East Coast Image had shut down operations for the Holidays. Chris and I were heading back east to see our families. I was eager to get out of town for at least a week. Ever since the Dark Hills project, things between us had started to sour and there was a definite edge to everything. I felt like anything I said or did would set him off. Chris and Marty O'Brien weren't speaking much, not just because Tigress was off the road, but because they still hadn't really settled things between them. I really didn't want to referee their battles. Exchanging palm trees for ice and snow was starting to look good to me now.
Chris grabbed the earliest flight imaginable that day. I was grateful not to be on the same plane east with him that day. LAX was jammed with travelers. We'd become experienced enough travelers, or at least I had, to take advantage of whatever deals we could get. As well as membership in VIP clubs the airlines provided. My flight out was delayed because of weather so I headed for the VIP lounge. It was crowded in there too! Once I'd spotted a seat I made a beeline for it, just as another lady saw the same one. We reached it at the same moment and found ourselves staring at each other.
"Ah, well...beauty before age." I said as I graciously waved my hand to her.
"Thank you!" she said with a smile "that's very nice of you."
She had on navy blue sweatpants and a matching jacket, a black t-shirt underneath. Gold rimmed aviator glasses and her blonde hair was tucked tightly beneath a pink Avon cap that topped it off. As she took out her phone I looked around for another seat, no luck, so I went off to find a newspaper and try my luck later. When I returned, a few seats had opened up and the blonde I'd given my seat to saw me. She'd since removed her sunglasses and her eyes seemed to smile at me.
"Hey, there!" she said happily "figured I'd repay your favor, saved you a seat."
"Hey, cool." I said sitting down next to her "Your flight get delayed too?"
"Yes..." she said with a sigh "what about yours?"
"Same luck." I said as I offered my hand "I'm Jim"
She returned her hand "Uh, Laura Jean." she said hesitantly
"Nice name."
"Well, uh, so is yours."
"Thanks, I've always liked it." I replied.
We both smiled
"So where is Miss Laura Jean headed?"
"New York, then it's down to Nashville for Christmas with my family. What about you?"
"Same place, but I go to Connecticut for my family first and then work on New Years Eve."
"You have to work on New Year's Eve? That sucks!"
"Well, yes, but at least it's a job I like."
"Oh, what do you do?"
"Photography, I do tour photos for bands, movies, that kinda stuff."
"What bands? My daughter probably knows all about them."
"Mostly this band Tigress..."
"No way! Oh, my god! My daughter loves them! I was hoping to get her tickets for a show of theirs for her birthday but every time I tried I was working."
"Ah, and what do you do?" I asked casually
Laura Jean was about to reply when a representative came up to her with an envelope.
"Ms. Witherspoon? I've got your new ticket and your flight will be leaving in a few minutes." He said to her.
"Oh, great!" she said as she quickly gathered her things "I guess you figured out what I do, huh?"
"Uh, no. Should I?"
She smiled back at me
I stood up quickly and fumbled through my pockets
"Uh, here" I said handing her one of my business cards "I can set things up for you if you'd still like to see Tigress."
"I like that, thank you so much. Nice talking to you Jim." She said as she walked away.
"Nice talking to you, Laura Jean."
She stopped walking, then turned around
"You can call me Reese, everyone else does. Bye." She said, adding a small wave goodbye
"Okay, bye Reese."
Nice lady, I thought as I sat back down and started to read my newspaper. A man next to me watched her walk away.
"Wow, were you ever lucky." He said
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You don't know who that was?"
"I think she said her name was Laura Jean."
He chuckled
"Well, son, I'm from Nashville and I know Laura Jean Witherspoon by another name, I reckon the rest of America does too. Take care, son." And he walked away to board his flight.
Wait a minute, I thought. Laura Jean Witherspoon? Call me Reese? Had I been talking to Reese Witherspoon the whole time?
Nah, no way!
I had returned to the frigid Northeast; back in the family unit as it were. And it was the usual holiday whirlwind, but I loved it. Chris was home with his family down the street from me. The whole time I was there, I was peppered with questions about life out in La-La Land. I suppose the leather jacket with "Tigress World Tour" gave me away. I knew I should've left that thing home. Before I knew it, New Years Eve was upon us. Marty hadn't been saying much about any plans he had for us or his clients.
"I don't know 'Hollywood', maybe you and I should hit a party somewhere." Chris said when we met up for coffee one afternoon. "There's gotta be somebody we know throwing a party."
"What if Marty calls? Would you be willing to do anything for him after the last time?"
"Good question." He said as he looked down and idly scrolled through his IPhone's address book trying to see who he could contact.
"Still thinking about that deal?" I said referring to the big bucks deal we'd been offered by Chuck Tyler.
Chris looked up at me, eyebrows raised.
"I think being independent is best." He said slowly "but it would be one less headache if someone else was paying the bills, you know."
"You still feel like getting out altogether?"
"Tempted." He said "It would be nice to lounge around a pool for a year."
"Look, man, here's my opinion. And you can take this anyway you want." I started "we've got a great thing going out there. I'm having more fun than I ever dreamed, you are too, and you can't deny that. Don't let guys like Marty get you down."
Chris nodded and took another sip of coffee.
"OK...Let's give it another year, and see where we stand. And if we hate it, we'll split everything down the middle, close up shop and go to Vegas."
Chris reached over and held out his hand.
"You know, you'd make a great studio boss." He said shaking my hand in agreement "You know just how to negotiate a deal." He said.
"And I've got the perfect name, too."
We both chuckled, and as if by magic, Chris' phone rang. His ringtone was Pink Floyd's song "Money". He looked at the caller ID and showed it to me.
"Now, now, be nice." I said in a motherly tone.
"I'm always nice!" he growled back "Marty! What a surprise!" he said as he gritted his teeth.
I took this as my cue to get a refill. I looked back and saw him jotting down info before hanging up.
"Looks like we have our new year's party." He said as I returned
"Really? Where this time?"
"The grand opening of the Universe Pavilion at Mohegan Sun Casino." He said with a smile.
"Whoa!" I said as I sat back "Now THAT'S gonna be a big deal."
"Here's the best part, we get to be guests. So we can leave the cameras home."
"Nice!" I said "I thought Tigress was doing a show that night."
"Apparently they put their collective paws down and told Marty they wanted a night off."
"They must like to live dangerously."
"So do we." Chris said with a smirk as he stood up. "Time to suit up, Hollywood."
That was his way of saying we needed to get the proper attire for a shindig like this.
The Universe Pavilion had been a major expansion for the casino encompassing an upscale hotel, several bars and other eateries and even a Playboy club, the first one on the east coast in, well, a long time. I doubted Hef would show up, although it made me think back to when I helped out his girl Bridget long ago, maybe she'll be there?
We had the luck of being VIP's as we arrived. Not to brag, but we looked like a million bucks in matching silk suits. I never felt comfortable walking past all the other people waiting in line, it made me flash back to my days seeing all the cool kids get lucky while I didn't. You try not to feel that way, but some memories stay with you, for better or worse. We had that same glassy-eyed look from our first time in Vegas as we walked in and saw the commotion around us, bells going off at slot machines, different shouts from the craps tables, flashbulbs everywhere. To one side were several bars, another had two massive dance clubs; the Playboy club was at the far end, its white rabbit logo could probably be seen for miles. In the middle of it all were row after row of blackjack and craps tables. Numerous sponsors had their logos prominently displayed, and there were high-end retail shops too. I couldn't help but notice Rolex watches had their shop, apparently the first of its kind. I'd probably need an appointment to get in there. And right next to the Mercedes dealership too. "Where do we start?" I said to Chris.
"You tell me." He replied "Hey! There's someone we know."
He had spotted Amy Adamson, we'd met her from our Rihanna photo shoot long ago and now she was the A&R rep for Tigress. She was chatting with someone from the casino and we headed to her.
"Wow! You guys made it!" she said as she hugged us "Are you looking for Marty?"
"Right now we're just trying to get our bearings on this place." I said
"Me too," She replied "Go check in with Andre over there." She said pointing to a well dressed man in a smart tuxedo. "I'll catch up with you guys later."
Andre had already set up everything for us, we could get a complimentary dinner at any place we chose and free drinks all night. Plus Marty had arranged rooms for us if we chose to stay overnight.
"I guess we're all set." Chris said to me. "And I think I see my companions for the night."
"Already?"
"Look over at the video wall." He said
Two lovely and leggy blondes were holding wine glasses and chatting.
"Uh, you know them?" I asked
"I soon will," He said adding that smirk of his that always spoke volumes.
"See you in an hour for dinner Hollywood."
"I'll bet you will..." I could only shrug my shoulders as he walked over and began to work his magic on them. "Well, Hollywood, let's see what you can find" I said to myself in a resigned way.
The gambling tables were crowded and it was tough to see what action was going on. The bars were bustling with orders. I got lucky with a passing waitress who had complimentary glasses of a new wine produced by the casino. The TV cameras were filming the arrivals of the beautiful people who seemed to be everywhere. I almost felt like I was back in Hollywood that famous night our business took off when we met a certain blonde "celebutante", this certainly seemed like her kind of place.
Luckily another familiar face appeared, Mike Jensen, whom I met in Nashville on the Carrie Underwood and Gretchen Wilson photo shoots.
