He leaped for the telephone. “I’ll reserve the coolest wall. There’s this one at World Gym that I think she’ll find really challenging.”
“You can wait and call after school.”
“By then it’ll already be reserved. What time does she want to go?”
Brenna snatched a time out of the air. “Two o’clock Saturday?”
“Very cool. All right.” He turned and plugged his left ear while listening to the call ringing through.
“Mom?”
Brenna turned and met James’ gaze across the dining room table. “Yes?”
“Is Ms. Hyland coming over just to climb?”
“No.” Brenna shrugged a shoulder. “I thought we could have her and Ryan to dinner afterward.”
“Saturday night?”
“Yes.”
James frowned and put down his fork. “Well then, I guess I’m going to miss the fun.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Marcie and I have a skate date Saturday night.”
Brenna studied him, getting the distinct sensation that he was lying to her. “James, what’s up?”
“Well, I’m bummed I’m gonna miss seeing that cute kid,” he said, returning to his food.
“When did you set up this date? I don’t remember you asking for permission.”
“Well, I only asked her yesterday. Didn’t get a chance to mention it to you.”
Brenna circled the table and put a hand on his shoulder; he tensed under her touch. “Didn’t you enjoy meeting Ms. Hyland and her son on the camping trip?”
“Like I said, cute kid.”
“James,” Brenna prodded anxiously.
Her youngest sighed. “Mom, I don’t want to spend an evening watching ThoŹmas make gooey-eyes at her like he did at the parade.”
Having been unable to find his girlfriend in the crowd, James had returned to the group after Cassidy and Ryan had joined them. She had been too caught up in
Cassidy’s presence herself to notice his discomfort or Thomas’ behavior. “I didn’t realize you felt that way about her.”
“Mom, I…” James frowned again, screwing up his face as he tried to find a way to put his thoughts into words. “I can’t help but look at her and remember they brought her in to replace you.”
“That’s not true,” she corrected sharply.
“So maybe not replace. But they didn’t think you had ‘it’, and she does, and I remember how hurt you were about that.” He shook his head. “You didn’t used to like her, now she’s everywhere.” He turned his head away angrily. “What happened to keeping work and us separate?”
“James,” Brenna began, not exactly sure what to say. Then she began carefully, “I was wrong to be upset with Ca…Ms. Hyland. When I realized that, I took some time and got to know her. She’s…just an actress, like me, trying to do her job.”
“You think ‘cause you helped find her kid that makes her your friend?”
“No, I did that because she needed help. And I…we were in the right place to do something.”
“You should’ve never let your guard down. She’s just going to stab you in the back.”
“No, she won’t.” She reached for him, but he pulled away. “You’ve never told me any of this. We should talk about it.”
Frustration stiffened his body, and Brenna watched his expression fluster and sour by turns. His fists opened and closed. She hadn’t seen him like this since he tried out for soccer and didn’t make the third round cut to join the team.
“Damn, Mom, Thomas is so ga-ga over her. She’s just some pretty face. You said so.”
“I was wrong. There’s no reason to get so upset.”
“What happened that you’ve got this thing about making amends? The series is over in five months.”
“I hadn’t taken time to know her. Now that I have, I find she’s intelligent and thoughtful. Fun. I want to spend time with her outside of work. She and Ryan are pretty special people.”
James shook his head and sighed. “I just don’t get it.” He pushed to his feet. “I gotta get my stuff.”
“James, stop. Could you please just…take some time? Give her a chance? Be here Saturday, I think you’ll be surprised.” Brenna leaned on the table and tilted her head back, looking up at James. She could see the tension in his shoulders as he struggled with what she was asking of him. What is so hard? What has he been thinkŹing about?
He never answered. The hall clock chimed the hour, making it too late to conŹtinue their conversation. “Gotta go. See you tonight.” He turned around and jogged for the door.
“James, wait!” Brenna called as he opened the door. He was gone in the next breath. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath. “He’s never lied to me.”
Thomas rested a hand on her shoulder. “Go ahead and tell Ms. Hyland the wall’s been reserved. I’ll talk to him.”
She patted his hand absently, then watched in silence as he grabbed up his own bag and left the house.
Picking up a fork and cutting into the cooling remains of James’ half-eaten breakfast, Brenna released some frustration in silence. She bit into the waffle. Damn, damn, damn! The sweetness of the syrup went down bitterly.
Brenna straightened the collar of her costume’s undershirt and tugged the jumpsuit smooth across her stomach. Double-checking her makeup In the mirror, she headed for the soundstage where she was expected to meet with the Variety peoŹple and do an interview. As she entered, she could hear the sounds of voices, and she slowed her steps. She told herself it was because she didn’t want to risk making a sound that would be picked up by the on-stage microphones. Stopping at the edge of the nearest set, she listened to the dialogue between Hanssen and Raycreek.
“I prepared a fire for our meal,” Hanssen said. “Good thing I brought the wine, then,” Raycreek responded. “When do you think they’ll get the vortex reset and find us?” Hanssen asked.
“If I know Susan, she’s working on it right now.”
Brenna swallowed. She knew from watching practice that this was the moment the two of them were huddled in a “homeless camp”, an alley lit by the garbage burnŹing in a city trash can. Curiosity pushed her slowly around the barrier. Between her and the raised area of the set, the entire film crew was scrambling around doing their jobs adjusting sound and angle and microphone levels to catch the drop in both voices as they became more intimate.
Brenna’s eyes saw past all that to the two people alone in the middle. She covŹered her mouth, abruptly stifling the jealousy that flared at seeing them so close. Will was practically leaning on Cassidy’s left shoulder. Her bare shoulder, Brenna realized, seeing Cassidy’s costume for the first time. God, what a mess! The vortex effect had taken its toll on both their costumes. Chapman wore torn uniform pants and no shirt. Cassidy’s uniform was strategically torn to reveal a lot of skin.
Cassidy looked over her shoulder at Chapman’s face, her hair falling across her cheeks and over her eye in a look of devastating sensuality. Brenna’s stomach twisted as Chapman’s face twitched into an amused smile. She tried to focus on some place other than their faces, inches apart, and found Cassidy’s hands, curved together, elbows resting on her knees. Cassidy straightened as Chapman lifted his left palm to her cheek. Brenna couldn’t stop staring as he kissed her.
Face hot, Brenna backed up. She shut her eyes to blot out the image. And abruptly opened them again having found herself, during the brief moment behind the darkness of her eyelids, taking Will’s place in the scene.
“Ms. Lanigan?”
“Hmm?” Brenna turned to the whispered voice that sounded just next to her right ear.
“Sanderson, Variety. We have an interview?”
She put her hand over his mouth and shook her head. Relief filled her as she led them out of sound range but not too far to prevent her from keeping an eye on the filming. “Now, how is it you didn’t know not to step onto a live set?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.” Brenna rais
ed an eyebrow at him. “Excuse me, I mean, I…”
She smiled at him then, completely upsetting his already precarious control. “Well, now that we’ve established you’re new at this, how about I ask you a quesŹtion?”
“I…”
He was completely flustered. Brenna almost giggled. He was a small young man, barely five-six, she guessed, and his inexperience suggested he was an intern at the industry magazine.
“Sure?”
“What’s your first name?”
“Barry?”
She grinned. “Good. Now, how familiar are you with the series?”
“I’ve been watching since the first episode,” he admitted bashfully. “I thought it was great that they put a woman in charge.”
She grinned. “I don’t think they knew what they were in for.”
“What’s it been like so many years on the same series?” he asked, warming a litŹtle to his intended topic. “Longest role you’ve ever had, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Jakes is such a full-bodied character. I’ve enjoyed living in her skin. It’ll be hard to see her go.”
“No movies?”
“They haven’t made any plans.”
He glanced over his shoulder as commotion from a break in filming drew his attention. “What’s that all about?”
“Ah, that’d be a spoiler,” she warned. “Can’t print anything.”
“I know, I know, but off the record?”
“What’s it look like?” She was curious as to whether he saw any falseness in the acting.
“Hanssen’s getting together with Raycreek? I didn’t think those characters spent any time together.”
“The vortex transit was rough.”
“Pretty sudden, still. And,” the young man went on, “doesn’t Jakes have the hots for Raycreek herself?”
Brenna answered honestly, “Not anymore. He’s more like the brother she never had.” She scrunched up her nose. Sanderson chuckled. “Now, I bet you have other questions.”
“Yeah. I, hey, would you like to do this over a cup of coffee?”
Brenna shook her head. “As you can see, I’m in costume. I can’t leave the set.”
“What are you shooting today?”
“Just a couple of scenes in my office.”
“Could I see it?”
“All right.”
During a half-interview, half tour, Brenna led the young man around the soundstage, steering clear of the shooting, and finally sitting with him on one side of her office desk and her on the other side.
He picked up a prop from the desktop. “These things really are just cobbled parts,” he realized aloud. “Just…look at this, a disposable razor, a toothpaste cap? All painted gray. Funky.”
Brenna laughed. “None of the science is real. We make it up. Well, the writers make it up.”
“So, were you ever interested in science or space exploration?”
“No, I’ve always been an actor. That’s what I love.”
He frowned. “I got into the science. I like engineering.”
“I’m glad there’s an inspiration out there from the things we do.”
“Anybody else in the cast like science?”
“You’d have to ask them.” Brenna began to piece together the clues. “Can I ask you a question now?”
“I, well…yeah, go ahead.”
“How did you get on this set?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re not from Variety, are you?”
“I…um, well…” He stood up quickly. She grabbed his wrist, “I’m sorry.” He looked up to see someone coming toward them. “Listen, I really just wanted to meet you. I think you’re great. I’ll leave now. Don’t report me, please?”
Brenna shook her head. “Pretty elaborate scheme to get in to see one actor.”
“I’m secretary of your fan club. Really. I’m a student at UCLA. I’ve been followŹing you since before Time Trails?
“Following me?”
“Not stalking or anything like that, honest, just always trying to find out more about you.”
“I see.”
“Who’s this?”
Brenna looked up at Cassidy standing over her left shoulder. “Hi, Cass.” She redirected her attention to the young man. “My interviewer, or so I thought. It just struck me that I was giving a tour as much as I was giving an interview.”
“Really?”
“You’re not going to report me, are you?” He looked at Cassidy with big eyes. “Please?”
“Bren?”
“I think he’s harmless.”
Barry sagged with relief. “You’re not going to report me.”
“No.” Brenna shook her head. “If I were you, I’d get out of here, though, before someone else comes along.” She stood up and pointed toward the exit. “And I’d better not hear word one of any spoiler getting out about the upcoming episode.” He shook his head vigorously and scrambled toward the door she had indicated.
When he was out of sight, Cassidy said, “How could you spend an hour with him?”
“How’d you know it was an hour?”
“I noticed when he first came up to you.”
“I thought you were filming.”
“I was.” Cassidy leaned close. “I always notice when you enter a room. I get this jumpy feeling in my stomach.”
Brenna found herself face to face with a very sincere, very sensual expression. Cassidy’s hand had risen from her side. Brenna intercepted it and placed it against her chest, letting them both absorb the feeling of her pounding heart.
“I looked for you before filming started,” Cassidy said quietly. “You got in late.”
The recollection of the morning brought several things to mind. “Thomas reserved a climbing wall he says it’s the best in the area for two o’clock Saturday afternoon.”
“That sounds good.”
“Could I ask you a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Would you consider talking some to James? He’s…I don’t know what’s wrong, but he’s bothered by all the visits between us. He views you as some evil, backstab-bing witch.”
“Sounds like an inherited viewpoint,” Cassidy said drolly.
Brenna protested, “I haven’t thought about you like that in months.”
“That’s certainly good to know,” the blonde chuckled she fingered the open collar of Brenna’s vest “because I’d like to think I’ve shown you another side of
IDC.”
“Rest assured, I’ve seen all sides.”
“Not all,” Cassidy teased softly. “Not yet.”
Brenna couldn’t help it; she leaned forward. As though pulled by gravity, Cassidy’s hands moved down her sides and around her back. She inhaled the healthy aroma of perspiration caused by Cassidy’s exertion under the lights.
“I needed this,” Cassidy said as they hugged. “Will’s definitely not my type.”
“Anytime I can help,” Brenna said, stepping back. “We’d better get back to work.”
“Are you going to watch more filming?”
“Do you need me there?”
“I’d like it.”
They stood together, bodies lightly touching, each drinking in the planes of the other’s face. They heard footsteps and separated.
Will Chapman appeared around a corner, taking in the scene. “Glad I came for you instead of a stagehand.” He looked pointedly at Cassidy. “Come on, we’re needed back on the other set.”
Cassidy left with him. Brenna remained behind, resting her palms on the desk, steadying herself from the heady rush of hormones still cascading through her body like a flash flood. She closed her eyes and absorbed the true precariousness of the indulgence she’d shared with Cassidy, breathing deeply to calm her heart. She really was going to have to find a way to stay away from Cassidy during filming. “Be one hell of a story if we got caught together,” she muttered. Damn.
Cautiously she slipped around to watch th
e rest of Will and Cassidy’s scenes, listening as lines were flubbed, spoken too softly, or stumbled over. Cassidy kept making eye contact with her, causing reshoots time and again.
At least there weren’t any more kisses. Both Brenna and Cassidy were grateful for that mercy.
Chapter 32
“Thanks, sweetheart.”
James Lanigan had known he was in for it when his mother gripped his chin, kissed his cheek, and uttered those words. She had not even asked, just assumed that he would be okay watching Ms. Hyland’s kid for an hour. His mother, Thomas, and Ms. Hyland were climbing walls at World Gym.
James sighed. He was probably being unfair. His mom had not asked because of two simple facts. One, he was not climbing. Nothing could get him even four feet off the ground onto that wall. Two, Ryan was also not climbing. Well, James amended silently as he pulled the five-year-old off the Road Rally Virtual Racer, he’s not climbŹing the walk. “Do you want to play something?”
“I want to race the cars!” Ryan responded firmly.
Feeling like his mother when he spoke, James shook his head. “You’re not big enough.”
“You could push the pedals,” the boy answered. “Please?”
Crap. James looked with misgiving at the bucket seat, then sighed and dug into his pocket for the tokens obtained with his mother’s ten dollar bill. “All right. Let me sit first, then you can sit on my lap.”
Leaning forward, James dropped in the necessary tokens. As soon as he sat back, putting his hands up on the steering wheel, the boy was pushing his way onto his lap and determinedly squeezing in across his already cramped knees. Sheesh, couldn’t they make these things closer to real size? “Ready?”
Ryan beamed. “Yep.”
Obediently James only worked the brake and gas pedals as the boy steered like the five-year-old he was. Given four lives a game, Ryan quickly expended them dumping the race car into a gorge and driving it into a spin-out with a giant sand scorpion, a river, and finally a cliff wall. They did not even make it a quarter of the way through the course.
Turning Point Page 32
