Wolves

Chapter 5

As the week flies by and our shooting continues, the girls are finding more and more reasons to love this place. After our fifth shoot, Jinx announces that the last shoot is going to be in the same place where Big Bang filmed in the flower field. I was so excited; the girls were confused at first, but once I showed them the video and explained to them who they are, they were super excited about “playground,” as they called it. We’ve been to so many beautiful places this week, and this place will definitely be a perfect place to end this beautiful trip. Thankfully, we don't have any other scheduled shoots for about a month, so we get to stay for a good while. We're all excited to finally be a family. I remember Leigh saying, “I can’t wait for this to be our official home; we love being here.”

We were so happy to hear them say that. While we were waiting for a different photo shoot, we took a family picture. We framed it and put it in all of our rooms; we also gave them a picture of their real mom and dad. We sat them down and told them.

“We know we will never replace your mom and dad,” says Taylor. “But we will do our best to be good parents. Just like they were.”

They both started crying and gave us a big hug.

“Thank you,” they both said.

By that time, I already had tears in my eyes and was so grateful to be their mom.

We are on the last day of the shoot. As we were getting ready, we noticed Melina didn’t look so well. We took her temperature, but no high fever. She said she was fine, but she didn’t look it; she looked a little pale. She insisted she was fine, and wanted to go today. We took her word for it and let her go. We were worried though and kept looking back and checking on her. While I was getting my dress on, I looked over to Melina, and she was lying down on the couch. I got worried and went to her right after my dress was zipped. I felt her head, and it was getting warmer. I asked for a thermometer and took her temperature; it wasn’t high, but it wasn’t normal either. I talked to Taylor, and he agreed to keep an eye on her. After my hair was done, it was on to the makeup; after makeup, it was time for the shoot. I looked in the mirror before I walked out and saw my dress for the first time. My goodness, it was beautiful, a white strapless lace dress with an open bottom, not poof but had some layers and a long train. It was amazing, and it’s only two short layers. Jinx really out did himself, the dress is magnificent.

“My darling, you look fabulous.” I turned to see Jackie standing in the doorway. “My, my, you look so beautiful in this dress.”

“Thank you, Jackie, you look lovely too,” I say.

She had a short silver strapless dress, poof selves, with a train on the end.

“This old thing, please, I think Jinx is running out of ideas for this gal. Some of these dresses are so boring. I swear.” She rolls her eyes.

“Well, I think all the dresses are beautiful. I think he makes them fit your curves perfectly.”

“Mhm, yes. Well, where are your girls at?”

“Oh, they're on the couch,” I point out.

“Oh my, what’s wrong with the little one lying down? She doesn't look too well.”

“She doesn’t feel so well. She doesn’t have a fever, but something's going on, and we just don’t know what yet. Taylor is keeping an eye on her.”

“Oh, well my I hope she recovers. Anyway, darling, today is the last day. After that we must meet and catch up. We haven't had a chance to all week. And it's not like we have a lot of time to catch up, we have another shoot soon, don't we. I'm sure you want to be out of the stuffy place too. Plus, I need to know all the details about these two.” She points towards the girls.

“Actually, Taylor and I are planning on going home after this and taking care of the girls. If Leah gets any worse, we may have to take her to the hospital. The shoot isn't for a while, so we were actually planning on staying here.”

"Staying here?! In this rathole. Please, there are better places in California or LA than here," Jackie exclaims.

"They are beautiful places, yes, but we love it here and want to make it our forever home."

"Forever home?! My girl, you have lost it."

"It's what we want Jackie, and the girls like it here too."

"Then are you really going to retire?"

I nod my head, "Though I'm not sure when yet, I'd like to spend as much time with the girls as I can."

Jackie rolls her eyes and says, “Mhm, then we need to catch up before I leave. We have a lot to talk about.” She laughs a little.

Before I could say anything, Melina threw up. I run straight towards her but am stopped by one of the stylists.

“Don’t worry about it; we got it. You can’t ruin your dress.”

“But my daughter….”

“It’s okay, honey. I got her.” says Taylor.

“But…”

“It’s okay, I’m going to take her to the hospital,” said Taylor.

“Give me a minute, and I’ll get changed and go with you,” I say.

“Don’t you need to stay and finish the shoot?” Taylor asked.

“It's fine, I'm sure Jinx will understand," I say.

"But this is the last day of it. Look, if you stay, I will take Melina to the hospital and come to pick you back up. Okay."

"But what if we move locations? Who's going to take me?"

“Oh, darling, don’t worry about it; we will.” Said Jackie.

We both turn to look at her.

“I think one of the stylists should take her,” said Taylor.

“Oh, now, now, darling, don’t be silly. They have so many things to carry; we only have ourselves, so there wouldn't be no trouble.”

“I don’t know about that,” said Taylor.

“ Oh, come now, do you think you really have to argue about this? There is a girl here that is throwing up, and we have a shoot. So let’s get going.”

“It’s only for today; I’ll be fine,” I assured him.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this. I don’t trust her,” he whispers to me.

“It’s okay, I’ll tell Jinx that I need to be done with the shoot early. So you can come get me at six. Okay?”

“Okay, just be safe, okay.” He sighs.

“I will get to the hospital quickly and get Melina some help. Okay.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“I love you too. I’ll see you soon.”

I leaned down and gave Leah a hug and a kiss and told her I'd be home as soon as I could. She hugs me and tells me that she will help take care of her sister. I nodded as I let her go, so she could go with Taylor to the hospital.

As soon as they left, I rushed to Jinx to tell him the plan. He agreed to let me go early, and said there was only one location to go to today, so we would make it quick. I nodded as I went to get the back seat of Jackie's and Danny's car.

“Oh, darling, the girl will be fine, probably just the stomach bug. She’ll be okay.” Jackie, reasures me.

I nodded and said, "Thank you, guys for taking me.”

“Oh, don’t mention sweetie; it’s what friends do.”

She looks over to Danny, who started the car to drive to the location. While we were driving, I looked at the trees and forest we were coming upon. Trying to relieve my worries for my daughter, I almost didn't even notice that we stopped.

“Why are we stopping?” I ask

“Looks like we have a tire out. Don’t worry about it; it's an easy fix,” says Danny.

“Amanda, darling, why don’t we step outside for a moment? I need to stretch my legs and smoke.”

I nodded as some fresh forest air could really help calm my nerves. We both get out and lean against the railing.

“It’s so beautiful outside,” I say.

“If you say so, girl, these damn bugs get on my nerves,” says Jackie as she swats at her arm.

“They don’t bug me; ladybugs and butterflies are my favorites.” I say

Jackie rolls her eyes, as she blows a puff from her cigarette. I stand there for a moment and close my eyes as I feel the breeze flow through me.

“Oh, Amanda, dear, is that a tiger?!” exclaims Jackie.

I snap out of my moment and look to where Jackie is pointing. “Where?” I ask excitedly. “I don’t see it.”

“I just saw it behind those trees over there,” Jackies says.

I leaned over the rail slightly as to see if I couldn't get a better look. I still couldn't see anything.

“Amanda!” It is the last thing I hear as I tumble down the dirt.

It seemed like forever before I stopped rolling. I lay there for a minute before I got up and looked around.

“Oh no,” I say. “Where am I?”

My mind was reeling, as everything faded to black.