Trusting Jack (2 page)

             
Emma opened her mouth but before she could yell back Ann touched her shoulder.

             
“He’s right,” she said quietly.  “Emma, he’s right.  I know Ryan hurt you.  He took my beautiful, confident daughter and turned you into someone so unsure of yourself that you were afraid of the life you’d made in New York.”

“Mama.”
 

“Honey, is this really what you want?  Keeping the books for a small town café and growing old with your mama? 

“If so, then you have my support.  But don’t you miss the excitement of meeting the people you see in movies, of being behind the scenes, being a part of that life?  You used to gush about it.”

             
Emma looked at her mother’s face, a faded copy of her own, and closed her eyes as she remembered.  She managed to push the hurt aside and thought about the excited rush she’d lived in before Ryan.  She was surprised to realize she did miss it.  A lot.  She made a snap decision.

             
She smiled and turned to face Chris.  “Tell Norah Jackson she has an assistant.  I’m ready to take my life back.”

             
With a whoop of delight, Chris grabbed Emma and danced her around the table before dropping her in a chair and sitting beside her.  Ann watched them fondly, enjoying their sudden enthusiasm.

             
“Do you think I could get some breakfast before I take a quick shower?” Chris asked Ann with a winning smile.  “Plane food sucks.”

             
“Anything for Chris Roper,” Ann replied as she cupped his cheek and sent silent thanks.  Chris grinned in response.

             
“Why does he get breakfast?” Emma demanded.  “He shoved his way in here, yelled at me—your daughter—and almost made me cry.”

             
“Yes.” Ann got the makings for omelets out of the fridge.  “And he’s your best friend and he loves you almost as much as I do, and he finally found a way to break your shell.”

Emma rolled her eyes then looked at Chris.  She grinned back, sipped her coffee, and asked for details.

              “The movie will be shot entirely in Europe, mainly England.  Shooting starts a week from Thursday.  Norah’s leaving in three days; she wants you with her.”

             
“What’s the movie about?”

             
“A period drama about Edward II and Queen Isabella. 
She-Wolf
.”

             
“Oh, that’s great, I like that.  They’re a rather overlooked part of history.”

             
“Yeah, Norah thought that’d spark your interest since you’re a history buff
and
an Anglophile.  God, you’re such a dork-ass.”

             
She stuck out her tongue.  “Don’t judge me.  Who’s starring?”

             
“Norah, of course, as Isabella.  Roger Agnew as Edward II and Richard Solomon as Mortimer.  Jack Brandon is set to play Edward III.  He’s a British actor-- mostly theater, a few TV spots.  He’s gained a lot of recognition with that; this is his first film.”

             
“I haven’t heard of him,” Emma mused.  “But I’ve been out of range for a while.”

             
“He’s talented.  I caught a performance of his the last time I was in London.  He’s been in a couple of productions in New York, too.  I’ve brought you a copy of the script and a plane ticket.”

             
Emma raised her eyebrows.  “What if I’d said no?”             

“That wasn’t a possibility.  I knew it was time.”

Emma just shook her head and dug into the omelet Ann sat in front of her.  “Why is Norah going to London a full week before work begins?  She usually waits till the last minute, showing up just before shooting starts.”

             
“She says to get a better feel for the country and

to indulge in some prime shopping—again her words.”

              Emma laughed as she stood to refill her cup.  “That’s Norah.  So if we leave in three days…I need to get busy.  I should go shopping; it’s been a while.”

             
“Can I come?” Chris asked.  “Lord knows you look better when I dress you.”

             
Emma smiled and punched Chris on the arm.  “Let’s go to Memphis,” she said.  “It’s the closest city with decent shopping.  Are you coming, Mama?”

             
“Oh, no,” Ann exclaimed.  “I’ve been shopping with you two before and it’s like marathon running.  Go, have fun.”  She made shooing motions with her hands.  “I’ll stay here and get your luggage down from the attic.”

             
“Give me forty minutes, Chris.  I need to shower and do my hair and make-up.”

             
“I’ll give you an hour.  Your hair looks like shit.”  Laughing, Chris ducked the dish towel Emma threw at him as she walked up the stairs.

***

              “What do you think?”  Chris struck a pose that made Emma giggle.  The pale orange shirt complimented his auburn hair and grey eyes.

             
“Nice,” she said.

             
Chris scowled.  “Handsome,” he corrected.  “Unbearably sexy.  I’m getting it.”

             
Emma rolled her eyes.  “I’m shopped out,” she admitted.  “And hungry.”

             
“There’s a Thai place a couple of miles down the road.”

             
“Sounds delicious,” she agreed as they left Macy’s.

             
Chris loaded the bags into the back of his rented Honda Pilot.  “I think over half those bags are mine,” he commented as he slid behind the wheel.

             
“Probably.”  Emma shucked her shoes into the floorboard.  “But I want to travel rather light.  I’ll buy more if I have to once I’m there.”

             
“It’s hard to argue with that logic.  I’m ready for a beer.”  Chris turned the ignition. 

             
“I haven’t had Thai in months.”

             
“I’m guessing six or more.  I don’t think you’ve been more than thirty miles from home since you came back.  I want to ask you something.”  He let out a breath as he merged into traffic and headed for the restaurant.  “Did Ryan ever hit you?”

             
“No,” she answered honestly.  “Not once.”

             
“Then I don’t have to kill him.  You’ve never really talked about it.”

             
“He was…It was mental.  I can see it now.  He would chastise me if I stayed out too late with friends, or if I had a phone conversation about work once I got home.  He let me know how disappointed he was that I chose someone else over him.  So two months after we were married I quit my job.  To focus, he said, on my duties as his wife.”  It was said quietly; it still hurt.

             
Chris muttered under his breath as he pulled into a parking space.  Emma touched his arm as he cut the engine.  He looked at her and declared, “I would dearly love to kick his ass.”

             
Emma smiled sadly.  “I really thought

everything was fine.  Ryan was making a few business

trips for the firm and there was talk about making him a

partner.  I was happy and excited for him.  I tried so

hard to be what he wanted, to be an asset to him.  Then

he came home and told me he wanted a divorce.”  She

fell silent and glanced away.  Tears threatened, and she

quickly cleared her throat.

              “Oh, Emma.”  Chris took her hand.  “I’m sorry I brought it up.”

             
“No, it’s ok.  I’ve kept it in long enough, I think.  For a long while I thought it was my fault.  I didn’t dress right, my accent was too strong, I didn’t know the right people.  I went to see her—Renee—before I left,” she said suddenly.

             
“Wow.  How did that go?”

             
“She’s beautiful.”  Emma stared out the windshield.  “Long legs and blond hair.  She’s smart and sophisticated.  Her daddy is a senior partner at the firm.  And she has big boobs.  Ryan was right; she’s everything I’m not.  How could I compete with her?” 

             
Chris gaped at her.  “Emma, c’mon.  You are beautiful…all that curling dark brown hair, big, beautiful green eyes.  You have those kiss-me lips and a great figure, all in a fun size package.  You have big boobs, too—and yours are real.”

             
Emma grinned at that.  “I love you, Chris.”

             
“And I love you.  If I was into girls I would’ve scooped you up years ago.”

             
Her laugh bubbled out and she gave him a hug over the console.  “You always know how to make me feel better.”

Chapter 2

             
Emma stepped into first class and saw Norah waving at her.  Emma moved to sit beside her.  “You haven’t changed a bit,” she exclaimed as they exchanged a quick hug.

             
“Oh, I had a wrinkle or two, but my doctor took care of that.”

             
Emma laughed, then said seriously, “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

             
Norah skimmed a hand through her champagne blond hair and shook her head.  “I’m just thankful you took me up on my offer.  I’ve been lost without you.”

             
“You’ve had other assistants.”  Emma stood and stored her carryon bag.

             
“Yes, three of them.  And not one as good as you.  Those idiots could never do anything right and all they did was chatter about this star or that star—whichever one I was working with at the time.  They annoyed me.”

             
“I’m sorry I quit.”  She scowled down at the seatbelt and wrestled with it before finally getting it to snap.

             
“I’m sorry I didn’t push you harder to stay.  Water under the bridge,” Norah replied as the plane prepared for takeoff.  As they lifted into the sky she asked Emma if she’d had a chance to look over the paperwork.

             
“I have, and I’m really excited.  There’s not a whole lot out there about Edward II and Isabella.  It’s gonna rock.”

“I hope so.  With Richard Solomon as

Mortimer I think the love scenes will be

excellent.  Especially since we indulged in another bout

of torrid sex a few months ago, when we worked

together onstage in New York.”

              She said it so matter-of-factly that Emma could only stare.  “Well,” was all she could think to say.

             
Norah let out her trademark silvery laugh and her blue eyes sparkled.  “I really have missed you.  I forgot you’re sometimes so easy to shock.”

             
Emma shrugged and continued the conversation.  “Roger Agnew—I’m impressed.  He’s terrific and will portray Edward II so well.  I believe he can make Edward seem more caring about his subjects than he actually was.  Did you know he was rumored to be bisexual?”

             
Norah started.  “Roger?”

             
“No,” Emma laughed.  “Edward II.”

             
“Oh.  Well, that’s interesting.  I remember that from the script now.  What do you think about Thomas Cullam?  His directing abilities have been praised far and wide, and he finished with
Float Away
a while back; it’s due out soon.  I think with him as director and a script like this,
She-Wolf
will be a hit.  I want a best actress award.”

             
“I hope you get one; you deserve it.”

“Yes, I do.”  It was said with an air of self-confidence.  “This Jack Brandon, he’s going to be good.  He’s got a lot of talent.  I’ve met with him and Thomas several times to go over things.  He’s very, very sexy…but too young for me, more’s the pity.  I don’t enjoy being a cougar.”

              Emma grinned.  “Nope, you haven’t changed one bit.  I’ve missed you so much.”

             
“Welcome back, Emma.”

             
“Did you really beat out Cate Blanchett for this role?”

             
“I did,” she replied with a satisfied grin.  “I auditioned and did a passable job on my French accent.  I hired a voice coach and worked hard so that when it came time for the screen test, I aced that sucker.”