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laurenceslife · 2 years ago

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Chapter 71

They weren’t spending even a week in New York, in their house there, which they only used already when they had something to do there happen to be then; and then they already had to go back to Canada, to continue filming their joint series wherein the woman was hardly playing, but sometimes she and Delilah also went with him to the set when she wasn’t having any scenes. Then Laurence wasn’t sleeping in the studio when his scenes weren’t happen to be shot, anyway, his new movie’s filming hadn’t started yet, and he didn’t have to get ready for it yet, so he wasn’t tuckered out yet.

When the winter had come, he even gave up his new Cinema Gypsy-expansions to have more time for his family before, and when next year, his new movie’s filming was going to start wherein he was a co-star.

- Anyway, I’m happy because of these two series’ too, and because of the new leading role too – he said when he told Gina, when they were going home after filming their joint series.

On the other hand, he didn’t say that he would have been happy because of his family – his wife thought.

- Thank you for doing it for us. And are you happy that you’re gonna spend more time with us than if you dealt with the expansions too? – she asked the question.

- Of course – her husband said without hesitation – Besides, I like acting much more than producer’s work which I’m having enough with Black-ish too, which also takes a lot of time from dealing with you two.

- Like these two series too. It’s good that the holidays are coming at last. What do you think, where to be spending them? – then it came into Gina’s head that now it surely also reminded the man of his father’s death because in the recent years, because of him, they usually spent Christmas and New Year’s Eve at home, and since last year, this change was because of that, then still only for the second time, that they didn’t have to stay home because of him – Wouldn’t you like to rather spend them with friends than with relatives? At least either day of Christmas? – this solution came into her head, maybe they wouldn’t remind him of his father, and if this special solution, why it would be necessary, would also remind him of fleeing from his father’s death, the other day of Christmas was still there, which they usually spent with relatives, and this way there wouldn’t be pique either.

They had arrived at the hotel, and while going into their suite, Laurence was thinking about what the woman said.

They went into their room so Delilah wouldn’t hear their conversation’s continuation.

- In the end, we can do it if we’re spending either of the days with those relatives who we met longer time ago – the man said, and sat down on the bed – Except if either of Christmas’ days is good for some of them, and the other day of Christmas is good for some others – he continued firmly – On the other hand, I’m sure that I’d like to spend at least either of Christmas’ days with my kids and granddaughter.

- And what about your mom?

- With her, I wouldn’t like to meet yet.

- You two haven’t met since last year.

- You know that she reminds me of my father the most. I’ve known her till the end, ever since I knew my father, as an addition, I was growing up with them, I lived together with both of them for ten years. One day I’m gonna tell her, when I’m ready for it.

- And now you’re selfish to her. You haven’t even given her your new number when you bought a new phone – Gina said but her voice was sympathetic. She knew that since he kept his mother away from himself, he could really miss his father very much, so it would be very grievous if talking with his mother even enhanced it. On the other hand, he didn’t understand why his mother couldn't supply the deficiency of his father.

- We were almost always closer to each other with my father than with my mother – her husband answered the question she didn’t ask – My mother didn’t care about what I wanted. She forced me to this profession, took my childhood, and it’s only good fortune that I also took to what I do. If I didn’t like it and I would have stopped doing it, my childhood would have been lost in vain – he said furiously – As an addition, she’s dunned me several times because I’ve gone places in the profession. With her, I’ve spent plenty of time. On the other hand, with my father, I hardly met, compared to her, since I was ten.

- I think it also plays a role in what you feel now for your mom that you’re comparing her to your dad, because after you lost your dad, you already see good things about him only, because you’re missing him.

Laurence reflected. He didn’t want to answer that way so that there would have been a quarrel with his wife.

- Maybe you’re right – he said - But I’m still feeling this way. For the time being, I wouldn’t like to talk to her. You also said that it would come to an end, and then I’m gonna talk to her again. On the other hand, those things that I told you, are facts, so it serves her right that I’m neglecting her for a while.

- Yes, I know that you two weren’t very close to each other earlier either, and there has been such a situation before too, that you two weren’t talking to each other for a year - the woman said - But happen to be now, she didn’t do anything for it. But I understand that the reason why you so much cottoned to your dad, was exactly because you haven’t been so close to your mom, and now this is why you’re mourning his death so long and so much, and also that’s the reason why it would hurt so much if you were keeping touch with your mom…

The man dropped his teeth about how sound and well the woman saw the situation. It came into his head again how smart she is, too, almost like his mother.

- I lost my father forever, on the other hand, she didn’t lose me forever – he still continued the argument because he knew that to her, he could talk about it - I’m much more mourning my father’s death than her, if she ever mourned his death at all. Moreover, since she’s so smart, maybe she realized it even by herself why I’m not talking to her, and she also knows that it doesn’t last forever. Although maybe I’ll never be completely over losing my father, but after a while, the grief abates, and I’ll be able to talk to her again.

Just poor Hattie didn’t know till when she had to wait, and she couldn’t even reach him – Gina thought but didn’t say it because didn’t want to trouble him even with it.

They sent Delilah to have a bath, they also had a shower, put the little girl to bed, and they went to sleep, too.

They were spending either day of Christmas at home, in America, so Mike and his family, and Langston and his girlfriend could come, too, and some other cousins of Laurence’s, and some of Delilah’s cousins came, too. Besides them, Gina’s siblings, parents and grandparents came, too. They were spending the other day at home, too, because their friends didn’t live in Canada, either. The woman’s girlfriends came, of her husband’s godchildren, Emilio, Charlie and Renée came, and of his friends, Ozwald, Joe, Ice, Angela, Titus, Billy, Cordozar, Anthony, his new friend Larenz Tate, and Michael came.

They were celebrating New Year’s Eve in Canada, with Martin, Ramón and Gary who were filming there, too.

Next year, Laurence wasn’t only playing one more leading role in one more movie but he also had to play in an episode of The Muppets, in California, what he already promised. While he was in the US because of it, with Gina and Delilah, some of his scenes were also shot for Black-ish, and he also played again in a musical talk show with the series’ co-stars Anthony and Tracee. He also promised before to play a supporting role in romantic sci-fi, too, what’s filming was going to be in Georgia, from September.

- Daddy! – Delilah shouted from her hotel room in May, after they had gone to Canada.

Her father, curious about what she could want, went over to her.

- Grandma’s appearing on TV! – the little girl said, rejoicing as soon as the man had arrived at her room.

- Why do you watch such shows? I told you not to watch such shows like this! – Laurence changed channel, panicky, then hurried to the living room, to Gina, but left their daughter’s room’s door open to hear if Delilah was watching that show again – You were right. I really should have been dealing with my mother recently – he said furiously to his wife who was happened to be doing gymnastics – After my daughter, now she’s outraging my reputation, too. I suppose what she can be saying about me on TV – he was pacing up and down, holding his head.

His wife stopped doing gymnastics, and turned on the TV, took a look at what their daughter was watching, and then, by seeing that she was watching something else, she closed the door of her room.

- Which is that channel? – she asked, standing in front of the TV again, with the remote control in her hand.

- I don’t know, I don’t remember – her husband said restlessly – Search it!

- Wait, I’ll look for it on the internet – the woman went for her phone, and while she searched it on the internet, Laurence turned off the TV.

Then he saw that their daughter came out of her room – she heard what he just said – it came into his head – then the door was still open.

The little girl was lingering in the living room, waiting to hear more about this thing.

Her father already would have sent her back to the room when Gina, who hadn’t realized that Delilah was there, read to him what she found.

Hattie said she was facing eviction from her rented flat, she didn’t have money for food and to go to the theater, she couldn’t reach her son, they hadn’t talked to each other for a year, he had never given her a penny, he had never returned thanks for she got him to such a big success, and she walked with crutch because of an accident, and had skits of illnesses.

The man was only listening to it, startled, and even forgot to take the little girl back to the room.

- Daddy, it’s not true, either, right? – Delilah began to speak, agitated and shyly – You say not to believe everything but to talk to people in person.

Her mother only then noticed that she was there, too, and it came into her husband’s head that she heard everything, too – Already she was a victim of this, too – they thought, frightened.

- There’s no big problem. My mom’s a smart woman, she succeeded in reaching me, and now that I know about what happened to her, I can pay her rent. I only wasn’t talking to her for a year because she’s been reminding me of Grandpa and because I haven’t known in what situation she is, but after a while, I would have talked with her again, anyway; and almost everybody’s cholesterol level is high, and underactive thyroid isn’t a serious illness, either – her father explained imperturbable way after the first shock – In most cases, arthritis isn’t dangerous, either.

The woman was calmed down a bit by Laurence how well beat the rap.

- If somebody says something bad about Dad at school, feel free to tell it – she also said after it, firmly – By the way she’s surely not going so hungry since she’s still worrying about she has no money to go to the theater. She just can’t buy that food which she wants – she continued in a reassuring voice.

- So that’s OK – their daughter went back to her room cheerfully.

Her parents looked at each other relieved, and sat down on the sofa.

- After she did this to you, you’ll still pay the rent for her?! Like you rewarded her for it! – Gina began to speak indignantly.

- In the end, I wasn’t keeping in touch with her for a year, without explanation, and without her doing anything against me – the man reflected, staring into space – And that’s also true that I’ve never given her a gift for what she did for me.

- But you’ve given her presents, just not for it – his wife said emphatically – And that’s not true, either, that you’ve never given her any money! – she continued angrily.

- Maybe she forgot it – her husband watched the floor, and then went into his room to meditate.

After that, he reviewed his lines for tomorrow’s filming, for his leading role. The joint series with Gina, had come to an end already after the third season, because of the viewing figures’ decline.

While taking a shower, he was considering what to say to his mother when he would call her.

Before going to sleep, he was still reading a comic book to divert his thoughts, to be able to fall asleep. Sometimes he still reads comics and he still collects them.

This time it came into his head by it, too, that when he was a child, he wanted to be an actor to earn money, to have money to go shopping and not to have to pilfer the comic books, and his mother only wanted to make him a star because when she was young, she didn’t succeed in getting into show business.

#laurence fishburne #gina torres #martin sheen #emilio estevez #charlie sheen #titus welliver #ozwald boateng #joe mantegna #ice t #angela bassett #billy zane #snoop dogg #anthony anderson #larenz tate #michael douglas #gary sinise

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laurenceslife · 2 years ago

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Chapter 69

Next day, it was the last day that he spent at home before filming so he didn’t want to come forward with the question to Gina about keeping touch with Montana from now on, and he didn’t even know yet if it was a good idea. She wasn’t hell-raiser at home so maybe it wasn’t necessary to worry about she would spoil Delilah, but he would have felt ashamed before people if he would have accepted such a shameless hell-raiser, and he didn’t even want to be disappointed in her if she would commit something again.

He decided to ask his father about what he had heard about her.

The older Laurence couldn’t say any new things about his granddaughter, he hadn’t heard anything special about her.

There wasn’t any sign that she would change, and there wasn’t any sign that she would be the same either – his son thought.

He decided to rather spend his last day at home, dealing with Gina, Delilah and his father.

He went into his father’s room again, and told him everything about last night’s birthday party. They were talking about it, about Montana and about his new movie.

After that, he asked Gina what she thought about if they should go somewhere or should be spending the day at home, and for the woman’s and Delilah’s sake, they went out to the sea, to the beach but Laurence didn’t change to swimming trunks because he felt ashamed of his recently gained weight.

- Just age entails it! – Gina comforted him on the beach after they sat down to their common plaid.

- And that entails that we like cooking delicious foods, and you do gymnastics and I don’t – her husband laughed.

- Who doesn’t do gymnastics, can sizzle, wearing this much clothes! – the woman played jokes on him.

- I’m rather keeping in the shade! – he was sitting on the shadowy side of the plaid, and the woman and the little girl were sitting on its sunny side – It’s still better in clothes and in the shade than being photographed and uploaded to the internet!

- Mom, let’s go now! – Delilah began to speak impatiently – Dad, why can’t I go alone?!

- You’re still only four years old, you can’t go into the ocean alone! – the man answered strictly.

His wife and daughter went into the water, and Laurence was admiring the ocean that was glittering in the sunshine, the beautiful sight of sailboats and the landing stage.

After Gina and Delilah had come out of the water, they toweled the little girl together, the mom also lubricated her with sunscreen, and the man lubricated his wife. The woman still has a beautiful, shapely body, the man loved it and he was admiring it now too. After finishing it, he kissed her.

He spoke to Delilah to drink so as not to be dehydrated in the sun and after the exercise, and they took the raspberry juice out for her, and her mother drank frozen mineral water.

After that, the little girl was building a sandcastle, and Gina was sunbathing to get D vitamin because she took care of her body in every respect, and also liked to be in the sun.

It came into her husband’s head that then they could be talking only, so he could bring forward the Montana-subject but he didn’t think the opportunity was suitable. On the other hand, this way they were spending the time together in vain.

Then their daughter spoke to them to help her in building the sandcastle so they joined her so talking didn’t come to anything.

By the time they were ready, they had even dried, and went home.

At home, Laurence packed his clobbers for the journey, cooked dinner with his wife, they ate it with the three of them on the terrace, then were watching TV.

The man put Delilah to sleep to say goodbye to her because he was going to get up earlier than her; and with Gina, they were making love.

Next morning, he went to the filming location early in the morning. The reason why his wife and daughter didn’t go with him, was because he didn’t have many scenes in the movie so he wasn’t going to stay long, and anyway, the filming was mostly inside the country, and when not, then it was in Canada, so he could go home sometimes every day, and sometimes on the weekends.

He succeeded in diverting his thoughts from the Montana-case by the filming that he was playing in a superhero-movie at last, as an addition, he was playing in such Superman-movie which was his dream since his childhood. When his scenes didn’t happen to be shot, he also enjoyed seeing a comic book-movie’s filming, he could admire the talented actors’ work, and as usual, he could learn from them and from the director.

In early September, Montana’s birthday came into his head like usual. As an addition, this time it was a round number, exactly the twentieth. It was her last such birthday which counts among a minor age in some ways.

- What do you think, what about me calling Montana? – he asked Gina on the weekend before the girl’s birthday, when he was home – She’ll be twenty years old on Tuesday, and we haven’t heard any further bad news about her.

- But we haven’t heard any good news either. How many mistakes she’s made already! There always have been such periods when there wasn’t any problem with her – the woman said firmly.

Laurence already regretted bringing forward the subject – In the end, they would start a quarrel over it when he was at home at last. Montana didn’t deserve their having a quarrel because of her – he thought.

- Dad, will you come to play?! – Delilah came out to the living room cheerfully.

- I’m going – her father went into the room with her with pretended cheerfulness. He was already missing his wife, he wanted to be spending more time with her, and now she also looked so good in her black and white shirt and vivid blue pants, but then her husband thought it better to stop that conversation, and later continue spending the time together, in peace.

- Wait – Gina stopped him – You can still ask your dad about if she’s evolved in the good direction – she said with pity in her voice.

- You’re right. First, I’ll play with Delilah – the man smiled.

- What were you two talking about? – his little girl asked after they had arrived in the room.

- It doesn’t matter. What to play? – Laurence asked cheerfully.

They began playing a board game; the mom also joined them, and after they had finished it, it came into her husband’s head that he should talk to his father but he hadn’t been ready for it yet.

Before it, he rather went to walk the dogs with Gina and the little girl; on the way, they met one of Delilah’s girlfriends, and they were talking with her parents, and the two little girls were talking with each other. It completely diverted the man’s thoughts from Montana.

When they had arrived home, it came into his head that he had only said hello to his father since he had come home, and it came into his head that he could also ask him about the girl.

On the other hand, Langston came with Loretta.

- Well, what’s the new movie like? – the boy asked cheerfully already before sitting down in the living room.

- I love it! – his father answered enthusiastically after sitting down on the sofa – I love the movie, I love the role and the filming locations too, that they are this close. This way, I can come home often.

Gina sat down next to him with Delilah on her lap, after putting snacks and juice to the coffee table.

- Montana’s birthday is gonna be soon! – the little girl began to speak cheerfully – So Grandpa talked to her on the phone, and he also gave me the phone so I talked to her, too!

After that, there was startled, awkward silence while both couples looked at each other. Delilah looked at all of them, one by one, wonderingly, then being afraid that she did something bad by talking to her half-sister.

- You haven’t even told me – the woman said, amazed.

- Maybe she amended already - Loretta began to speak to also begin to speak and to save the situation.

All of them were considering what to say so as not worsen the situation.

- You guys are better to talk with Granddad so it comes out - her partner said tensely.

Delilah looked at him petulantly because they didn't ask her since she was there, anyway; especially because it came into her head that his granddad was guiltier.

Then the old man shouted that he heard everything from the room.

His son went in, and spoke to him to stay out of their business at least then when they had guests.

- He did something bad when he gave you the phone – Langston said to his sister to placate her - And if Montana amended, then it wasn't his fault either.

- Why haven’t you talked with him yet? – Gina went after her husband.

- Now let’s not deal with that! – Laurence answered angrily – Or should I talk with him now when the guests are here, as an addition, it came out what he did to Delilah?!

- They’re not strangers! They’re your son and his companion who we’ve known for a thousand years! – his wife said emphatically.

- Now we still should be dealing with them. My father will be here later too – the man said firmly, and went back to the living room.

The woman angrily went after him, then it came into her head that maybe he was also afraid of his father’s answer that Montana still hadn’t changed after he got his hopes up that maybe she changed.

- Montana didn’t say anything bad – Delilah said after they had arrived back, to defend her granddad – She wanted to talk with me, that was why Grandpa gave me the phone!

- In the end, if he would have had a bad experience talking with her, he wouldn’t have given her the phone – her father said.

- He surely knew that it wouldn’t harm her – Loretta said in a reassuring voice.

Gina reflected. Till then, she wanted to ask the little girl what things her sister said to her – Laurence and Loretta could be right, but maybe her father-in-law couldn’t have a good grip on the situation because of his old age – she thought.

She decided not to ask her daughter about it, at least for the time being.

- I’ll make a mint tea – her husband stood up again to consider during it about how to be continuing the conversation to change the subject, and to be in a better mood by the tea like usually – Now that you two are here at last, let’s be talking about some more cheerful subject! – he came back, pretending cheerfulness.

- Joey’s in love with me in kindergarten! – Delilah laughed.

The others laughed with her.

- Has he said it to you or did you realize it? – Loretta asked kindly.

The little girl’s parents got frightened that she might say he took off his clothes before her and got her to do it, too.

- The girls said it – their daughter grinned.

- Why, what did he do? – her brother laughed – Or did he say it?

- He said it.

Laurence and Gina felt relieved. They were already afraid that it would also come out that Montana had said some shocking thing in connection with it, which, as an addition, also would have been too early for her preschool sister.

They continued the conversation about Langston and his girlfriend’s ballet career and about politics, and about the Emmys were going to be soon where the man was also nominated for playing in Thurgood, what, as an addition, last year, the president and his wife even watched in the White House what was a huge experience for him.

Laurence completely calmed down by forgetting himself by the conversation, enjoying the mint tea’s taste and smell, what he was drinking with the others, but after the couple had left, it came into his head again that he should talk with his father.

Before it, he was meditating to have strength of mind for it, and after the old man told him that he hadn’t experienced any change about Montana, he already fled to his trampoline to moderate the tension. Gina, who does gymnastics, advised him earlier to exercise to moderate the tension that he felt because of her daughter’s businesses, and he looked after what possibilities there are, and this was what he liked the most. He bought a mini trampoline, and it worked, so he bought one more for his other house too. When he used it, he felt his circulation and enjoyed that he defeated gravitation, he enjoyed that he had control over something, even though he didn’t have control over the girl’s acts. When he was home, he used his mini trampoline every day. On the other hand, the next day, he had to go back to the filming location.

After going back, he was lost in acting, and when they weren’t shooting his scenes, he listened to the music with earphones, and drank Moroccan mint tea, which he likes the most. During filming breaks, he talked with his fellow actors but always turned the subject to the other one or turned it to other things so his life wouldn’t come up.

On the 18th, on Sunday, he went to the Emmys with Gina but he didn’t get the award, but he at least met some of his friends who couldn’t come to his birthday so he had met with them a long time ago.

They celebrated their wedding anniversary with Gina next week, on Saturday, even though it was on Friday but then the man was working. But this time at least it was almost on the weekend so they celebrated it. It wasn’t a round anniversary, only Delilah, Bruce and Whitney were there. They went to that restaurant where Laurence has been going since his childhood, to Moun of Tunis where he took to Moroccan mint tea because it’s always served with almond cakes after every meal.

They were spending Thanksgiving Day at the house one of Laurence’s friends as usual, where a lot of people gathered together. He took Gina and Delilah along there too.

- Where to go for Christmas? Or should we be staying home? – his wife reflected in December. Already all of the man’s scenes had been shot in his movie; nowadays, the woman was filming in Canada, in a series. She didn’t play much in it, but took Delilah along, and her husband went with them, too.

- We’re traveling so much to Canada and back that now I don’t feel like traveling even more. Let’s invite everybody, and who can come, will come – Laurence answered, sitting in the armchair.

- You mean except Montana, right? – Gina asked tactfully. It even came into her head that the reason why he didn’t want to go to relatives’ places, was because he didn’t want to bump into the girl, but when he said inviting everybody, it also crossed her mind that maybe he wanted to be spending at least the holiday together with her. Inside, she was afraid of this possibility already in advance.

First, the man would have snapped at her by choice, asking how it could come into her head that he wanted to meet with her, and then held back because the woman didn’t lift up her voice, either.

- Yeah – he said after a sigh.

- So you still don’t have good news about her – his wife continued sympathetically and sadly.

- I don’t wanna bump into her even by chance. It’s better to even forget that she exists, and only hear about her if she amends – he stared into space with a grievous look.

It came into the woman’s head that maybe he was better at least not to seclude himself from bumping into each other by chance on the holidays, but it came into her head that they wouldn’t have talked to each other, anyway.

- You can’t forget that she exists – Gina went up to him – You should hope that she changes one day – she took his hand – She’s not a teenager anymore. She surely started to settle down, and one day, she will surely settle down so much that she repents her lifestyle she’s had – she gave a kiss to his face.

- Maybe you’re right – Laurence fondled her face, and kissed her – Let’s still stay at home. It was really enough to travel nowadays, and my next filming is also gonna be in Canada and Finland.

His wife agreed when she thought of it, and she was happy that they could be together in Canada because both of them were going to be filming there.

They prepared lunch together, then, with Delilah and the older Laurence, they had lunch at the big table in the living room. When they weren’t eating on the terrace, sometimes they pushed him to the living room in a wheelchair, but when there were some guests, he didn’t like to eat before them because of his clumsiness due to the paralysis. Because of it, for a while, he didn’t eat before his family either so he hadn’t been in a wheelchair for a long while.

- Sometimes we could also watch TV together. From March, none of us isn’t gonna be home again, just a nurse and the maid are gonna be here. We could spend the time together at least till then – his son said.

- You two should rather leave Delilah here for me. Why are you two gonna take her away from me again?! She can’t watch TV for so much time like you two, anyway! She’s been with me for four years only, and I’ve known you two for a long while already, and I’ll die soon! Before it, I’d like to get to know my grandchild as much as possible; I’ll hardly have time for it already! You two could employ a babysitter for her or call a relative who has time for that time – his father answered grumpily.

- Then I don’t see my Canadian kindergarten mates anymore! – the little girl resisted, too.

Her parents reflected.

- We’ll leave her here next time when both of us fare forth – her mother said.

- Don’t you think you should talk it over with me too? – her husband asked but his voice remained composed.

The woman angrily looked at him, but after that, she realized that he was right.

They talked over what to do, and arrived at the result that Gina was right, too.

All of them contentedly finished the lunch, then the couple took Delilah skating with Suri. While the girls were ice-skating, their parents were talking, sitting on the chairs. It wasn’t a pleasant conversation, Tom and Katie happened to be divorcing. Because of it, Laurence and his wife also should be keeping clear of the subject that how good it was that they were going to be filming in one place soon. Instead, they were talking about the divorce, about their children and about their movies.

- I can’t be together with Suri for a long time anymore – Tom said sadly – I also only came here to be together at least on the way here and on the way home.

All of them knew that after they would get divorced, Tom, because of his scientologist religion, couldn’t keep in touch with his daughter, and they were also divorcing because of this religion. Laurence was jealous of him because only this much separated him from his daughter. He, if he was religious, would have even given it up to be able to meet with Montana if she wasn’t like that. On the other hand, he also pitied his friend because he knew for sure that he couldn’t meet with the little girl anymore.

Tom and Katie were quarreling even then, in their presence. The man undertook even this only to be together with Suri then too.

Laurence was happy that he was at least together with Gina. His friend’s situation awakened him to how lucky he was.

As soon as they had arrived home, he began dealing with his wife only.

- What do you feel like doing? – he asked, smiling, putting his hands to his hips when they had arrived at the living room.

- What are you cheerful about? – the woman laughed.

- I know that it could have also brought me down in what state of mind Tom is, but during it, it also awakened me to how lucky I am.Gina reflected.

- And from now, you’ll only deal with me? – she asked furiously – You’ll neglect your other daughter too?! – she was indignant.

- Who talked about the future?! – her husband was indignant, too – I only asked what you felt like doing now! You think I forget it forever that I have a disowned daughter, too, and she will never come into my head?! Now, just this once, I would have been feeling good with you at last, but you’re spoiling even this one opportunity! You think the things Montana has committed aren’t enough lessons to me for a lifetime, and I won’t have at least so much concern for Delilah as much I had concern for her?! – he raged.

- I don’t know – his wife reflected again – Maybe now, for a while, you’ll deal with me more than with her… Maybe not intentionally, but until Tom gets over his divorce…

- I can’t believe it! From now, you wanna neglect me so I deal with Delilah or what?!

- And what makes you think it?! I just warned you not to forget about her either! – his wife said emphatically and angrily.

Laurence’s father spoke that he wanted to go over to the little girl so the man put him over to the wheelchair, and pushed him over to his grandchild’s room. After that, he went meditating.

After he had finished it, he apologized to Gina, and they were making dinner together; during it, they were listening to the music. They were listening to Elvis Presley’s numbers, which both of them liked.

- I’m also sorry for talking to you like that. Maybe Tom really had such an effect on you only for today… And I’m sorry for spoiling the rest of your day… - she said while cooking.

- It’s the same, we made peace already. By the way, after dinner, we could go somewhere – his husband was mingling the sauce for the spaghetti.

- You can go, I don’t feel like going. Today we’ve already taken Delilah skating and met with Tom and Katie; I already wanna be home. Besides, I don’t even have an idea where we could go.

- Don’t you feel like going to the cinema or to the theater either? – it came into the man’s head. Until then, recently, they didn’t go to such places because everybody recognized them there, at least him, but it came into his head that play- and movie fans didn’t recognize him as the scandal-maker’s father but as an actor.

In the end, his wife agreed to it, anyway, they had been to such places a long time ago, besides, she felt like she owed Laurence this much after she blitzed him today.

They called the babysitter for Delilah, and after checking what was in the theater and in the cinema, they decided to go to the cinema because such a movie was playing which was interesting for both of them. There was some action in it so it was manly enough, and at the same time, it was also a comedy that Gina liked. The man felt young again because he was in the cinema again where he hadn’t been since he was young, and this way, it wasn’t discommoding him that some fans went up to him. On the way home, they even met one of Laurence’s friends Ozwald Boateng who’s his favorite designer, he always wears his shoes at the award ceremonies.

- Did you regret coming? – Laurence asked the woman after they had said goodbye to Oswald after a short conversation.

His wife was concealing that she didn’t feel like also talking with that stranger.

- I realized that I also missed it , going to the cinema with the two of us with my partner. I felt like a young girl again – she laughed.

- I felt the same, too. I haven’t been to the cinema since I was young – her husband looked at her with a daydreaming look; during it, they were holding each other’s hand while walking up to the motorcycle which they came by.

- This, riding the motorbike also reminds me that – Gina said cheerfully when they had gotten on.

- I already believed that I’m the only one who likes riding the motorbike.

The man turned on the music on his phone, and they were going home, singing.

- Why didn’t you two take me to the cinema?! – Delilah came out of her room as soon as they had arrived home.

- You were skating today! – her mother rebuked her.

- Besides, now we watched such a movie which isn’t for you – his father also spoke strictly.

- Thank you, you can leave already, I’ll put her to bed – the woman paid the thirty-year-old, white babysitter, and they said goodbye to each other.

After she had left, they sent the little girl to have a bath, and they also had a shower, in their bathroom, in a hurry so Gina would wipe her daughter after bathing and Laurence would put her to bed.

- We quickly returned to family life – his wife noted after it in the living room.

- It’s a shame that I couldn’t be admiring your body any longer – her husband walked up to her, smiling.

- This night could have come to an end in a pretty romantic way – the woman embraced his neck, smiling seductively.

- We’ve already put Delilah to bed, and we can do what we wanna – the man smiled on joyously, and kissed her.

They were kissing; during it, they were fondling each other, then went upstairs to their bedroom, and they were making love.

Next morning, the little girl woke them up.

- Granddad’s saying that he already wats to have breakfast! – she opened the door of the room.

It came into their head that they didn’t lock the door, and their daughter could have always opened the door of their bedroom.

- Tell him that we’ll get dressed, and we’ll go – her mother spoke under the blanket, naked.

Delilah ran to speak to her granddad.

- We can’t forget ourselves this much anymore – Gina was getting dressed restlessly – Lucky that it’s winter, and we sleep under the blanket!

Laurence would have said by choice that he always sleeps under a blanket. He always needs a warm blanket to sleep at night. At home, he always sleeps under a cashmere blanket.

But now he knew that his wife was right. He also began worrying more again about if they don’t take care of all areas of life, their common daughter could also get into evil ways like Montana – Maybe still he spoiled something about raising her – it came into his head.

While getting dressed, he was rapt about what things he should take care to ensure that he wouldn’t spoil her or prevent other people’s or other things’ spoiling her.

They were also thinking about it with Gina mutely when they went downstairs to prepare breakfast.

To make the omelet, the man started a John Coltrane CD to divert his thoughts during it. He always likes cooking, this was the first occasion when he needed to be listening to one of his favorite performers during it.

He also had to push his father out to the living room because he wanted to have breakfast together with his grandchild; during it, his son even forgot turning the music off but they didn’t even mind it, and he neither minded that they were having breakfast together with the older Laurence because he thought neither he and Gina couldn’t have brought forward any subject. Almost only Delilah and her granddad were talking with each other.

After breakfast, Laurence went into his room to meditate, and Gina stayed in the living room to do gymnastics, and then took their daughter sledging, then lost in watching a series. After that, they were playing with the little girl, then took the dogs for a walk with her.

After going home, they ate a pizza for lunch, and as usual, put their daughter to bed.

- It’s a relief not to be dealing with her at last. It was on my mind all day that I could spoil her during the day. It was brutal how this day started – Laurence said, drinking Moroccan mint tea. Gina was drinking chocolate milk with him in the living room.

- It’s a shame that everything can’t continue the way it was last night, like we were still young – the woman remarked – True enough that I’m young yet, but I’ll be middle-aged soon, too.

- There’s nothing wrong with our age, at least with yours. You’re still beautiful; we just have to take care of living responsibly about raising a kid.

- We still can’t be too hard on Delilah, either, because it can backfire, too.

Her husband stared through the window, and reflected about if he was too hard on Montana, and if she became so violent and immoral by it, as a rebellion. Recently, till then, he didn’t repent anything; he only started to repent things nowadays, especially after last night.

His father spoke that he wanted to come out to watch TV with them before they would go to Canada to be filming there for who knew how much time.

His son went into his room to tell him that they weren’t watching TV then, and anyway, they had breakfast together today, and there was much time till March when the filming was going to start, besides, he shouldn’t shout then when Delilah was sleeping.

The old man said to them to buy him such a wheelchair which it’s possible to use alone.

- You can’t treat your dad like this. If he wants a proper wheelchair, buy him one, and when he wants to come out, bring him out – his wife said emphatically after the man sat back on the sofa.

- It was your idea to buy such a wheelchair so we also take care of him while pushing him since we hardly have time for him beside our work and beside raising a kid – Laurence answered uncomprehendingly.

- At least now bring him out when he wants to come out!

- Now we’ve got to talk about Delilah’s raising.

- Only because of this day?! Besides, why couldn’t your father help us about it? Maybe he already feels his situation humiliating ‘cause he has us the short hairs that we have to push him! If you don’t buy him a proper wheelchair, at least let him have a say in the matter of the family.

- Till now, he hasn’t said that the present wheelchair wouldn’t be good for him, but OK, if you want, I’ll take him out! – her husband went for him.

As soon as he had pushed him out to the living room, his father reached out for the remote control because he wanted to be watching TV. He was still resentful because first, his son wanted to leave him there, in the room.

- We happened to be talking, and we’d like to continue it – the younger Laurence said firmly.

The old man was still looking at him angrily.

- If you’d like it, first, let’s talk about what you want to – Gina offered.

- Or you could give advice about how to raise Delilah – her husband said so he would feel valuable, and by it, to persuade him to continue that subject which they started.

- Let’s talk about my grandchild! My favorite subject – his father smiled. Since Langston and Montana had moved house, he very much cottoned to at least one of his grandchildren who had still been there in the house.

- I even have an idea. I’ll tell you, and I’m interested to hear your ideas.

- I’d like to know it, too – the woman chopped in.

According to Laurence’s idea, they agreed that they would educate Delilah to feel special already now. They let her be as individual as she just wanted to be, so she would feel like she was unhandled so she wouldn’t want too much.

- Then I’m gonna help in it, too – the older Laurence said cheerfully.

They were spending Christmas at home like usual, because of Laurence’s father, so he wouldn’t be at home alone. When they weren’t celebrating at home, it was hard to take him along with the wheelchair so then usually some relatives came to him when they weren’t at home.

On the first day, Langston, Loretta, Mike, Hattie, Bruce and his family came, and on the second day, Gina’s parents, grandparents and some cousins came. Laurence’s grandparents weren’t alive anymore.

They were spending New Year’s Eve with some of their friends who could come; some of Laurence’s cousins were also among them, and Lemuel came with his family, too. For the children’s sake, they were also playing games; they were mostly playing board games together with the adults, playing such games which the adults and the children enjoyed, too.

On the nineteenth, Laurence was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. The award ceremony was on February 17. Gina couldn’t go with him because of her series, because she was already in Canada. It was terrible to attend the award ceremony without Gina since on the nineteenth, Whitney died because of using cocaine, and a heart disease, and her funeral was exactly yesterday.

He didn’t even get the award but he already got used to it. He constantly got ready for his movie role then, when Gina wasn’t home, and he meditated a lot because of his friend’s death. It was also good for him that he was one of the co-stars in his new movie which they were going to start filming next month. This way, he also could be buried in work. It also did him good that Gina didn’t have many scenes in her series so they could talk on the phone often. This way, they wore the grief better.

In March, he felt better and better, the filming had started in Canada, he could leave behind the place where he spent his grief, and he could be together with his family. As an addition, he was in Toronto and North Bay, and Lapland, Finland, where he had never been, which made the movie interesting. On the other hand, there wasn’t any signal in North Bay so he could be keeping touch with Gina and Delilah in person only. The little girl was with her mother because she had less scenes while filming. When the man had to be filming in Finland, they could be keeping in touch on the phone and on the internet only.

In the summer, he enjoyed filming in the cold because in Canada, he wasn’t hot how sometimes he was in Los Angeles, and in December, when it would have been already too cold to spend the winter there, they had already finished shooting his scenes, and he already had to go to the filming of his next movie which he had a supporting role in. This movie was filmed in Georgia and California, and Ice also played in it, like John Leguziamo too, who he had also played together in one movie with, as an addition, he was working together with the director of Rise of Silver Surfer again.

And what the biggest experience was for him, was that soon after the filming, he was called and offered to play the role of Nelson Mandela. He was so happy about the opportunity that he immediately said yes. He had never played such a huge person, and he felt it a huge honor.

He immediately called Gina who happened to be filming a movie in Chicago, and he told her. Anyway, he was already missing her, and wanted to talk to her. There was a filming break then, so his wife answered the phone.

- Actually as soon as I said yes, fifteen minutes later, I got frightened – the man laughed – It’s frightening what I’m undertaking! It’s a huge burden to play such a huge person…

- If you won’t be afraid while filming, it’s gonna be going well – the woman said firmly.

- You’re right, by panicking, I blow everything. Jittering even could be good to be prepared enough, but panicking’s still extreme. And what about you? I already wanted to call you, anyway. I miss you.

- I miss you too. It was so good when we were filming in one location; it would be good to always spend that much time together.

The director said that the break was over, the filming would continue, so the pair said goodbye to each other already before the woman could tell her decision because of that. She was looking forward to calling him back.

- It’s good that you called me back. I wanted to continue talking with you – her husband said after filming.

- I also feel like nowadays, we neglect each other – Gina said seriously – If we continue it this way, we become estranged from each other if our whole time only remains for Delilah – after that, she reflected – When we were in Canada, it rang a bell that the normal thing would be if we always spent that much time together, and before it, we weren’t happy. So I decided to quit the series.

Laurence was shocked. He didn’t realize anything about this all. He didn’t know why she hadn’t talked about it to him till then – Although maybe because they didn’t have time for it personally – he thought.

- While I think we don’t neglect each other at all. This time too, as soon as I got the role, I immediately called you. We share everything with each other, about work too. I also would be happy about it if we spent more time with each other, but I wouldn’t like you to repent your decision later, and blame me if you change your mind.

His wife was indignant – Exactly she’s the one who always sees every possible consequence in advance, then his husband was quite capable of thinking it about her that she would change her mind and also blame him?! – she thought angrily.

She even jumped off the phone, and then it came into her head that this was rashness – Although maybe it was even better this way because maybe she would have said such a thing that she would have repented in the end – she thought.

- Could you tell me why you dropped the call?! - the man called her back.

- Sorry – the woman composed herself – Exactly I wanted to spend more time with you so we don’t become estranged from each other, then I almost blew it – she continued, almost crying – But how could you think that exactly I would change my mind?! Exactly I who sees two measures in advance so is always reflective! – she raged.

- Then are you raging by being reflective now too?

- I’m not perfect!

Laurence reflected.

- Let’s talk in person when you come home – he said. He likes to talk in person muich more.

- You said before that it was good that I called you back – Gina said emphatically – It would be good if you decided what you want.

Her husband furiously sighed.

- I didn’t know that you would quarrel – he answered firmly.

- I think you wanna give me time to think about if I really want to leave the series. But I’ve already decided. I undertake one more episode, and then I quit – his wife said in a similar voice.

After they had finished the conversation, the man went meditating, and then he had to go for Delilah to the kindergarten, then had to cook dinner.

Next day, they went to Langston’s place, who could be playing in his favorite series with his father’s help. Laurence told them that once, he had played in one of his movies when he played him young, and this worked, so they agreed to try him out in an episode, and the boy was playing well then too, so he played in even four episodes of the series.

They had lunch together, then watched all the four episodes in a row.

Laurence was proud of his son. He even thought he might be an actor.

After the series, they continued talking, drinking tea, and he even told him that he could consider that he also could be an actor besides ballet because he saw him as talented. But for the time being, it was more important for Langston to have more free time beside his work because he had Loretta too.

- I see. On the other hand, I got a further leading role – his father said – Guess who I’ll play! – he grinned.

- Obama? – the boy laughed.

- Almost! – the man guffawed – Nelson Mandela! – he said meaningfully, smiling.

- Wow, congratulations! – his companion said, sitting on the sofa with crossed legs and clasped hands on her knees – By it, you’ll also be so famous that because of it, it will be so good to play you like playing him!

- Exactly that’s why I undertook this role, because he’s an iconic person for the world! – Laurence eulogized – I’ve always wanted to play him. There are very few such big roles, and there are very few such people who have this kind of mental caliber, who’s got such a mind with such a moral courage and this kind of inside power…

- Is it gonna be a movie, too? Or a series?

The man began to smile again because the girl asked one more serious thing.

- A series – he said meaningfully – It’s gonna have six episodes only, but the essence is that it’s not gonna be a movie only but we have six hours to show everything, not only his life. It was very important for Mandela that he wanted it not to be only about him but he wanted us to show that the fight for ending racial discrimination was a whole group’s effort. Every organization gathered.

His son was proud of her girlfriend because she asked such a good question. On the other hand, Loretta was bored because they never talked about her.

- But let’s not be talking only about me! What do you two think, who to invite for Christmas? – he continued, reaching out for the Moroccan mint tea which was on the coffee-table, and he drank a sip of it.

- We could invite my cousins too, at last – Langston answered – I mean you could invite them ‘cause we keep Christmas together at your house – he laughed.

- And you could also invite Delilah’s cousins from the other side – his companion smiled.

- They’re already adults! What should she do with them?

- We still could keep in touch with them – the man said, looking at his son seriously – On the other hand, now I should be going – he looked at his watch.

- OK! Thanks for coming to watch the series – the boy stood up, then the others too.

- See you guys on Christmas! Bye – his father said, smiling in the doorway.

After the couple had said goodbye, too, and the man had started, he immediately returned from the cheerful time he was spending with his son, to the tense mood that Gina caused him. It came into his head that now only Delilah and his father were waiting for him at home already, on the other hand, tomorrow, his wife was going to come home and might continue her fireworks.

In his car, he turned on the music, and was listening to Johnny Harman’s numbers which he calmed down by.

He went to one of Delilah’s girlfriends’ places whose parents were looking after the little girl while he wasn’t at home. After that, he had dinner together with his daughter and father, sent Delilah to have a bath, and then, after taking a shower, he was memorizing his lines for another of his leading roles until he became sleepy, and went to sleep.

#laurence fishburne #gina torres #tom crusie #katie holmes #suri cruise #montana fishburne #ozwald boateng #ice t #whitney houston #johnny harman #john coltrane #john leguizamo #elvis presley

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