"The phone is ringing," Jamie said bluntly. It was weird. I mean, we've been together for a week, but we didn't really know what to talk about. The only time we had a good conversation was after sex.
"I'll get it," I said, getting up from the couch where I was reading. "Hello?"
"Cathy, don't hang –up," said Richard. "I'm so, so sorry."
He was calling now? "Sorry, wrong number," I said and hung -up. I felt bad, but I had Jamie again, I didn't want to screw it up. Jamie was at his laptop typing. I tried to start a new conversation. "Writing a new book?"
"Actually, it's an old one I didn't finish," Jamie explained. "I read it again and made some edits. It's better now."
"You started a book and didn't finish it?" I asked. "Since when? I mean, when did you stop?"
"Right before the divorce," Jamie said. It was the first time we mentioned our marriage. Instead of further this conversation, I picked up Lisa from her playpen and danced around with her.
"Be careful with her," Jamie said, watching me tap with Lisa. He was such an overprotective father, but it was cute. Just wait until she wants to date.
"Don't worry, Daddy," I said, tapping around the kitchen. "Oh, by the way, I have an audition this afternoon. It was a kind of last minute thing. Could you go shopping? We have, like, no milk."
"Yeah, of course," Jamie said, concentrating on his work. Suddenly, a memory came flashing back.
"Go shopping, will you?" I asked Jamie. "We need milk for coffee in the morning."
"Yeah, of course," Jamie said, typing away.
"Jamie, did you hear me?" I asked.
"Yes, go get milk, I heard you," Jamie said, still typing.
"Will you go get milk then?" I asked. "I have to update my résumé."
"I'm on a roll, Cathy," Jamie said, "Can't you add fake plays to your resume later?"
"Excuse me, Jamie?" I said. "Since when is your work more important than mine?"
"Since I'm the only one making any money," Jamie said, finally looking at me. "I think my career is more important." He went back to his computer and continued typing. Argh, that sound. Tip tap tip tap tap tap, tip tip tap tap tip tip tap tip tap tap tip. It annoyed me so much. Tip tap tap tip tip tip tap tap tap tip tip tap. I was so angry, I went over to the computer and pulled the plug. "Cathy! I was working on that! I hadn't saved recently! Do you know how much I just lost?"
"Yes, your bed!" I said.
"What?" Jamie asked.
"Your sleeping on the couch, mister," I said, getting pillows.
"'I'm not sleeping here at all," Jamie said, grabbing his coat and walking out. I stared at the door and began to cry. I later found out that he was going to see Elise. I cried all night, I couldn't sleep…
"You know what, I'll just go after my audition," I said. I didn't want the same thing to happen.
"No, it's not a problem," Jamie said, getting up from his work and hugging me. "Besides, I'll be able to spend some quality time with Lisa. Right, honey?" Jamie picked up his daughter and 'flew' her through the air.
"Be careful with her," I said, genuinely worried.
"Don't worry, Mommy," Jamie said mocking me. I crossed my arms. He smiled and kissed me. "It's completely safe. When is your audition?"
"It's at 3:30," I said looking at the clock. It was two. "I should start getting ready, warming my voice and all."
"Lisa and I will go to the Supermarket now, right Little Lisa?" Jamie said. "Let's go!" Jamie put on his coat, then Lisa's coat. "Stroller or no?" Jamie asked Lisa in a serious voice. I couldn't help giggling.
"No!" Lisa said, pointing to the stroller. Jamie put her in, but she started to cry. "No, no, no, no, no, no!"
"No?" Jamie said, tickling Lisa. Lisa started laughing. He picked her up and left. I started warming my voice, and soon it was time to leave. Before I knew it I was waiting with a zillion other girls to audition.
"Number 56!" A lady yelled. That was me. I got up and walked into the room smiling. A table of men, as usual.
"Cathy, what will you be singing for us?" the director asked me.
"When You Come Home to Me," I said, always smiling.
"Proceed," the producer (I think) said.
"When you come home to me…" I started singing. It flowed easily and sounded better than ever. I felt as if I was doing the best I could, or better. When I finished, I smiled. They let me sing the whole song!
"Please read these lines for us," The director asked, handing me a script. I noticed the highlighted part.
"Please do it with a British accent," the director added. I began.
"Why are you following me, Harry?" I asked.
"I'm not following, exactly," the director said, reading for Harry.
"At the Supermarket, you put yourself on sale so I would buy you," I said as
Gabrielle, the British woman.
"I know you, Gabby, you can't resist a bargain," the director read.
"The only way I'd take you home is if someone was giving me money, and maybe not even then," I said. "Stop following me."
"I love you," the director said.
"That's nice, now leave," I said. The director started laughing.
"Thank you, that will be all," the director said, taking the script back.
"Thank you, thank you so much," I said as I left. I was beaming. I was skipping when I went into the apartment. Jamie was sitting on the couch, sulking. "What's wrong?" I asked him. He pointed to the kitchen. I walked over and there was Richard.
"Did he call you today?" Jamie asked.
"Yes," I said. "But I didn't talk to him. I said wrong number and hung up. Why? Why are you here, Richard?"
"Heather's missing," Richard said.
(Thanks for your reviews. Oh, don't you hate me for leaving you hanging like that? It's okay; the next chapter is going to be super long. Where is Heather? What happened with Cathy's audition? Will old emotions stir with Richard around? Please Review!)