Chapter 15

Everyone went back to their corners. It had been over a week since the kiss, and Ophelia and Sullivan had spoken to each other only when it was necessary. The Christmas holiday had started, and the cast and crew were given extra time off so that they would have time to spend it with their families.

The Richards family was staying put and celebrating the holiday on Oak Island. It would be a few quiet and restful days, which was something thatOphelia was looking forward to, deciding to start her little mini-vacation with a walk on the beach with Polly.

Ophelia had asked Sullivan the night before if she could have Polly for the morning, and he had agreed. It was six o'clock in the morning when she knocked on his door, hoping that he would remember their agreement. She had rarely seen Sullivan so early in the morning, and she had never awakened him before, so she didn't know what her reception would be when she knocked on his door.

It caught her by surprise when he opened the door dressed in his clothes and wearing a light jacket. He had put on a knit cap as well.

"Do you mind if I join you?" he asked, watching her reaction to make sure that she wasn't upset by his request.

"No, not at all," Ophelia assured him as she greeted Polly.

Ophelia was still no better at controlling her irregular heartbeat when he was around despite their agreement, and her hands shook slightly as she secured Polly's leash. They moved quietly down the hall and onto the porch. A cold front had moved through, and the air was crisp and cool. It wasn't really cold, but it was refreshing enough to make a person's cheeks red.

"Perfect hot cocoa weather," Ophelia said, more for something to say as they started down the bike path towards the parking lot at the hotel where her car was kept.

"We could take the golf cart?" Sullivan offered.

"Then what would be the point of going for a walk?" Ophelia frowned. "I'd walk all the way to the beach if it wasn't on the other side of the island."

"Fair enough," he said with a smile.

They reached the car, and Polly jumped in, ready to go on an adventure. Ophelia's car was much smaller than Sullivan's rental, and they were close in the small space. She could smell his aftershave and feel the heat radiating off him. She could also feel Polly's warm breath on the back of her neck.

"Polly, stop breathing so hard, you're fogging up the windows," Ophelia said as she patted the dog on her head. The car started, and she turned on the heat, giving it a minute to warm the car before she backed out of the parking space.

"I hope you don't mind the early hour, but the beach won't be as busy now as it will be this afternoon." Ophelia pulled out onto the road that ran the island's length without having seen another living soul. It was as if she and Sullivan had the whole island to themselves.

"Do people still go to the beach in this cold weather?" he asked with surprise.

"This beach they do," Ophelia nodded without saying more.

It only took them a few minutes to reach their destination, which was a line of parking spots on the side of the road. Ophelia parked, and as they got out of the car, she motioned to a small trail.

"The beach is right through there." She grabbed Polly's leash and a blanket before she and Sullivan walked side by side down the narrow path. When they crested a small dune, they landed on a beach full of dead trees and driftwood.

It was eerily beautiful.

Ophelia peeked up at Sullivan, watching his reaction. It had always been one of her favorite places. It reminded her that there was beauty in everything, even death.

"This is...breathtaking," Sullivan said as he took in the drama of it. The sun was still cresting over the water turning everything pink, and it made the bare trees look warm in the cold air.

There was no one around, so Ophelia unhooked Polly's leash and let her go, smiling as the dog ran toward the water with a grin on her face.

"She loves water," Ophelia said as she turned her attention back to Sullivan. He was thinking hard about something. "Go, walk and enjoy it," she encouraged as she spread the blanket.

"Would you walk with me?" Sullivan asked, looking down at her.

His words warmed Ophelia's heart. The fact that he wanted to spend a few minutes in her company meant that they were still friends.

"Sure," she nodded, letting him set the pace as Polly ran ahead.

They walked in silence for a few minutes.

"Did your mother tell you that she and your father were going to spend the New Year in the Keys?" Ophelia asked.

Sullivan nodded. "Yes, she and Pops will be done filming by then. They want some time to themselves for their 40th anniversary. He said something about sailing around the world."

Ophelia smiled. "More like to the next Key."

"Probably. Pops always was full of it." There was no malice in Sullivan's words, only amusement.

"Do you remember Paloma Clark?" he asked Ophelia, changing the track of the conversation.

"Yes, you and she dated for a while a few years back. Reyna was convinced she could hear wedding bells." Ophelia's voice was steady, but her heart had stopped at the thought of one of the most beautiful women she had ever met. Not only was Paloma beautiful, but she was also kind.

"I want to replace Giselle with Paloma," he said quickly as if his courage was about to fail him.

"What do Sawyer and Reyna think?" Ophelia swallowed hard. If Paloma joined the cast, it could restart her and Sullivan's romance.

"I haven't told them yet. I wanted to hear what you thought first." Sullivan looked down at her.

"I guess my first question is, why do you want to replace Giselle?" Ophelia pushed some hair out of her face. Her ponytail wasn't holding up against the wind.

"Giselle cannot offer the performance I need. She can't stand Marc, and it shows. She's not even trying." He shook his head.

"Why not replace Marc?"

"She's cold with Sawyer as well. Not as cold, but I'm still not seeing any chemistry. Sawyer is carrying every scene with her. The fact is that I made a horrible casting choice." He rubbed his stubbled chin.

"Will it be hard to get her out of her contract?" Ophelia frowned at the thought. It meant that he would have to pay for her and another actress. It would cost him more.

"Your level head is just what I needed, Ophelia." He smiled as he linked his arm through hers. "She's finished filming all of her scenes, and I don't have to use any of them, but I do have to list her name in the credits."

Ophelia nodded, trying not to think of his arm connected with hers as they walked down the beach. "I mean no offense with this question, but is Paloma too old? Giselle is much younger than her. Can you make her age fit the part?"

"Yes, and I've already talked to her. She's willing to do it as a favor to me and bail me out for a nominal sum."

Ophelia sighed, and it was carried away by the wind.

"Giselle will try to hurt you in some way. You know that, right? She seems the vindictive type to me." Ophelia stopped and turned to look at him, worried.

Sullivan looked down at her, pushing some hair out of her face. "I know she will."

He looked into her eyes, and once again, the world stood still.

"I'm sorry about what happened on set. I needed someone I could trust then, just as I do now, and I miscalculated how much it would upset you." Sulivan's hand cupped her cheek, and Ophelia held steady when all she wanted to do was turn her face into his palm.

"I didn't realize it would upset me as much as it did either." Ophelia nodded, then turned away from him, unable to take his steady gaze any longer. "And I didn't know how hard Sawyer was going to take it," she joked.

"I guess love can really mess with your head," Sullivan smiled at her joke.

"Yes, it can," Ophelia agreed softly, thinking about Paloma Clark. "Haven't you ever been in love, Paloma, maybe?"

"No, Paloma and I get along well, but all we shared were mutual interests. We were never in love." Sullivan shook his head then looked down at Ophelia. "And you?"

"And me, what?" Ophelia asked.

"Why aren't you with the man you love?" He shoved his hands in his pockets as they started to walk once more.

I am, she thought silently, but aloud she said, "It's a one-way love, all of it on my side. You can't force someone to fall in love." She shrugged as she picked up a stick from the ground and threw it for Polly to chase.

"Did you tell him how you felt? Maybe he feels the same way?" Sullivan asked as he watched Polly run.

"I doubt it, but it's not anything for you to worry about." Please don't let him worry about it because then he might figure out the truth.

"It's not Sawyer, is it?" Sullivan asked as if the question was forced from him.

"No, Sullivan. I love Sawyer like a brother, and I'm glad he found someone he loves. I hope it works out for him. I've told him if there is anything I can do to help, to let me know." Polly came back, and Ophelia threw the stick again.

"I'm sorry it's not working out for you," Sullivan said, meaning it.

His words crushed what little was left of her hope. "That's life, I suppose."

"How do you know it's love, though?" Sullivan frowned as he asked the question.

"I dated this guy in college, he was great, and I thought I loved him. I got along with his Mom, and she treated me as her own daughter. He and I even lived together for a short while."

Sullivan turned and looked at her like she had grown a second head, and it made Ophelia laugh.

"Did you think I was a virginal saint?" Ophelia's laughter died, but her smile didn't. She was glad that she had shocked him.

"Fine, you have a past like the rest of us, but how did you know it wasn't love? I'm guessing that's the point you're trying to make with your story?" Sullivan turned to look down at her.

"He asked me to move to New York with him, marry him, and I just couldn't. I asked myself if I was in love with him, and I didn't laugh. I had to really think about it."

"I don't get it. Why would you laugh?" Sullivan noted some people coming onto the beach up ahead, so he whistled for Polly and turned them to walk in the other direction.

"When you love someone, and you ask yourself if you love them, there is no answer such as yes because... or no because... If you love them, all you can do is shake your head and laugh that you would ask yourself such a stupid question that has such an obvious answer."

"That's how you know?" Sullivan asked in disbelief as he snapped Polly's leash on her.

"Yes, when you ask yourself that question, and that's how you answer yourself, you'll know. Ask Sawyer. I'm sure he'll tell you something similar." They walked back toward the blanket. "Hire Paloma. This is your chance to make the movie you've been dreaming about for years. Don't shortchange yourself now. It will all work out in the end, even if Giselle the Gazelle decides to reap her revenge on all of our heads."

Sullivan pulled her close into an affectionate hug. "Thank you," he whispered, then he let her go and picked up a blanket.

As they left the beach, Ophelia looked back at the driftwood that littered the beach. Her special place was a little more special because she had gotten to share it with the man she loved.

It was a moment she would remember forever.