PRECIOUS MEMORIES
By Deyse
John had been in the reunion room, at the Moon Water Studios for half hour. He still couldn’t believe that he had passed the audition and had been invited to star in Touched by an angel. Now the blond actor was waiting to meet his co-worker, Roma Downey. Martha Williamson, the producer of the series, had already introduced him to Della Reese, 2 days earlier, as well as to the rest of the crew, but on that day, the Irish actress who performed the warm hearted angel Monica wasn’t filming due to an appointment with the doctor, as the actress was on her 3 month of pregnancy.
John knew that part of the reason why he was there was exactly the fact that Roma was pregnant and soon she couldn’t be in all the scenes, and meeting the woman that, even indirectly, had given him the opportunity of his life was something he had been waiting for days.
A bit nervous, he stood up and started to pace inside the room, when an old man, in charge of collecting the garbage, opened the door, which made him to turn around, hoping to see his co-worker.
“G’afternoon...” the man greeted, with a slight hint of bad humour.
“Good afternoon...” John replied, a bit disappointed.
“Yeah... Not that good anyway, with all this rain! Are you the new actor?”
“Yes. I’m waiting for Ms Downey.”
“Oh these actresses! They think the world turns around them! Full of demands and expecting people to do whatever they want!” he grumbled and, shaking his head with disapproval, left the room.
John frowned a bit surprised and, for a reason yet unknown to him, he didn’t like the way that the man referred to his future co-worker.
The blond actor had only seen Roma on TV and so far she seemed to be a nice person to work with, besides the fact that he had found her very pretty.
A minute later, the door flung open and Martha Williamson entered the room, followed by a completely soaked Roma Downey.
“John! I hope we didn’t make you wait so long!” Martha spoke.
He quickly shook his head, “Oh no, it’s ok...”
The woman placed her hand on Roma’s shoulder, “Roma, this is John Dye; Johnny, this is Roma Downey!”
“Nice to meet you, Ms Downey!” he said, reaching out to shake hands with her.
Trying to dry herself with only a small handkerchief, Roma smiled friendly and shook hands with him, “Nice to meet you, John. And, please, you can call me Roma.” She replied, a little embarrassed due to her appearance, “I’m sorry for being late, it was all my fault, you know. I had to go to the doctor to pick up the results of some of my exams and when I was coming here my car broke down on the way, so I had to take a cab and there aren’t many in a day like this!”
“Oh don’t worry, it’s ok, Roma. You don’t need to apologise! It’s seems that you’re having quite a day!” he spoke, “Here, let me help you...”
John took her bag and the large envelope she was carrying with her and placed them on the table.
“Thank you.”
“Well, I’ll get the writers so that we can start the reunion for the next episode. And I’ll get a towel for you too, Roma!” Martha said, leaving the room afterwards.
John was quick to pull a chair for the Irish actress, “Please, take a seat.”
“Thanks. I still feel bad that I couldn’t even phone to say that I’d be late, you must’ve been here for almost an hour!”
“Oh please, don’t even think of that!”
“There are days you would like to rewind and start everything all over again!”
“Well, yes, but sometimes we should just ignore the bad things and don’t let them bother too much!”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right!” she replied, with a constant smile upon her face, despite a rather disastrous day.
“Besides, I guess you have a lot of reasons to be happy,” he spoke, pointing to her still non existent belly, “Congratulations!”
Proudly and happily, the Irish actress placed her hand over her belly, “Thank you!”
“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“Well, actually my doctor saw it and I asked her to include it together with the results of the other exams, right here in this envelope...” she said, pointing to the big envelope he had placed on the table.
“Why? Don’t you want to know?”
“Well, I wanted it to be a surprise. But my husband wants to know, so I asked the doctor to include it in here because of him... But now that it’s here I’m... quite curious and I don’t think I can wait 6 months more!”
Noticing the she was burning with curiosity to know that, and finding it quite funny, he encouraged her, “Well, you had a difficult day so something to cheer you up would be good!”
Roma looked at him with a cheerful smile: that was all that she needed to take the envelope in her hands, “You know something? I guess you’re right!” she exclaimed, tearing the paper.
Not wanting to be a bother in such a personal moment, he stood up, “I guess you’d like me to leave you alone...”
“Oh no! It’s ok, you can stay, please!” she replied, and he sat down again. Roma looked for the right paper and then read it. Some seconds later, the smile upon her face became broader and some tears appeared in the corner of her eyes.
“Roma?” the blond actor called, a bit worried about such reaction.
“It’s a girl!” she replied, with her heart filled with happiness.
Content to hear that, and to see the emotion in her pretty face, John smiled again, “A girl? Really?”
“Yes!”
“Well, I guess it means congratulations twice!”
“Thank you! And... I’m sorry,” she sighed a bit embarrassed again, “I guess I must have said this to you 4 times in just 5 minutes!”
“But... sorry for what?” he asked, a bit confused.
“I’m bothering you with all this baby conversation!”
“Oh no! Not at all!” John replied, with all the sincerity in the world, “No, you have nothing to be sorry about! I’m happy for you!” he offered her his handkerchief so that she could wipe the few tears of happiness she had shed, as her own handkerchief was completely soaked.
“Thank you so much, John. Do you have children?”
“No...” he smiled, “I have 4 nephews though, 3 of them are my godchildren! They’re quite something! Besides, I love kids!”
“Oh, you’re gathering experience then!”
“Yeah, I can say so. But I’d love to have one of my own, someday I will!”
“I’m sure you will, John! I really hope you do!”
(END OF JOHN’S FLASHBACK)
“... and that’s how your mom and I first met and how we knew there was a little girl coming!” John said, with little Reilly snuggling close to him on the couch, in Roma’s house. They were both waiting for the Irish actress to come back from filming a commercial and, as Reilly had a cold and Julie, her nanny, couldn’t stay with her on that night, the blond actor had offered to babysit, which he obviously loved to do.
Reilly had already changed into her pink pyjamas and she and John had finished to watch “The Beauty and The Beast” some time before, but, despite her flu, the talkative little girl wasn’t in the mood for going to bed so soon. Wrapped in her favourite blanket and holding her teddy bear, both presents given by her ‘uncle Johnny’, she insisted he should tell her how he and her mommy had met.
“And mommy was right cuz now my little brother is inside her belly!”
“Well, we don’t know if it’s a little brother or a little sister yet.”
“But it will be a baby brother, I know it!”
“Hum... but would you be upset if it’s a little sister?”
A serious and pensive expression appeared on Reilly’s face and, some seconds later, she finally shook her head, “No. A little sister is ok too. But I’m sure it’ll be a boy!”
“Ok, then!” he said, finding her seriousness rather funny.
“So you were the first one to know I was a girl?” Reilly asked.
“Well... yes...” he said, equally surprised with that fact, as he himself hadn’t thought about it before.
“And did you like to know I was a girl?” she wanted to know, with a cheerful expression on her meek face.
Smiling, even more, the blond actor ruffled her curly brown hair with tenderness, “Oh little one! Of course I did! Everybody was very happy to know that there was a little princess on the way!”
“Really?” she was happier to hear that.
“Of course! You have no idea how much your aunts Della and Martha liked it when your mom took you to visit the set! Not to mention how happy I was whenever I saw you.
“Did you come to see me when I was born?”
“And do you think I would miss the chance to see this pretty little princess at the most important moment of her life?! Besides, it was on that day that I gave you Alice!” he spoke, pointing to her teddy bear.
“Tell me?”
“Fine, but after that you have to promise me you’ll go to bed, ok?”
“Ok!”
“Well, it was sunny on that day. In fact, it was a very, very beautiful day!”
“With butterflies and birdies?”
“Lots of them. And beautiful flowers too, I arrived at the hospital and...”
(JOHN’S FLASHBACK)
John crossed the gates of the hospital carrying a beautiful and delicate arrangement of yellow daisies, pink carnations, and white lilies, which came inside a useful pink wooden photo box. On his other hand, he had a cute teddy bear (which was wearing a combination of a flowered dress and hat, and had a funny pink bag in the arm, which matched her equally pink shoes). After asking for some information at the counter, he quickly headed to the elevators, waiting impatiently for one. he was almost giving up and using the stairs when it finally came.
On the 5th floor, he got off and headed anxiously to room 502. Then, visibly nervous, he stopped at the door, where a plate happily announced the name of a new born baby “Reilly Marie”
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door and heard Roma’s voice a second later, “Come in!”
The blond actor opened the door and, even from where he was, he could see his co-worker holding a tiny little baby in her arms, wrapped in a cute light pink outfit and with a pink cotton tiara in her little head.
When Roma saw him, a broad smile appeared on her face, “Johnny!”
He felt a sensation of deep happiness to se that image right in front of him. Although they had been working together for just a few months, he had easily befriended Roma, her sweet and gentle manners, the way she was always joking in the set and being so generous when acting, constantly ready to help her co-workers, caused him to soon become very fond of her.
“How is everybody doing?” he spoke, slowly closing the door.
“Everybody is just fine!” she replied, happy to see the one she already considered as a dear friend, “Please, come closer! There’s someone here I want you to meet!”
He placed the flowers and the teddy bear on the side table and walked over to the bed, and saw a beautiful brown haired baby girl peacefully sleeping in Roma’s arms.
“Johnny, this is Reilly Marie; Reilly Marie, this is... your uncle Johnny!” the actress said. Fascinated with such a tiny little creature, he tenderly took her small hand, “Hey, nice to meet you, Reilly! You’re a rather cute lady, you know!” he spoke, and then turned to her mother, “She’s beautiful, Roma!”
The actress nodded her head, with tears forming in the corner of her eyes, “Yes... she really is...”
“A little miracle!” John completed, enjoying to hear a small giggle from her. Then, he pointed at the presents he had brought, “I... these are for you. For you both, I mean.”
“They’re beautiful, John. I love the flowers and I’m sure this wee one here loved the teddy bear!”
“I hope it brings her some good moments. And I hope she brings much happiness to your life, Roma. All the happiness in the world, that’s what you both deserve.” He said, with all sincerity in his heart. Then, he wiped away the tears that were now rolling on her cheeks and, grabbing her face in both of his hands, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead.
She looked at him with her eyes full of gratitude, “Thank you so much, Johnny!”
Trying to cheer her up, he turned to Reilly again, “And this little one is really well behaved! Not a single cry!”
“Oh you say that because you weren’t here 10 minutes ago!”
Both laughed and then she looked at John, “Don’t you want to hold her?”
“C-Could I?” he spoke, a bit surprised.
“Of course! And after all you’re quite experienced on that field! 4 nephews is a great plus in your career as an uncle!”
Smiling at her words, he reached out and carefully held little Reilly in his arms. “Hey little one! you’re having quite a busy day, aren’t you?” he joked, while his dearest friend watched him with tender eyes.
(END OF JOHN’S FLASHBACK)
“And did I sleep all the time?” Reilly wanted to know, fascinated with the story she had just heard.
“Well... Not all the time... Let’s say you woke up a bit later and you were quite hungry...” he said, secretly chuckling at the memory of Reilly’s cries inside the room.
It was then that they heard a car crossing the garage gates.
“Mommy is here!”
A minute later, John opened the door for his future wife and greeted her with a small but tender kiss on the lips, “Hey sweetie!”
“Hi, honey. And how is my little princess doing, huh?” she replied, walking towards the sofa, where Reilly waited for a tight hug with arms wide open.
“I’m fine mommy! uncle Johnny took good care of me, and I got better! Can I have ice cream and play in the swimming pool already?” she said, wrapping her arms around her mom’s neck and receiving a kiss on the cheek.
“Well, I have to admit that your uncle Johnny is really wonderful, but let’s wait just a wee bit more before you come back to ice cream and swimming, ok? You’re still a bit hoarse, honey!”
“Ok...” she replied, rolling her eyes, and causing John and Roma to exchange an amused glance. The trio sat down on the couch and Roma placed the little girl on her lap.
“So, did you have fun during my absence?”
“Oh yes, we watched “The Beauty and the Beast” and after that, Reilly and I had a little chat!” John spoke, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and tenderly stroking her hair.
“Oh really? About?”
“About how a certain little angel came into our lives!” he replied, playfully tickling Reilly’s belly.
Enjoying the girl’s loud laugher, the Irish actress nodded, “Oh that was a blessed day, for sure!”
“uncle Johnny is wrong!” Reilly managed to say, in between laugher.
“Oh, am I? so can you tell me what we’ve been talking about for the last half hour, missy?”
“About how you fell in love with mommy!” she shot, causing the couple to stare at each other in amusement and also in surprise.
“You know something? I think this little angel is getting way too smart for only one night and right now she’ll go straight to bed!” Roma said, trying to control her laugher.
“Ok, I’m sleepy already. And I know you two wanna kiss and hug right now!” the witty little girl continued, causing the 2 adults to be lost for words.
“Reilly!” the actress exclaimed.
“He! He! He! You’re both red in the face!” she spoke, finding it quite funny. Then, she stretched her little arms, “Can I have my piggy back?”
*
After they had tucked Reilly in bed, John and Roma snuggled close together in the sofa; with their legs stretched out to the coffee table, where 2 mugs of coffee also rested.
“I’m surprised our wee one didn’t find it funny the fact that I was soaked to my skin on the day we first met! It was quite embarrassing!” Roma spoke, resting her head on his chest and clearly enjoying to be in his arms.
“There’s nothing to be funny about it! You were absolutely lovely on that day!” John replied, absentmindedly running his fingers through her hair.
“You’re saying that I was lovely when I was completely wet and with my clothes and hair dripping; without any make up and pregnant?!” she said, a bit surprised and finding it funny herself.
He laughed at her words, “Yes! You were adorable!”
“Hum... And after you men say that us women are the ones that have strange thoughts sometimes!”
The blond actor straightened his body on the couch and placed his palm on her cheek, making her lift her head so their eyes could meet, “You were beautiful on that day because even though you had had a disastrous morning, even with your hair and clothes all soaked, you kept on smiling. And although you were having a hard day, I remember very well that when you came into that room you were worried about a new actor who you didn’t even know; you were feeling bad cause you were late and had made me wait for you. I saw your true essence on that day, Roma.” He cupped her chin and his smile became broader, “That’s why I fell in love with you 5 minutes after I talked to you!”
Deeply moved with his words, and doubting if she could ever love him more than she already did, the Irish actress covered his hand with hers, “Even though I didn’t know that... that ‘difficult’ day turned out to be one of the most blessed days of my life... because I met you...”
They inched their faces closer and shared an affectionate kiss, full of love and tenderness. When they finally parted, John looked into her eyes and her pretty face, as if committing every feature to his heart, and smiled again, “You know something? I was wrong...”
“Wrong about?”
“I didn’t fall in love with you 5 minutes after I met you! It was a bit before that!” enjoying the sound of her giggle, he kept on speaking, “Not to mention that I, even before I joined the show, I always found Monica really pretty and sexy on TV...”
A bit surprised and visibly amused, she let her mouth drop open, “Are you just telling me that you had a crush on Monica? That Andrew was having ‘human’ feelings about her?!”
“Well... yes! In fact, Andrew was crazy about that pretty angel girl at the moment he saw her!”
As they laughed, he kept on talking, “And I bet many people have noticed that! Especially our little one!”
“I wish she didn’t grow up so fast, you know!” she said, returning her head to his chest.
John stroked her hair with tenderness and kissed her temple. “She’s not growing up fast, Roma.”
“Oh no? And how do you explain her words just now?”
“Well, I have a perfect explanation for that: first of all, she was totally right, I’ve always loved you, honey, since the first time I saw you!” he spoke, and bent down to kiss her smiling lips tenderly and slowly again.
“Oh, John... I love you too... very, very much!” she replied, when they finally pulled away, gently stroking his face and with her eyes filled with love.
Smiling, he continued to speak, “And the 2nd reason for Reilly’s behaviour is that she’s an adorable, cute, sweet, smart and intelligent girl, like her mom! She got it from you, honey!” then, he bent down and kissed her once more. Finally, he placed his hand on her belly and stroked it with tenderness, “And this little one here will be just the same!”
Now it was her who wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him close to her, placing lots of kisses on his lips and face, “You are the one who is cute and adorable and all those good things, mister! And, most importantly, the best present I could ever have in my whole life, which I’ll be eternally grateful for!”
“So are you to me, honey.” He said, and they inched their faces closer and shared many other loving kisses, knowing that, in fact, 4 hearts in that house had been presented with happiness and much love.
The end.