star before in our lives, remember?”
Elaina smiled and nodded. At least she was willing to cooperate.
The man in front of them cross ed his arms forcefully. “If that’s how you’re treating us, I’m not sure we want a room here. I’ll need to discuss our options with my wife.” The couple moved farther down the counter to talk.
Clarissa quickly stepped up to the counter. “Clarissa Hancock and Meredith Allen.”
The clerk checked the names on her computer, then opened the key drawer. “You’ll be staying in rooms 820 and 821. They’re off to your—”
“Wait a minute, wait a minute!” The man stormed back to the front of the counter, standing directly beside them. “You told me the top floor was booked up.”
“It i s,” the clerk said, this time less patiently. “These women are part of that group.”
The man looked from the little girls, to Meredith, and then at Clarissa. “You mean to tell me you’re movie people?”
Elaina smiled up at the man. “We’ve neber seen movie stars before in our lives.”
“I thought as much.” He turned to the clerk. “I want to see the manager, right now.”
Clarissa leaned over the counter. “Can we just get our keys, please?”
From outside, clapping and hollering erupted.
“It sounds like the Agents’ cast showed up,” Meredith said.
Clarissa swallowed. “Or someone else has.” She let go of Bella’s hand to take her key card from the clerk. As she did, Bella shot off toward the front doors.
“Come back here,” Clarissa called.
“Right now,” Meredith added.
Bella peered out the glass doors for only a second. “It’s Daddy!”
The doors slid open in front of Bella. For Clarissa it was one of those awful moments, like when she knocked a glass off a table and watched the thing falling in slow motion to the floor. She wanted to stop it, but couldn’t. Clarissa stood holding Elaina and willed Bella to turn and come back. Instead, the little girl went crashing outside.
Clarissa turned and without a word handed Elaina to Meredith, then ran after Bella.
Bella had a head start, but she also had shorter legs. Clarissa could catch her.
The little girl darted into the crowd , and Clarissa followed. For a moment Clarissa couldn't see her and felt the trappings of panic. What if she lost her altogether? Clarissa called out, “Bella!” and got no answer.
Then Clarissa caught sight of her weaving through a group of teenagers. She called out her name again. Bella only glanced back at her and went quicker. Clarissa sprinted after her, trying to keep her in sight, while simultaneously avoiding plowing into bystanders. Bella slowed, staring up at the faces around her, searching for her father, and Clarissa narrowed the ground between them. The end of the chase came when Bella started to go one way, then changed her mind and went the other. Clarissa reached out and caught hold of Bella’s arm. “You’re coming with me right now, young lady.”
Bella lunged toward the nearest pant leg and held on. “Daddy!” she screamed.
Still pulling on Bella’s arm, Clarissa looked up at the owner of the pant leg to apologize for Bella’s behavior. She found herself looking directly into Slade’s eyes.
He hoisted Bella up into his arms. Then he took hold of Clarissa’s elbow and propelled her forward. “We’ve had enough of a scene for one night,” he said quietly into her ear. “Let’s gather what dignity we can and go to the lobby.”
Clarissa moved forward in a shocked sort of way and noticed for the first time that the crowd had parted around them. All eyes were on her. She gulped and walked stiffly, hoping that if there were ever a time in her life when she could manage not to trip, this would be it.
As they walked, one of the well-dressed, well-hair -sprayed women stepped into their path. “Slade, is this your daughter?”
Slade paused in front of the reporter and smiled casually, confidently, as though he’d meant to take this
Elaina smiled and nodded. At least she was willing to cooperate.
The man in front of them cross ed his arms forcefully. “If that’s how you’re treating us, I’m not sure we want a room here. I’ll need to discuss our options with my wife.” The couple moved farther down the counter to talk.
Clarissa quickly stepped up to the counter. “Clarissa Hancock and Meredith Allen.”
The clerk checked the names on her computer, then opened the key drawer. “You’ll be staying in rooms 820 and 821. They’re off to your—”
“Wait a minute, wait a minute!” The man stormed back to the front of the counter, standing directly beside them. “You told me the top floor was booked up.”
“It i s,” the clerk said, this time less patiently. “These women are part of that group.”
The man looked from the little girls, to Meredith, and then at Clarissa. “You mean to tell me you’re movie people?”
Elaina smiled up at the man. “We’ve neber seen movie stars before in our lives.”
“I thought as much.” He turned to the clerk. “I want to see the manager, right now.”
Clarissa leaned over the counter. “Can we just get our keys, please?”
From outside, clapping and hollering erupted.
“It sounds like the Agents’ cast showed up,” Meredith said.
Clarissa swallowed. “Or someone else has.” She let go of Bella’s hand to take her key card from the clerk. As she did, Bella shot off toward the front doors.
“Come back here,” Clarissa called.
“Right now,” Meredith added.
Bella peered out the glass doors for only a second. “It’s Daddy!”
The doors slid open in front of Bella. For Clarissa it was one of those awful moments, like when she knocked a glass off a table and watched the thing falling in slow motion to the floor. She wanted to stop it, but couldn’t. Clarissa stood holding Elaina and willed Bella to turn and come back. Instead, the little girl went crashing outside.
Clarissa turned and without a word handed Elaina to Meredith, then ran after Bella.
Bella had a head start, but she also had shorter legs. Clarissa could catch her.
The little girl darted into the crowd , and Clarissa followed. For a moment Clarissa couldn't see her and felt the trappings of panic. What if she lost her altogether? Clarissa called out, “Bella!” and got no answer.
Then Clarissa caught sight of her weaving through a group of teenagers. She called out her name again. Bella only glanced back at her and went quicker. Clarissa sprinted after her, trying to keep her in sight, while simultaneously avoiding plowing into bystanders. Bella slowed, staring up at the faces around her, searching for her father, and Clarissa narrowed the ground between them. The end of the chase came when Bella started to go one way, then changed her mind and went the other. Clarissa reached out and caught hold of Bella’s arm. “You’re coming with me right now, young lady.”
Bella lunged toward the nearest pant leg and held on. “Daddy!” she screamed.
Still pulling on Bella’s arm, Clarissa looked up at the owner of the pant leg to apologize for Bella’s behavior. She found herself looking directly into Slade’s eyes.
He hoisted Bella up into his arms. Then he took hold of Clarissa’s elbow and propelled her forward. “We’ve had enough of a scene for one night,” he said quietly into her ear. “Let’s gather what dignity we can and go to the lobby.”
Clarissa moved forward in a shocked sort of way and noticed for the first time that the crowd had parted around them. All eyes were on her. She gulped and walked stiffly, hoping that if there were ever a time in her life when she could manage not to trip, this would be it.
As they walked, one of the well-dressed, well-hair -sprayed women stepped into their path. “Slade, is this your daughter?”
Slade paused in front of the reporter and smiled casually, confidently, as though he’d meant to take this
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