The house was rge enough to aodate ten people, with a spacious kit, a rge living room, and more. Two caretakers, a husband and wife, who performed the household chores, were sidered integral parts of the family, with a small child seen running barefoot with dogs bad forth. The garden was sizable, at least 10 meters, taining amidst it a flarden.

  -Good m, dear. I didn't expect to see you so early in the m, - ented Blythe Danner, wearing a white colr jacket and a neckce of transparent beads resembling a rosary. She was beautiful, very much like her son, albeit older, with well-preserved skin and the charm of a mother.

  Her gaze stopped at Billy, earing a dark blue suit, walking briskly. She noticed his fine shoes, -tailored suit, the budding beard with a goatee on his face. He looked quite handsome, with a red tie atuating his suit.

  -The pleasure is mine, ma'am! I'm Billy Carson, - Billy ented after his mother's hug.

  -Oh, dear, it's so good to see you after such a long time. You look even more handsome than on s or in photos. You have the air of James Dean, with a mix of a businessman that melts people's hearts. Now I see why Gwyh fell for you, - Blythe ented with a giggle, receiving Billy's handshake. The smile her mave to Gwyh made her blush, and Billy too. The dogs barked not far away.

  -Mom! -replied the blonde, affeately.

  -Don't be nervous, dear. Our new James Dean must be exhausted after a hard day's work. Let's go, Delmeza is preparing the young man's room, along with a bath. We'll have di 5:00 pm, but the young man have some pastries, -Blythe ented, ushering them in while the bodyguards took a turn and headed to a nearby hotel.

  -Where is my brother and my father? - Gwyh asked.

  -They've goo Los Ahey expected your rec process to take some time; we even thought you might skip the party. It's a pleasure to have you! - Blythe replied.

  Both women delved into their advehey each had two-family homes, but New York and its surroundings were preferable to the hot west of California. One was smaller thaher; a clear example was the work that kept them separated and often only allowed brief visits. They seemed like friends; the way everything unfolded hi it.

  They climbed the stairs without further questions about rest; even so, Blythe disappeared upstairs as soon as she introduced the guest room. Billy took a breath, and though he wao sleep, he uood perfectly well that the blonde beyond the door at the end of the hallway wao spend quality time with her mother. And he art of that equation. What do stars do when they don't have much to do? Py bames, pass the time with card games, or versations.

  His thoughts were devalued when the blonde arrived, hopping with joy. - What are you doing here? You have to take a hot bath a something. Dinner's at five, and then you'll meet Mom, - Gwyh ented.

  -Give me a sed, I'm just pting a bit, - Billy replied.

  She just sighed at seeing how tired Billy was, it was evident. It was always work this and that. -You're exhausted. And it's not normal. e on, take a shower, and take a break. I'll call you for dinner. Mom always leaves the towels uhe sink; you take one. You have to hang it up ter. The hot one is on the right. And e, you use some shirts; we have some we usually get from publicity. Your size should be L, - said the blonde.

  Billy took a quick shower with cold water to shake off the weight on his shoulders.

  ***

  In a dimly lit room, Billy slept peacefully as the daylight gently filtered through, still casting a dusky gray tone. Even when a young woman snuggled up in his arms, he remained deeply asleep. She breathed in Billy's st with a hint of disappoi, ving herself that she wasn't pletely in love; she just wao spend time, have fun, and pursue her dream of being a great actress.

  -Hey, you o wake up. Dinner's ready, - Gwyh softly whispered, giving Billy gentle kisses. Unsciously, she savored Billy's st, finding it intoxig.

  -Darling, you o wake up! We have a lot of things to do, -the blonde replied again.

  -I'm awake, I'm awake. I think I need some sugar, - said Billy, feeling Gwyh beside him.

  Blythe was sipping a gss of wine while listening to a slow bald. The piano notes iwined in a somewhat absent, desynized manner. Meanwhile, oable, various dishes refreshed, including roast beef, sads, bread, and a soup served in a rge por bowl with a dle. The ptes were adorned with specific designs, white, and the cutlery resentable.

  -Later, I'll introduce you to all the dogs. We have a cat, but it usually hides oerrace. Poor thing, it's afraid of people and quite finicky. Mom doesn't let them in, for obvious reasons, - a distant voice of two youngsters spoke as Blythe opened her eyes and they sat down at the table.

  -Good afternoon, - Billy responded as he took a seat not far away, refleg the seating arra at the eight-seat table.

  -Don't worry, dear, - Blythe ented. Dinner began, and fortunately, the atmosphere was much calmer than a family gathering should have been for Billy.

  -It's a pleasure, Mrs. Patrowl, - Billy replied.

  -Danner, Miss Danner. Patrowl is my husband. If I prefer a sur's the oook as my own, -the mother replied somewhat haughtily.

  Both tasted the food, apanied by the soft vinyl records pyed by the mother. The afternoon, though cold, leasant, ae any underlying tensions, calm prevailed.

  -Wine? -Blythe queried.

  Billy shook his head, while the wine oured fwyh, who gdly savored the sweet and fvorful high-quality wine. A good wine was a desirable item, and after a while, the sweetness was captivating, surpassing a regur sip, much stronger.

  -How was the movie? - the mother asked.

  -Perfect, although there were several scripts, we ended up shooting more ses. It's just that the filming was smooth, and the crew was very itted, different from what I thought it would be, - Gwyh replied, fixing her gaze on Billy.

  -It's fantastic. I fidently say it will be reized as one of the cssics of ema. If doh quality work, although it might be subjee thoughts, I see that the movie's image represents something profound and recurring. A good start, a good problem, and perhaps a good ending—all the ways the ses develreat, - Billy ented.

  -Ohhhhh... I hear some very deep words, sidering your status. It must be true. There's no doubt that your skills will be tested upon release. Although I'm happy for you, a good project be the stepping stone for new movies. All you need are pushes, - Blythe eaking out a cigarette from her purse and lighting it, taking a brief step toward the window so as not to interrupt the lovebirds.

  -Thank you, - said Billy, tinuing with his meal.

  -Ahhhh... I don't know why you're being modest. -

  -He's always like this, Mom. I think he's only arrogant when he's angry. For now, all he's doing is being a hungry young man, - Gwyh ughed.

  ....