When Wren turned to look at her assistant, she burst out laughing.
“What, do I look ridiculous?”
“Not quite.” She bit her bottom lip. “Time to prepare hands.”
“What?”
Wren pointed to the sink. “Scrub. Use soap.”
“Ah, of course.” Aspen scrubbed away as though she were about to perform surgery, then stepped to the side so Wren could take a turn.
“Okay, Sous-Chef, we’ll need four pieces of bread, four slices of cheese—I like ‘em extra cheesy—and some cut up chunks of pickle.” She had a couple pickles out of the jar and began chopping them into fine pieces before completing her sentence.
Aspen collected the bread and cheese as Wren showcased her ninja skills in food chopping. “I’m not too sure about the pickle.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Trust me.” Wren pointed the knife at Aspen in a non-threatening manner and then used its blade to form a pyramid out of the chopped pieces of pickle, resting on the counter. She unfolded the foil from the butter and began to rub it on one side of each piece of bread. “You will never want one of these babies without pickle again.”
“Well, I guess if you say so….” Aspen wasn’t so sure.
“It is your turn, Sous-Chef. Come here and I shall guide you through the final step.”
Aspen slipped in front of the oven, waiting on Wren’s next command.
Wren snickered at the Chef’s attire again. “You look very nice, by the way.” She placed her hand on Aspen’s lower back and reached over to turn the range on, leaning in a little tighter than necessary. “Buttered side down,” she instructed Aspen.
Aspen followed her instructions.
“Spatula.” She handed it to Aspen.
“Ready.” Aspen took the utensil and used it to guard the four squares of bread. Any other time she would have felt stupid acting in such a manner, but at the moment she enjoyed their pretend banter.
“Okay, the goal is to grill it to a fine crispy golden-brown. No burning it.”
“Got it.” Aspen flipped the pieces together, careful not to knock the pickle and cheese off the bread.
“I shall wait over here for your masterpiece. If you need me, call aloud. Remember, a crispy golden-brown. No black.”
“Gotchya.”
Wren headed to the loveseat and plopped down. She kicked her shoes off, put her feet up on the cushion and perused a nearby Enduro magazine. She quickly peeked over to examine her assistant. “How’s it going over there?”
“No peeking,” Aspen warned. “It’ll be ready shortly.”
Wren chuckled to herself when she heard Aspen articulate a sharp, ‘ouch’. “Don’t forget, the pan gets hot when the burner is active beneath it.”
“Thanks for the pointer, Chef Wren, but I think you’re a little too late.” She stuck her throbbing finger in her mouth and flipped the heat off with the other. Switching the two sandwiches from the griddle to the napkin posed challenging with her left hand as she clumsily caught one of the sandwiches from hitting the floor. She peeked to see if Wren had noticed.
Wren didn’t take her eyes off the magazine. She realized that most of the ads had half-nude women straddling motorcycles.
“Come and get it,” Aspen walked the sandwiches to the table. “Or more like, I’ll bring it to you.”
Wren sat up and scooted herself to the table as Aspen sat across from her, removing her chef’s hat and setting it on a shelf by her helmet. She watched Wren slowly peel the napkin from around the grilled cheese.
“Smells good,” Wren commented. She flipped it over and then back again, inspecting each side. “Looks perfect, but only a true taste test will tell.” She bit into it.
“Well, do you approve?”
Wren held up her finger as she collected a hanging string of hot cheese from her mouth. “Well done, Sous-Chef. There is hope for you after all.”
Aspen unraveled her napkin to expose a charred sandwich.
Wren gasped. “What is that?”
“Well…mine didn’t turn out so well.” Bits of charred crumbs discolored her fingers.
“How did that turn out like that and this like this?”
“Actually, they were both technically the same at one point. One side was a perfect crispy golden-brown, and the other, this charcoal textured mess. I pulled them apart so you could have the good halves.” Her smile shone with pride. She looked back down at hers and squeezed it. The sandwich fell apart, much like a vampire exposed to the sun. She raised the crumbled pieces toward her mouth.
“If you take a bite of that, I am so going to throw up. Here,” she pulled hers apart and handed half to Aspen, “I’ll share.”
“Thank you, Chef Wren. I promise to do better next time.” She took a bite and a long piece of cheese dangled from her chin.
Wren snapped the hanging piece of cheese from Aspen’s mouth and popped it into her own mouth. “Next time I promise not to leave your side by the stove. It’ll be safer for everyone.”
Chapter 9 –Five-day Hiatus
“We will be on a five day hiatus,” Director Wolff announced to the cast and crew. “I know this is not customary, but it is well needed and well deserved. I appreciate your efforts. Consider this a rare gift.”
Among the hum of murmurs, the cast and crew looked at one another. In the middle of production this was certainly uncommon.
“Don’t go and do anything that would hinder our progress. I expect you guys to return on Monday, well rested, and ready to put in long hours. Actors, you especially. We have a talented hair and make-up team, but do not make their job any harder. The way you look today should have no significant difference in five days.”
Everyone agreed. “Thank you, Director Wolff.”
“Wren and Aspen, I need to see you for a moment. Everyone else is dismissed.”
They approached the director.
“Ladies, I am sure my announcement is a surprise to everyone. I would prefer to keep my personal reasons for this disruption private.”
“Yes, Director Wolff.”
“Thank you, Wren. Ladies, during these next few days I would like you to keep in close contact with one another.”
Wren and Aspen nodded.
“It has been brought to my attention that you would like to learn to ride motorbikes?” He looked to Wren for confirmation.
“Yes, Sir.”
“At first I thought the idea was absolutely ludicrous, but now I feel differently. Aspen?”
“Yes, Sir?”
“You must keep Wren safe. Nothing can happen to her.”
Aspen nodded.
“It would certainly save this production time and money, if Wren had the basic skills needed to shoot some of the riding scenes herself. It will look a lot more authentic if we could minimize the time using the green screen as well. Only basic skills,” he warned Aspen. “She cannot return to set with even a scratch. Understood?”
Aspen nodded, but the frown on her face didn’t go unnoticed by Wren.
“See you ladies on Monday.”
As soon as the director walked out of sight, Wren turned to Aspen. “What’s wrong?”
Aspen knew better than to force a smile. It seemed that Wren had some special ability to know when someone wasn’t being real with her anyway. “It’s not you, Wren. Please don’t take this the wrong way, because I truly do enjoy spending time with you.”
“What is it then?”
“I would really like to go home and see my dad. As soon as Gideon said we had some time off, I instantly thought of my dad. He can’t come here because he has to work the farm, but I could go to him. Now that Gideon wants us to shadow each other, I don’t see how that is even possible.”
Wren looked down in thought.
“I upset you.”
Wren popped her head back up. “No, not at all. Actually, I have an idea.”
Aspen looked hopeful.
“Please don’t think of me as being impetuous. What would you thi
nk if I went home with you?”
“You want to come to Christmas Valley, Oregon?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Well, it’s nothing like here. You may not like it much.”
“Trust me. L.A. is totally overrated. I’ve been everywhere and done everything I want here. What I really need to do is memorize my lines and learn how to ride. I can do those things in Christmas Valley, can’t I?”
“Sure.” Aspen perked up even more. “The ground may have some snow, but I can still take you to the sand dunes. You can learn to ride there. When you wipeout, the snow and sand will help break your fall.”
“When I wipeout, huh?”
“Everyone falls, Wren. It’s a rite of passage.”
“So there’s snow and sand dunes in Christmas Valley?”
“Yeah, an oxen-moray I know.”
“I think you mean an oxymoron.” Wren giggled.
“Yeah, that. I can teach you to ride and you can meet my dad. He’s really sweet.”
“I would be honored.”
Aspen hugged Wren. “Thank you so much, Wren.”
“I should be thanking you for giving me the opportunity to get far and away from here for a few days.”
“I guess we better reserve some bus tickets,” Aspen said, pulling away from the hug.
“How far is it from L.A.?”
“It’s about fifteen hours from here. A bus ride will add at least a couple more hours onto that.”
“Aspen, buses and I don’t mix well together.”
“You get sick?”
“No, more like pummeled by fans.”
Aspen looked disappointed. “Oh yeah. That’s probably not a safe way for you to travel. Would you prefer to fly?”
“I get pummeled at the airport, as well.”
Aspen bit her lower lip. “I don’t have a car, Wren.”
“I do. We can take turns driving.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll let my dad know, right away.”
“Let’s get packed. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
~~@
“So you guys are heading to Oregon first thing in the morning?”
Wren made sure all her riding gear was back in its appropriate place on the costume rack. “Yup. Make sure you keep practicing your lines, JT. Maybe Malachi can help you with them?”
“What? I don’t hang out with JT, and I certainly don’t memorize lines. Besides, I have some plans of my own during my free time.” He set his helmet up on top of his issued locker.
JT punched Malachi in the shoulder. “Wow, thanks for the support, Dude,” he joked. “Wren, you don’t have to baby me. I’ll have my lines memorized before you, I’m sure.”
“Yeah, right.”
“So, Aspen,” Malachi cut in. “I hear Director Wolff gave you the green light to teach Wren some dirt bike skills. That’s cool.”
“Yeah. There’s a great place for her to ride right near my home in Christmas Valley. Actually, there’s eleven-thousand acres for us to tear up.”
“Sweet,” Malachi responded.
“So, Wren, how does Kerri feel about you leaving her to go home with Aspen for a few days?” JT chimed in. “You guys seem to be joined at the hip these days.”
Aspen’s eyes shifted toward Wren.
“Kerri and I are not joined at the hip,” she said.
“Did I hear my name?” Kerri appeared from the corner.
Malachi spoke up first. “So how do you feel about Wren leaving you for the next few days?”
She looked at Wren.
“I’m going to Oregon with Aspen, so I can learn to ride. It’s what Director Wolff requested and as we all know—”
“Director Wolff gets what Director Wolff wants,” they all spoke in unison.
“Exactly,” Wren said.
“That sounds like fun.” Kerri didn’t seem to be bothered by the news. “I, on the other hand, will be hanging with a new friend I just met. Her name is Charlotte.” She watched for Aspen’s expression.
“Charlotte, the Extra, Charlotte?” JT elbowed her and wiggled his eyebrows.
“That’s the one.”
“She’s hot!” JT announced. He put his arm around Kerri’s shoulder. “Now I know why she hasn’t swooned over me yet. She bats for the other team,” he joked.
Wren bore a stare into Kerri, but Kerri pretended not to notice.
“Well, I don’t know about all that. I just told her I would help do her hair and make-up for a photo shoot she has scheduled. Said she wants to update her portfolio and then take me out to eat.”
“I’ll bet,” JT said.
“I’m sure you will have a nice time,” Wren jumped into the conversation. “It’s nice of you to help her out, Kerri.”
“Well, I try to be helpful when I can. She turned toward Aspen. Have a great time at home, Aspen.”
“Thanks, Kerri.”
“Don’t mention it. See you guys on Monday.” She walked out of the room.
“So, Aspen. Did I hear right? You live in Christmas Valley?” JT asked.
“Born and raised.”
“What, you live on Jingle Bells road or something?” He laughed.
“You’ve been to Christmas Valley?”
“What? No.”
Aspen looked confused.
“Why, is there really a Jingle Bells Road?”
“Sort of. There’s a Jingle Bell Road close to town.”
Everyone laughed.
“I gotta come visit that town sometime,” JT said. “Maybe I’ll see Old Saint Nick himself,” he joked.
Aspen giggled, knowing JT was messing around. “Nah, he’s up at the North Pole,” she joked.
“Yeah, JT,” Wren said. “Maybe you should go to the North Pole instead.”
He made a pouty face before giving the girls a quick hug. “See ya in a few days, Ladies. I’ve already made late night plans tonight, now that I can sleep in tomorrow.” He grinned.
“I’m sure you have, JT. Try to behave yourself.”
“I always do.”
~~@
Wren continued stuffing her suitcase full of clothing as she spoke to Kerri. “I don’t want there to be any hard feelings between us.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you before you leave town with Aspen. I don’t either.”
“Good, then let’s put all that drama behind us, take a few days off from all this craziness, and then come back refreshed.”
“I’m game.”
“I’m glad you have a date with Charlotte.”
Kerri held back a frown. “Yeah, she seems really nice.” She didn’t think that Wren would really buy her story, but she had.
“Well, you go have a blast with her and tell me all about it when I get back, okay?”
“Okay, and you go learn some of those cool biker skills. You’re in real good hands with Aspen.” She almost hesitated saying the last sentence.
“I’ll be extra careful. And Kerri? Thanks for taking the time to come work this out with me. We have who knows how many more weeks of filming ahead of us, and I do appreciate you.” She opened her arms. “Hug?”
“Of course.” She hugged Wren. “I’m off to get ready for my date with Charlotte,” she lied. “Enjoy your getaway.” Her fake smile vanished from her face as soon as she stepped down from the trailer.
~~@
Wren couldn’t disguise the huge smile on her face when she pulled up next to Aspen in her large, bright yellow convertible with the top down. “Is that all you have?” She pointed to the compact duffel bag on Aspen’s shoulder. Her helmet hung in a bag, attached to the duffel bag’s handle.
“It’s all I need.”
“Throw it in the back and hop on in.”
Aspen examined the three large pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage in the back. “Are you going somewhere else afterward?” She chuckled.
“Wise ass.” Wren stepped on the gas and they peeled out of the parking lot.
“I didn’t know Land Rover
made convertibles.”
“This is from their latest line.” Wren’s ponytail whipped her cheeks, but it didn’t bother her. She looked forward to the road trip full of fresh air and the miles that would take her away from LA.
“For someone that wants to stay hidden from overzealous fans, you sure have a conspicuous car.”
Wren flashed Aspen a smile. “It was a gift.”
“The car?”
“Yeah, one of those perks of being a celebrity. I know it hardly seems fair.”
“Wow, this is a real nice gift.” She examined the navigation screen. A little car in the center of the display marked their coordinates.
“But to be honest with you, Aspen, I would have picked this one out of the lot anyway. It’s just so fun and spunky.” She patted the dashboard.
The sunlight shining against Wren’s brown hair caught Aspen’s eye. “Can’t blame you.” She reached for a hair-tie on her wrist and folded her curly blonde hair into a bun. “Christmas Valley, here we come!” She leaned her head back against the headrest and smiled. She would see her dad soon and she could share the farm with Wren. This was turning out to the one of the best days of her life.
Wren turned up the radio and they sang just about every word to the popular tunes it played. “This is so much better than taking the bus,” Aspen said over the music. She happily received a pat on the knee as Wren continued to sing.
Chapter 10 – Christmas Valley
“Aspen!” Cole ran from the porch as the screen door slammed behind him. He grabbed his daughter, twirling her around like they were in a figure skating competition. “I missed you, Sweetheart.” He planted a big kiss on Aspen’s cheek and noticed Wren step up behind Aspen. “And you must be Wren.” He set his daughter down and gave Wren a full hug. “Thanks for bringing her home.”
“Thank you so much for allowing me this visit, Mr. Kennedi.” She hugged him back.
“Hold it right there, Kiddo,” he interrupted. He stepped back, but still had ahold of her upper arms. “You call me Cole.”
“Thank you, Cole. I appreciate you allowing me to stay with you.” He let go as she looked up at the house. “You have a beautiful home.” In awe of its significant size, Wren sized the porch. “I could so hang out on that wrap around porch for hours.”
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