Read Online Hollywood Beginnings (A Novella) by Kathy Dunnehoff - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathy Dunnehoff
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to know since we were in the birthplace of spray-on hair for men and the early testing ground for hair plugs.
He'd also been described as a man devoted to helping up and coming young actresses, and I think we all knew what that meant, especially since the middle-aged woman delivering the observation looked like she was prepared to march in a take back the night rally.
In the background I thought I heard the organ softly play Only the Good Die Young . Even the organist had anger issues when it came to Van Baron and seemed committed to playing quietly through the whole service. Cheaper than therapy, I suppose.
My mother leaned in, probably to avoid hearing any more sad stories from women who hadn't been as lucky to have a chaperone as she had. "How was Brian?"
My mind froze. She was asking…"Excuse me?"
"After dinner, when he drove you home, how was he doing? Was he upset?"
Upset? Not until I busted him in the morning, but I didn't know how to tell her that. What should I say? He was big? Athletic? Slow-handed and willing to speed up on the delivery when it was called for? Weirdly obsessed with her ? I didn't want anyone to know how badly I'd chosen again, but she needed to steer clear of him just the same. "Don't talk to him anymore, Mom. When we leave, if he tries to contact you…" I had to stop for a moment to ignore the stab of disappointment that Brian Keller would not be having contact with me, any kind of contact, ever again.
She didn't even blink, just whispered back to me while another woman stood and the organist played Frank Sinatra's I Did It My Way . "He had a very tough time of it, poor boy."
"Time of what?"
"Well, it took some effort for him to find me in the first place and let me know about Van."
"He's the one who told you?"
She hesitated. "He needed some information."
"I'll bet."
"What does that mean?" Her eyes narrowed at me, and when I didn't answer, she went on in her mom-lecture voice. "He's a nice man, Amy. Honestly, you've really had the worst taste in men. When I sent you off with him after dinner, I knew you'd make it more difficult than it needed to be."
I would make it difficult? Well, she knew nothing. "It's not me this time, geeze! He had your picture up in his house and a gingham bathing suit."
She sighed in exaggeration. "Brian is not a cross-dresser, and this is exactly how rumors get started."
" He wasn't wearing the bikini. I was. It was in his pool house, but then I found out way too late it was yours from Beach Blanket Twist . It's like he's obsessed with you, Mom. Seriously, Brian Keller is beach blanket twisted ."
"The blue and white bikini." Her eyes softened as if I'd just said the most charming thing in the world. "That's sweet." She shook her head, a little choked up, and I knew if I had terrible taste in men, she was really whacked to think he was sweet.
And then as the last woman sat down, Brian Keller himself took the podium.
Maybe I should have guessed the tabloid prince would be there since he was such an expert on Van Baron by way of my mother. I wanted to feel frankly my dear I don't give a damn but I really felt you had me at hello and then you had me on the beach and in the shower ...
I didn't want to want him, but damned if I didn't feel a pull towards him. I really did have terrible taste in men, and the worst part was I didn't let myself see it coming. Everyone thought Duane was a complete douche bag, and I'm not imagining it because my brother actually said, Duane's a complete douche bag . But up until the moment the twenty-something mini mart clerk snapped her gum and said, yeah, what's it to you? And I had to say, I'm his wife , I hadn't wanted to see how bad he was.
This time the evidence was, well, more evident. But I couldn't help but notice the lines drawn around Brian's eyes, his mouth tight as if he were stressed. I refused to feel anything seeing him stand up there in a dark suit coat, his skin warm in the stark white of his shirt. I wish I
He'd also been described as a man devoted to helping up and coming young actresses, and I think we all knew what that meant, especially since the middle-aged woman delivering the observation looked like she was prepared to march in a take back the night rally.
In the background I thought I heard the organ softly play Only the Good Die Young . Even the organist had anger issues when it came to Van Baron and seemed committed to playing quietly through the whole service. Cheaper than therapy, I suppose.
My mother leaned in, probably to avoid hearing any more sad stories from women who hadn't been as lucky to have a chaperone as she had. "How was Brian?"
My mind froze. She was asking…"Excuse me?"
"After dinner, when he drove you home, how was he doing? Was he upset?"
Upset? Not until I busted him in the morning, but I didn't know how to tell her that. What should I say? He was big? Athletic? Slow-handed and willing to speed up on the delivery when it was called for? Weirdly obsessed with her ? I didn't want anyone to know how badly I'd chosen again, but she needed to steer clear of him just the same. "Don't talk to him anymore, Mom. When we leave, if he tries to contact you…" I had to stop for a moment to ignore the stab of disappointment that Brian Keller would not be having contact with me, any kind of contact, ever again.
She didn't even blink, just whispered back to me while another woman stood and the organist played Frank Sinatra's I Did It My Way . "He had a very tough time of it, poor boy."
"Time of what?"
"Well, it took some effort for him to find me in the first place and let me know about Van."
"He's the one who told you?"
She hesitated. "He needed some information."
"I'll bet."
"What does that mean?" Her eyes narrowed at me, and when I didn't answer, she went on in her mom-lecture voice. "He's a nice man, Amy. Honestly, you've really had the worst taste in men. When I sent you off with him after dinner, I knew you'd make it more difficult than it needed to be."
I would make it difficult? Well, she knew nothing. "It's not me this time, geeze! He had your picture up in his house and a gingham bathing suit."
She sighed in exaggeration. "Brian is not a cross-dresser, and this is exactly how rumors get started."
" He wasn't wearing the bikini. I was. It was in his pool house, but then I found out way too late it was yours from Beach Blanket Twist . It's like he's obsessed with you, Mom. Seriously, Brian Keller is beach blanket twisted ."
"The blue and white bikini." Her eyes softened as if I'd just said the most charming thing in the world. "That's sweet." She shook her head, a little choked up, and I knew if I had terrible taste in men, she was really whacked to think he was sweet.
And then as the last woman sat down, Brian Keller himself took the podium.
Maybe I should have guessed the tabloid prince would be there since he was such an expert on Van Baron by way of my mother. I wanted to feel frankly my dear I don't give a damn but I really felt you had me at hello and then you had me on the beach and in the shower ...
I didn't want to want him, but damned if I didn't feel a pull towards him. I really did have terrible taste in men, and the worst part was I didn't let myself see it coming. Everyone thought Duane was a complete douche bag, and I'm not imagining it because my brother actually said, Duane's a complete douche bag . But up until the moment the twenty-something mini mart clerk snapped her gum and said, yeah, what's it to you? And I had to say, I'm his wife , I hadn't wanted to see how bad he was.
This time the evidence was, well, more evident. But I couldn't help but notice the lines drawn around Brian's eyes, his mouth tight as if he were stressed. I refused to feel anything seeing him stand up there in a dark suit coat, his skin warm in the stark white of his shirt. I wish I
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