.”

“Don’t be,” Star said, rejecting his pity. She didn’t even want him here. Did she? She didn’t know what she wanted.

Suddenly, the day caught up with Star. She had to sit. Now.

She dropped into the nearest chair.

“Are you okay?” Cade asked, taking the seat beside her.

“It’s been quite an emotional day.” Star placed a hand on her rumbling stomach. “What are you doing here anyway? It’s not like this place is on your way home.”

“Trudy insisted. She thought you might need moral support. She would have come herself, but Ron didn’t want her to make the drive.”

“That was nice of Trudy,” Star said. “And nice of you.”

“I make the drive all the time. It’s no big deal,” Cade said easily. “Were you on your way out?”

“Yes.”

“Trudy wanted me to invite you to dinner. She said I’m not allowed to take no for an answer. I promise we’ll all be on our best behavior, especially me.”

Star laughed at the pained expression on his face. “Wow, what an offer. Did Trudy make you memorize that invitation? Never mind, I don’t care. I’d love to visit with Trudy and I don’t feel like being alone tonight. Too much has happened today. I know I won’t be able to turn my brain off. Plus, I’m starving, and I know firsthand what a good cook Trudy is.”

Cade grinned at her. “You won’t be sorry.”

Star stood. Cade rose. He held out his hand, taking her laptop case from her. His other hand closed around her elbow, his touch gentle but firm.

Heaven help her, she was going home with Cade O’Brien. By choice. She’d definitely slipped into an alternate universe, and right now, she didn’t care one bit.