It's been two days since my audition, I just heard the news that I got the part and filming needs to start right away, Amelia really shouldn't be flying, but her being so close to her due date, she needs to be close by. She is supportive of this project and what it may mean for my career. I pack up the last of our suit cases into the car and we head over to the airport, we are moving halfway around the world to Vancouver, Canada.
Just a week before filming is set to begin my wife gives birth to our daughter, Dulcie, cast and crew offer me congratulations as we sit in our first meeting, of course I show everyone pictures. After the meeting, I head to the parking lot to my car when I hear her voice behind me. "Jamie, wait up." I turn and see Dakota running up to me, she has a basket in her hands "here, for your wife and daughter, congratulations again" "hey thanks Dakota, this is great, you didn't have to do this" "I know, but I wanted to" I smile as I take the basket from her, inside is all kinds of baby items and some pampering items for Millie. This was very sweet of her. Millie will love this. ***********************************
"Why the hell did she give me this?" Or maybe not. "What's wrong?" I am confused, I thought her gesture was very kind. "Jamie, she is trying too hard, isn't it funny that no one else got us a gift, but not only did she get the baby a gift, she gave one to me as well?" "Maybe she is just kind like that?" "No, I know women and I understand how they work. You don't just give women gifts like this without some alternative intentions" "and that might be?" "You are really clueless, she likes you" "that's a good thing, right?" "No, honey, she like likes you, like a crush or infatuation, this is just a ploy to throw me off, make me think she is my friend when she hasn't even met me" "well there you go, you haven't met her either, so maybe you need to reserve your judgment on her character until you do, besides I am in love with you, isn't that enough?" I would think it would be, but my wife acts like I just slapped her. Fuck me, it is going to be a long process.
The next few weeks go by fast, adjusting to a newborn and a jealous wife isn't fun, I use work to escape, but that isn't healthy for my relationship with my wife, I get home as soon as I can to help Millie with the baby every day that I can and on weekends I do all that I can, including cooking for her and tending to the baby, allowing her to rest and catch up on sleep or reading her book. On a Sunday morning I get a text from my onscreen brother, Luke 'Hey loser, you want to join us at the pub for a beer and some football?' Millie won't mind, besides she went out last night for cocktails with some friends while I stayed home with the baby. I better check on who all is going to be there, 'Who is "us" exactly?' "Who is texting you?" Millie asks me, "oh, just Luke, he wants to know if I want to join him for a few beers and football down at the pub" "is she going to be there?" "I don't know Millie, I don't keep up with her" I get a message back but is a picture of Luke, Max, Victor and Eloise along with a few guys from security and crew. I do not see any signs of Dakota, "no, Millie, Dakota is not there" and I show her the picture of the motley crew waiting on me. "Go ahead and go, I will be okay here with the baby." I hug her and then try to reassure her "if she shows up, I will leave and come straight home, okay?" Millie smiles and says "no, that's ridiculous, stay and have a good time, even if she shows up" I kiss her forehead and jump in the shower to get cleaned up, I let my beard grow on the weekends and shave on Monday, I wish Christian Grey would grow a fucking beard, I hate being clean shaven.
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I walk into the pub and find my crew, except Eloise is missing, I guess she left already, but I join the guys and order a beer and a burger. "So Jamie, how is fatherhood?" Max asks me "aw man, it's tough, I love being a dad though, I love my daughter and taking care of her, she is pretty much on a schedule now, so I am finally able to get some sleep." I take a swig if my beer when I see Eloise making her way back to us from the back, she turns her head slightly and says something to the person behind her, she then turns back towards us and smiles and waves at me, she comes on over to the table when I see Dakota behind her, I stand as Eloise approaches the table, Dakota, however, heads straight for the bar. I could fake an excuse as to leave, claim that I got a text from Millie asking me to come home that the baby is sick, but lying about my baby being sick doesn't sit well with me, I don't want anyone to think that I am avoiding Dakota, that won't set well with the director or Erika. I contemplate my next move when Dakota gets a paper bag from the bartender and she hands him a bill, she waves at him and then walks up to the table, I stand again, just as I did when Eloise had joined us, she looks at me momentarily and says "okay, guys see you all tomorrow" I ask her "you avoiding me, Johnson?" She says "yes, Jamie, I saw you and just got sick to my stomach and I have to leave" she shrugs and everyone starts laughing, Eloise says "you really ought to let someone drive you Dakota, it isn't safe" "aw come on, it's just a block, I will be fine" she hugs Eloise and tells us all goodnight and before I can stop myself I jump up and follow her.