To the Moon and Back

by Melissa Brayden

  * * *

  Watching Carly walk out of her office had been one of the most difficult moments of Lauren’s entire life. Though she knew it was for the best, she wanted nothing more than to accept Carly’s offer and forgive and forget. She longed for Carly, wanted her, and almost abandoned her wits just to have her back.

  “Am I dumb? I could have just gone with her, Trip. Maybe I should have.” She sat on a stool in Trip’s impeccably decorated kitchen. She should have hired him to do her place.

  He deposited a freshly assembled cheese board between them. “I think you have to trust your instincts more, and they told you it wouldn’t have been a good idea. At least not right now.”

  “You’re right. Maybe there’s a time for us. But it’s not this one.” Lauren nodded and took a sip of her second glass of wine. She’d been back in Minneapolis for a week now and had spent each and every evening at Trip’s place, catching up and talking through all she had in her head. “I’m sorry if I’m talking your ear off—I think I’m just shaken up. I didn’t expect her to walk through the door looking and sounding and smelling so wonderfully like…her. God.”

  Trip slid the bottle closer to Lauren, but she held her hand up to decline. “I’m sorry you were blindsided. Anything good come from the conversation?”

  She lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “We agreed to take some time. I think Carly wasn’t in a place where she could give of herself, and while it’s nice that she said all the right things today, I just don’t know.” She shook her head. “Something in me couldn’t seem to tell her what I actually believe.”

  Trip came around the island and put his arm around Lauren. “And what is that?”

  “That I’m desperately in love with a woman who I can never truly have.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  The upbeat game show music played, and Carly applauded, all the while smiling at her Pyramid partner—Jennifer from Dayton, Ohio, who taught second grade. Jennifer had already won the first round with Carly and the second with Aspen Wakefield from the TV show Thicker Than Water, who—let’s be honest—was not as quick on the draw. Carly was not about to drop Jennifer’s chance to take it all in the Winner’s Circle. No way. Jennifer from Dayton was going home with all the money if Carly had anything to say about it.

  She cleared her mind of everything as Jennifer with the shiny red hair and jean jacket received their category, We’re Grilled to Have You Here, and prepared to give clues. The clock started.

  “Meat.”

  “Hamburger,” Carly answered.

  Jennifer tried again. “Expensive. Filet. Ribeye.”

  “Steak.”

  The bell chimed, signaling Carly had been correct. Everything within her celebrated, but she held it together. They moved on to the next five clues, all pertaining to a backyard barbecue. She and Jennifer sailed through them like pros. Finally, they moved to the last clue with only eight seconds on the clock.

  “To flip something over.”

  “Toss.”

  “You turn a burger, a flapjack with a…”

  “Spatula.”

  “Yes!” Jennifer shouted and leapt from her chair, now another hundred thousand dollars richer. Carly threw her arms around her victorious partner, and they did a little dance that pulled a laugh from the audience and host.

  When the game show wrapped filming, Carly found herself on an adrenaline high. She’d shot two back-to-back episodes that day, and it was honestly the most fun she’d had in a long time. She’d made a point of going into the situation with a light heart and a plan to have fun. Both had definitely helped her release some of the expectations she had for herself.

  “Ms. Daniel?” She turned and smiled at the man in a suit moving toward her. “You were fantastic today. Any chance you’d be interested in taking a turn as one of our celebrity competitors on To Tell the Truth? You have such sparkle that I think you’d be wonderful. More opportunity to show off your personality.”

  “I’d love to. Give my agent a call, but I’m in.”

  “Will do. Thanks again for appearing.”

  “I had the best time.” She didn’t even have to bolster her enthusiasm. It was real. When she gathered her belongings and returned to her car, she had a message waiting from her Realtor.

  “We have a full-ask offer on the house. Call me.” She blinked at the horizon as fear crept in. Yes, she needed to let go of the home that was way too big for one person, and also a burden to her bank account. Without that huge mortgage and upkeep costs looming over her each month, she’d breathe so much easier, decreasing the pressure on her to make the kind of money she used to. Still, the unknown was a little scary. She and Fallon had a date to go house hunting in a less expensive part of Hollywood. She’d always been a fan of the shops and restaurants in Franklin Village and planned to check out what they had on the market.

  She called her real estate agent and listened to the details of the all-cash offer. “They want a fast close. Two weeks. What do you think?”

  She closed her eyes, saying good-bye to her infinity pool, knowing there were many things, and more specifically people, that made her happier. “Take the deal.”

  “You’re a smart woman,” her agent said.

  “Trying to be.”

  She clicked off the call. As she drove home, she felt…lighter. She flipped on the radio and sang along, with a smile. When she got home, she fired off a text to Lauren, who she’d left alone for the past two weeks while she did as Lauren had asked: worked on herself. Today felt like a step toward being happy again, and she wanted to share that.

  Today was a good day, she typed. Thinking about you. You don’t have to answer me, just wanted to share.

  She didn’t receive an answer and that was okay. It hadn’t been the reason for the text. She went to sleep that night knowing this wouldn’t be her bedroom for long.

  The next morning, Alika called. “You’re not going to believe this, but the game show people think you’re the damn bee’s knees and want you for another one.”

  She laughed. “I had a blast. Tell them yes. My calendar seems to be open.”

  “They’re shooting in a week and will send over some background information about what they’re looking for.”

  “Good thing I love games.”

  “Is this the wildest idea we’ve ever had?” Alika asked. She was smiling, though. Carly could hear it.

  She sighed. “I’ve stopped trying to run the Hollywood race. I think, Alika, it’s time to be a good person and enjoy what life brings my way. That seems to be game shows, and I’m thrilled.”

  “Then who are we to argue?”

  Carly shook her head. Who, indeed?

  * * *

  Lauren’s neck ached from rehearsal. Blocking days always did a number on her upper body because she concentrated and recorded the details of the direction for hours on end. She’d say one thing for certain, however. She saw the whole process through a different lens after having starred in a professional production herself. She rubbed the back of her neck as she flipped over the breast of chicken she was frying up for her dinner. Rocky IV whined quietly.

  “You need to learn to be more patient, Rocky. I plan to give you some of this chicken on top of your kibble, but it’s not ready yet.” He snuffled and turned in a circle, his curlicue tail set on vibrate. It wasn’t the only thing vibrating. Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. Trip.

  “Hey, Trippy.”

  “Turn on channel six. Do not pass go. Do not delay.”

  She turned around and faced the TV. An old rerun of Seinfeld played quietly. “What’s on six?”

  “Oh, you’re gonna want to see for yourself.”

  She turned off the chicken and let it sit, located her remote, and changed the channel. She sat on the arm of her couch, curious as the screen filled with Aspen Wakefield giving clues to a portly gentleman with a bad comb-over.

  “Are you obsessing about Aspen Wakefield again?” she asked Trip. “I know she’s beau
tiful, but I’m glad you chose a different Halloween costume.”

  “Wait for it, Lala.” She did. She watched as a portly guy gave amazing clues and Aspen Wakefield spaced for half of them. Poor guy.

  The shot cut away to the other duo, and when it did, Lauren slid off the arm onto the couch cushion in surprise. It was Carly, grinning and joking with the host. Lauren covered her mouth as she watched, her heart full, her eyes brimming with tears. It felt so good to see Carly that Lauren almost couldn’t contain the emotion that bubbled straight to the surface.

  “Lauren? You there?”

  She’d forgotten all about Trip. “Yes. Sorry. I’m watching. I’ll call you after.” She dropped the phone and leaned closer to the TV. Carly was actually really good at the game, and she looked like a million bucks wearing a maroon sweater dress and lipstick that matched perfectly. God, she looked sophisticated and beautiful.

  As she watched, Lauren placed a hand over her heart, feeling it thud away. Adrenaline coursed as she rooted for Carly and her partner, Jennifer. When they won in the Winner’s Circle, Lauren leapt from her spot on the couch. “They did it,” she told Rocky, who turned in a circle next to her, never one to be left out of a good celebration. She picked him up, hugged him, and placed a kiss on top of his head.

  Lauren was hit with so many emotions that she wasn’t sure what to do with them. She’d avoided allowing herself to look up Carly on social media, and she certainly wasn’t permitted to watch any of Carly’s movies. This was the first time she’d laid eyes on Carly since that day in her office just a few weeks back.

  “She looks happy,” Lauren said to Rocky, who’d moved back to his mission of garnering some of that chicken for himself. He stood beneath the stove, snuffling. As for Lauren, seeing Carly’s face brought up a myriad of emotions she wasn’t quite sure how to process. She felt joyful seeing her face, heartsick knowing where they stood with each other, and sad because she missed Carly a lot.

  Lauren dished out the chicken for herself, and a little for Rocky, as she ruminated on the state of her life. She’d fled LA for one main reason—she was flat-out terrified. The jobs that she’d booked had to all be mistakes, and it was only a matter of time before the world understood that. Carly was clearly unhappy and resenting the hell out of Lauren and the clock was ticking on how long it would be before she realized she could do better for herself.

  Lauren had taken off before either of those things could happen.

  For the first time since she’d been home, she admitted one thing to herself. Carly wasn’t the only one with issues to work through. Lauren had come to the table with her own basket of neuroses, which surely hadn’t helped things.

  Maybe I’m not as innocent as I thought in all of this, she typed to Trip.

  Later that night, she allowed herself to watch the episode of Pyramid one more time on her laptop before bed. She gently touched Carly’s smiling face on the screen, remembering their time together onstage and off, and wondering if there was a chance for more memories ahead.

  What if…?

  It was a powerful sentiment.

  * * *

  “So, here’s the thing,” Alika said.

  Carly held the phone to her ear and grinned from her window seat at a quaint little café just off Franklin. She had a chicken avocado salad that was knocking her socks off and a window seat that let her watch the world go by. Her new neighborhood was shaping up to be a true gem. “I’m listening.”

  “You’re now the game show queen.”

  Carly laughed and paused with a forkful of chicken. “That’s me. Still awaiting that crown, but the title will do for now. How many is it now?”

  “You’ve had seven appearances air, with three more coming up.”

  She shook her head, still not quite believing the trajectory of things lately, but truly enjoying the ride. “I’m feeling myself, Alika. Is that crazy?”

  “You want to know the really crazy part?”

  “Tell me.”

  “The feedback has been way more than I ever expected. People think you’re funny, relatable, and kind. The ratings for your episodes have been stellar. Not only do the game shows want you, but the phone is starting to ring again on other projects.”

  “Really? And what do the people on these calls say?”

  “Do you have a minute? I have a list.”

  Carly set down her fork in mystification. “Shockingly, I do.”

  She heard the sound of shuffling paper. “I have an indie film script that they’re ready to simply sign you up for. It’s an offer, and a decent sized role, too. A couple of TV guest-starring gigs, an endorsement deal for an orange soda company, an Off-Broadway play is showing major interest, and the new Jackson Mullens film is moving into casting. They’ve reached out about your status. I left that one for last because I knew you’d flip out.”

  Carly didn’t hesitate. “Tell me about the play.”

  “What? The play is not high profile. Jackson Mullens is.”

  “Tell me about the play,” Carly said calmly, a second time.

  “You’re stubborn, you know that?”

  Carly laughed. “I’m charting a new course. I have new priorities.” She liked her world, of late, and had learned that what made her happy was more important than what would further her career. Status, as Fallon not so long ago pointed out, was not high on her list of priorities. Since she’d acknowledged that, the pressure had been off. She enjoyed her days, treated people with kindness, and daydreamed about a time she’d maybe get a second shot with the woman she loved. Yes, loved. She’d known it for a while now, but this was the first moment she’d actually allowed herself to accept what this was. She was gaga in love with Lauren Prescott and would follow her anywhere if she’d let her.

  “Okay, let’s see here,” Alika said. She heard some clicking sounds, which meant Alika was bringing up the email. “They’re describing it as a contemporary piece by a new playwright, Heather Kim. A family drama about adult children coming to terms with secrets from their past.”

  “I’ve heard of Heather Kim.” Several of her castmates from Starry Nights had gushed about her work, and recommended Carly read her stuff. She was all ears. “What are they asking for?”

  A pause. “A meeting in New York.”

  “Set it up for me?” Carly asked.

  “Is this really what you want? More stage?”

  Carly didn’t hesitate. “I might have the bug.” She smiled. “Honestly, Alika, nothing was more satisfying than the run of Starry Nights. I feel like I’m a better actor for it and want to do more.”

  “Fair enough, Little Miss Stubborn. I’m on it.”

  “Thank you.”

  Carly turned back to her salad, her afternoon, and her new understanding of the things that made her happy. Green eyes were never far from her mind.

  Chapter Twenty

  The elevator ride to the twelfth floor wasn’t a glamorous one. The narrow office building on Fourteenth Street between a deli and a dry cleaner’s was home to the team of producers mounting Heather Kim’s two-hour production of Home Fires, in which a daughter discovers that she and her siblings were kidnapped as young children by the parents they grew up loving. The script came with a surprising amount of lighthearted humor, given the heavy premise. Carly enjoyed everything about the dialogue and narrative when she read it and hoped the meeting would prove to be a valuable one.

  She exited the stale smelling elevator and made her way down a nondescript hallway, which all served as a reminder that she was not in Hollywood anymore. The frills were gone, which, honestly, she didn’t mind. The play was not a big budget outing and would instead play a ten-week limited run in a three hundred seat theater about a mile south of Broadway, which to Carly sounded perfect in every way.

  An hour and a half later, and she, the producers, the director, and Heather Kim herself were seated around a table, discussing the piece in great collaboration.

  “I think the scene that resonates with me mos
t would have to be the moment Reagan brings her findings to the siblings,” Carly said.

  “It’s definitely the scene that took me the longest to write. There are so many layers there that I wanted to be sure came through.”

  Carly nodded. “The brother’s reaction, especially, is chilling.” She’d read the script in its entirety four times now, but she’d read that scene more than ten. She loved everything about the play and thought Heather Kim deserved the Pulitzer.

  The lively discussion went on like that for another forty-five minutes, until Kevin Jacobs, the lead producer, turned to her. “Listen, are you interested? Because I can safely say we are.” Everyone around the table nodded.

  Carly didn’t hesitate. She raised her shoulders. “When do we start?”

  Jeanine, the director, clapped her hands. “Quickly. We have two more roles to cast, and fast.”

  “Can I ask which two?”

  Jeanine listed them on her fingers. “The detective at the police department, which as you know is fairly significant in this journey, and will take the right actress, and a young actor to play Reagan’s son.”

  Carly smiled at her. “You said you saw me in Starry Nights?”

  “I did. It’s why I wanted to work with you.”

  “Can I make a suggestion on who you might look into for that detective role? There’s just someone I couldn’t get out of my head when I read that character.”

  Jeanine leaned in with a smile. “I think I know where you’re going with this, and I’ll be honest, it had occurred to me.”

  Carly grinned. “Just a thought. Totally up to you.”

  Later that night, alone her hotel room in the theater district, Carly sent Lauren one of her routine texts. She rarely heard back but that wasn’t the point of them. It’s me, game show queen, saying hello.

  This time, she got a response. Hey, there, GSQ. How are you?

  She fell back against the pillow in delight. Every part of her went warm. She sat up again, invigorated. Lay back again and sat back up, ready to type. Good. I feel like I hit a reset button on some big items in my life. I moved. She hit send, feeling nervous and energetic about the fact that she was conversing with Lauren, who she missed so very much. To her amazement, the phone in her hand buzzed, signaling not just a text, but an incoming call from Lauren.