She smiled confidently and got to her feet. Picking up her car keys and briefcase, she headed out of her office. "I'm off to the hot set," she explained to Gwen on her way by. Gwen knew this was a set that had been set up ready for the performers. Every prop was in place and double checked by the chief grip and the set decorator and it was now sealed off waiting for the director and the actors.
Anything you want done?" asked Gwen.
Robbie raised an eye brow. A smirk hovered at the corner of her mouth and her eyes danced with excitement. "Under no circumstance are you to buy me pyjamas. I won't be needing them," she grinned, then turned and left.
Gwen looked at the closed door. Brian was right, she was officially insane!
"Okay, Angela, lets see if I've got this straight, your new CD player was on the table beside your bed last night and it was gone this morning. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Mrs. Williams. It's awful! Someone must have been in my room last night, while I was in bed! Anything could have happened!
"Angela, let's not get carried away here. Miss Singh was on duty last night, and she has since checked the windows, door and our surveillance cameras. No one broke in. No, I'm afraid this is an inside job."
"But that means that one of my friends is a thief!" exclaimed Angela even more distressed at this thought than of some stranger in her bedroom.
"Maybe, maybe not. The CD player might have been borrowed or it might be a practical joker. Try not to worry. We will get to the bottom of this soon. That's all for now, Angela."
Angela left not at all happy about not having her CD player restored. Janet got on the phone right away to reassure Angela's parents before a real dust up started over this issue. She had Carolyn go on the P.A. and call an assembly for the end of the day to talk to all the students about being more careful with their personal property. There was still the staff meeting to look forward to after that! It was turning into a really long day!
Robbie pulled her car into the gravel parking lot carefully so as not to kick up a stone that might damage the paint job on her pride and joy. Getting out, she headed over to the area where the actors waited in canvas chairs for their calls. Tracy Tarvelli caught sight of her and came running over. "What is this Brian is saying?! You want to start the film all over again! Never! Am I to be making this film of yours forever?!"
Robbie smiled down at the volatile actor. Her blue eyes glowed with an inner light that radiated energy and confidence. "I am going to make you immortal, Tracy. In a hundred years time, people will still talk about your role in this movie. Trust me. I am going to make you an icon."
"I do not trust you. You are a monster. But you are also the genius of film. So I will co-operate. But Robbie, you will make me great, no?!"
"My word."
The day had been indeed long for Janet. At the staff meeting, she had the new government standardized testing that were to be administered to all eleven year olds in the province. The teachers immediately saw the flaws in the testing that would make the results completely invalid.
The discussion had gone around in circles and got very hot. Finally, Janet had to use her position to call an end to the venting and insist that the teachers follow the government directive, however flawed. "We are civil servants. I think we all agree that educational reform is needed to keep up with the times. We'll just have to hope that, over time, modifications will be made to deal with some of the real concerns that you have expressed today."
The meeting ended in sullen silence as her over stressed staff walked out with even more paper work to take away from their teaching preparation time. Janet sighed in frustration, as she tucked a cranky Rebecca into her car seat. The little girl had had too much change and stimulation over the weekend and was out of sorts today.
Mother and daughter road home in grumpy silence. Usually the beauty of the northern forests and lakes relaxed Janet, but tonight she was feeling very stressed. I guess the emotion of the weekend is starting to catch up to me too, she reasoned. Time to snap out of this, she thought and made an effort to think of something nice.
Robbie immediately came into her thoughts and she replayed their phone conversation in her mind. The tips of her ears turned warm and she could feel her body reacting to the sexual tension that had under-laid their conversation. How could she have been so bold! My god, she'd really given Robbie a green light to come on to her! That thought sent a pool of hot delight streaming through her being. Oh boy! I want this to happen! And at the same time, I'm scared as hell that it might!
Once home, mother and daughter had a bath together that involved much giggling and splashing.
The two of them emerged in a better frame of mind and Janet warmed up some beef stew she had in the freezer. She carried Reb's highchair outside and the two of them had a picnic on the porch over looking the lake.
After the dishes were done, they played in the sand on the beach, and then, tired and happy once again, Reb was cleaned up and put to bed. Janet ironed her raw cotton suit for tomorrow and then settled down on the sofa to do some paper work. Picking up the cushion, she could still catch a faint scent of Robbie's perfume lingering there. She tucked the pillow under her chin and wrapped her arm around it. This can't be happening! I hardly know this woman and what I do know is bad news. Janet, for God's sakes be careful, she warned herself. But deep inside, she knew it was too late. She was completely infatuated with Robbie Williams. I wonder what Robbie is doing tonight?
Robbie nipped the earlobe of the beautiful, naked woman who lay exhausted under her. The sex had been good. Tracy had become a more enthusiastic partner with experience. Robbie rolled off and lay on her back, one hand under her head. The woman beside her rolled over and nuzzled Robbie's neck. "You want I stay tonight?" she purred.
"No," responded Robbie firmly.
Tracy sighed and rolled away, slipping out of Robbie's bed. "You are a bitch. I do not know why I went so willingly to your bed. You are a brute."
Robbie turned on her side to watch the Latin Bombshell searching for her scattered clothes. "Maybe you like brutes," she suggested playfully.
Tracy crawled back on the bed, an armful of rumpled clothes clutched to her full beasts. She kissed Robbie with passion and was pleased to feel the director respond in kind. "You are very bad," Tracy complained.
"Hmmm, You are very good," muttered Robbie pulling the clothes from Tracy's hands and dropping them on the floor. She took a second to enjoy the sight of Tracy's full breasts and then leaned forward to catch one swollen nipple in her mouth. Tracy moaned and let the brute have her way again.
It was when she was getting ready for bed that Janet found the small lump under her armpit. She traced it back following a row of them to her right breast. A dread filled her and made her heart ache with fear. She lay down on her bed and felt with her fingers as she had been taught. There was a lump there. Large and hard. Tears welled in her eyes, Oh God, no!
Bill Perkins felt Janet's beast until he had located the lump. He took the syringe and pushed it in, feeling it slide smoothly through the layers of skin and muscle and then having to push harder once the tip encountered the growth. Janet made a small noise of distress at the invasion but kept still. Bill pulled back on the plunger. Nothing. He shifted the needle slightly, knowing that it was going to hurt and tried again. Still nothing in the tube.
With a sigh, he pulled the needle out. "Okay, Janet, you can get dressed now and I'll meet you in my office," he said. He tossed the needle into the special container for "points" and slipped out of the room. With trembling hands Janet got dressed. Her breast hadn't hurt before but now it did.
She squared her shoulders and headed down to the office. Lily Chen had been kind enough to stay over time to care for Reb while Janet visited the doctor after school. She couldn't keep her waiting too long however. Whatever Bill had found, Janet was just going to have to handle it and get on with her life as best she could.
"Sit down, Janet. Well, we know some things but not all. It's a large lump and when I tried to aspirate it, there was no fluid inside. So we are probably not talking a regular fibroid cyst here.
That doesn't necessarily mean we are looking at cancer. There are other possibilities such as a fibroid abnorma. That will mean surgery but no real danger. I am concerned about the swollen lymph nodes however. That indicates an infection or invasion of some sort and we need to take that seriously. I've booked you for a mammogram and an ultrasound tomorrow in Barrie."
"Bill, I can't just keep taking time off work! Can't I go on the weekend?" protested Janet.
"No, with government cuts, these services aren't as available as they were. Besides,...I don't think we should wait," he finished, meeting Janet's eyes. Janet saw compassion and worry there and dropped her objections. She swallowed hard and nodded looking down at her trembling hands that were clutched tightly in her lap.
"Look, why don't I come over to your place tonight? There is no need to worry until we know more. I could pick up a pizza..."
"Thanks Bill, that is kind of you, but I need to be alone to get this all into perspective. I..I'm going to have to make plans for Reb too. Thanks anyway," Janet explained.
Bill nodded and stood. "You know I'm always here for you Janet, both as a doctor and a friend."
Janet stood too and managed a weak smile. "I know, Bill and I really appreciate that."
Janet felt numb. She walked out of the doctor's office and got into her car as if she was a robot. Shock was a wall that separated her from her surroundings. She took a deep breath and tightened her fingers around the steering wheel. Okay, this is it. There is no hiding from this crisis. I've got to be brave and take things one step at a time. First, I'll pick up Reb and see if Lily can babysit after school tomorrow as well. Then, I'll have to phone Carolyn and Milka so they can handle things at school...
Robbie was like a bear with a sore paw. Each day was now going over budget and the below-the- line costs would be mounting quickly. She tried again to rewrite the scene they would be shooting Wednesday and it still would not work! With a primitive growl of disgust, she hurled a reference book against the wall. In the outer office, Gwen closed her eyes and grimaced at the thud.
Robbie got up and paced. Okay, if I was Desiree and Napoleon just propositioned me...no if Janet was Desiree, what would she have done? Then it came, the scene she wanted, filled with passion and courage and drama. Robbie ran back to her terminal and started typing. Desiree had not been the victim, she had been a strong woman who had not been defeated by the course of history but instead had swum with the tide of events and survived.
No, more than survived - she had triumphed! Napoleon had died a prisoner and a broken man. His lover, the milk maid, Desiree, had married and become a Queen. This would no longer be a movie about the exploitation of a woman, rather the courage and intelligence of a woman of strength.
It would be a blockbuster appealing to the romantic and, the feminist alike and painted on the background of the Napoleonic wars, it would also have enough action to keep the pace quick and powerful. Robbie grinned. You'll watch this film, Janet, she thought!
Gwen opened the office door and snapped at Robbie, "Damn it, Robbie will you pick up your phone!"
"No, I'm busy! I told you to hold all my calls," barked Robbie.
"It's Janet Williams and by the sound of her voice...well I think its important.".
The click of the computer keys stopped and a grim faced director turned and picked up her receiver. "It's Robbie, Janet. What's up?" Gwen closed the door softly.
"You said I could call if I ever needed your help," Janet said uncertainly. " Robbie I...I..."
"Janet! What's wrong?! Look, take a deep breath, okay I'm here. You just tell me and I'll help."
"I might have breast cancer. I have to go to Barrie for tests tomorrow. The lady who normally takes care of Reb is busy after school and I don't know how long I'll be. I..."
"You listen. I'm on my way. I'll be there soon. Don't worry. Everything is going to be alright. I'll be there tonight and I'll drive you and Reb to Barrie tomorrow. What time is your appointment?"
"Ten, but Robbie..."
"No, buts. I'll be there soon," came the calm, confident response.
"Thanks Robbie," came the shaky reply. "Robbie?"
"Hmmm."
"Thanks."
"You and Reb get a fire going and make something for us for dinner," ordered Robbie knowing it was important to keep Janet busy until she got there. "I'll be there in less than two hours. Okay?"
"Okay," Janet smiled. "See you."
"Count on it," responded Robbie. She was buzzing Gwen as she hung up. "Gwen, I've got an emergency. I'll be gone for a few days. Tell Brian, I'll be in touch as soon as I can. Call for a helicopter to take me to Bartlett. I'm just slipping home to pack and then I'll head out to the island airport."
"Okay, Robbie," came the serious and concerned response.
Robbie throw clothes into a suitcase. Why was she doing this? A delay now in filming was going to cost her millions! She should be finishing her rewrites and climbing into bed with Tracy!
She leaned over her suitcase, balanced on her extended arms, eyes closed. Who was she trying to kid? She'd given it her all last night and had not felt anything. This damn, little school marm had got under her skin in a big way.
Christ! She'd said she'd take Reb if anything happened to Janet! If she had thought she could have been a good mother she wouldn't have... Don't go there, she warned herself, just deal with the here and now. Janet needed her and so did Reb, and no matter what the cost, she was going to be there for the two of them. After all, she owned it to Billy. They were family, right?
Janet stood at the screen door scanning the evening sky, while Reb made happy, little baby noises from inside her playpen. A shiver went through Janet and she wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her arms with her hands. I shouldn't have called Robbie. I'm not her responsibility. I just wanted her here so badly. It was really weak of me. The poor woman hardly knows me!
The whoop, whoop of helicopter blades echoed across the lake and the silhouette of the bug-like 'copter appeared over the horizon. Yellow eyes searched the beach and then turned, as the craft slowly settled in the swallow water. The bubble door opened and Robbie slipped out into the ankle deep water. Bent double to keep away from the blades, water sprayed around her, as she reached in and grabbed her bags.
Squinting her eyes against the wind and spray, she limped up the beach and met Janet half way to the cabin. Dropping her bag, she wrapped the smaller woman in her arms protectively and let her cry. Neither one of them heard the helicopter lift off and disappear over the trees again.
Autumn Winds
Part 4
by Anne Azel
Disclaimer: The characters of Xena and Gabrielle are the property of Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended.
My thanks to the readers who have been so kind in showing their appreciation of these stories. You are a great bunch!
Warning: This story is alternative fiction, please do not read on if you are underage or if such material is illegal in your end of the swamp.
After a short while, Janet's sobs lessened. She pulled away from Robbie and took out a tissue to wipe her eyes and nose. "Okay, sorry. My granddad always said when things get too much find a comfy shoulder, cry your eyes out and then get on with it. Well, I've had my cry and it was a nice shoulder." Janet smiled weakly.
Robbie looked uncomfortable,."Ahhh, well I'm here."
Janet stepped forward again and hugged the tall woman tightly. "That means a lot to me. Come on in. There is so much going on in my mind. I'm so glad you came. Do you want tea? Reb's still up," babbled the over stressed woman.
Robbie followed quietly. She'd just sort of dropped everything and come and now that she was here, she wasn't really sure what to do. "Oby's bird! Oby's bird!" called Reb from her play pen as she held on to the bars and did a little baby dance, bobbing up and down.
"Hi ya, Reb!" laughed Robbie lifting the small child up into the air. She settled the diapered backside over her shoulders and held on to Reb's long legs. The baby laughed with delight at this new view of the world and dug her hands into the actress's hair and held on tight.
Janet laughed, the merriment almost making it to her worried eyes. She picked up Robbie's luggage from where she had left it by the pen and together they walked through to Janet's bedroom.
"I'll make up a bed on the couch," the teacher said.
Robbie carefully landed her baby pilot onto the centre of the bed and then turned to face Janet.
"I'll sleep on the couch. You need to rest."
"That's thoughtful of you, Robbie, but you don't fit on the couch. The last time you were here, your feet hung over the arm rest by a foot!
"I'll manage."
"No. I need you to drive tomorrow. I..I don't think I could give it my full concentration. You need the sleep, okay?"
Robbie looked down at this remarkably brave woman. The more time she spent with this lady the more impressed with her she was. "Okay, but I'll make the tea."
Janet smiled. "Do you know how?"
"Funny, come on," Robbie responded with a jerk of her head towards the kitchen and that famous smile that captivated audiences. Janet helped Reb off the bed and the little child ran on ahead.
Later, they sat together on the sofa, Robbie's long legs draped over the coffee table sled and Reb fast asleep between them. "I should put her to bed."
"Hmmm," agreed Robbie feeling suddenly tired and apathetic.
"We need to go to a lawyer, Robbie, you know to make things legal just in case...well, things don't work out." She went on in a hurry. "It's a good idea anyway. I mean what if I was in an accident or something?"
"I'll get my lawyer to see to it. Don't worry. You just tell me what you want," muttered Robbie looking at the dead fire. She shifted and put an arm along the back of the couch. "Look, Janet, I'm not really the mother type. I'm not going to hold you to a request you made at a time when you had no real fears about the future. If there is anyone else you'd..."
Janet's hand reached up and rubbed Robbie's where it lay on the back of the couch. "Reb loves you, Robbie. She just took to you right away. And I trust you completely to care for and protect my daughter. It might be a rather unorthodox upbringing," she grimaced, "but it will be a good one. I've known you only a short time, but you are the one I called, not any of my friends. I just know in my gut that I made the right choice. That is, if you are willing to take on the responsibility."
Robbie's fingers interlaced with Janet's. "We'll see it through together," she promised. "Okay, I'll carry helicopter child into her crib, but you gotta do all the messy baby stuff."
"Hey, you need to practise!"
"I'm counting on the kid being through college before I have to think about living up to any parental responsibilities," mused Robbie, cradling the two year old in her arms without being aware she was doing so. Janet smiled, but said nothing.
Robbie slid into the bed and took a deep breath of the lingering fragrance that was Janet. She hadn't planned on getting between these sheets again so quickly and certainly not alone. Damn! Everything was different now. Everything. She lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling. The pearl moonlight coming through the window painted a kaleidoscope of leaf patterns across the ceiling.
Janet tossed, then turned and then gave in and got up. She looked out the window at the moon shimmering across the lake and thought about the phone conversation she had had with Robbie only the day before. Now everything was different. It would be better once she knew what she was facing, whether it was mild surgery or a prolonged battle. She wished tomorrow was over.
With a sigh, she walked back to her makeshift bed and picked up her pillow.
Robbie counted leaf silhouettes on the ceiling. This was stupid! She'd charged up here like some damn white knight and now she didn't know what the hell she was supposed to do! Damn it, this is not my responsibility! I've got an entire film production team counting on me. I should be back in Toronto!
"Robbie?"
Robbie rolled over and turned on the bedside light. Janet was standing at the bedroom door. "You need something?"
"I can't sleep."
Robbie slipped out of bed.
"You're naked!" exclaimed Janet, her startled eyes wide.
Robbie looked down at her lean, muscular body with disinterest and shrugged. "Yeah, I came that way. Come on, you get into bed and I'll take the couch."
"If you put your housecoat on, we could share," suggested Janet awkwardly. "I mean, I just don't want to be alone."
Robbie smiled tenderly. "Get in. Glad you thought to bring your own pillow, I don't share."
Janet smiled and rolled her eyes and then happily hopped into her own bed. Robbie went around the other side and slipped in under the sheets. "And I won't wear P.Js for anyone."
The drive down to Barrie in Janet's old truck was quiet and tense. Once they were at the hospital, Janet turned to Robbie. "I can do this alone. Reb would just get antsy having to hang around a waiting room. There is a really good water front park. Would you take her there and play with her for an hour and then come back to pick me up?"
"You're sure?"
"Yes." Robbie nodded and Janet slipped out of the truck and made her way over to the hospital. When she looked back, Robbie lifted her hand in a wave and then drove off.
The park ran for miles along the curve of Lake Simcoe. Robbie, disguised in a floppy hat and big sunglasses, hoisted Reb up onto her shoulders. Holding on to the active child with care, she walked down the length of the park and back again, trying to work the soreness that still remained out of her knee. Reb played with Robbie's long hair that stuck out from under the hat, and pointed out the things of interest to her tall friend like a tour guide.
"Sea gal!" squealed the young child pointing to the sky.
"Yes, seagulls," agreed Robbie. "You like birding, Reb?"
"Agha."
"Me too. When I was younger, I used to bird a lot. Those are ring-billed gulls, Reb. Say ring-billed."
"Ing-billed," came the prompt response.
"That a girl!"
"I was going to go into science and become a zoologist. That was before...well, you don't need to know about that. No one does."
"Boat!"
"Sailboat," clarified Robbie pointing to the sloop as it slid by on the steady wind.
"That a sailboat," repeated Reb.
"Hmmm. And that's a noisy motor boat." Robbie pointed to the offending Bayliner, as it cut around the sailboat and sent the sloop's boom swinging in its wake.
"Vooom! Motta boat! Voom!" laughed Reb with delight.
Robbie raised an eyebrow and looked up at her charge. "I should have known you'd go for speed and power!"
Robbie lifted her small charge to the ground and together they headed up to a swing set, Reb holding on to the actress's hand, as if she had known her all her short life. Robbie lifted Reb to the top of the slide and waited at the bottom to catch the gleeful bundle of delight. Then, she swung her high in the sky and deposited her on the top again. Whoosh! Down slid the happy child again.
"Why do I get the feeling I could be doing this all day," laughed the director as she deposited Reb at the top once more. "I can see, Reb, why your mom has such a great body, having to chase you around all day!" Robbie looked out across the huge lake. The water on the horizon was almost the same colour as the sky, as if you could swim up into the heavens.
She had laid beside Janet last night and held her hand! She hadn't held anyone's hand since her first highschool date, damn it! And yet it felt nice. Like a special bond you feel with someone you have known and trusted for a long time. She hadn't felt angry or frustrated at not getting any action, she had just felt - content. Robbie felt a jolt of surprise. She couldn't recall having felt content since...
"Oby's bird! Oby's bird!" came the delighted giggle of the small child above her head. Robbie looked up with a smile, that changed to a look of horror, as Reb spread her arms like wings and dived off the top of the ladder.
Janet waited in the crowded waiting room, flipping through a dog-eared copy of People magazine from last year. "Mrs. Williams?" called a disembodied voice from behind a door that had been opened a crack. Janet got up and obediently entered into the inner workings of the mammography department.
The voice turned out to belong to a springy, small woman in her thirties, wearing blue surgicals. "This way please. This is your change cubicle. We'll need everything off to the waist. Here's your gown. Open side to the front, please! Hang your clothes on the hooks, but please, don't leave anything valuable in the cubicle." The woman was gone before Janet could respond.
I wonder how many times a day she has to say that! Janet disappeared into her allotted space and pulled the curtain. She stripped to the waist and put the gown on that had been provided. Most of the ties were worn off. She sighed. Once you enter the world of medicine, any sense of privacy and self dignity became a thing of the past.
"Are we ready, Mrs. Williams?"
"Yes," Janet said, rolling her eyes as she emerged from her area, clutching her gown with one hand and her purse with the other. Another bright hospital guide trotted by them, leading an older man clad only in a gown and black socks and shoes. The man's desperate attempt to hold the flaps at the back closed had failed, and he mooned them as he went by. Well, at least I was spared that indignity, Janet thought as she followed her guide to the mammography room.
She was handed over to a new assistant. "Okay....Mrs. Williams," said the nurse, checking the chart. "When was your last mammogram?"
"Ahhh, about five years ago." The nurse looked up with a disapproving expression, causing Janet to go on. "I've been meaning to get around to it."
"Age?"
"Thirty three."
"Any children?"
"One, two years old."
"Not pregnant?"
"No."
"Have you had cancer or any history of cancer in your immediate family?"
"No."
"Why did the doctor refer you?"
"I found a large lump in my right breast. The lymph nodes are swollen too."
The nurse nodded and finished checking off the data on the chart. "Okay, remove your top and step up to the machine. We're going to put the pinch on you!"
It was Reb's leather clad shoe heel hitting the bridge of Robbie's sunglasses and snapping them in two that resulted in the cut to the bridge of the actress's nose and her black eye. It was, however, Reb's impact with the metal dome on Robbie's leather jacket that scratched her nose and gave her the matching shiner. Robbie's panicked dive and grab brought her to the ground heavily. Reb, lying on top of her, was silent for a minute in stunned surprise.
Robbie reached up and dabbed at the blood on Reb's face, trying to ascertain how bad the damage was. "Hey, you okay?" Robbie asked, her voice shaky with fear.
Reb recovered from her surprise landing, opened her mouth and screamed with a baby wail that could have been heard in Toronto, an hour's drive south.
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