Orlando was carrying the empty boxes into the dumpster behind the manor’s
garage. The house, being already furnished, left only clothes and certain
accessories to get packed up. Megan’s old roommate, who lived with his now
ex while Orlando was with her, moved back in with a new guy.
The manor was huge. It was a turn of the century red brick mansion with an
elegance to it that seemed very fitting. There was a huge sloping garden
filled with flowers and trees. Being early April, things were just beginning
to bloom. Megan stepped out with little Melissa to let her play in the
garden. “Love, you look absolutely frozen.”
Megan, who was used to the lowest temperatures being in the sixties, only
grinned at Orlando. “It’s something I have yet to get used to.” She replied.
“Aw, look at her, she loves this garden.”
Orlando put his arm around Megan’s waist and kissed her neck gently when
they heard someone yell. “Disgusting! Public displays of emotion are
uncalled for!”
“Dom!” Orlando grinned. Dom walked up to them carrying a large basket.
“Orlando! You rapscallion.” Dom grinned. “And to the lovely Megan, a house
warming gift from your favorite hobbit.” He gave her a hug and shoved the
basket into Orlando who sulked and took it into the house.
“Always a pleasure to see you Dom.” Megan grinned. Melissa came up to the
two.
“Daddy go in house?” Melissa asked.
Megan looked at Melissa oddly. “Who?”
“Daddy. In house now?” Melissa asked again.
“Love, daddy’s gone. In heaven.” Megan replied, stooping down to talk to
her.
“No! Daddy go in house!” Melissa said. Orlando came back out. “See? Daddy
back.”
Megan looked at Dom who looked back with the same expression of confusion.
“What are we silently staring at each other for?” Orlando asked.
“I’ll just go in the house and make a call. See when Billy’s coming.” Dom
said getting out of a very sticky situation.
Melissa patted Orlando’s leg to get his attention. “Daddy! Look! I have a
flower!” She said holding it up with her pudgy hand.
“Did she just call me her daddy?” Orlando asked, looking at Megan who was as
wide eyed as he was. Megan nodded. “What do I do with something like that?”
“I…honestly don’t know.” Megan replied as he turned his attention back to
Melissa who was still holding up a flower she picked from the garden. “She’s
too young to understand and she barely even saw her real parents anyway. She
was usually with the nanny.”
“Do we just lead her on?” Orlando asked, looking up.
“She can find out when she’s older.” Megan sighed. “If this doesn’t go over
well, I’m signing her off to future psychotherapy.”
“It’s not that I don’t mind it.” Orlando replied, sitting down so that
Melissa was at eye level. “I don’t, I actually like it a lot. I love kids.”
“So I’ve heard.” Megan answered, watching his he coddled Melissa who found
it highly enjoyable. There was a lot of noise at the front gate.
Dom came out and said “I just buzzed some odd freaks in.”
“Billy! Sean! Vig!” Orlando said, looking up at them. He stood up, still
holding Melissa and waved as Megan hugged them all. This was very awkward
for her because each of them was carrying some sort of house warming gift.
“It’s getting dark, why don’t we all go inside?” Megan said. She opened the
door to the manor and despite it’s old exterior, the interior was very new
and art-deco modern. “My parents remodeled it completely two years ago. I’m
glad for it too because it makes it more minimalistic, good for kids.”
“I’m going to go and call Elijah, see if he’s going to make it.” Orlando
said, giving Melissa back to Megan.
“Ooh can we come?” Billy asked feigning excitement. Billy hopped to his feet
and skipped after Orlando, Dom and Sean following suit.
Viggo, who brought his son Henry, sat across from Megan. “So how are you and
Melissa doing?”
“We’re fine.” Megan replied, smoothing Melissa’s hair.
“Have you found a job yet?” Viggo asked.
“There’s a lot of paperwork, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the
position at the hospital.” Megan replied.
“I hear you’re getting scripts.” Viggo said. Megan nodded. “Are you going to
get any of them?”
“Orlando and I have read through some, but I don’t really fancy acting. I
much prefer watching the movies.” Megan replied. Melissa wriggled out of her
arms and into the kitchen.
“And Orlando, you and he are doing…hold on, Henry go on and see if Melissa
made it to the kitchen.” He said, urging his son. Henry walked out to do as
his father said. “So you and Orlando are okay too?”
“Vig, why are you so concerned?” Megan asked. “If I had a problem, I’d tell
you.”
“You lost your parents, you had to suddenly become a mom to your sister, you
moved to London…”
“Vig. I’m good.” Megan interrupted. “Honestly.” They heard a clang in the
kitchen and several swears.
Talking about random things when they were in the kitchen, Viggo watched
Orlando with Melissa, who he was holding. She held a carrot in her small
hand and held it up to Dom who was sitting next to Orlando. “Oh why thank
you, Mel.”
“When’s Elijah showing?” Megan asked, sitting next to Billy who had opened
the champagne bottle that he brought.
“He’ll be here in about…an hour.” Dom replied looking at his watch. “I
reckon Melissa’s trying to fatten me up. She keeps feeding me.” He put a
finger to her cheek and tickled it.
“Carrot?” Melissa said to Orlando.
“No love, that’s alright.” Orlando smiled. “Give some more to Dom.”
Dom glared at Orlando.
~*~
After Megan was put to bed, the champagne flowed freely. The house was full
of people from the Lord of the Rings cast. “Megan did you see yourself on
the TV last night?” Sean asked.
“What? I was on the telly? Why?” She asked, sitting next to Orlando with her
head leaning on his shoulder.
“Well it was you, Orlando and Melissa. I’m thinking Orlando should try to
travel incognito when he’s with you.” Sean replied. “Unless you like herds
of paparazzi.”
Orlando groaned with displeasure. “Lovely. Just lovely. I’m going to get my
agent to deal with that later.”
Dom got onto the table. “This is all very depressing. I think I should take
my clothes off and dance to bring spirits back up.”
“Oh would you, Dom?” Megan asked. “What are you going to do for us once your
clothes are off?”
“Dunno, I just watched Moulin Rouge.” Dom replied. “Learned the can-can. You
wouldn’t mind if I tangoed nude?”
“Dom!” Billy said, hitting him in the leg. “That gives everyone here a very
bad mental image. Why don’t you follow your dream and join the strip club?”
“Do you believe in me that much Billy?” Dom said with feigned enthusiasm.
“Oh Billy!” He said putting a high voice on. “Billy! I WILL go to the strip
club! I will be a stripper!”
“Oh god.” Megan said, laughing hysterically with everyone else. “Bring me
back a silvery thong when you hit the pornos.”
“You don’t have to wait.” Dom said seriously.
Even Orlando shrieked with laughter.

«Chapter 11

»Chapter 13