Take Me Away
'Thanks for that Dawson, it's always a pleasure. And congratulations on your Oscar win,'
'Thanks Jenny. Bye bye,' He hung the phone up on his final telephone interview of the day.
Life in the sun and warmth of LA had become one long line of interviews and questions about his private life, none of which he was willing to answer. His standard answer to any Joey question was simple.
'She's my dear friend and I miss her. I wanted to acknowledge her for all that she's given me' '
That wasn't the truth. Anyone who really knew him would know that. But that was all he was willing to say on the matter.
He knew the hell she must be going through and he cursed himself everyday. He was so wrapped up in the moment that he didn't consider that Joey had skeletons, ones she wouldn't have wanted the world to know.
No wonder she doesn't want to know me.
He had his suspicions about the Us Magazine source. Gretchen came out too clean for it to be unrelated to her. Some of the things about Joey in her college years were also so vague as to come from someone who wasn't around, had heard it from a friend of a friend. It wasn't the first time she had done this. Last year there was a spate of articles relating to them trying for a baby, too many for Dawson to ignore. It came up in every interview. Gretchen made him go to a Yoga class with her once, only to discover it was one for pregnant women. The pictures were all over the gossips sheets the next week.
Not that Gretchen wasn't getting back all she deserved. Most of the other articles either didn't mention her or cast her as the evil Hollywood starlet that had torn the two lovers apart. He had had a private giggle at a couple of them.
But she was right; none of the press was concentrating on his success. It was all about his long lost love and his history in Capeside. About the woman that got away and was 'torturing his artistic soul'.
He liked that quote the best.
He stood up and looked out of his den window. The view was lousy, even in the mid morning sun, mostly of the back garden. His elaborate pool looked like a set out of the Flintstones movie but it was the fashionable choice for all Hollywood movie stars. Fashionable being the operative word. Attractive wasn't the word that came to mind.
Gretchen was sunbathing on the deck, her mini I-Pod plugged into her ears, a drink by her side. He couldn't recall when she changed so much. He knew it was shortly after he came back from New York on his trip. Maybe it was his guilty conscience or his heartbroken state, but he asked her to marry him in the most over the top way possible. On the beach, with fireworks and a 3 piece orchestra playing her favourite song. She was so taken aback she said yes. And then one day she came home, decided they had to move and started to plan a quick yet elaborate wedding. Then she got her job on The Creek and things started to go down hill fast.
But Dawson was too pre-occupied to notice the masses of celebrity friends she had accumulated or the sudden change in her image. She had gone from sweet, home town girl to polished nails and fake tan in a few months. Her image caused havoc on set, where she was cast as a down to earth and realistic film critic to spar with Coby. Luckily, she was more than willing to change her image for the camera and in those brief moments through the magic of the camera lens, Dawson convinced himself it would all be okay.
When she arrived on the wedding day, her dress simple and her hair elegant, he felt better about their relationship. It wasn't until the reception that things started to go down hill.
'Hey Mrs Leery, what's going on over there?' Dawson said, pulling Gretchen into her arms as she stormed away from Audrey and Pacey.
'Just your friend upstaging me on my day. Why is she here anyway?' Gretchen spat.
'Whoa. What's brought this on?' Dawson tried to smooth her hair down but she batted his hand away.
'That bitch is stirring trouble with Pacey, accusing him of being a liar and a cheat…'
'Not to cause an argument here Gretch, but you've gotta see it from her point of view. He cheated on her best friend for the best part of a year,' Dawson said casually, seeing Pacey move towards Andie and begin to talk in hushed tones.
'Well you're her best friend too? Why aren't you there defending her honour? I thought you would be first in line…'
Dawson stood stunned for a moment at the hate in her voice. She stared daggers at Audrey's back and snatched a drink from a nearby waitress.
'Whatever I feel towards Pacey is immaterial now. He's my brother in law and all of that is now in the past,'
'You better remember that Dawson, for all our sakes,' She downed her drink angrily and replaced her scowl with a huge, fake smile before making her way across to some of the network executives that had come to the wedding.
Dawson felt the chill go down his spine as he did that day, standing alone in a crowd full of people he barely knew. He remembered the happy but guarded faces of his mother and Bessie, who were standing close by. They knew. They knew the true state of his marriage but they were the only ones. He couldn't confide in Jack or Andie, both of them married into the family.
Occasionally he would talk to Jen, in his day dreams or alone on the beach at night. He would sometimes drive there to try and make sense of everything.
He was more alone than he had ever felt before and he didn't know what to do to fix it.
His cell rang again, impatiently on his desk.
'Hey Mom,'
'Hello my little Oscar winner.'
'You can stop calling me that you know, it's not my new name,' Dawson said, a red flush coming across his face. He lowered himself onto his couch and looked around his room at the photos on the wall. All of his friends and family. Well, all but one friend.
'What? A mother can't be proud. Thought I would call to thank you for the chaos that has descended onto town,'
'Sorry. How are Bessie and Bodie?'
'Okay, most of the press have left now. They've got the best dirt and have moved on. Some of the things you've said has made them realise there is no story here.' Gail said quietly.
'Cryptic mom, what do you mean?'
'Not that I read it, but in the Gossip hound it says you and Gretchen are trying for a baby? Direct quote from you.'
'Jesus Christ…' he raked his hand through his hair again.
'So when were you going to tell ole' granny here?'
'It's a lie Mom, we are not trying to have a baby. I can guarantee that…' his sentence trailed off as he saw movement on the deck.
'How are things… ?'
'Well remember Christmas?' Dawson watched as Gretchen stood up and moved towards the house.
'Yeah?'
'Worse,'
'Ouch, you wanna come home? A visit it long overdue.'
'Actually, I was considering it. I'll get back to you,' Dawson moved away from the window and headed to the den door, twisting the lock firmly at the sound of Gretchen's footstep on the stairs.
'Okay Honey, I love you.'
'Love you too Mom,'
'Bye.' She hung up and turned to face Bessie.
'Well?' she said, clutching her coffee mug with anticipation.
'We will have to wait and see,' Gail said, touching Bessie's arm affectionately.
Dawson opened the secret drawers under his sofa and pulled out the battered slim book that had become his secret haven, his hideaway. He carefully opened the book and feasted on the pictures and words inside. Joey's young face shone up at him, her hair brushing her shoulders with the un-styled fashion it used to. She was laughing, sitting on the edge of the dock with Jen. Dawson remembered when the picture was taken, the day before he left for USC. He traced his finger across her face and smiled.
'Dawson? Dawson!' Gretchen screamed.
'Yes?' he shouted back, quickly closing the book and throwing it under his sofa.
'What are you doing in there,' she said rattling the door.' Is this door locked?'
'I'm doing telephone interviews honey, I didn't want to be disturbed.
'Oh, well remember you promised to take me to the premier tonight. You need to get ready soon; you have an appointment at the tailor'
Dawson grimaced. He remembered in the middle of the arguments they had been having over the last 4 days he had bargained with an appearance at a major event. The new Spielberg film was the only thing high profile enough for her to agree on.
'Yeah honey, I will be out in a minute.'
He had to find a way out of here, someway.
'Okay, well don't be too long. We have to look perfect tonight.' Her voice disappeared down the hall and behind the door of her bedroom. He could hardly think of the flamboyant room as his own, having not slept in it for months.
He picked up his cell phone and scrolled through his address book.
'Mom, hi it's me again. I was thinking, how would you like me to fly out today?'
He lowered his voice.
'Yeah? Well I need you to do something for me…'
5 minutes later Gretchen was in front of her full length mirror, admiring her designer dress she was holding in front of her.
Damm her and damm him. I'm going to look fabulous tonight.
Suddenly her phone rang. She glanced at it ringing on the bed and then back at her reflection.
I'll leave it, it's not important.
The ringing stopped and she went back to admiring herself. The dress was certainly attention grabbing and hopefully enough to lure Dawson back into their bedroom that night.
The phone rang again.
'Alright, you win, you win.'
She stormed over and grabbed the phone, dropping her dress on the bed. The caller ID showed it was a Capeside number but not one she knew.
'Hello?'
'Gretchen? Oh thank god I got hold of you, it's Gail,'
'Gail? What's wrong?' Gretchen softened when she heard the concern in her voice.
'I can't get hold of Dawson. His cell has been tied up all day.'
'Well, he's doing interviews. I can pass on a message if it's important,'
'It is. His Aunt Gwen's fallen really ill. I need him to come home at once.'
'Really? Well how ill? We have plans this evening,' she said distractedly. Gail had done this before, although she never sounded as concerned before.
'She's had a stroke Gretchen and I need my son home. Please can you tell him it is urgent I speak to him or I will call every five minutes until I get hold of him,' Gail fumed down the phone. She had had enough of Gretchen's games.
Gretchen's face went white with the realisation she had gone too far. Gail had always had a way of silencing her.
'Sorry Gail, wait a second I will interrupt him,'
She scurried down the hall and banged on the den's door.
'Dawson! Dawson it's your mom, it's an emergency,'
The door flew open quickly.
'What?'
'It's your Aunt Gwen, she's had a stroke,'
She passed the phone and watched as Dawson's face fell.
'Hello?'
'So what would you like for dinner? We can eat at home or at the restaurant' Gail said calmly.
'Oh my god! She had a stroke at the restaurant? Is she okay?' Dawson overacted.
'Wonderful I'll book a table; do you want me to invite Bessie and Bodie?'
'Bessie and Bodie are there helping you? That's a good thing.'
'So anything else you will be requiring?' Gail smiled at Bessie while giving the thumbs up.
'No, no. I will fly out at once. I will call you with the flight details'
'Okay honey, I love you,'
'Bye,' Dawson hung up and turned to face Gretchen.
'I'm sorry I have to…'
'…go home? I'll come too,'
'No!' he said, maybe a little two quickly.
'What?' she said suspiciously.
'You have that screen test for that movie tomorrow. I wouldn't have you miss that. I'll go and then call you if you need to join okay?' Dawson grabbed her hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze.
She eyed him up and down and then nodded slowly. 'Okay, is it alright if I still go tonight? I can go with Deborah'
Dawson tried to control his glee at the apparent ease at which she said yes.
'Sure, I'm sure she would love to go. I better get a flight booked.'
'Do you need me to pack?' she asked, as he disappeared into his den once more.
'No, I'll just throw a couple of changes into a bag. Don't worry.'
'Oh shoot, I have to go to the hairdresser's. Call me when you get there okay?' she said, kissing him lightly on the cheek.
'I will. Enjoy tonight,' he said as he watched her jog down the stairs and then out the door.
He quickly called his PA and asked for a first class ticket to Boston, one way, with a car waiting for him the other side.
If I'm going to escape, I'm doing it in style.
Packing he considered what he was doing.
Surely this is what abused women do to escape their husbands? What has become of us?
His PA rang and confirmed he was on the next flight, landing him in Boston early evening. He made it clear to her that he was going for several weeks and was not to be disturbed, not by anyone for any reason. If he was going to do this, he needed time to consider the future. He redialled his mother's number again.
'Hi Mom, operation escape worked. I'll be in Capeside by this evening….yeah I love you too. Bye,'
Standing outside his front door, waiting for the car to come and get him, he felt free for the first time in years. Free from responsibility and free from the constant haunting image of his failing marriage.
But he felt truly free when he felt the plane left the ground and away from LA.
Perhaps forever.
