Beck got off the phone with Bob and sat back at his desk. Jade must have felt something too, he thought. She must have felt enough to cause a problem because she had to get a hold of our agent.
On the one hand Beck was flattered that seeing him was causing a problem, but on the other hand he did not want there to be an issue. He wanted to be able to just walk in and act and walk out. He knew Jade wanted the same but there were to be compromises, there had to be. Oh well, better call Trina and let her know we are having company for dinner tonight, and who it is.
Beck dials the phone'
Beck: Hey babe, how is the most beautiful mother of twins in the whole world?
Trina: I don't know when I see her I will ask her.
Beck: Tough day?
Trina: Not now that I am talking to you.
Beck: Well it is about to get worse. My manager Bob and Jade are coming over for dinner and discussion. Oh, Bob is supplying the food, by the way.
Trina: Okay, I guess. Do we know what the discussion is to be about?
Beck: Jade is coming, care to make a guess?
Trina: You know, you making love to her on set for the show is one thing, when you start bringing your work home with you…
Beck: I don't think it is that. How are the twins?
Trina: Adorable. She figured out she has a hand but can't figure out what it is for. He has discovered his thumb and the fact that it fits nicely in his mouth.
Beck: Cute. How about my darling wife; made any new discoveries?
Trina: Well I was reading this article about 7 steps to please your man, but we have company tonight, so…
Beck: You are so mean…I will see you in a few.
Beck's day ended soon and at least everything at work went smoothly. He locked up and then got into his car for the drive home. As Beck drove little vignettes flashed into his mind, Trina, Trina naked, the twins, Trina and the twins, Jade West, Jade West naked, then back to the twins.
It was a tough drive home and Beck had many emotions to wrestle with. He was still working on them when he pulled up to his house and opened the door. Things did get a little easier when he saw his wife and babies. Trina was wearing her usual short denim shorts that revealed all of her legs and a top that leant itself to easy access for breastfeeding babies. Or horny husbands; when left undone as it was now. Beck stared admiringly at his wife. She really was gorgeous, and she got back in shape after the babies so fast it boggled the mind. It was at times like this that thinking back to the past of Jade and Tori and Trina that he did not regret his choice.
Trina: So do you know what is going on tonight?
Beck: I expect that Jade is having funny feelings about us together and Bob is going to explain how former friends can act together without messing up their current lives.
Trina: Can they?
Beck: I expect it will be easier for me; I have you at home waiting for me. Jade is alone and goes home to an empty house.
Trina: Well I just heard their car pull up so I guess we will find out soon.
Trina and Beck went to open the front door and greeted Bob and Jade
Beck: Hey Guys come on in.
Beck shook Bob's hand and gave Jade a quick peck on the check. Bob did the same to Trina and then both girls hugged briefly.
Jade: So how are the babies?
Trina: Come take a look.
Trina led everyone to the twin's room. They were both fast asleep and looked adorable, after a few moments, the adoring adults all beat a quiet retreat and settled in the living room.
Bob: So I suppose you are all wondering why I called you here together today.
Everyone stared at him for a moment.
Bob: I am sorry, Gary Larson had a cartoon called The far Side and one of his illustrations showed a pack of wolves in the forest tearing apart at deer and the alpha wolf is standing on a rock saying that. I always thought it was funny.
Trina: You thought a deer getting torn apart by wolves was funny?
Jade: What kind of a sick mind thinks that way?
Bob: Aw come on, you are missing the point, help me out here Beck.
Beck: Not me, I am not touching that one.
Bob: Ok be that way, jade you can start.
Jade: Ok, Beck the other day you came to the studio and did a screen test with me. Well the audience and the focus groups and the studio execs all loved it. They could not believe the chemistry between us. The problem was; I really felt the chemistry. I thought I could work with you and things were over between us but after you left I was an emotional wreck.
Beck: I know exactly what you mean Jade. I felt exactly the same way.
Trina: He really did. I was never as scared in my life as I was that night. I thought that twins and all I had lost him.
Beck: Trina really worked overtime to save that one. Without her I don't know what I would have done. Then I thought about Jade, and I thought that she was handling this herself.
Jade: Good choice of words. But you are right it was not my finest hour.
Trina: Jade I am so sorry.
Jade: Beck you better take really good care of her, I don't know what it is about these Vegas, the worse you treat them the more they are there when you need someone. Tori was like that too, and I was such an ass to her.
Bob: The point being it seems that the important part is having someone to be with after these encounters. Beck has Trina and his babies, but up to now Jade has had no one.
Trina: Up to now, jade you have a boyfriend!
Bob: Yes I have decided that in the interest of my client and at great personal cost to myself I have decided to make myself available to Jade for her more carnal needs.
Trina: Ok, What did he just say?
Jade: Bob is my new boy toy.
Bob: As her agent I get 15%, my long term plan involves someday moving up to 50% in this community property state.
Trina: Huh?
Jade: He thinks I will let him marry me some day.
Bob: A good agent plans for the long run!
Beck: Well let me be the first to congratulate you, Jade is a really great girl. I hope everything works out well for you both.
Bob: Thank you. Hey let's order the food before it gets too late. I brought a menu from my favorite place unless you have one.
Trina: We can try yours; it might be nice to have something different.
Rob went to the kitchen with the menu and called in a huge order of various delicacies. Then returned to the living room.
Jade: So Trina are you excited that Beck is going to be doing some acting again?
Trina: Of course, he never wanted to give up acting even though his uncle gave him a great job.
Jade: Will his uncle be upset if he spends more and more time in acting?
Trina: When Beck's uncle offered him the job he knew where Beck's heart was. Beck's number two at work is a very strong and capable manager. He also has a bonus system that rewards him for greater input if Beck is out a lot and he has full authority to run the company in Beck's absence.
Jade: Wow, Beck's uncle must really be something. I may have to change my opinion of Canadians.
Trina: He is a sweetheart. When the twins were born he set up trust funds for them both. By the time they are ready college will be a breeze! Your old Goth personae would have liked him too; there are rumors about what happened to people foolish enough to cross him.
Jade: Really, no wonder the old Jade had such a thing for Beck.
Bob: Hey guys, the food's here!
Bob had met the driver at the door and began carrying in platters of wonderful smelling concoctions into the house. He grabbed a bunch of trivets and began organizing things on the dining room table.
Trina: This smells and looks incredible Bob, thank you so much for providing it for us.
Bob: You are welcome. Don't forget though that there are 3 clients represented here so you are earning it for me. Plus it is a business expense and deductible.
Jade: See why I love him? Is that an agent or what?
Bob: Gee and I thought it was because I was tall and good looking
Jade: Don't get a big ego now.
Trina; This is so neat all of us sitting around with Chinese food. I wish Tori and Andre were here, that would make it perfect.
Bob: I think they are on a travel day, let me see if they can come to the phone.
Bob dials.
Bob: Hello Tori, this is Bob. Yes I am here at Beck's house having Chinese with a bunch of people who miss you. Let me put you on speaker.
Tori: Hi everybody how is it going?
Trina: Just great Tori, Jade has a boyfriend!
Tori: Oh really. That is interesting. Somehow I always thought she might hook up with Bob, the few times I saw them together he was always checking her out.
Bob: Before you embarrass me too much Tori, it is me.
Tori: Hah, I knew it! Congratulations Jade!
Jade: Why congratulate Jade? I happen to think he is getting the good end of this deal.
Bob: I agree wholeheartedly
Tori: Wow Jade, you have him trained already, good job!
Jade: You have to start when they are puppies.
Andre: Hey everybody!
The group: Hi Andre!
Beck: How is the tour going Andre?
Andre: Just great now that I have my number one backup with me,
Bob: By the way guys, that was a beautiful thing you did with Annie.
Andre: They didn't publicize that did they? I told them I did not want that to be a publicity stunt!
Bob: Relax, Andre, I only found out because Laurie wrote a letter to the Agency thanking you. No one else knew.
Andre: If you saw the smile on that little girl you would have done anything for her too.
Bob: Well Laurie, her mom thinks you and Tori are the greatest...
Andre: Glad we could help out... Our signal is fading, going to have to say bye for now.
No Signal
Trina: Who are Laurie and Annie?
Bob: it is a cute story. Annie is a little girl being treated for cancer at USC Medical Center who flies in from Topeka Kansas once a month. Tori was sitting next to her in the terminal and they were talking. It turns out Annie is a big fan of Andre's but had never been to a concert because of her illness. Tori didn't tell her who she was but arranged for Andre to pick up Annie and her mom in the limo and bring then to the concert and seat them on stage for the show. When it was over they gave them a ride home in the limo. Andre did not want the press to get the story, he was afraid they would cheapen it. He just wanted to help a fan.
Trina: That is so sweet, it sounds like something Tori and Andre would do. How is Annie?
Bob: She is still hanging in there. She now has a great story to tell everyone she meets. Andre even gave her his private cell number so she can call him anytime or anywhere. I am not sure but I think he is writing a song about her too.
Beck: Andre is probably the only star who would do that. He is the kind of guy who remembers where he came from and never forgets the "little people".
Trina: Oh, speaking of the "little people" I heard a noise from the nursery. Time to take care of the crew, excuse me for a while.