Read Online The Fan Letter by Nancy Temple Rodrigue - Free Book Online

“Your mom had an errand. I don't know when she'll be back.”
    Question forgotten, Davey's attention was on Phillip. “Why are you a funny color?”
    Smiling as he climbed the stairs to his bedroom, Phillip explained, “Because I did what I am always telling you not to do. I was out in the pool too long.”
    “Do you want to see what I am going to take to Japan?” was the next eager question.
    “Not now, son. Perhaps another time.”
    A fter the passport problem was straightened out, Sarah stood on the sidewalk with her agent, Martin Thomas, or Marty, as everyone except Phillip called him. Her anger and worry had returned.
    “Can you believe it, Marty? He said he wouldn't go with us to Japan!”
    Marty looked disgusted. “Why in the world did you even ask him to go? He'd just be in the way. Who wants some out-of-work actor hanging around? All you need is me. Am I right?” he asked, putting a familiar hand on her shoulder.
    Sarah sniffed. “He isn't out of work and you know it. It isn't great work, but its work. It's just….” She broke off, unsure of voicing her fear.
    The hand on her shoulder moved so it now encircled her small waist. “Come on, you can tell me. You always tell me everything.”
    Sarah lowered her voice even though there was no one else around. “It's these letters Phillip has been getting. You know, fan letters from one woman. Apparently he has replied to at least two and…well, I'm worried.”
    Marty smirked to himself. “So, the old man has a devoted follower. ‘Oh, Phillip’,” he joked in a squeaky, high voice. “‘You are the greatest actor in the whole wide world’.”
    Sarah rolled her eyes and pulled away from him a step. “Oh, stop it,” she almost smiled. “They weren't like that. Well, not yet, anyway. You know how dangerous outsiders can get. We don't know anything about this little person he calls ‘Bunny’,” she almost spat out the nickname.
    Her agent studied her face. This was getting more and more interesting. “Are you worried or jealous?”
    Her face jerked towards him, her blue eyes flashing. “Jealous?” she demanded with a questionable laugh. “Oh. Right…. I don't want some demented lunatic at my front door! Do you know he sent her our address! We might as well hang a sign out front that reads ‘Sarah Beck lives here. Harass us’.”
    Marty still smirked. “So you want Phillip to tag along with us to Japan. To protect him, right?” he asked.
    Sarah turned and strode to her white Jaguar. “Fine, Marty, make jokes. We don't know anything about this…this little ‘Bunny’ person,” as she slammed the door shut.
    Marty tapped on her passenger window until she lowered it. Leaning in, he cocked his head. “Do you want to find out about her? There are ways, you know,” he said in a low voice.
    She frowned and was silent for a moment as she studied the sly look on his face. “I didn't say I wanted her knocked off, Marty. I just want her to keep away from my husband. Some of the things she said bothered me.”
    Marty motioned for her to lean closer. He gave her a quick kiss on her cheek. “Don't worry. I'll have a friend of mine stop over to see you. When is Grandpa Beck going to be gone?”
    “He's taking Davey to Majestic Wednesday around ten o'clock to see Uncle Eddie.”
    Marty stood away from the car. “Good. A Mr. Fields will be over at eleven. Try to look pretty for him.”
    Sarah flashed him a brilliant smile. “I always look pretty,” she shot back as she slammed the car into gear and sped away.
    W hen Sarah returned home, she surprised Phillip by putting her arms around him and kissing him on the lips. “I'm sorry for what I said earlier,” she explained. “I know your career is important. I shouldn't have asked you to renege on your contracts.”
    “You're in a good mood,” he carefully observed as he returned the caress. “I take it the passport is no longer a problem?”
    She pulled away and headed for her study, smiling.