My Addiction: Starlet Update: Epilogue

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Starlet Update: Epilogue

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“Jesus, Bells, you look like death warmed over,” quipped Ginny.

“Shut up, bitch,” I grumbled, glaring at her. I was trying to keep my meager breakfast down.

Whoever said that being pregnant was a cakewalk was obviously lying. I was halfway through my fifth month and I was still puking up my guts. “I just can’t get over this stomach flu.”

No one knew the truth. We were going to announce it at the premier of Umbra, the final film in the Midnight Dawn Saga. I had hidden relatively small baby bump with loose shirts and I didn’t look pregnant. In fact, I looked very sick due to my fetus’s need to make me throw up every hour. I had lost weight in my first trimester and my OB/GYN, Dr. Banner, was concerned that I had to be admitted if I didn’t start gaining weight during my second trimester. Thankfully, the medication she prescribed me helped and I managed to put on fifteen pounds, but I still threw up certain foods and perfumes did me in.

Ginny was drenched in her usual fragrance, Amazing Grace, but it made my stomach roll. “Do you want some ginger ale?” Ginny asked.

“That would be great and some saltine crackers,” I replied, slumping back in my seat. She darted out of the room.

It had been six years since the first movie came out. Midnight Dawn was an overnight success, catapulting my husband to super stardom. My hubby was sought after for numerous roles and he enjoyed making films as much as I did. Though, he was very particular about what he chose to do. He had a keen eye and his most recent film that he finished prior to filming Umbra earned him a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination. Yes, it kept him away from me for three months while he filmed in the outback in Australia, but his portrayal of a mentally challenged man was nothing short of riveting. It was tough to see Edward so stripped bare, but everything in his role was spot on and he earned those accolades. He had one more film with Aro to work on, Idolatry, before Edward and I would drift into obscurity. Filming started immediately after the press junket for Umbra. It would be a fast production, filming in less than a month in Chicago with a week in Toronto.

I had just finished filming an indie film with Carlisle. It was an ensemble piece and I played the part

of a Hollywood assistant, scarred by a fire. There was already Oscar talk about my part. The movie wasn’t due out until next spring at Cannes, but people were impressed with what I had to offer. It was my final film. Once my contractual obligations were done with Hollywood Starlet, Edward and I would move out of LA and begin our quiet lives together. It’s what we both wanted. Our stardom allowed us to not have to work and we could finally just be Bella and Edward.

I couldn’t wait.

But, it was nearly a year away. There was a light at the end of the tunnel, though.