Lydia stirred awake, her head pounding lightly as she blinked against the soft morning light filtering through unfamiliar curtains. The room was warm, cozy, and smelled faintly of lavender. For a moment, she panicked..where was she?
A gentle knock on the door startled her.
"Come in," she croaked, her voice dry.
The door opened, and Pearl stepped in, carrying a small tray with a glass of water and a few painkillers. "Good morning, sweetheart. How are you feeling?"
Lydia sat up slowly, her cheeks already flushing as memories of the previous night trickled back. "Grandma Pearl... what am I doing here? How did I.."
Pearl smiled kindly, placing the tray on the bedside table. "You had a bit too much fun last night, dear. Your friend Leo called Georgie, and he came to pick you up. You've been here since."
Lydia groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "Oh no. This is so embarrassing. I can't face him, Pearl."
Pearl patted her knee gently. "Nonsense. You'll come down and have breakfast first. Then, if you still want to run away, I won't stop you. But not before pie." Her voice was teasing but firm.
Knowing there was no arguing with Pearl, Lydia dragged herself out of bed and freshened up before heading downstairs.
The kitchen was already alive with the smell of freshly baked apple pie. Pearl had set the breakfast table, and a generous slice of pie awaited Lydia. She sat down, grateful for the homey comfort, and began digging in.
Halfway through her second bite, footsteps echoed behind her.
"Good morning," George's familiar voice greeted.
Lydia froze momentarily, then composed herself. "Morning," she replied, not meeting his eyes immediately.
George approached the table, his tone casual and his gaze soft. "Jenny will be here in a few with a change of clothes for you. We're running a bit late for work, so you can take a quick shower and we'll head out."
Lydia nodded, grateful for the practical approach. "Thanks, George. I appreciate it."
She excused herself and hurried upstairs to shower, mentally preparing herself for the awkwardness of facing the entire film crew for arriving there with George. By the time she came back down, Jenny had arrived with a simple yet elegant outfit that Lydia was relieved to change into.
Soon, she found herself seated beside George in his car, the morning sunlight streaming through the windshield as they drove to the filming site.
An awkward silence settled between them, until Lydia couldn't take it anymore.
"George, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"What did Leo tell you last night? I mean... why did he call you instead of handling things himself?"
George glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I've been wondering the same thing."
Lydia sighed, leaning back against her seat. "I told them last night that we grew up together in Illinois. Maybe he thought it was the right thing to do."
George's smile softened, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Is it alright if I mention that in the interview later this week? That we go way back?"
Lydia thought about it for a moment. "Yeah. It's fine. I don't want to hide who I am. And maybe it'll help stop all the rumors."
The car ride continued in comfortable silence after that, both lost in their own thoughts as they neared the filming site.
As soon as they arrived and stepped out together, the murmuring among the crew was evident. Heads turned, whispers flared, but no one had the courage to approach them directly. Kendra shot Lydia a supportive smile from across the lot, while Leo gave George a knowing nod.
But neither George nor Lydia paid the gossip any attention as they walked straight to the set, ready to start the day.
The director, ever the professional, called everyone to order and filming began.