***

Ashley and her mom searched the racks at the department store, looking for a dress. Ashley held up an ice-blue one. “What do you think?”

A frown slid off Mom’s face. “You’ll look beautiful in anything.”

Ashley smiled. Powder would not agree. She’d have to send her some pictures and get her input.

Mom worried at her lip and her voice was soft and low. “Um, Ashley?”

“Yeah?” Ashley slid hangers further down the metal rack, looking for her size.

“Um, well, I know you don’t have a date, but sometimes that doesn’t mean you won’t meet someone at the dance. You know about condoms, right?”

“Mom!” Ashley stopped sorting and looked up. “I’m not sleeping with anyone.” As she said the words, she wondered why the thought of sleeping with one of the guys at her high school was so appalling.

“It’s only that, things happen, and you don’t always mean them to, and you need to be prepared.”

Ashley continued her search, keeping her eyes on the clothes instead of her mom’s bright red face. “I know you had me in college, so I wasn’t exactly planned.”

Mom wrapped her arms around her waist. “It’s not that. You were my favorite gift ever. Just —”

Ashley shook her head. “Mom, really, we don’t have to go there.”

Chapter 20

The first thing she saw when she entered her room was her Winter Dance dress, hanging on the back of her closet. The second thing she saw was an invitation to the movie premiere from Dad. The embossed card lay on top of a travel itinerary and a huge square dress box. Inside lay three designer dresses wrapped in tissue paper.

She touched the delicate fabric of the white one on top. Could she go? Did they let fired people in? Pressing the heel of her right hand against her forehead, she wrapped her left hand around her waist. She should’ve told Dad she was fired from the project.

Screw that; she’d worked hard on the film and wanted to see it. She didn’t want to be stuck at home while Caz worked the red carpet like he was the only one who’d worked on the film. Who cared if Caz believed her or not? He was Hollywood dressed in a British accent. All the drama, mixed in with ego, and all the problems that actors created for themselves. Her cell rang, and the screen showed a picture of Marissa. She tried to sound normal when she answered. “Hello?”

“I found my dress. It’s awesome,” Marissa said. “Kind of an eggplant color. I’ll send you the picture as soon as we hang up.”

“Dad sent me an invitation to the movie premiere. I don’t know if I should go, because of Caz and everything that happened.” Ashley’s voice dwindled at the last words.

Silence, then, “He’s a total fry wipe. And he doesn’t own the movie.”

Knock, knock.

“Call you later.” Ashley hung up.

Mom entered. She wore a big sweater and a worried look. The door clicked closed behind her.

Ashley said, “Did you see the dresses Dad sent? They’re gorgeous.”

Mom nodded, but her frown didn’t fall away. She bit her lip and sat on the edge of Ashley’s bed, clasping and unclasping her hands. Mom said, “Honey, I’d never ask you to keep something from your father.”

Ashley frowned and pulled her knees toward her chest.

“It’s just that maybe you could put off telling him something until I’ve fully worked it out?”

“Okay, sure.”

Mom flattened a hand on her stomach. “You see. Well, last summer, when I visited you that weekend.” Mom sucked in a breath and looked at the wall. “Well, your father and I.” Her face flushed a deep red. “We love each other very much.”

“I know. You’re different people and can’t live together.”

Mom stiffened and nodded. “It’s only that, sometimes, like I said, if you’re not careful…” Mom’s voice trailed off.

“What’s wrong? I haven’t heard from Dad in a week, what’s going on?”

“I’m pregnant.”

Chapter 21

“I’ve arranged for the limo,” Marissa said to their lunch table. She offered a box of reheated fries coated with dots of red powder to the table. Everyone declined. Marissa shrugged and popped one in her mouth. “It’ll pick me up, then Ashley, then Steve; then we’ll swing by Michelle’s for photos and get everyone. Unless you want to meet me at the Fry Hut early?”

Ashley joined her friends in shaking their heads.

Marissa rooted through her bag and dug out a brochure to show them the stretch limo.

By the end of lunch, Ashley was actually excited. She welcomed the distraction from what was going on at home, and she’d probably have more fun going with her friends than a date anyway.

Michelle poked her arm with the brochure. “Tell me about your dress.”

“Ice blue and long,” Ashley said. “Yours?”

“Nice, you’ll look like an Icee,” Marissa said.

Michelle said, “Oh, Ashley, ice blue will match your eyes. How pretty. Mine’s pure white, like a snow queen.”

Chapter 22

Caz kept his jacket on as he entered the cold studio to record dialogue over special effects. This should be the last of his technical tasks on this film, and he was ready to finish.

The sound and special effects art directors sat at the control booth, intent on the images flashing on the small screen in front of them. Beside them were a pile of scripts and notes.

Caz stilled as he recognized Ashley’s notebook. Maybe she’d sold the quotes inside, but clearly she hadn’t given the notebook itself to the tabloids. “Hey,” he said in greeting.

“Caspian, great, let’s get you started.” The sound director handed him a set of headphones. He pointed toward a glass-enclosed sound recording area.

Caz paused by the art director. “Isn’t that Ashley’s notebook?”

The art director looked reluctantly away from the screen images. “Huh? Oh, hi, Caspian.”

Caz reached for it.

The art director followed the motion distractedly. “I found it on set after she left. I thought maybe the PA would be here.”

“I’ll return it.” Caz tucked Ashley’s book under his arm as he headed toward the door.

“Thanks, and tell her from me, there’s some good stuff in there.” The art director turned his attention back to the monitor. “She should call when she gets her degree.”

Caz couldn’t wait to finish this recording and open the notebook she’d never let him look at before. He didn’t get a chance until after martial arts practice.

***

In his room, Caz flipped open the cover and braced himself to see proof of her deceit. He’d seen Ashley with the notebook a million times, and he wished she’d been honest just once and told him why she betrayed him. Some people liked their name in print. Some needed money. He got that, but Ashley wasn’t an attention-seeker, and he’d seen her father’s house. She didn’t need money.

Caz opened the cover and stilled. The first page held a picture of her father’s place, but a stylized version. Arched windows were made gothic and dramatic, chimneys soared into the clouds, and statues appeared to be in motion. He ran a finger against the rough surface of the thick paper.

The next held a drawing of warehouse 47. Instead of square metal, she’d given the building curves and balconies.

He flipped a few more pages. Some buildings he recognized, some he didn’t. There were images of the interior set also, but none were realistic, and he hadn’t seen any version of them in the press. Her drawings were fascinating, close enough to their original buildings to recognize, but then turned around and made interesting. The ones he didn’t recognize he wanted to ask her about so he could see the originals.