Script Doctor (Off Screen Book 8)

by J. A. Armstrong

  “Tam, figure out what it is you want to say to Emma, and just say it. She already knows that you love her. She loves you too.”

  Tamara nodded.

  “Tam, just be yourself.”

  “She’s like my big sister.”

  “I know,” Addison said. “Why don’t you just tell her that?”

  “You just said she knows!”

  Addison laughed. “She does know, but it seems to me that you need to say it. So, just say it, Tam. Take her out for a glass of wine after you go shopping.”

  Tamara sighed. “I just want her to feel included.”

  “It’s at her house,” Addison joked. “That’s inclusion.”

  Tamara wrinkled her nose. “Ha-ha, Addy. You’re supposed to be doing Best Bitch duty here.”

  “I must have missed that memo,” Addison sifted through some papers on her desk.

  “Keep laughing.”

  “I’m not,” Addison promised. “Maybe I am, just a little. Look, I know the only mush you care for is mashed potatoes. I get it. You can be honest without being mushy.”

  “This from the Mush Master herself.”

  “Is that an upgrade from Best Bitch?”

  “All right, I hear you,” Tamara said. “I still would like to get her something. I just have no idea what.”

  “If you want to get her something just choose something that makes you think of her.”

  Tamara chuckled.

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” Addison said.

  “Nah, I was just thinking that every time I see a potty seat, I think of Em.”

  “Nothing says you’re important like a potty seat,” Addison laughed.

  “Well, I can’t help it! Every time I call she’s asking Vicki to head for the potty.”

  Addison laughed. “If you really want to show Emma you care, take over Vicki’s potty training.”

  “Gross, Addy.”

  Addison shrugged. “Actually, you might be on the right track.”

  “What? You think I should buy Emma a potty chair?”

  “No,” Addison laughed. “Family is everything to Em.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “Um-hum. You are part of that, Tam.”

  “Not really.”

  “Really? You know, she’s the one who named Vicki after my mom and you.”

  “She did that for you.”

  Addison shook her head. “Partly, only partly. She did that for Vicki too, so she would know that she was a part of more than just us. I don’t think Emma needs anything from you to feel a part of the wedding. But, I get why you want to give her something. I can’t tell you what that should be. It sort of defeats the purpose.”

  “I hate it when you make sense.”

  “I love it when you cave.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Tamara waved off Addison.

  “Go find Em. By the way, what is it you want me to wear for this monumental occasion?”

  Tamara threw her hands up in the air. “I don’t know! That’s why I have your wife shopping with me. Ask her,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Tell my wife to pick something I look good in,” Addison said.

  “No way, I want you clothed fully.”

  “Nice, Tam.”

  Tamara started through the doorway, stopped, and grinned evilly at Addison.

  “What?” Addison asked.

  Tamara pointed to Addison’s waist. “Your fly is still down.” Tamara wiggled her eyebrows and walked away.

  “Great. I am never gonna live this one down.”

  Tamara poked her head back in. “Thanks for the confirmation!” she called into the office. “Hope Emma’s not falling out of her blouse when I find her,” she waved and left again.

  “She’s not wearing a blouse!” Addison called after Tamara. She heard Tamara laughing as she headed down the hallway. Classic, Blake. Classic.

  ***

  Addison snuck into the bedroom as quietly as she could manage. She stopped at the foot of the bed and watched Emma sleeping for a moment. What she had expected to be a long afternoon had turned into a longer evening. Addison had been determined to surprise Emma and make it home early for their last night together alone. As usual, Emma’s prediction had been correct; Addison was rolling in during the wee hours of the morning. A few unexpected snags in the day had caused filming to run nearly two hours behind schedule. Addison had preparations to make for the following week; preparations that had increased significantly with Emma’s announcement that she would make an appearance on the new show. Addison was still reeling from Emma’s decision. She had been juggling and rearranging schedules for several hours, grumbling along the way. A call from Tamara had abruptly changed Addison’s attitude. Looking at Emma, she began to replay the conversation with her best friend hours ago:

  “What’s wrong with you? You sound like somebody canceled your show. It hasn’t even premiered yet,” Tamara observed.

  “Just tired.”

  “Yeah, well, when I told you that you were on Best Bitch duty I didn’t think you would take it so literally.”

  Addison sighed. “I’m sorry, Tam. I just want to go home, and I have no idea when I’m going to be able to do that.”

  “The price of success,” Tamara said. “Hey, I should be yelling at you. Christie didn’t get home until ten; what the hell did you have her doing?”

  “Sorry about that. A couple of loose ends that needed tightening from what I understand. To tell you the truth, I’ve been stuck in my office most of the day.”

  “I heard. You must be excited that Emma’s going to be on the show.”

  “Actually, I’m not sure it’s hit me yet.”

  “Surprised you, huh?”

  “Understatement,” Addison replied.

  “Yeah, Emma’s one of those people who takes her own advice.”

  “I am not sure I want to know what you are talking about,” Addison chuckled.

  “Nothing really. When I was with her the other day, she gave me a piece of advice about marriage is all.”

  “Dare I ask?” Addison wondered.

  “She said not to stop taking Christie by surprise and chances were Christie would never stop surprising me—something like that.”

  Addison smiled. She looked at the picture of Emma and the girls on her desk and shook her head affectionately. “Is that right?” she asked.

  “I think that’s the gist of it, yeah.”

  “You didn’t call me to recap Em’s marital advice. What’s up?”

  “I kind of hoped maybe you could help me write my vows.”

  “Me?”

  “What do you mean—you? Of course, you. You’re like the most romantic person I know,” Tamara said.

  “That’s your politically correct way of calling me a pathetic sap.”

  “Nah, I’m serious, Addy. I could use the help. I know what I want to say, but I don’t want it to come out in Tamaraese.”

  Addison laughed. “Tamaraese?”

  “You know what I mean! Whenever I try to say what I feel it comes out all jumbled. Come on, you of all people know that.”

  “I’ll be happy to help you, Tam, but if it matters at all, I think you should just speak from your heart—Tamaraese and all.”

  “Addy, I’m serious here.”

  “So am I. Christie loves you because you are you.”

  “You sound like Emma.”

  “You talked to Emma about this?”

  “She said to just be myself, but if it had me this worried that I should talk to you.”

  Addison tried not to laugh. She was confident that Emma expected her to give Tamara the same advice. “I’ll make you a deal.”

  “I don’t like the way this sounds.”

  “Well, you were worried about letting Emma know that she’s an important part of your day.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Everything,” Addison replied. “You worry so much about the words you are using tha
t you lose sight of what really matters, Tam.”

  “Addison, for someone who is considered a prolific writer you are not making any sense.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  “No! Jesus. Your wedding was like a Hallmark card. I can’t do that. I’ll open my mouth, and somehow it’ll end up sounding like Penthouse Letters.”

  Addison laughed.

  “It’s not funny!”

  “I’m sorry, Tam,” Addison apologized. “I was going to suggest that you sit down and write to Emma.”

  “Why would I write my vows to your wife?”

  “Not your vows! And, not a Penthouse letter either.”

  Tamara chuckled. “Why? Afraid I’d give her some ideas that you…”

  “Trust me, Tam, Emma has enough ideas of her own to keep me busy forever.”

  “OOO! Mrs. Brady is really Stifler’s mom!”

  “Oh my God, Tam! Do you want my help or not?”

  “Depends. What kind of ideas are we…”

  “Tamara!”

  “You are so easy, Addy. Okay. Yes, I want your help.”

  “The point is that you worry so much about saying the wrong thing that you trip yourself up. Just say what you feel. Practice on Emma.”

  “You mean like a stand-in?”

  “No. Was it not you in my office this afternoon worried that Emma would feel left out and asking me how to let her know how you felt?”

  “So?”

  “Good God, Tam. You had almost a 4.0 GPA in college. How can you be so dense?”

  “Hey!”

  “I mean that maybe you should try writing a note to Emma. Maybe it’ll help you get comfortable expressing what you feel. Maybe it’ll give you the confidence to write your vows. If you still want my help, I will be here.”

  “I don’t know, Addy. Emma is used to your flowery prose. I will probably sound like…”

  “As long as it’s not Penthouse Letters, I think you will be fine. You’ll sound like Tamara, not me. That is exactly who you should sound like.”

  Tamara groaned.

  “Just try.”

  “You promise, you will bail me out if I need it.”

  “I’ve got a fund set aside for emergencies,” Addison quipped. “You know I am here, Tam. Just trust me on this one.”

  “Easy for you; you’re a writer.”

  “Not always easy for me,” Addison said. “You know that’s why I wrote Off Screen in the first place; to say what I needed to say somehow to Em.”

  “Yeah, see what I mean? You fall in love and write her a hit television show. I’m lucky I can string two sentences together.”

  “Not true. You can form an entire coherent paragraph. I’ve heard you.”

  “Funny.”

  “Listen, I know you’re nervous. I get it. I was terrified to write my vows,” Addison confessed.

  “You? Why?”

  “Because I wanted it to be perfect. When I snuck into her room the night before the wedding, Emma was so nervous about her vows; it made me start thinking.”

  “About?”

  “Well, we’d spoken our vows a million times already in a million different ways. The thing is, Tam; we’ve spoken them again and again since that day. Stop worrying so much about the words and concentrate on the reason you are speaking them at all.”

  Tamara remained silent for a minute. “If this goes awry, you are writing my vows for me,” she deadpanned.

  Addison sighed. Tamara was genuinely worried; she could hear it. “Tam?”

  “Fine. I’ll do it. You just remember to keep that emergency fund of yours handy.”

  “Deal.”

  Addison smiled as she recalled Tamara’s worries. If only Tamara knew how much Addison had worried about the same thing and still did most days. Writing was the way Addison let go of her fears, her dreams, and confronted her insecurities. Sometimes finding the courage to speak her truth challenged Addison, even now. Emma had a unique way of drawing the truth out of Addison, and she possessed a confidence in expressing her emotions that Addison admired. Some of that Addison understood was the product of Emma’s upbringing. Emma had been encouraged to express herself and in most cases, and those expressions had received affirmation. Addison had enjoyed that in her childhood, but after her mother’s death, she’d found expressing herself verbally more challenging. Her father had closed off from her emotionally and that had left Addison feeling more vulnerable than ever before. Tamara faced a similar situation with her mother.

  Tamara had confronted resistance regarding her career, her sexuality, her friends, even her hobbies. Most of it had begun after Tamara came out to her parents. Her father and her extended family had embraced her, but the tension with her mother had carved a divide between them all; one that Tamara could never seem to bridge. It left Tamara and Addison with each other as confidants until Emma came along. That had led Tamara to meet Christie, and suddenly everything had changed for them both. Addison imagined that Christie possessed similar traits to Emma. Christie was effusive. That could be intimidating to a person like Tamara, even if it was the attribute most attractive in a partner. Understanding how that could feel is what had prompted Addison to suggest Tamara share her feelings with Emma. A letter to Emma would be a challenge; not intimating her feelings, but exposing how much Emma had come to mean to Tamara. For Tamara to tell Emma directly that Emma was one of the most important people in her life would force Tamara to take a risk. Of course, there was no tangible risk, only a vacant fear of rejection. Emma adored Tamara. Writing a simple letter would not be an easy task. It would be a stepping stone for Addison’s best friend. She hoped it would help Tamara begin to let go of some of her fears.

  Addison crept toward the bed. King was curled up beside Emma in a ball. How a husky could fold himself into a neat little package the size of a Chihuahua perplexed and amused Addison. The dog typically slept in Vicki’s room or in front of Hannah’s crib. As the week wore on, King had taken to using Emma as a pillow.

  Addison started to shed her clothes and chuckled. “Enjoy your last minutes of comfort,” she whispered to the dog. King looked up at her and yawned. “Nice try, pup. That’s my spot,” she told him. She tried to nudge him to move, and he flopped his head back down. “King,” Addison gently warned the husky. “Come on; Mommy is tired.” Addison prodded him again, and he groaned. “King…”

  Emma began to laugh. She turned over and jostled the form beside her. “Let Mommy in, buddy,” she told him. He whined a complaint, but followed Emma’s command and flopped down at her feet.

  Addison crawled into the bed beside Emma. “How come he never listens to me?”

  “Maybe because he expects you to slip him some incentive.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Emma giggled. “It means those treats you keep in your pocket are not your best-kept secret.”

  “Hey, it works.”

  “Uh-huh, until you come up empty,” Emma pointed out. “I hope you don’t use that same tactic with the kids,” she joked.

  “Ha-ha. It works with you,” Addison teased.

  “You have treats in your pocket for me?” Emma asked playfully.

  “Not in my pocket.”

  Emma laughed. “You are too much sometimes.”

  “How was your evening?” Addison asked, pulling Emma into her arms.

  “Good. Tamara is freaking out,” she said.

  “You don’t say?”

  “Called you, huh?”

  “She did.”

  “Are you going to help her?”

  “If she needs it; which she doesn’t,” Addison replied.

  Emma nodded against Addison’s chest and snuggled closer. “I told her the same thing. How about you? How was your night?”

  “Long.”

  “I’m sorry. I know some of that is because of me.”

  “No,” Addison put the thought to rest. “I can’t wait to see that episode. Sandra was over the moon after you left. She misses working with y
ou.”

  Emma sighed.

  “Regretting your decision?”

  “Which one?” Emma asked.

  “To do the episode.”

  “Not at all,” Emma said.

  “What then?” Addison asked.

  Emma propped herself up and strained to see Addison in the faint light. “I do miss it.”

  “Acting, you mean?” Addison asked. Emma nodded. “Rethinking the hiatus?”

  “No,” Emma said flatly. “I’d miss the kids more.”

  Addison smiled. “But?”

  “No buts. Maybe an and.”

  “And?”

  “Addy…”

  Addison kissed Emma’s head. She instinctively knew what Emma wanted to tell her. “You want one last go round,” she guessed.

  “I do. What about you?”

  “Three’s company they say. I’m assuming you want to do this sooner than later,” Addison surmised.

  “I do. Partly because I do miss it,” Emma explained. “I’ve always wanted three kids.”

  “Yes, I know,” Addison said.

  “Are you still okay with that?”

  “Em, I am totally okay with it. You know that. I just didn’t think you’d want to try again so soon.”

  Emma sighed again. “Addy, if I wait until they are all old enough to be in school at least part-time, that is five more years. I’ll be forty-one.”

  “I see where this is going.”

  “I’m just being realistic. Five more years out of the game will make it harder for me. You know that.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not,” Addison said. “Maybe you should consider not getting out so completely.”

  “We’ve had this discussion.”

  “Yes, we have. So? Don’t take on a major project,” Addison said. “Take a few small roles. I can handle the kids for a week or two, you know? And, you know as well as I do that your parents are going to expect a yearly visit now.”

  “We’ll see,” Emma said.

  “You know, I had planned to sneak in here and make love to you,” Addison told Emma.

  “Would you be disappointed if I told you I really would like to just lie here with you?”

  “Not at all,” Addison said. “Besides, I think we’ll need the rest for tomorrow.”