Read Online The Pages We Forget by Anthony Lamarr - Free Book Online

June and Torrence, taking a decidedly calmer approach in speaking to his star client. “All right, Junie, you say you’re not going. May I ask why?”
    â€œBecause I have something else I need to do.”
    â€œSomething like what?”
    â€œThis CD.”
    â€œWhat CD?”
    â€œI’m recording a new CD. This is the first song.”
    Bernard scratched his head. “Does Alex know anything about this?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œAnd when were you going to tell him? And tell me?”
    â€œI don’t know. One day.”
    Bernard was speechless.
    June began to hum in tune with the song. “You’re right, Torrence. Let’s keep the background vocals to a minimum.”
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    Alex had not misjudged the size of the iceberg. Not only was June determined to record the CD, she insisted on writing and producing every song on it. She had coproduced two songs written by Alex on her three previous CDs, but it was always Alex who wrote, produced and charted out the direction of her music. This time, she said she didn’t want his help. Her explanation was theproject was personal and it was paramount that she wrote and recorded the CD now.
    June’s peculiar behavior didn’t end there. She had been shuttered in the studio for nearly thirty-one hours when she called and told Bernard she was pulling out of the film, For His Love. It was the Tuesday Alex, Trevor and Bernard returned from the Academy Awards ceremony. She told him she couldn’t do the film because her new Pages CD demanded all of her time.
    Bernard and the rest of June’s handlers, including Cynthia Duckett, the head of Duckett’s PR, Inc., were already working overtime. The rumor mill was already circulating stories about cracks in June and Alex’s picture-perfect relationship. First came the headline, “Alex and June, No Longer,” after Alex attended the Oscars ceremony without June. Against Bernard and Cynthia’s advice, he excluded her during his acceptance speech. Next was the headline, “June Quits Show Biz,” pasted in bold letters across the top of more than one national tabloid after the news of her quitting the film began to swirl. The most hurtful story was the one that blared, “June Ready to Leave Alex for Old Lover.”
    Even Alex started believing the rumors after June backed out on their Easter trip to Hampton Springs. Trevor had been ready since last Thanksgiving’s visit to get back to his grandmother’s so he could ride the horse Kathryn bought him the previous Christmas. A promise was a promise, he angrily reminded his parents during breakfast. Breakfast was the only time they could count on seeing June outside the studio.
    â€œWe did promise,” Alex told June later that morning. He stood in a corner of the studio watching June compose music for a new song on the electronic keyboard. “We can’t simply break our promise to him,” he said.
    â€œI can’t go,” she answered, not bothering to look back at Alex. “I don’t have time.”
    â€œSo what do you want me to tell him?”
    â€œI don’t know. When’s the next holiday? Mother’s Day. Tell him we’ll go for Mother’s Day.”
    â€œWe both promised him we would go this weekend.”
    â€œWell, I can’t!”
    Before he knew he was saying it, Alex replied sharply, “Fine! Then I’ll take him! You don’t have to go!” Alex didn’t know where that statement came from, as the thought of going to Hampton Springs without her was never on his list of things he wanted to do. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Hampton Springs. Everybody in the town went out of their way to be nice and courteous to him. After all, he was with June. But he always felt they looked at him as her consolation prize instead of the man she really loved. He had never been to Hampton Springs without her, but a