Page 156 of Reel Love

I take a breath, and come to my senses. I was on a roll. Brigitte is standing at my kitchen bar, beaming.

My mother is still silent, so I finish out what I have to say. It’s what I’ve wanted to say all this time, only she never gave me the opening. Today’s not the ideal time to have this conversation when we’re hours away from my big night, but I’m taking the chance while I have it.

“I really wish you would get to know him—this man that I love. But it’s definitely your loss if you don’t. Stevens is not a passing fancy or a diversion. He’s my boyfriend. And he’s the only man I hope I spend the rest of my life with.”

I’m done. There’s nothing more to say.

My mother is silent for a longer stretch than usual. I give her the respect of waiting for her to process my declaration.

She finally says, “Very well.”

I wait for more.

She doesn’t say anything else.

“He’ll be there with me tonight, walking down the red carpet, answering reporters’ questions if they ask him anything, sitting next to me, and leaving with me for the afterparty. If you are so inclined to be respectful toward him, I’d love to officially introduce you and Dad to him.”

It goes without saying my mother won’t be welcome to meet Stevens if she can’t show him common decency.

“Knock, knock,” Stevens steps into my condo.

He has a key, and promised to be here as soon as he was able to wrap up a tour this morning, catch the ferry, and meet my driver at the docks.

My heart rate levels out at the sight of him. But then it picks back up because this man in a tux might just be my undoing. And then he smiles that smile that always gets to me—the one where his mouth tips up on one side and those two dimples pop just right.

“I’ve got to go, Mother. I’ll see you at the premiere.”

“Alana?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll … Let’s find a time for you to introduce your friend to me and your father tonight.”

“My boyfriend.”

“Yes. Yes. That.”

I chuckle. Would it kill her to say the word? Maybe. At least she’s stepping forward to make an effort. I’ll gladly meet her halfway. Last year, I wouldn’t have. But now, I know. Stevens and I are strong. What we have can weather attacks from the press, the reaction of my fans, and even the blatant meddling and rejection of my own mother.

If she wants to make an attempt at neutrality and acceptance, I will pave the way and make it easy on her. What she and Stevens will have won’t ever come close to what I’ve gained with Stevens’ family. They’ve treated me like one of their own ever since that first night I officially met all of them. I don’t expect miracles. I’ll take an imperfect gesture and a cordial welcome over the stone wall we’ve been living with for the past twelve months.

“See you tonight, Mother.”

“Yes, dear. We’ll see you tonight. I can’t wait to watch you shine yet again in a film your father and I had the privilege of producing.”

I don’t respond to her last comment. Instead I say goodbye and we hang up.

“You look amazing,” I tell Stevens.

He walks toward me. “Not as amazing as you.” He kisses my cheek, obviously being respectful of Brigitte’s presence.

“And you, Brigitte,” Stevens says, looping his arm around my waist and looking into the kitchen where Brigitte has her head stuck deep in my refrigerator.

“Yeah. Yeah,” she says. “You don’t have to say that, merman. I’ll still like you even without the gratuitous compliments. Alana! Why don’t you have any decent snacks? Where’s the chocolate oryogurt that isn’t straight out of a cow? I’m not eating whatever that is in there.”

“Do you need food?” I ask her.

“Food. Yes. This macrobiotic, nutritionally sound, bland, science experiment stuff? No.”

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