Introduction
This is the third story in a series of stories that will use the same characters. I plan to change some of the characters and where they live. However, the core of the characters will stay the same.
Christien (Chris) Smith – 60 year old, movie producer/writer, husband of Bella, father of Zak, Birthplace: Sydney Australia, Home: Berlin, Germany
Isabella (Bella, Izzy) Smith – 40 year old, actress/writer, wife of Chris, mother of Zak, Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, Home: Berlin, Germany
Zakery (Zak) Smith – their 10 year old son
Jean – Isabella's sister
Bill – Christien's younger brother
Suzy – Johnny's wife, former friend Bella's, friend of Chris
Johnny – Suzy's husband, former friend of Chris, friend of Bella
Annie – Suzy and Johnny's daughter
Mona Lisa – a Madonna-like character, very successful movie actress. The opposite of Isabella's America's Sweetheart image.
Craig Adams – Chris's best friend, movie star
Background Information
Chris is a hugely successful movie producer. Neither he nor Isabella has ever been to college. They both came from poor backgrounds. Both sets of parents are dead. They live in Berlin, Germany to escape the media attention of the US. Chris tries to avoid the spotlight. They're not a typical Hollywood couple – both are well-grounded, avoid alcohol and drugs, and are very down-to-earth. Isabella's career took off after she and Chris worked on their first movie together.
Disclaimer - Any relationship to actual people and events is purely coincidental.
Chapter 1
Isabella's House - December, 2008
Isabella had just returned from her trip with Johnny. She couldn't believe that Chris had essentially given her permission to sleep with another man. What was wrong with him? The whole reason that she did the trip was to get a reaction out of him! She wanted to get his attention. Although, he did call her Isabella and when he called her that he was usually mad at her.
When she had taken Zak and went to Buffalo, he told her it was fine with him that she needed to find herself again. She had dated a couple of guys in Buffalo. There were two problems with that. First, all they wanted from her was sex and she wasn't willing to give them that. Second, they were little boys and she wanted a man. Finally, Zak had sabotaged some of her dates. He had purposely flattened her tires so she couldn't go and he had conveniently gotten sick a few times.
She had insisted that Chris not see her at all while she was in Buffalo. He had agreed to it. A part of her had known that she had pushed him too far. She knew that he wouldn't beg her to come home. She had wanted him to come chasing after her and prove to her that he still loved her.
The last time that they had attempted to make love was a fiasco. Chris wasn't able to perform.
The stress of fame and everything else that she'd been through in her life had finally caught up with her. She had needed to take a time out from their marriage for awhile.
When she had filed for divorce, Chris hadn't stopped her. She wondered if he had even known that she was gone. He was always so polite to her. He had even agreed to work on the new album with her. In fact, she was due to go over to the studio today and work with him on what would have been their 15th anniversary.
When Chris's in the studio, it's all business. They don't talk about their personal lives. Oh, they'll talk about Zak, but nothing serious.
Zak was over at a friend's house.
Chris's Studio - The Same Day
"Hey, you're here! I've ordered lunch for us for about noon. Let's get started", Chris says as she walks in the door.
They start working on the script. It's the same as it used to be. He calls her "baby" and she calls him "honey" and they banter back and forth like the good old days.
Lunch arrives and they take a break. They talk about the usual during lunch and then Isabella spills some juice on her blouse. Without thinking she takes it off. Chris's staring at her almost bare chest.
"If you don't cover yourself, you're going to get laid right now!" Chris says.
"What?!" Isabella says as she looks at him with a stunned expression. He doesn't give her much time to respond as he pulls her into a passionate kiss. She can't remember the last time that they've kissed like that. The next thing she knows is that she's on the floor and they're making love.
"If it would have been like that, I never would have left you!", Isabella says as she lays back exhausted.
"If it would have been like that, I would have came after you!', Chris says.
"Are you ready for round three?" Isabella asks. She can feels that Chris's more than ready.
A few hours later, they wake up.
"Those pills really work", Chris says.
"What pills are you talking about?" Isabella says.
"Remember the problem that we had back in April? The night that I couldn't perform?" Chris asks her.
"Yes", Isabella says.
"It wasn't that I didn't desire you and it wasn't your fault, it was that I wasn't capable", Chris says.
"How do you know?" Isabella says.
"Well, in Vancouver, there was this really hot supermodel. She had blue eyes and she was blonde. She had a really, really hot body. I couldn't perform with her either. That's when I knew I had a problem. Also, Clive called me." Clive is one of Chris's best friends. They're around the same age.
"You tried to have sex with some supermodel and things wouldn't work?", Isabella asks. She's a little mad at this point.
"Exactly. Clive called me and I told him what happened. He told me that it's not uncommon for men our age to have this problem. He had it, too", Chris says.
"What problem is that?" Isabella asks.
"ED", Chris says.
"ED?" Isabella asks.
"Yes, you know, issues with the plumbing", Chris says. She can tell he's embarrassed.
"You wouldn't believe the tests that I had to go through to find out the problem. They found out that it was due a lack of blood supply, so I've been taking pills for it and it worked!" Chris tells her. She's really shocked. Could the issues of the last few months been avoided?
"What does Suzy have to do with this or don't I want to know?" Isabella asks.
"I talked to her about the issue. It was easier talking to her about it than you. I was ashamed", Chris says.
"No wonder people thought that you were having an affair with her. So, you weren't able to perform until today?", Isabella asks.
"Yes", Chris says.
"I don't know what to say!" Isabella says.
"I forgot to ask you, are we protected?" Chris asks.
"No. Using birth control wasn't at the top of my lists recently. I'm sorry, I should have stopped you", Isabella says.
"A team of wild horses wouldn't have dragged me away from you", Chris says.
"What do you want to do if I'm pregnant?" Isabella asks.
"Well, we should keep it. I hope you're not, we don't need an added complication to this situation that just got more complicated", Chris says.
"Do you think we made love because it's our anniversary and we're both emotional about it?", Isabella asks.
"I don't know. Maybe we should see if it happens tomorrow", Chris says.
"Oh, my! I forgot about Zak!", Isabella says. She was due to pick him up.
"You get dressed and clean up the evidence and I'll go pick up our son", Chris says.
Chris goes and get's Zak and brings him back to the studio. He likes to watch his mom and dad work together. He hopes by them working together it will bring them back together. After they're done for the day, Isabella and Zak go back to their house. Chris stays at the studio.
Isabella's House- Later That Night
Jean calls Isabella and they talk. She can tell Isabella sounds happier.
"Are you dating someone?", Jean asks her.
"Sort of. We had sex tonight. I'm not sure if it's a one time deal or if it will develop into more", Isabella doesn't tell her that it's Chris.
Jean's stunned. Isabella is not the type to have one-night stands.
"How was the sex?", Jean asks.
"Excellent", Isabella says as she thinks back to their afternoon of love.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with it. You're single now", Jean says. They talk about a few other things and then hang up the phone.
Isabella's House - Next Day
When Isabella has Zak, she takes him to school and picks him up. The door bell rings as they're getting ready to leave.
"Delivery", the man says. He brings in three dozen roses and hands her the card.
The card says "Yesterday afternoon was fantastic. Thanks." She knows they're from Chris. She can't remember the last time that he sent her flowers when it wasn't her birthday or their anniversary. They had started to drift apart after he had asked her to have another child and she had told him no.
"Who are they from Mom?", Zak asks.
"A man", Isabella says.
Zak is mad.
Isabella drops Zak off to school and hurries to Chris's studio...
Is it just old memories, is Isabella just convenient for Chris, or is something more happening here?