Home

We were driven through the London traffic, and some time later, we pulled up in front of a beautiful two-story brownstone, in what I was told was Canterbury.

“Relax, darling,” Orlando said as we got out of the car. He paused a moment to take me in his arms, sweeping his hands lightly up and down my back. I tried to force my nerves to calm down, but the butterflies in my stomach wouldn’t listen. I inhaled deeply, taking in Orlando’s scent, which helped a bit, but even his arms around me couldn’t slow my rapidly beating heart. A million fears flowed through my head, no matter how hard I tried to stop them. Would she like me? Would I make the right impression? Would she see me the way my dad saw Orlando, as a fling? What would she think of the article in ‘People’?

(more…)

Orlando came out of the bathroom not too long later, a towel wrapped around his hips, his hair loose and dripping down his back. I was just putting the food on his plate when he came downstairs into the kitchen.

“Smells good, love,” he said, making himself a tea with the water I’d already boiled in the kettle. He kissed my cheek and went into the dining room.

(more…)

All too soon the time came to return to New York and Wicked. As per Nick’s instructions, I’d kept up my practicing, so I would be ready to walk back into my role with little difficulty. Part of me was anxious to get home, but a bigger part of me wanted to revel in the world we’d created together, just the two of us. Other than a few outings with his family, during which time I met some of his family, we’d stayed pretty much in the house, pretending the outside world didn’t exist. I hadn’t realized how tired I actually was until I had the chance to slow down and rest. Orlando felt the same way.

We returned to New York the day before New Year’s Eve, as planned. I hadn’t expected the time difference to bother me, but it did, and I was exhausted by the time I unlocked the door to my apartment.

(more…)

When we walked into the lobby, it was the usual party scene. There were people everywhere, with drinks in their hands, and food set up on tables around the room. I scanned the crowd quickly, looking for Orlando, but didn’t find him anywhere. I went to the bar and got a drink, a dirty martini, and joined Lisa and some of the other company members.

“He’s not here,” I said to Lisa. “I guess he went home.”

(more…)

When I woke up a few hours later, my entire body hurt. I had to bite my lip to keep from crying out. Orlando was sound asleep in the chair beside my bed, and I didn’t want to wake him. It wasn’t even six o’clock in the morning yet. I gently pushed back my blankets, and went to the bathroom. When I came back, Orlando was standing beside my bed.

“There you are,” he said, smiling as he came to take me gently in his arms. He scooped me up and placed me gently on the bed again. “I’ll let the doctor know you’re up.” He kissed my forehead and left the room.

(more…)

I was freezing when I woke up later that afternoon. I rolled over to cuddle Orlando for warmth, but he wasn’t there. Cursing under my breath, I threw back the covers and got to my feet. I needed another blanket, and not knowing where Orlando was, I had to get it myself. I smiled to myself, thinking that I was finally getting to do something on my own, without him hovering over my shoulder.

(more…)

Orlando was due to return to his movie set a couple days later. We’d spent two glorious days in bed, watching movies and eating. Lisa joined us when she could, but, unlike me, she still had to work. The day Orlando was to leave, I resigned myself to being without him yet again, telling myself it was only for a few weeks.

(more…)

Whenever Orlando called over the next few days, it took everything I had not to tell him about my trip. It was a surprise, after all. I had to start back into training my voice, to get my stamina back, so I didn’t have a lot of time to think about going to see Orlando. I found I was exhausted after only a few songs, and I was having trouble hitting the notes in “Defying Gravity,” neither of which were a good sign. I had an appointment with Dr. Cuthbert, at his office, two days before I was to leave for St. Vincent’s, so I asked him about it.

(more…)

Friday morning dawned bright and cold, the perfect New York morning. I went down the street for coffee and a bagel, then went home to wait for the phone to ring. Orlando had taken to calling me every morning before he went to the set, sometimes as early as five or six, and I figured he wouldn’t miss that day. I was right.

“Happy birthday, Orlando,” I said when I picked up the phone. It was just after seven, and no one else I knew would call that early.

(more…)

“I believe this is yours,” he said afterward, handing me my discarded bathing suit. He’d already pulled his on, much to my disappointment. He didn’t seem to have any interest in looking at me; in fact, he kept looking away. I put my suit on and we swam back to shore slowly.

Orlando got out of the water first, and spread our towels out over the sand. I jogged up to him, ringing the water out of my hair. He was right there, and yet he seemed to be miles away.

(more…)