Page 94 of Love Is…?

“I’m terrific. Loving Melbourne. It’s such a great city, you know.” Olna went to hold Tessa’s forearm as if to reinforce her statement, but again thought better of it. Jayde’s thumb, delivering a soft one-two rub to the side of Tessa’s hand, was a fortifying top-up when she hadn’t been aware that she needed one.

“Well, that’s good. Great.” Tessa turned her head. “Jayde, Olna’s… Olna’s a…”

Jayde smiled thinly. “A friendly Canadian.”

Jayde’s not-quite-smile reminded Tessa that she’d told Jayde all about Olna and the exploding relationship. She wrinkled her brow in apology, but Jayde gave a subtle shake of her head.

“I’m more than a friend,” Olna interrupted, then leaned in expectantly. “So I heard you’re nannying Grace Taylor.”

A light bulb in Tessa’s brain flickered a couple of times as if it wasn’t yet inclined to illuminate a thought. Actually, it didn’t feel inclined to illuminate a number of thoughts. Thoughts like Olna’s voracious need for climbing the ladder of social standing, her need to collect people to use for her benefit, her penchant for devaluing others if they weren’t valuable enough to become oneof her rungs. The thought about Olna’s sudden boomerang act. Suddenly, years later, after being broken and cracked by Olna’s heavy boot, Tessa was now worthy of providing a platform. No, that light bulb didn’t want to illuminate any of those thoughts.

“Not a nanny, Olna. I’m a chaperone for Grace Taylor.”

“Tomato Tomahto.” Olna flicked her hand, then beamed. “Any chance of an introduction?”

“To Grace?”

Olna tsked. “To Abigail. I’m working adjacent to the film industry now, so we’d be able to have a wonderful chat.”

Tessa frowned. Selling popcorn at the cinema was not exactly adjacent to an A-list film star, who was also the director of a hugely successful theatre company, but a lot could happen in a few years. Perhaps Olna had moved on from the candy bar.

Tessa could feel the confusion all over her face. “What are you doing now?”

Olna pursed her lips and lifted a shoulder, which was an affectation that was supposed to be cute, but it was one of Olna’s tells. The answer would either gaslight the question or be an outright lie.

“I’m in distribution and promotion of films.” Olna’s smile was too large, her words boastful.

“Well, congratulations. But today’s massively important and everyone’s really busy, so I don’t think I can interrupt Ms Taylor for a spontaneous chat. I hope you understand, but it’s amazing to see you.” Which was absolutely true. Tessawasamazed, but underlying all that amazement was a dedication to her employers. She wasn’t going to allow Olna even a centimetre of leeway. Distribution and promotion of films. Really? Why couldn’t Olna enjoy being a popcorn and ticket vendor at the cinema? When they’d got together, Tessa had loved hearing stories about the films Olna had been allowed to see before the release day, stories of the patrons who were caught filming themovie, or creating their own. Then those stories died out as the fantasies and desires replaced them in importance. The Parkers became Olna’s focus, but were eventually dismissed, along with Tessa, as unworthy of any effort. They didn’t fit into Olna’s life plan. Netflix series directors were small fry, apparently.

Olna had broken her heart, and while Tessa had laid out her vulnerable, full of love heart, it hadn’t been necessary, surely, for Olna to pick it up, hurl it over a cliff, then follow it with hurtful commentary about Tessa’s job, her lack of adventure, and her abilities in the bedroom. But she had. Tessa swallowed thickly. She’d be damned if she was going to let Olna do it again. And be damned if she was going to let Olna use her to gain access to Abby. She squeezed Jayde’s hand, and received a warm echo in return, as if to say, “You’ve got this. I’m here even if I’m not saying anything.” The action sent sizzles of strength up her arm.

She opened her mouth to pour out her ‘be damned’ speech but caught sight of paparazzi jogging up the road, clutching smartphones, thumbs at the ready, and clenched her teeth. Shit. The last thing she ever wanted was to take attention away from Sam and Abby’s special day. Entertaining the world with photos of Grace Taylor’s chaperone and her ex-girlfriend engaged in a debate about access to a certain film star outside that certain film star’s front gate would definitely divert attention.

She shelved her speech, released Jayde’s hand and, after a quick stab at the key pad to open the gate, shoved Olna through the entrance. With a sigh of relief, she heard the solid click as Jayde closed the gate behind them.

Olna spun around and grinned. “I knew you’d come through for me. What a beautiful front yard.”

“I don’t think Tessa invited you in voluntarily, Olna. It was more a last resort,” Jayde said, her tone dismissive, protective, possessive, and Tessa found it so attractive that she nearly flashed a salacious grin at her lover to telegraph that message.

“Jayde’s right. Even though this is where you wanted to be, I won’t let you get any farther.”

Tessa caught sight of Kyle poking his head around the garage booth. He cocked it to the side, but Tessa shook her head. She could deal with Olna’s schmoozing.

Olna pouted. “Well, we’re here now. Surely, you can show me around.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible at the moment. The house is awash with people, flowers, and mayhem. I’m sure you understand.” Abby’s voice, soft and husky, delivered the lines as if she was sitting at the table read for her latest blockbuster. Utterly believable, thoroughly rehearsed, and quietly furious. Olna gasped, spun around and just about prostrated herself at Abby’s feet. Abby raised an eyebrow, took in Tessa’s appalled expression, Jayde’s excellent impersonation of wallpaper, and processed the situation immediately. She smiled affectionately at both of them, then turned her attention to her visitor.

Olna, one hand pressed over her chest, the other outstretched. “Abigail! It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

Abby, her arms laden with flowers, glanced at Olna’s outstretched hand, and replaced her smile with an apologetic look, glancing at the flowers as the reason for not returning the gesture. Contrary to Grace’s proclamations of insanity, Abby was the epitome of calm. Icy calm.

“Oh, I do prefer Ms Taylor,” Abby said coolly.

Tessa blinked. Abby did not prefer to be addressed as Ms Taylor at all. Tessa raised her eyebrows. Abby had quickly worked out the situation and the players involved.

“Oh. Of course! Ms Taylor, I’m Olna, a good friend, actually a very close friend of Tessa’s. I’ve flown in from Canada just to catch up, to see how she’s going, that sort of thing.”

Tessa spluttered, but Olna ploughed on. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms Taylor,” she repeated. “Being such good friends, I knew Tessa would be able to show me around her workplace.”

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