Page 64 of We Thought We Knew It All
I was in love with a stubborn, foolish, control-freak of a man and he was going to forgive me because it was always meant to be us.
* * *
New York Citywas much bigger than I’d imagined. I’d seen the movies, and the immensity couldn’t be felt through the screen.
But nothing felt quite so important to me as Jamie and the family we were going to be. It was going to be big and public, but I was out of apologies. They’d all fallen on deaf ears. Now it was time to make a fool of myself. The boy I knew would get a kick out of it. He’d once cussed at a gaggle of reporters at a campaign press conference for his father. That night, I’d told him I loved him for the first time.
How had it gone so wrong? Those two kids had so much hope, so much faith - even after everything they’d been through. Life beat you down and it was finally time to get back up.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I ducked into a coffee shop to answer it. “Hi, baby.”
“Mom,” Jackson said. “When do you go on?”
“Not for a little while.”
“Moooom…”
“Are you behaving for your Aunt Kat and Uncle Noah?”
“Duh.”
“Jackson, a yes or no will do.” I was glad he couldn’t see my silent laughter.
“I’m always good.”
I rolled my eyes. “Then tell Kat I said you can watch.”
“Good because she already said we’re going out to a late dinner and will watch it there.”
“She spoils you. I expect you in bed straight after you get home.”
“Fine. I’ve got to go, Mom.”
“Okay-” He hung up before I was finished, and I just shook my head.
The coffee shop buzzed around me. The door chimed as I pulled my coat tighter when a gust of cold air was allowed to enter. I walked up to the long counter, eyeing the pastries underneath the smudged glass.
“What can I get you?” a young man behind the counter asked.
I didn’t take my eyes from the glass case. “A vanilla steamer please. And I’ll have a blueberry scone.”
I took it to go as I was expected soon at the studio for the taping of the Riley King show. I’d declined a car, instead opting for the walk in the brisk winter air to work out my nerves. Yep, they weren’t worked out. My hand shook as I shifted my scone so I could open the door.
Two women greeted me, one of which I knew.
“Nicole.” I nodded toward her.
She smiled as if she wasn’t engaged to my ex-husband. We had been friends back in L.A.. “California.” She hugged me, trying her best not to spill my steamer. “This is Amelia. She works for the show. She’ll show us to the dressing room.”
“Us?” I raised an eyebrow.
“There are things to discuss.”
I nodded and turned to Amelia. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Callie.”
She smiled and pushed a perfectly straight lock of black hair from her shoulder. “I’m a big fan, Ms. Bay. Your mother was an icon.”
I returned her smile. “She sure was to me. Lead the way.”
