AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After the tea, Adam and I go back down the long hallway decorated with framed movie posters, black and white classic photo shoots, and family portraits.
Nadia leads us. I watch her ponytail bounce, and her long sexy neck is on full display. What I would do for another nibble of her flesh.
“I won’t be a stranger.”
She bends down to Adam’s level and pulls him into a hug. She caps it with a high five with Blister.
We all chuckle as she rises to say goodbye to me.
I’m surprised she chooses to wrap her arms around my neck. It sends a romantic signal picked up by anyone watching. But, luckily or not, it’s just us and Adam who are now dancing with Blister.
“I’d like to see you again.” She admits.
“Please,” I respond.
We squeeze ourselves together temporarily. A sheet of heat emanates between us to warn us of our intensity when together. Quickly, I kiss her third eye. She gives me a toothy smile as Adam and I head out.
Chapter 9
Nadia
It’sthesecondweekwith Nonna, and I’ve finally decided to share what other celebrities have said about her.
We’re in her den. Evergreen is now giving sunshine, which it clearly owes us. I’m not a fan of the humidity, but I’ll take it over the buckets of stormy weather we were punished with two weeks ago.
Grandma has her legs up on her sleek black leather couch. Her hands are folded delicately across her lower abdomen as if she is practicing to lay in a casket. I’m not a fan of this position, and if I were to tell her what it looks like to me, she would only get more theatrical about it.
Instead, I sit across from her, just like a damn reporter. I’m in an oversized leather chair that feels sinfully comfortable. If it were an overcast day, I’d fall asleep in this chair in a heartbeat.
My laptop is open on me as if I haven’t memorized all the criticism these Hollywood stars have said.
And, just as I expected, Grandma doesn’t care at all. I actually think she believes it is good.
“Do you see how they wanted me to be and how I clearly didn’t listen to them? That takes grit, my darling. That’s authenticity.”
Ugh, she’s right. But why can’t she be the authenticity that people like?
“Were you bossy with the directors?”
“The directors were always sexist pieces of shit most of the time. They liked their actresses to be docile and quiet when they were on set. Rarely did I ever want to be quiet, and I definitely am not docile. You should shift this memoir to highlight the underbelly of sexism in that industry.”
“Hmm? Not a bad suggestion. But, it cannot solely be about that.”
“Well, naturally, it won’t. But when you talk to me about my experience in Hollywood, especially during those times, as an actress…sexism will be a topic. Imagine if I were Black or any person of color, I’d have to talk about the realities of racism. As a woman, sexism was a part of my Hollywood experience.”
I take a sip of my bottled water and think of her analogy. She’s got a point.
“If I were a man, an actor on set, and if I had an opinion or a suggestion, even as small as the color of a hat or maybe an idea on a specific body movement, the director would’ve heard me out. I know that for a fact.”
Swiftly, I write what my grandmother says. I have to capture her at her purest moments, and I may even pull in her current body language to amplify her point. She will even die with these beliefs. She will take her truth to her grave unapologetically.
“So, just to clarify. Nonna…you are okay with all of this? With everything they said about you?”
“Am Iokay?”
“Well—”
“I will never let someone’s opinion of me make me see myself differently than I see myself. I know myself. Everyone else can only perceive me.”
