Gun Brooke - Course of Action

"God, yes." Annelie shivered in her arms. "I don't want to think what could have happened if they hadn't been there."

"But they were."

"Yes." Annelie's voice still trembled as she let go of Carolyn and turned toward their bags. "Want me to help you choose between your outfits?"

Realizing Annelie needed something to do to normalize the strange mood after the incident, Carolyn nodded. "Sure, go ahead." As she strolled over to the window and pretended to admire the view, she realized her head was throbbing. Furtively rubbing her temples, she knew she had to have some relief. She couldn't go on Leno looking nauseous.

"Hey," Annelie said, putting down Carolyn's bag. "Do you have a headache? Want me to rub your shoulders?" She walked up behind her lover.

Carolyn shook her head. "You know what I really want? I'd like to go swimming, to try and relax. Come with me?"

"I wish I could," Annelie said. "But I promised Gregory we'd go over some last-minute details about the convention. We put it off all week and now…"

"It's okay." Carolyn smiled. "I'll find the pool and just do a few laps before I leave."

Annelie cupped her lover's cheek. "I'm still going with you to the studio, naturally."

"Thanks, but if you get stuck in meetings, I'll understand…" With

no idea why she was almost about to cry, Carolyn shrugged, feeling ridiculous.

"I won't get stuck." Annelie gently brushed her lips over Carolyn's. "Go have your swim, and I'll be here to help you get ready when you come back. Okay?"

Forcing back her stupid tears and clenching her teeth against a sudden stabbing pain behind her eyes, Carolyn nodded. "Fine. I'll just change and grab a quick shower, and then I'm off."

Apparently sensing Carolyn's struggle for control, Annelie glanced toward the alarm clock by the bed. "You know, I've got twenty minutes before Gregory arrives. I'd love to take a shower with you."

Carolyn didn't realize she had a knot in her midsection until it began to unwind. "Yes? You're sure?"

"Of course. I need to make sure you're okay." Annelie began to unbutton her shirt, pale skin appearing as she undressed. "A very definite yes." She reached out, unbuttoning Carolyn's blouse, sliding it back over slightly freckled shoulders. "Surely you know I want to spend every possible minute with you?"

Comforted by the desire mixed with love she saw in Annelie's eyes, Carolyn allowed Annelie to lead her into the bathroom. "I don't feel so good right now," Carolyn confessed. "And…I'm sorry for acting childish."

"You're not acting childish." Annelie started the shower with one hand while caressing Carolyn with the other. "You dropped everything to stand by me last week."

Efficiently, Annelie undressed Carolyn before shedding the rest of her own clothes. "That guy scared all of us, and you have a headache to boot. Come here. Let me rub some of the stress away before you go swim."

Standing under the hot running water with Annelie's hands roaming her body, Carolyn began to think she would find strength to get through the evening after all.

***

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Carolyn Black!" Annelie made herself comfortable on the couch in the green room at the Tonight Show studio, not taking her eyes off the screen. Carolyn walked toward Jay Leno with her arms stretched out to greet him. After they kissed the air next to each other, Carolyn gracefully sat down in the chair next to the desk. She looked radiant dressed in a sleeveless, emerald green dress that ended just below her knees. Annelie smiled, knowing the diva mode was on.

"You look amazing, Carolyn. Welcome to L.A. You flew in today, right?" Leno echoed Annelie's admiration.

"I did. For the Maddox convention tomorrow."

"Well, we're of course delighted you'd come on the show at such short notice. I hear you flew in on a private jet, with the rest of the Maddox movie cast."

"You heard right, Jay. The production company chartered a jet to save us time, wear and tear. We're getting ready to shoot the movie."

"Sounds like a luxurious way to travel, though I guess the lovely Ms. Peterson can afford it."

Annelie held her breath, seeing Carolyn's eyes narrow. "Ms. Peterson is a very generous boss," Carolyn asserted. "We're all lucky."

"Now, I've just met Annelie Peterson, and she strikes me as a very low-key, unpretentious woman."

Carolyn leaned forward to emphasize the importance of her statement. "You know, she's the kindest person I've ever met—and the most giving. She could be sitting idly on her wealth. Instead she puts it to good use, making life a little easier for the less fortunate. I know you've contributed to her charities over the years, Jay."

Annelie chuckled and thought Leno probably regretted sharing that bit of information in the green room. He looked both flattered and embarrassed. "It's a worthy cause for kids," he said. "There was an interesting development with the man claiming to be Ms. Peterson's father. What do you think about that?"

Annelie pressed her lips together at the intrusive question.

"That's totally up to Annelie Peterson to comment on—or to choose not to, Jay. All I can say is this—I wish the press would do their homework better, instead of going head over heels for a scoop. The damage to people's lives isn't worth it."

Leno's face turned serious, and Annelie wondered if he'd been subjected to his fair share of rumormongering.

"You're right, Carolyn." Leno paused. "It sounds like you and Ms. Peterson have become friends."

The actress didn't hesitate. "Yes, during the time I've known her,

she and I have become very close. You know, you just click with some people. She's great."

Leno nodded, and then a broad smile spread across his face. "Now, on a lighter note, you told me a funny story back in the green room, including a near disaster when you visited Ms. Peterson."

Carolyn flashed a broad smile. "Oh, you mean the one about my nonexistent cooking skills and how I ended up signing autographs for some very handsome boys from the FDNY instead of having pizza?"

The studio audience, responding to Carolyn like the crowd at the Orlando convention, roared, stomped their feet, and whistled as she winked at them. Annelie smiled as her lover told the story of the pizza, embellishing it in her special way.

"So, I take it you're a good customer at restaurants?" Leno deduced.

"You bet. That, and catering services. I think I'm solely responsible for my local Italian restaurant's expansion." Carolyn smirked. "I do, however, make excellent coffee."

"Now, the Maddox movies. You've signed contracts to do the first three. How does that feel?"

"It's a true honor to be chosen for this adventure." Carolyn leaned back, touching her lips with an index finger. Her face turned serious. "I'm also well aware of the responsibility. A lot rides on the first one being a success, and since I play Diana Maddox…" She shrugged.

"Yeah, they'll have your head if you screw up," Leno joked. "There's a lot of action in these stories." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Any qualms about kissing the lovely Ms. St. Cyr?"

Annelie closed her eyes and moaned in exasperation.

"Not one bit. Besides, she's a very attractive woman. Wouldn't you want to kiss her?" Carolyn deadpanned.

Leno missed a beat and then shook his head in mock dismay as the audience cheered. "I'm a married man. Are you trying to get me in trouble?" He grinned. "Honestly, Helen St. Cyr is one of my wife's favorite actresses, right up there with you and Alice Kriege."

"All character actresses," Carolyn observed. "Your wife has good taste, Jay."

"Naturally. Goes without saying. She married me, didn't she?"

The audience laughed.

"So, playing Diana Maddox—a tormented, complex, lesbian character—no big deal?"