After a few moments, Nora stepped back, examining my hair. She gave a whistle. “Girl, I’ve made you look like a real Hollywood star today.”
I stared at my reflection, hardly able to believe the transformation. I had to give it to her. This was her finest work. Perfect for a proposal scene.
Proposal scene. My heart jumped to my throat. Lord, help me!
Rex tapped on the door and hollered out, “Five minutes!”
After one last glimpse in the mirror, I turned to Nora. “Well, this is it.”
“Yes.” She giggled. “Break a leg, Kat.”
I laughed. “That’s a theater expression, honey. Not very Hollywood. And if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to keep my arms and legs intact.”
Nora followed me to the stage, where she got her first glimpse of my grandmother for the day. She let out a whistle. “Wow, Lenora! You look like British royalty. Who are we today?”
Grandma turned in a circle, primping. “Katharine Hepburn. The Lion in Winter. 1968.”
“1968, eh?” Rex said as he passed by. “Tragic year in American history. I’m surprised you went with that one.”
“I never could resist Kate Hepburn.” Grandma Lenora grinned at Rex. “Kat is named after her. Did you know that?”
“No.” Rex gave me an admiring look. “Nice name to live up to.”
“I do my best.”
Grandma’s eyes took on a faraway look. “Remember that time we all went down to the Villa Nova and Kate Hepburn accidentally ate my shrimp cocktail instead of her crab cakes? She was always such a hoot!”
“Well, of course,” he said, looking quite matter-of-fact. “You were wearing a blue dress that afternoon. And if memory serves me correctly, Kate was dressed in blue also. I remember saying you looked like twins.” Thank goodness he played along. Relief swept over me.
“Oh, go on with you.” Grandma waved her hand. “I was never as pretty as Kate.”
He shook his head, and for a second I thought I saw his eyes grow misty. “Yes you were, Lenora,” he said with great tenderness. “And you’ve only improved with age.” He reached out to take her hand and kissed the back of it. I’d never seen my grandmother’s cheeks so red.
“Th-thank you, Rex.”
He turned and walked away with gentlemanly flair. I would have to remember to thank him later. Talk about working overtime. The man could win an Academy Award for his performance today.
Still, as I pondered the scene the two of them had just played out, I had to wonder about my grandmother’s random stories from the past. It was getting harder and harder to tell fiction from reality where she was concerned . . . and that worried me. Not that I needed to be worrying right now. Or ever, really.
Snap out of it, Kat. No time for sadness today. Not with so much work to be done.
Like getting proposed to would qualify as work. I chuckled as I thought about that. Why not just relax and enjoy the ride? See where it might take me?
After a couple of deep breaths and a quick, silent prayer, I got ready to take my place on the set. Nora stopped me long enough to touch up my lipstick. Great. Now I’d probably get lipstick all over Scott when we kissed. Not that kissing was first and foremost on my mind today. No, that faux diamond ring he was about to slip on my finger took precedence, even over great kissing.
“There.” Nora nodded. “Go out there and knock ’em dead, Kat.”
“Um, okay.”
Butterflies took flight in my stomach as I pondered what was about to happen. Just as I took my first step onto the set, I heard Grandma Lenora’s singsong voice ring out. “You’re going out a youngster, but you’ve got to come back a star!”
Perfect distraction. I turned around and, with a grin, responded, “Warner Baxter. 42nd Street. 1934.”
“You’re good,” Grandma said. “Real good. But it was ’33, not ’34.”
With a chuckle, I turned back to the matter at hand.
Scott glanced my way, smiling as he took in my hair and makeup. He mouthed the words, “You look great,” then offered a shy smile. Good grief. We really were in junior high again.
“Quiet on the set,” Tia called out. She took her place in the director’s chair, glanced at Rex, and gave him a thumbs-up.
The lights in the studio audience went down, and the overhead lights on the stage sprang to life. I took my place, ready to begin. Scott joined me, standing so close I could smell his yummy cologne. As we waited for our cue, I realized just how ready I was . . . for anything that life with Scott had to offer, both on stage and off. What a lovely revelation.
After a few seconds, Tia was ready to roll. She took one last look at her notes, then hollered, “And . . . action!”
The scene board snapped and we were off and running.
Stay focused, Kat. Keep your mind on the matter at hand. Just think about the scene. Nothing else.
I went over it all in my head, bit by bit, thinking of it as the script had laid it out.
Location: Stars Collide Talent Agency, back room audition stage
Synopsis: Kimberly—played by Candy—auditions for a major role in a Broadway show.
Action: After Kimberly’s song, Jack proposes to an unsuspecting Angie in front of all the children they represent.
Reaction from children: Shock, surprise, and glee—from all but Kimberly, who is angry that they’ve interrupted her big moment.
Reaction from Angie: Pure bliss as she accepts his ring and his proposal.
Reaction from the real-life characters of Kat and Scott: A mixture of delightful emotions, thoughts, and internal questions as they forge ahead with a relationship of their own.
Okay, so that last part wasn’t in the script, but I knew we were both struggling with a mixture of emotions. Reality and fiction had blurred all right. And things were just getting more tense with this ring about to slide on my finger. Was Scott feeling the heat of the moment like I was? One glance his way—that smile, those soft eyes, that little wink—convinced me otherwise.
I took my stance as Angie, talent scout extraordinaire. Piped-in music began for “Lullaby of Broadway,” and Candy—playing the part of the young, yet-undiscovered star Kimberly—took the stage, her blonde curls bouncing and dimples showing. The little charmer almost convinced me. Almost.
She sang the familiar song with unbelievable strength and gusto. I had to give it to her, the kid was great. And who knew? Maybe she really would end up on Broadway someday. Funny, the places life took you.
When the song ended, I spoke my first line: “What do you think, Jack? Is she ready for her big day?”
Scott—as Jack—joined me on the stage, taking my hand in his. “She’s ready, but the bigger question is . . . are you?”
“Am I what?” I quoted from memory.
“Ready.”
“Ready for what?” I asked, gazing into his blue eyes.
“The big day.”
“Jack, you’re not making sense.”
Scott gazed longingly into my eyes, and I almost forgot we were still on the script. His words, “Angie, there’s something I need to ask you,” caused me to catch my breath.
I noticed the look of expectation in his eyes. And in the eyes of the children, who hung breathlessly on his every word. You would have thought this was really happening . . . right here, right now.
I looked directly into Scott’s eyes, not even having to act. My heart was fully in this, which made it not only exciting and romantic but also a little unnerving. When he dropped to one knee, one of the kids hollered out an impromptu, “Go, Jack!” Not in the script, but Tia didn’t stop the filming, thank goodness. I wasn’t sure I could go through this scene again. Hopefully we could get it in one take.
“Angie, I love you.” He spoke the words, his hand clutching mine. For the first time, I noticed he was trembling. Or was that me? I couldn’t really tell.
“O-oh?” I responded.
“From the minute you walked through the door of my agency, I found
you irresistible. Your smile. Your zeal for life. Your temper.”
“Hey now.”
“Seriously. I love everything about you. The way you play with your hair when you’re nervous. The way you stutter when you’re mad. The way you work to make our business the best it can be. You’re the best business partner in the world. But I want a different kind of partnership now, Angie. Totally different.”
I could hear some of the children giggling in the background. The camera overhead moved in closer, and Scott—er, Jack—reached into his pocket, coming out with a tiny box.
At this point, I slipped off into a self-induced fog. Thank goodness I’d memorized my lines. Otherwise I never would have made it through this next part without fainting.
Scott’s next lines came out flawlessly, but I never heard them. In fact, the only thing I heard was the sound of my heartbeat inside my ears as I glanced at the beautiful ring he’d slipped on my left ring finger. I held it up for closer examination, my heart going crazy. Then, as Scott pulled me into his arms for a passionate kiss, the children began a rousing rendition of “The Hallelujah Chorus.” Before long, the studio audience joined in, lending their support.
I would have joined them, but my lips were busy.
Coming up for air, I looked over the group of children, who now rushed my way and swept me into a group hug. I could tell they weren’t acting. These little ones were really thrilled at the idea that Jack and Angie were getting married.
I caught a glimpse of Grandma Lenora off in the distance. She stood next to Rex with tears streaming down her face. Wow. Never saw that coming. In fact, the whole studio audience seemed awash with emotions. Some folks sniffled. Others cheered. Even the crew members clapped and shouted. I’d never seen such a positive—and strong—reaction to a scene before.
Looked like everyone had waited for this one special moment. Now if only I could figure out where to take it from here.
After a couple more lines from Jack, the scene ended. Cameras pulled back, lights dimmed, and I felt beads of sweat pop up on the back of my neck. Tia yelled, “Cut!” and the audience went crazy. Everyone in the place started talking, voices layering on top of each other.
“Oh, praise the Lord and pass the wedding bouquets!” Grandma Lenora said, entering the set. “It’s finally happened. My two favorite people in all the world are engaged!”
“Well, yes, but Grandma—”
“Oh, honey.” She grabbed my left hand and gazed at the faux diamond ring. “It’s exquisite. Jack did such a lovely job of picking it out.” She gazed up at him with an admiring smile. “But who can tell with these tears in my eyes. I’m such an old softy, getting emotional over my granddaughter’s engagement.”
“But Grandma, I—”
“We’ll have to start planning for your big day right away,” she continued. “I know just what we’ll do. We’ll have the wedding at the church and then host the reception at the house. In the backyard. The gardens are beautiful this time of year, don’t you think?” After a second’s pause, she said, “Then again, you might not be thinking of getting married right away. Oh, but don’t wait till the winter, honey. You want a lovely warm wedding so that your guests can be comfortable outdoors. I always say a warm wedding is better than a cold one any day.”
“Lenora, I don’t think you understand—” Scott tried to get a word in edgewise, but she was too busy chattering to notice.
On and on she went, telling us all of the reasons why we should have our wedding sooner rather than later. She ended with a doozy. “Besides, honey, we don’t know how long I’m going to be here. And I know you’ll want me to be in the wedding, right? Why, I plan to be your maid of honor!”
Okay, I loved that idea . . . and if I ever really did get married, she would be the obvious choice. But enough already! I put up my hand to stop her midsentence. Unfortunately, she headed over to Rex. I could hear her cheerful voice as she shared her joy.
“Rex, they’re engaged! Can you believe it? After all this time, he finally popped the question!”
Rex looked at her, the creases in his brow deepening. “Of course, Lenora. I know that. It’s all arranged.”
“Yes, it is.” She beamed ear to ear. “And now I’m going to see that my granddaughter has the one thing I never had—a wedding!”
Wow. Well, if that wasn’t enough to stop us all in our tracks, I don’t know what would be. Of course my grandmother had a wedding. The idea that she’d forgotten about it . . . and my grandfather . . . brought a lump to my throat the size of a baseball.
As tears filled my eyes, I reached for Scott’s hand and gave it a squeeze, then whispered, “This is worse than we thought.”
He nodded and I could read the concern in his eyes. She’d gone over the edge this time, but I didn’t know how to bring her back.
Rex gave her a concerned look and took her by the arm. “Do you need to rest, Lenora?”
“Rest? Of course not. I’m fit as a fiddle. There’s no time for napping right now. We’ve got a wedding to coordinate. Do you have any idea how hard it is to plan a wedding in Beverly Hills? Just finding the right caterer is going to be a nightmare. They’re booked months in advance. And never mind about the flowers. Getting a florist this late in the season is going to be murder. Thank goodness I’ve got connections. I can pull a few strings.” She paused, deep in thought. “I wonder if Liberace is busy. He’s a shoe-in to play the piano. Have you ever heard his version of the ‘Wedding March’? Nothing can even come close.”
The “Wedding March” he’s currently playing on that great white baby grand in the sky, you mean?
“Grandma, are you sure you don’t need to sit down and rest?” I whispered. “Maybe get calmed down a little?”
“Heavens, no.” Turning to me now, her words came faster. “KK, we’ve got to go shopping for a wedding dress. And shoes. You can’t get married without the right pumps. You’ve got to make sure they’re comfortable, though. There’s nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes on your wedding day. Pretty but practical, that’s what I always say. Of course, it doesn’t really matter what I always say, does it? This is about you, honey. All about you. So pick uncomfortable shoes if you like. And the veil. I think a long veil is best, don’t you? Though I have noticed that brides these days are often choosing shorter ones. Practicality, I suppose. But who needs to be practical? This is a wedding, after all! Toss caution to the wind and have it your way!”
On and on she went. By now, everyone on the set—and in the studio audience—hung on her every word. I could only pray the guy from The Scoop hadn’t snuck into the building. He would go a long way on this act.
Act. Hmm. Maybe the people in the audience would think this bit with my grandmother was indeed part of the act. Perhaps this all looked scripted to them.
Sure. They would all think this was some sort of promotional gag. After all, she did play my grandmother in the show as well. Yes, surely they would find this funny. And staged.
Finally Grandma caught her breath. Before she could start up again, I took her by the arm and suggested we head to the dressing room. Along the way, I waved at the crowd, playing the whole thing up.
Once we reached my dressing room, I encouraged her to rest for a few minutes. She settled onto the sofa and I turned out the light, promising to return quickly. I went in search of Scott, who’d slipped off to his dressing room at the far end of the hall. Who could blame him?
I rapped on the door. “Safe to come in?”
“Yeah. C’mon.”
I crossed the room to where he stood, almost afraid to face him after my grandmother’s emotional outburst. This day had been crazy enough already without adding Lenora Worth to the mix.
For a moment I couldn’t say a word. Then finally I managed, “Scott, what are we going to do? We’re meeting your parents for dinner in a few hours, and Grandma . . .” I couldn’t finish the sentence over the lump in my throat.
He gave me a sympathetic look and brushed a lo
ose hair out of my eye. “For one thing, we’re not going to panic, Kat. That won’t help anything. So no abrupt change of plans.”
“But did you hear her? Her memory is fading fast. She’s losing pieces of her past and has no real connection with the present, except for me. If she thinks you and I are really engaged and then figures out that we’re not, I don’t know what it will do to her. She’s on medication for her blood pressure and cholesterol, you know. And I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but she’s also on meds for—” I started to say the word but couldn’t. I finally settled for “memory loss.”
“It’s going to be okay, Kat.”
“I’m so worried about her, Scott.” Biting my lip, I thought about how sad all of this was, really. “I mean, I’ve been concerned for ages, but now I know I have to do something.”
“Like what? You’ve been doing something all along, Kat. You’re her caregiver, and a really good one at that. You’ve taken every problem that’s come up in stride, and you’ve managed to keep a good attitude. I say we do the same thing this time around.”
“Th-thank you.” I stopped talking for a moment to clear my head. “I’m making an appointment for her to see the doctor next week. I think he needs to increase her medication. Or maybe . . .” A lump rose in my throat, making it hard to speak. “M-maybe she’s just going to continue to slip away from me, one awful bit at a time.” I looked at him, tears starting. “What happens then, Scott?”
He wrapped an arm around me. With his fingertip, he brushed away a tear. “Kat, don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
“You can say that again. We’re in trouble all right.”
“It seems huge to you right now, but God is bigger.”
I willed myself to take a few deep breaths before responding. The words finally came, barely more than a whisper. “I know. This is just scary. I don’t know what to do for her.”
Stars Collide Page 9
