Ch 12: Luke's Secret

As I was kicking and paddling back toward Luke, he turned and made a move to grab onto the raft and kick. But due to Luke’s weight, the raft tilted below the waterline. When he popped his head up, his legs sank, yet it was still too deep in that part of the pool for him to stand. He started flailing and splashing, his head bobbing up and down.
When I realized he was struggling, I swam over to help and he grabbed onto me. I put his arm around my shoulder and kicked as hard as I could to the wall, paddling with my other arm. Once I got him to the side, he grabbed it, coughing.
“It’s OK,” I said. “It was just a scare.”
“That was so stupid,” he said. “I thought I had it.” He looked upset along with a little relieved.
“The raft just isn’t sturdy enough for those big muscles of yours.” I wanted to lighten the mood, make him feel better.
He climbed out of the pool and sat on a deck chair with his head in his hands. I hopped out, too, forgetting all about not wanting to let Luke see me in a swimsuit. I grabbed two towels, came back over to Luke, and placed one around his shoulders. When he took it, his thumb grazed my hand sending shivers up my spine.
“Thank you, Stella.” He shook his head. “I don’t know that I can do this.”
“Nonsense,” I said, playfully slapping his knee. “You were making great progress. You can’t expect to be able to swim just like me in one day.”
“I know, it’s just that…” He looked serious.
“Just what?”
“Nothing.” He looked at me. “It’s personal.”
“Oh, right,” I said. “And we agreed to keep this strictly professional.” I looked away, wishing we didn’t have to have such a wall between us.
“Something like that.” He got up and went over to where he’d put his shirt. I followed, keeping the towel wrapped around me. Besides his near brush with drowning, I couldn’t understand what bothered Luke. I wanted to know what he hadn’t finished telling me. What was he so worried about?
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked, hoping he wasn’t ready to quit.
“Sure, boss,” he said and turned to walk away, the first time in a while not singing a tune.
Needless to say, the first session in the pool hadn’t gone well. There was something holding Luke back, and I wanted him to trust me. Every time I thought we were getting closer, having fun, making progress, something flipped, and Luke pulled away.
***
After finishing up with Luke, I drove to old Mrs. Rosa’s small, two bedroom bungalow on the south side of LA for a training session. She didn’t pay the big bucks, but it was a steady paycheck, and I liked the old woman. If you’re thinking that it’s insulting that I call her old Mrs. Rosa, she insisted on the name - thought it made her sound more formidable.
While we were in her living room marching in place with 5 pound dumbbells, I asked about her only son.
“He’s doing great. Going to graduate school,” she said in her characteristic nasally voice. “His work is paying for it. The only thing wrong with my Oscar is that wife of his.”
“What’d she do now?” I asked, knowing almost anything the poor daughter-in-law did, old Mrs. Rosa, who had been a widow for the last 10 years, would complain about.
“She bought a poodle.” Old Mrs. Rosa sneered, lifting her nose as she continued to march. “One of those little tea-cup ones. Dressed it in a little tutu.”
“Uh-huh,” I responded. “Sounds like she just needs to have a baby or something.”
“Oh, no, no. Not yet. My Oscar needs to finish graduate school first.” She nodded matter-of-factly.
“So then maybe the poodle’s a good thing?”
“My Oscar can’t be seen with a poodle in a tutu,” she said putting her weights down and petting one of her fluffy cats. “He’s an accountant. It would cause a stir.”
I chuckled a little. Old Mrs. Rosa was not only a cat person, she was constantly concerned about her son’s image, when in fact, I’m pretty sure no one in his office cared.
“What’s up with you, sweetie?” she asked. I started leading her in some stretches.
“Oh, not much. I got a new client,” I said.
“Oh, yeah. Who?” We stretched our arms.
“Just some actor,” I said. “You probably don’t know him.” I didn’t think old Mrs. Rosa would know who Luke was anyway. She mostly watched the news followed by Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy before heading to bed.
“Oh an actor. Is he fetching?”
“He’s …” I thought for a moment. “He’s great.” I said. It sounded lame, even to me.
“You’re blushing a bit.” Old Mrs. Rosa pointed at my cheeks.
“No, it’s strictly professional,” I assured her. “And I have to keep it a secret.”
She nodded. The last thing I needed was for the whole world to learn about our arrangement and break Luke’s trust.
“But if he offers to sleep with you, you shouldn’t say no, sweetie. Get it while you can.”
I laughed. “Old Mrs. Rosa, that’s dirty talk.” I wagged my finger at her.
“I can see you like him, what’s wrong?” She picked up her orange tabby cat and stroked his back.
“I’m not sure. There’s something bothering Luke, and he won’t tell me.”
“Luke? Luke Mulligan? From that adventure movie?”
Oh, no. I let it slip. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t even think old Mrs. Rosa would know him. I hoped she wasn’t the gossiping type.
“How do you know him?” I asked.
“My Oscar, he showed me the movie.”
“Well, anyway, he can’t be interested in a girl like me. I think he might have a girlfriend who’s much more beautiful.”
“Oh, get over it, sweetie.” She looked me over. “You’re a catch.”
I shook my head. Old Mrs. Rosa could be such a hoot. “He made it clear, however, it’s a professional relationship. Don’t tell anyone.”
“Does he have a poodle?” she asked.
“No,” I said.
“That’s good.” She put the cat down and put her hand on my shoulder. “Well, if you want him to open up to you, try opening up to him first.”
Old Mrs. Rosa was right. It wasn’t only Luke who acted guarded. Every time we met up, it seemed there was something I was hiding or something I was trying to prove. Maybe I just needed to be more myself. If I showed Luke the real Stella, he just might open up.
“And if that doesn’t work,” she added, “just get naked.”
I felt better after leaving old Mrs. Rosa’s. Even though she could be critical about her daughter-in-law, she genuinely cared about people. When I passed Luke’s billboard that afternoon, I winked and blew a kiss.
Professional or not, I needed to unlock Luke’s secret.