A Model Romance (True Love Book 3) Read online

  “Aunt Becca! You’re here!” John says first, followed by Matthew and Luke, chiming in about what’s been going on in their lives.

  “Boys, boys, give Aunt Becca a chance to breathe, she just got here. There will be time for everything. First of all, take her bags up to the guest room,” she directs and they fall in line, each grabbing something to take.

  “Wow! I’m impressed. How do you get them to listen like that?”

  “They’ve been wonderful, Bec. They are so happy with Brian being here, and they want to please him. Even when he’s not around, they’ve been listening and behaving like never before. Thank goodness, too. With this one,” she says as she rubs her large belly, “I’ve needed the cooperation. Let’s just pray this one follows suit!”

  I follow her out onto the beautiful veranda at the back of the house. The weather is spectacular, a little cool but sunny. We sit and she puts her feet in my lap, pointing to indicate she’d enjoy a foot rub. I oblige, and we sit quietly and enjoy the peace.

  “How’re you doing, Bec?” Her Georgia drawl comes out full force when I’m around. I spent years and an obscene amount of money for a voice coach to drum that darned accent out of me, and within ten minutes being around her it slips out.

  “Ahm fahn,” shit! “Oh my God, did you hear that? Melanie, this can’t happen. I can’t start talking like Daisy Mae again!”

  She laughs so hard, tea shoots out of her nose.

  “And just what are you sayin’ there, Miss Priss. Too good for us Suthners?” She’s howling with laughter. This will surely put her into labor.

  “You better stop laughin’ so hard, I’m not deliverin’ no babies!” I say with an exaggerated accent. Her face is red from laughter, and I feel a warm, loving sensation inside. This is where I’m meant to be, near my family. I haven’t really known it until right at this moment. I’m happy I made the decision to come out here. I may never leave.

  Her laughter slows, finally, and her breathing returns to normal.

  “Seriously, though. I’ve been worried about you. This has been one hell of a year for you.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know. It’s been hard, Mel, I can’t lie. I felt so depressed when I left here last time. I was happy watching you and Brian together, and seeing you with the boys. I needed some good things to happen when I went home, and quite the opposite did. I lost my man, place to live and my best job in rapid succession. I have to keep my chin up and believe there must be silver lining in all of this.” I give her a half-hearted smile, and she clutches my hand. I haven’t cried much, if at all, through all of this. I feel it now. Her loving nature and kindness are too much for my cold New Yorker heart. I begin to cry, and it feels as if I’ll never stop. The boys come to the door, and I see her shoo them away. She rubs my back while I have a good old-fashioned pity party.

  “All right, as Mom would say, ‘Stop your sobbing, girl, won’t help nothing.’ She has such a way with words, wouldn’t you say?” Melanie says to me with a quick tap on my back. She’s right, and I do feel cried out. I’ve never been a complainer, but when life piles it on all at once, even the strongest are tested.

  “You’re right, and, unfortunately, so is Mom. Now, on to much happier things, when is this baby coming?” I grab her belly, and give a gentle wiggle.

  “Ooof, don’t do that. I can’t even imagine going another week or more. If God truly loves me, labor will begin now.” She makes a funny face like she’s waiting for something. She looks up to the sky, and says, “OK, I get it. You don’t like me that much.”

  She can always make me laugh, no matter what. We go into the house, and her cellphone rings.

  “Hi, baby, I’m so glad you called. I’m fine. Yes, she got in OK. We were just catching up. I miss you, too, sweetheart. Be careful out there for me, OK? I love you, too.”

  They are so cute.

  “Brian sends his love, and he said he can’t wait to see you,” she says with some trepidation.

  “What’s wrong? Is he OK?”

  “Yes, he’s fine. I’m just worried about him, and I’m worried that he’ll be out of town when the baby comes.” She looks upset.

  “Everything will be fine. Mom is coming soon, and I’m here. We’ll videotape the birth if he’s not here,” I say, meaning it as a joke, but she looks horrified.

  “What? You most certainly will not! My cooter is not being taped!”

  “That’s your biggest concern? Modesty? Don’t you want your husband to see the birth?” Now I’m just egging her on. I know it’s mean, but her reaction is priceless.

  “Rebecca Marie, don’t you dare!” She waddles away from me, and I can’t help but chase after her.

  “I’m just kidding, Mel. You know me anyway; I couldn’t stomach it. He’ll be here, and Mom and I are, too. I don’t want you to worry.” I give her a tight hug of reassurance.

  * * *

  “What? No, I can’t! My sister is due to have her baby any day now. No, I won’t be there,” I say to my agent, just two days after promising Mel I’d be here.

  Mel is about ready to pop, and my agent is frantically trying to get me to come back and sign a new deal with an up-and-coming shoe line. I guess they don’t mind “old” feet.

  “What was that about, Bec?” Melanie calls from the couch, unable to turn around to look at me behind her.

  “Oh, it’s nothing. It was my agent, Deb. She has an offer for me to rep some new shoe line, but I guess there’s a time constraint. They want me to sign immediately. Screw that, I don’t want to leave here.”

  “Go. I insist. This baby has wedged itself so deep under my ribcage, I’ll be on Social Security before I give birth. Go back, get it done, and I’ll still be here when you get back, probably in the exact same spot if I can figure out how to go to the bathroom sitting on the couch.”

  I hate to leave her, but Mom is here, and Brian is home, too. I could do a quick out and back, and get it done. With no other offers in the pipeline, it might be a bad move to turn it down.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind saying no,” I ask hesitantly. I want to make sure she’s really OK.

  “Of course, don’t be crazy. Bring me back some awesome shoes, maybe someday I’ll be able to fit my doughy feet into them,” she says, and for emphasis, puts her thick feet and ankles up on the coffee table. They look like tree trunks.

  “Deal. I’ll be back before you know it, or hopefully before Mom drives you nuts.”

  “Too late on the latter. I sent her out to look for a special diaper that doesn’t exist: Perfect Purple Pampers. She’s now driving some teenager who works at the grocery store crazy,” she says with a giggle.

  * * *

  Well, I miss it. I haul my butt back to New York for a meeting that turns into to be one of the most humiliating experiences to happen to me in some while, even worse than the last contract bust. I show up at the meeting, and overhear Deb pleading with two executives to “give her a chance.” Apparently, they have changed their mind, citing something about my being difficult, and they don’t want any drama. Unfucking believable. I’ve been in this business more than thirteen years, and this is what they remember: A couple of outbursts, which other models have on a daily basis? Why my reputation is being dragged through the mud is anyone’s guess. How can I politely tell them to fuck-off while maintaining my dignity? I guess I can’t, so I choose the direct route. I poke my head in and say, “Hi, Deb,” look over at the other two women and say, “Fuck you both, and your ugly ass shoes,” and I walk out.

  By the time I get a direct flight back to Chicago, Melanie has had the baby. Mom said labor came on quickly, and that they had to contact Brian at the game. Mel was insistent they not do so, but Mom did anyway. I’m so grateful that she did; Mel wouldn’t have forgiven herself otherwise. They have a baby girl, and name her after both grandmothers: Mary Louise.

  In selfish apology, I haven’t put her down since I’ve been back. I’ll give her up for Brian but, otherwise, if she’s not nurs
ing with Mel, she’s in my arms. Mom is getting pissy about it, but I don’t care. It was love at first sight, and I can’t let her go.

  Chapter 3

  I sell my apartment in Manhattan, and buy a condo in Glencoe, about ten minutes away from Mel’s house. I fired Deb after all the nonsense; I’m done with modeling for good. I might even eat a cheeseburger if I feel daring enough. I’ve earned plenty of money over the years, and I’ve made good financial decisions along the way. I may start my own line of cosmetics, or go back to school. All I know now is that I’m happy to spend every waking minute with this precious baby.

  I have to remind myself to back off every now and then; I know I’m smothering Mel and Brian. I’ve enjoyed plenty of time with my nephews, too, and take them out whenever I can. They love their baby sister, and are protective of her. This little girl won’t be able to date until she’s fifty. They are calling her Louise, but the name seems so old for such a cute little dumpling. She looks like a chubby little man with a sweet face. I call her Baby Lou. Lou fits perfectly-to me anyway-but Mel and Brian hate it.

  While I love the time I’ve had with the kids, I’ve started to feel like a sad spinster who’ll never get a life of her own. It’s obvious that I need some distractions in my life.

  Brian has hinted about setting me up with some of his friends, and usually I laugh it off, even though I can’t deny that I’ve begun to feel lonely for a man. Brian’s athlete friends are easy on the eyes. They flirt, a lot, but I haven’t taken the bait. Many professional athletes have reputations for bad behavior, and I guess models often do too, but the guys Brian hangs out with seem nice. Maybe Brian and Mel and I could go on a double date; just to get me out there. I’d hate to lose the ability to go out with a man. I’m already afraid I may have, it’s been a long time. At least my self-esteem has improved since I stopped modeling. I’ve gained some needed weight, and I feel a more like my old-self everyday. The lanky Georgia girl, Becca, is back, and the emaciated, standout redhead, Rebecca, is history.

  Matthew, Luke and John have basketball games today, and it just happens to also be Baby Lou’s six-month birthday. We plan to take in the games with Katie, Jason and their kids, then cookout in the backyard. It’s a rare sixty-degree and sunny day in March, so we’re taking full advantage. Mel, Katie, Katie’s youngest, Grace, and Baby Lou and I ride back to Mel’s house together after the games.

  “Hey, Bec, Mel tells me you may be ready for a fix-up, is that true?” Katie asks casually, but I hear excitement in her voice.

  Oh, no.

  “I think we all know Mel would love nothing more than to get me occupied with something other than my taking over her family,” I say, only slightly joking.

  “Are you kidding me, Becca? You’ve been a godsend! Not only to the kids, but to me and Brian as well. I’m so grateful to have you around; I’ve missed my baby sister. I wouldn’t trade this for anything,” she says, reaching over quickly to squeeze my hand tightly while she drives. “However, I will say that getting you a social life isn’t out of the question. You’re way too young and pretty to be wasting away as a modern-day Mary Poppins.”

  “Just say the word, Bec, and Jason and Brian will be on the case,” Katie says, as Grace pops her head up to join the conversation. Grace, a newly minted teenager, is officially boy-crazy.

  “Aunt Becca, let them find you a date! I can help, too. Do you have a Framed account?”

  Katie shoots a horrified look in Grace’s direction. Framed, a casual hook-up app, is not teenager appropriate. Grace does her best to settle Katie down.

  “Mom, of course I don’t have an account! I just wondered because my friend Stacy’s older sister found a guy that way. She ‘liked’ his picture and they met later that day,” Grace says nonchalantly, implying that we’re all grandmas and need to step up to the times. Katie, on the other hand, looks like she’s choking.

  “Dear God, Grace, how do you know these things?” Katie asks in a high voice, startling Baby Lou.

  I intervene to calm everyone down. I pop a pacifier in Lou’s mouth to quiet her, and then I address Grace.

  “It’s OK, Katie. These kids are all light years ahead of us with these things. Grace did your friend’s sister have a second date with the guy she met?”

  “Um, no, I don’t think she did. She said he looked nothing like his picture and she wasn’t very happy about it,” Grace says, a contemplative look crossing her face. “Maybe don’t use that app, Aunt Bec. Let my mom and Aunt Mel help instead. They like doing it anyway.” She puts on her headphones, and ignores us the remainder of the drive.

  “She does have a point. The safest way to meet someone is through mutual friends, right Mel?” Katie says, hinting at some of Melanie’s “dates” before she met Brian that I heard about on a girls’ night out.

  “Technically, Brian and I met on our own, remember? You thought he was too nice for me. Becca, Katie even set him up with another woman right in front of me!” She giggles, and throws Katie a fake dirty look. This riles Katie, and she bristles in her seat.

  “I only did that because you had made it clear that you didn’t want any set-ups! I wanted you and Brian together, Jason just told me to butt out and…”

  Mel cuts her off mid-sentence.

  “I’m just teasing you, Kat, even though that’s all true. I still ended up with him, so no harm, no foul. Now, back to you, Becca. Are you really ready to get back out there?” she asks, with genuine interest.

  I take a moment, staring out the car window, and ponder the question. Am I ready? Yes, I am. I need something more in my life, and I can’t deny I’m lonely. I put my head in my hands and sigh.

  “Yes. Let’s do it,” comes out muffled through my hand mask.

  * * *

  When we arrive at Mel’s house, she hands off a sleeping Baby Lou to Grace and points upstairs. Grace understands, and takes the baby up to the nursery. Mel and Katie are communicating wordlessly as they shuffle about the kitchen, pouring wine, and grabbing pens and paper. Their intent becomes clear quickly. Mel whips open her notebook, and looks serious.

  “Ok, Kat, start giving me some names in no particular order,” she says, all business.

  “All right, let’s see, there’s Mike C. and Mike H.,” Katie begins. Mel interrupts her: “Not Mike H., he’s awful,” she says with a sneer. Kat continues without hesitation, “OK, you’re right. We have Derrick, Justin, Cody and Kyle. Who can you think of?”

  “Maybe Mark, or Steven. Is he still single?” Mel asks as she stares down at her paper. I sit in shock. These two could run the world. Grace wasn’t kidding; they have obviously done this a time or two. They’re not even acknowledging that I’m in the room, so I slink out of my chair and try and get away. This just seems too real, too quickly. Just when I’m almost in the clear, the back door opens and it’s the guys.

  “Whoa, what do we have here? I’ve seen this before. Bec, did you give them the thumbs up?” Jason asks, with a knowing laugh.

  Melanie and Katie look up and over to the next room at me, crouched over and walking in the opposite direction.

  “What are you doing? Get over here, we need your input!” Mel yells, like I’m an insolent dog. I may have unknowingly opened a Pandora’s Box. I shall accept responsibility. I’m sorry, world, for unleashing plague and destruction, I’m just horny.

  “OK, OK. It looked as if my input wasn’t really necessary, and, quite frankly, you two scare the hell out of me,” I say as I slink back over to the table, where one might interpret that the planning of D-Day was going on. Jason snorts, and Brian raises his hands in the air as if admitting defeat.

  “I, for one, am glad to see that other people care enough to want to see you happy. I owe my world to this one,” Brian leans down and kisses the top of Katie’s head. Katie had arranged for Mel and Brian to “accidentally” meet at her house after they had broken up. Melanie’s stubbornness would have kept them apart without intervention on Katie’s part.

  “Let’s s
tart with Justin. Bec, he’s one of the strength coaches for the Bears. Super cute and ridiculously built. What do you think Brian?” Melanie asks as he and Jason are trying to use the same escape route as I had.

  “Fine! Yup, match made in heaven!” He shouts, as he and Jason pick up the pace and head outside.

  “Coward. He doesn’t mind us doing the fixing up, but he’s not going to help, I know that for sure. Let’s call up Justin and see if he wants to come over for the barbecue. Sooner rather than later, right Bec?” Melanie says to me, phone in hand, poised to dial.

  “I know it won’t matter what I say, you’ll do it anyway. Fine, do it.” I shrug my shoulders. What’s the worst that can happen? At least this way I can see him around the guys, and get to know his personality before we go one-on-one.

  Melanie calls and he’s happy to come over. She was blunt about the fix-up, and didn’t even try to spare my dignity.

  He arrives thirty minutes later, freshly showered and even brought store-bought cookies. Melanie and Katie weren’t kidding about his body. Wow. You could bounce a quarter off his chest and get back two dimes and a nickel. He’s slightly taller than me, and has dark, wavy hair. Knowing he’s here for me, I feel a tingle of excitement. I haven’t thought much about dating or sex until recently, and this is a good way to whet my appetite.

  He smiles when our eyes meet, another tingle, and crosses the room to introduce himself.

  “Hi, I’m Justin. Rebecca, is it?” He gives me a nice, firm handshake, and a killer smile to match.

  “Yes, it’s really nice to meet you. You can call me Becca if you like, everyone does,” I say, surprised that Melanie gave him my full name.

  “I have to apologize for my appearance,” he shakes his wet hair, “I was in the gym when Melanie called. I spend way too much time in that place, I’m happy to have a reason to enjoy this beautiful day.”

  “No need to apologize, I’m jealous. I wish I could just shower and go. Jason and Brian are outside; I think they’re about ready to throw the meat on the grill. Can I get you something to drink?” I ask as I walk toward the back door leading to the patio where a cooler is set up next to where the guys are standing.