Wonders Never Cease by Tim Downs Read Free Book Online Page B

underestimating me and overestimating you. I mean, if you’re a has-been and I’m an almost-was, doesn’t that put us in roughly the same category?”
    Having completed his check-in, he set the chart aside and pulled up the chair that rested against the wall. He sat down next to her bed and relaxed, folding his hands across his chest.
    â€œSeriously, Liv, I think you and I have a lot in common. You used to be on top of the world, and I was definitely headed there. Now look at you—a shadow of the woman you used to be—and look at me, stuck in this degrading job. I think I understand you, Liv, and I think if you had the chance you might understand me. Who knows? Under different circumstances we might have really hit it off. I mean, we both have talent, we both have ambition, and to be quite honest, women don’t find me unattractive.”
    Kemp heard a sound behind him and turned to see Emmet emptying the trash can just to the left of the door.
    Kemp looked him over. “How long have you been standing there?”
    â€œNot long. Why?”
    â€œNever mind. Come in here for a minute.”
    Emmet hesitated, but finally stepped into the room and shut the door.
    â€œYou want to see a really beautiful woman?”
    Emmet frowned. “Is this appropriate, Mr. Kemp?”
    â€œC’mon, we’re not peeking under the sheets. I just thought you might like to see a world-class beauty up close. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”
    Emmet looked doubtful but stepped closer to the bed.
    â€œThis is Olivia Hayden, the famous movie star,” Kemp said. “Recognize her?”
    Emmet shook his head sadly. “Poor thing. What happened to her?”
    â€œRolled her car or something. Women—they always want more car than they can handle—more man too.”
    â€œIs she hurt real bad?”
    â€œShe’ll recover—they’re just keeping her in a coma as a precautionary measure. Now I ask you: Is that a beautiful woman or what?”
    Emmet nodded. “But there’s a sadness about her somehow.”
    â€œThat’s just the propofol.”
    â€œI wonder if she’s happy.”
    â€œAre you kidding? She’s a movie star. She’s got millions of adoring fans and they all buy tickets.”
    â€œStill.”
    â€œYou’re probably right,” Kemp said. “I’ll bet what she really longs for is to be a janitor working nights at UCLA—then she might finally be fulfilled.”
    Emmet shrugged. “You never know.”
    â€œGet back to work, will you?”
    â€œYou asked me in.”
    â€œNow I’m asking you out. Good-bye.”
    When Emmet left Kemp sat down in the chair again. “It looks like I’m the only one who understands you,” he said. “Can’t say I’m surprised—you’re probably the only one around here who could understand me. We need to help each other out, Liv. We need to figure out a way to get both our stars back on course.”

6
    K emp looked down the rolling fairway at the glistening oval 455 yards away. The hole was a long two-shot-ter and he’d need a strong drive to set up his approach to the green. He took out his driver and approached the tee.
    â€œWatch those bunkers on the right.”
    Kemp rolled his eyes. “Yeah, Dad, I can see them. How many times have we played this course?”
    â€œI’m just saying—with that slice of yours and all. You never did break that habit.”
    â€œI can’t play golf all day. Some people have to work for a living.”
    â€œWhose fault is that?”
    It was a near perfect day for golf, and the North Course at the Los Angeles Country Club was a near perfect place to play. The 13th hole was one of Kemp’s favorites, with its jewel-like green and sculpted bunkers surrounded by a dense screen of spruce and pine. With nothing but rolling hills visible in the distance, you could almost forget you