Chapter 43 - Life

Cam had been busy for days, in and out of the cabin, into town, back again, over at Lucy and Nicole’s, or in her office on the phone for hours.

Whenever Michelle asked what she was doing, the reply would be something like, “Sorting things out, babe.”

And so Michelle left her to it. They’d fallen into a nice routine over the last few days. Kate and Gavin had flown back to LA, but Pippa was still there taking over baby duties while Michelle and Storm really got stuck into her acting lessons, or just to give Michelle some time to sleep, meditate, or go for a walk. Living here really was making a difference. Michelle was upbeat again, the sparkle had returned to her eyes; and she didn’t need to think about it when she smiled. It just happened naturally, because she was happy again.

Outside the trees were starting to lose their leaves, and the temperature was beginning to dip, but none of that mattered at the end of the day when she was snuggled up under the covers with Cam.

Today, though, was different. Storm was at school, Cam was off somewhere with Lucy, and Pippa had taken the twins into town. At a loose end, Michelle wandered over to the Owens’.

“Hey.” Nicole grinned when she opened the door and found Michelle standing there. It still took her by surprise at times to have a film star on her doorstep. Even dressed down, Michelle always looked like she’d been dressed by a designer.

“Hi, I was at a loose end… wondered if you had time for a catch up?”

“Sure, come on in.” Nicole opened the door and stepped aside for Michelle to walk through and into her home. Just for a second, she allowed herself to admire the ripped grey jeans that clad that perfect ass and wondered if she could get away with this look. “So, how’s it going? Coffee? Tea?”

“It’s going well, actually.” Michelle took a seat, one leg crossing over the other as she relaxed.

Nicole moved around the kitchen, filling the coffee pot and finding mugs. “Well, that’s good to hear. Kids, who knew they could be such trouble, huh?”

Michelle continued to grin. “Yes, I have to admit, I thought it would be so easy…hey, if I can deal with Cam, I can deal with a kid, right?” she laughed, “But two of them, and Cam!” she joked before turning serious. “She’s been amazing, actually. I don’t think I could have gotten through this without her, and everyone else of course. I’ve had so much support from everyone.”

Nicole sat across from her and reached over the table to squeeze her hand. “You have so many friends, you’ll never have to go through anything by yourself.”

“You’re right, and I’m so pleased that I have you, and Lucy…”

Nicole squinted her eyes at her. “What’s going on?”

Laughing, Michelle shrugged. “I don’t know, what is going on?”

“Uh-uh, I have kids that try and avoid telling me stuff all the time. You’ve got a secret.”

Michelle thought for a moment before leaning forwards, ready to share. “Okay, it’s true, and I am dying to tell someone, but you have to keep it a secret…for now.”

“Of course, spill.” Nicole giggled.

“We’re staying here…permanently.”

Nicole’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “Oh my, that is…wow, that’s huge!”

“I know.” Michelle squealed excitedly, clapping her hands. “Cam’s running around trying to organize everything, and I’m fit to burst with the excitement of it.”

“But why though? I thought you loved LA?” she asked, before another thought hit her. “What about your career? Can you still act and live here?”

“Ya know, I think I’ve earned the right to be picky about any job I take. I can still do some work here and there, just nothing serial that requires I live somewhere other than here. But really, I guess I need a break from it all, and that break might mean I change direction and start doing something else. I’ve really enjoyed the lessons with Storm; it got me thinking about other things I could eventually do.”

The coffee pot beeped it was ready and Nicole stood up, walking across the kitchen to pour them both a cup. “She has loved it too. Honestly, she was a chatterbox before, but now all we get is Michelle this, Michelle said that…it’s adorable.” Nicole turned with cups in hand and returned to the table.

“I’ll always have one fan.” Michelle laughed.