Lady in Red Ch. 30

"Steve, she's my aunt, my mother's sister. Of course I want to know if she's having a serious problem, and I do expect it's serious. Finding you alone with a very attractive, and very married, naked woman in a hot tub might give some girlfriends cause for concern. You know we can deal with the problem better together. What's going on? Why did she wind up naked in the hot tub with you?"

"She wasn't naked. She was only topless. She was having an emotional meltdown. I know you won't say anything. Diane didn't know that you saw us together when she asked me not to tell you. The short version of the story is that she's pregnant."

"You aren't telling me that's she's having your baby, right?" quizzed Gwen.

"Of course not!" replied Steve somewhat sharply. "You're the only woman I've ever had sex with. You're the only woman I want to have sex with, and if I ever have any kids, they'll be yours!"

"Oh, Steve, that's what I wanted to hear. I didn't really think you'd had sex with Diane, but why was she on your lap with her big bare boobs pushed against you? It looked suspicious, and then you tell me she's pregnant! Part of me knew it couldn't be yours, but I needed to hear you say it. She loves you. Who knows if she'd have your baby? It could happen. So what's the problem?"

"She was wondering if she should have the baby. She hasn't told Will, so you have to act surprised when you hear about it. She's worried he'll resent losing his freedom to golf and go to ball games. It'll alter his life style a lot. She's worried that Stephanie will be embarrassed. She's worried that she's going to be fat and ugly. I think she's worried about having a baby at her age. She's worried about friends and family thinking she's pathetic, or plain crazy. It's a big step and she didn't expect to get pregnant. She also told me that she's very hormonal. She's all over the place emotionally. I can't really say why she decided to peel her top off, climb into the hot tub with me, and tell me all her fears."

"Now I'm beginning to see the picture. Sometimes I wonder how I'll ever be a doctor when I keep missing problems people are having. Diane needed someone to talk to that she knew she could trust, and that wouldn't get all emotional. She was worried about Will's reaction. She turned to the single most dependable, calming, sensible person she could find. The part about taking her top off is a little harder to figure out, except that if she has the baby she'll lose her figure for awhile so she probably wanted to be sure you were properly impressed with her 'girls' while they were still looking firm. It's no secret that Diane has a thing for you. I bet it was a dream come true for her to sit on your lap and hold her breasts against your chest. I know how good that feels!

"So what was the final outcome? Is she okay? Will she have the baby? I sure hope she does! It'll be so nice to have a new baby in the family. Will and Stephanie will be delighted. Diane didn't need to worry about that."

"Pretty much like you just said. I told her that she already knew what she wanted to do, but she needed reassurance that she wasn't going to be ridiculed by friends and family and that Will would be as proud as a peacock. I told her that I had no doubts about Stephanie being happy. She left feeling a lot better," concluded Steve.

"I bet she did!" laughed Gwen. "I can see why she might have been worried. Mom told us that Diane always wanted more children but couldn't get pregnant for some reason. This is going to be a very special little baby! You told her the right things. She'd never forgive herself if she got rid of a child she and Will created. I can't wait for her to tell us about it. What's her plan?"

"I told her to use any excuse necessary to get Will down here and tell him. I told her we'd let them use this room and we'd use theirs so they could celebrate properly. I hope that was okay."

"Of course! What could possibly be wrong with us sleeping in the same suite as Mom and Kate? They didn't hear enough when we were making love by the pool. Now they can listen to us from the comfort of their own bed," replied Gwen sarcastically as Steve's smile disappeared. "I'm just teasing! Of course it's okay. I can't wait to talk to Mom and Lisa and Kate about this. We'll have a wonderful baby shower and invite Jordan and Naomi and everybody else! This is going to be so much fun!"

Diane seemed to be her usual self at dinner, although she and Paula didn't have much opportunity to speak since the girls were excited about being at the beach and having the chance to see the movie filmed over the next two weeks. Ashley, Charlotte, Gwen, and Jordan felt like old pros after listening to the younger girls carry on.

Filming began the next morning shortly after the sun appeared, seemingly rising from the ocean. The movie required a lot of outdoor scenes with Gwen, Jordan, and Steve in swimsuits most of the time. Usually Steve would be in a scene with one or the other and occasionally with both girls. The two girls only had a couple scenes in the movie where they interacted without Steve. While they were eating a quick lunch with family members, the director approached their table.

"Clyde and his partners want a couple more love scenes. This has already gone from PG to R, so he feels we need to up the ante a little. The writers will have something for us by the end of the week and we'll film them both next week. It's my understanding that they'll probably be outside on the beach. I just wanted you to start thinking about it and be mentally prepared.

"That idea you offered seems to be well received, Steve, so we'll need her permission and a contract before we write that part into the movie. Let me know as soon as you can."

"That sounds like sand in all the wrong places!" laughed Ashley. "I suggest that you use a beach towel or something. It really makes a difference."

"Nothing like the voice of experience," grinned Becky. "I guess those Spring breaks were educational, at least in some ways. Mom will be so pleased that her money wasn't wasted."

"You just wait. You'll be in college before long and wanting to go on break. You'll remember what I just told you and avoid that problem, and even thank me some day," asserted Ashley.

"Are you telling us that we should refuse any romantic gestures by Steve if it's near sand?" asked Kate with a straight face.

"Absolutely not!" responded Ashley immediately. "I'm just saying that you'd be well advised to be on top, or to have a towel handy. If you don't, make sure you run into the ocean and rinse the sand out of the usual collection points."

"I can't wait to see the love scenes with Jordan and Steve and Gwen and Steve," admitted Stephanie. "That should be so cool to watch!"

"That's an issue we'll discuss as the day approaches. The kids may not want you to watch, or the director may not allow it, or your mother may put her foot down and not allow it," stated Paula.

"Are you kidding? Mom's going to want to watch and I'm going to insist that I get to go, too. Who wouldn't want to see those scenes? Will you guys let us watch?" asked Stephanie to Gwen, Steve, and Jordan.

"That's going to be up to the director and your mom, as far as I'm concerned," responded Gwen. "Everybody that watches the movie will see it anyway, and I feel better with friends and family close by. What do you think, Jordan?"

"Truthfully, I'd rather that you all were there. I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of. Being half naked with Steve is a really good thing in comparison. As long as Charlie doesn't get upset, I'm good with the whole fam damily watching. We all know Steve won't refuse Stephanie anything, so it's all up to the director and Diane."

"What was this idea of yours that the director was talking about?" asked Ashley. "As your assistant, I'm supposed to know what's going on."

"I didn't want to get her hopes up until I found out if it'd be accepted by the writers and producers. The movie has me falling for Gwen in the end, even though she seems mean spirited, unrefined, and just plain rough around the edges. Why would I decide on Gwen over Jordan? They're both beautiful beyond belief, but Jordan's character is wealthy and connected. Gwen's family runs a Tiki Bar. What are some of the reasons that make me decide on Gwen?

"That part of the plot seemed weak to me. I felt my character needed to see something that would make his decision seem logical and reasonable to the viewers. I suggested to the director that we have Becky apply for a waitress job with Gwen's family, and they hire her, even though she only has one hand. One afternoon, Jordan and I have a lunch there and Jordan makes some very insensitive remarks about a one handed waitress.

"Meanwhile, some idiot guy makes some really cruel comments to Becky while she's working and Gwen comes to her defense and throws the guy out of the place, even though he has a large group that wanted to eat there. Money means less to Gwen than taking care of friends and doing the right thing. Gwen's rough, tough family supports Gwen totally when she does it and my character gets a look into the beliefs and morals of Gwen and her family as well as the superficial piece of fluff that is Jordan's character.

"The only problem is that in Gwen's restaurant, the waitresses are attractive and wear low necked shirts. Becky, would you be interested in being in the movie, even if some of your chest is exposed to the movie goers? I understand that your part would pay about seven to nine thousand dollars. You'd be the first person, other than Charlie, his band, and us three, to sign with 'Lady in Red Productions'. You'd have to pay a percentage to our agency. Want to call your mom and discuss it?" asked Steve as he finished his presentation.

"Are you kidding? I know she'll be excited when I tell her I'm going to be in a movie and get some money for college! I'm telling you right now that I'll do it! I have just two questions."

"Okay," grinned Steve. "That seems reasonable. What're your questions?"

"Where do I sign? Do I get to do a love scene with you?" giggled Becky as she wrapped her arms around Steve and hugged him. "It looks like there's a silver lining to losing my hand. I'll be in demand for any roles that require a one handed, blonde bombshell."

"I just hope that the viewers notice that you've lost a hand," worried Steve. "Once you get in one of those shirts like Gwen and her girls wear, people may not notice that you have only one hand. Their attention will be directed to other areas that come in pairs."

"That was a great idea! How do you come up with them?" asked Gwen a little later. "How come you need a better reason to pick me over some gorgeous blonde like Jordan? Seriously, what made you think of it?"

"Honestly? I was thinking about all of the things that draw me to you. Your compassion and willingness to fight for what's right are two of them. Another is your family. In the movie, I don't get along with your brothers, but I needed a reason to respect them and your parents. So I thought about things that would cause me to respect a person, or a family. Even if they're unkind to me, the fact that they willingly support a girl unfairly hassled makes them okay in my book."

"Family really is very important to you, isn't it? I'm sure glad that mine has passed the Hammer test. I wonder if we'd be together if my family was a bunch of jerks?" mused Gwen.

The next day was warm and sunny, like the day before had been and the next day would be. The director took Steve and Gwen out to the parking lot after lunch and showed them a big 'Harley Davidson Softail Fatboy'. It was equipped with a pillon pad for a rider.

"Do you think you can learn to ride this bike safely? Your character is going to be riding it all over town in the movie and we want to get a lot of shots of you riding it up and down A1A and US1. Gwen will ride with you in some of the shots. We want her to be recognized by friends and customers of her Dad's bar and restaurant. She's supposed to be a local girl that has friends from high school that recognize her.

"To make it even more appealing to the viewers, you'll be riding it in a pair of old jeans, boots, a tank top, and sun glasses. Gwen will have on a pair of boy shorts and a halter top. You don't have to go very fast. We'll have a rig follow or precede you on the road and use a helicopter to get some good shots when you go over the Causeway Bridge into Fort Pierce and then over the drawbridge to the north island. Think you can practice riding it enough to where you'll be comfortable driving this baby?" asked the director.

"Let's get in our outfits and go for it!" enthused Steve. "I've ridden a few of these before. I can be ready in two minutes."

"That's easy for you to say, but I need to have my hair done and to find the outfit I'm supposed to almost wear. I'm not even going to ask where you rode one of these before and if you're sure it's safe," added Gwen as she turned and started for her wardrobe trailer.

Gwen's family and friends heard about the motorcycle and were in the parking lot half an hour later when Steve and Gwen strode around the corner. Steve was wearing boots, tight jeans, a white undershirt, and dark glasses, while Gwen was wearing a small halter top and a pair of short shorts, high heels and sunglasses.

"Wow!" gasped Kate as she watched the couple approach. "Steve looks like a better looking Terminator! Look at his muscles ripple when he walks. He makes 'wife beater' shirts look good. Gwen is so lucky!"

"Gwen doesn't look too shabby, either," added Stephanie. "Look at her chest! It's amazing."

"Well, Mom, wish me luck! We're going to ride up and down A1A and US1 to get some footage of how Steve and I are just regular kids out for a bike ride. The director says that you can all ride in the van that'll be following us. Steve tells me that he can handle one of these, and he's never let me down. This is going to be fun!" insisted Gwen as she swung one of her long legs over the bike and climbed on behind Steve.

The director gave Steve some final instructions and then hurried off to the truck carrying the cameras and some equipment mounted on a small boom.

"Did you see how long her legs look in those shorts and shoes?" marveled Diane. "Look at the two of them sitting on that bike. Harley Davidson should hire them to make their ads! I've never see a better looking couple."

Steve cautioned Gwen to hold on and then started the big bike. He drove toward the far end of the lot to get a feel for the bike and then swung it back toward the highway. Gwen clung to Steve as he began going through the gears as he increased his speed. Soon he was cruising and she was able to relax and enjoy the feeling of the sun and fresh air all around her.

Many of the people on the sidewalks waved and called to them as they rode past. At red lights, small crowds would gather on the busier sidewalks and take pictures and shout approval. It was very evident that most people knew who they were, and that they were shooting a movie in the area. As they rode along the streets, cars would honk their horns and people would wave and call to them. Gwen made a point of smiling and waving back as often as she could.

They spent a couple hours riding the roads while being filmed for the movie. The entire crew stopped at a local tiki bar for a quick meal. Patrons and employees were smiling and taking pictures. Steve and Gwen spent time posing for pictures with those fans that asked.

The director wanted Steve and Gwen crossing the arched South Hutchinson Causeway Bridge as the sun was setting. He had deployed several cameramen to catch the couple riding over the bridge into the setting sun. A helicopter hovered near the bridge filming the entire length of the bridge as they crossed over it. By the time Steve and Gwen parked the bike back in the lot, it was totally dark.

"That was so much fun!" exclaimed Gwen as she swung her leg over the bike to dismount. "Not surprisingly, you really know how to handle that bike. I felt completely safe. We need to get one of those!"

"Neither of us has anything scheduled for tomorrow afternoon after three. Would you care to tour the Navy SEAL Museum with me? It's just up A1A a few miles. I'd really like to visit it."

The next day found Steve and Gwen riding the bike into the parking lot of the SEAL museum. When Steve tried to pay for admittance, the man taking the money refused to accept it. "I know who you kids are. I know what you've done for your town and I know your dad was a SEAL Commander. You don't pay here! We'd like to get some pictures of you both in the museum for our display. Would you be willing to allow that?"

"Sir, we'd be honored!" replied Gwen immediately. "Just tell us where you want us and what pose you'd like. Steve's going to be a SEAL and his picture should be hanging here for a long time. This place is amazing. I never realized how deep the history of the SEALs runs! Thanks so much for having a wonderful place like this!"

Becky was quickly scheduled to film her scene the next morning. To populate the restaurant so early in the day, the director had Gwen's family and friends sit at a few tables, pretending to be patrons. Amber Stahl was included. She sat at a table with Charlotte during the filming.

Becky was nervous and it took several takes for her to get the scene right. Finally she nailed her role to the director's satisfaction and left the set with a huge smile. She hugged her sister and then Gwen.

"That was the coolest thing I've ever done! The make-up people made me beautiful and this shirt and bra make my boobs look pretty big. I think I'll wear this outfit the rest of the day. Where's Steve? I want to be sure he sees me when I look so good!"

Amber Stahl followed the film crew with Jordan, Gwen and Steve while they worked during the day. In the evening, she'd do interviews with them.

"Amber, you need to let loose a little," suggested Jordan. "How about a segment where Steve shows you how to surf? Set up the camera and we'll video it for you. Your fans would love seeing a different side of their new anchorwoman. You've got a great figure and this would let you show it off without seeming too blatant. It'll help your career."

Half an hour later, Steve was showing Amber the fundamentals of surfing. She caught on quite quickly and enjoyed it immensely. After they managed a few successful rides, they headed for the beach. Steve saw Gwen signaling to him and he quickly caught her meaning. He gathered Amber in his arms and carried her out of the water and toward the camera. Gwen and Jordan came around to either side of Amber and began asking questions, much like the ones Amber asked them.

"How do you like being a famous anchorwoman?" asked Gwen. Before Amber could respond, Jordan surprised her with, "How come you've been hiding that body in all of those clothes? You look like a model! How do you like being in Steve's arms?"

Amber was unable to come up with a suitable response as she laughed at the questions. "Luckily, I can edit the video before I send it in. This'll be a great piece, but I'll end it before my big round butt gets too close to the camera, or people see how much I'm enjoying Steve's arms around me. Now I'm going to interview Becky. The folks back home will want to hear how she liked filming her role in the movie."

Gwen, Jordan, and Steve did everything the director asked and often they only required a few takes to get the scene right. He frequently complimented them on how well they were doing. All three were all surprised when Paula and Diane showed up with Ted and Will at the lunch break.

"Diane insisted that I fly down and watch you kids make the movie. I decided if I was going to take a long weekend, I'd get Ted to close up for the day and come with me. We're going back Sunday night. The weather here is great. I thought it'd be real hot, but it's probably cooler here than home. We needed some time off and where better to spend it than with family?" asked Will rhetorically as he wrapped an arm around both Diane and Stephanie.