Casting Call (Off Screen Book 5)

by J. A. Armstrong

  CASTING CALL

  OFF SCREEN episode five

  J.A. Armstrong

  Text © Copyright 2015 J.A. Armstrong Books

  All Rights Reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced without permission.

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter One

  “Addison seems to be having a good time,” Sherry Bronson commented to her daughter.

  “Addy could have a good time anywhere,” Emma said. She looked out at her wife who was chasing after her three-year-old nephew, Evan and his five-year-old brother, Andrew. Emma laughed as Addison fell on the ground dramatically.

  “She missed her calling,” Sherry laughed along with her daughter.

  “What do you mean?”

  “She should either have been an actor or run a daycare,” Sherry commented. “They’ll be passed out early tonight.”

  Emma smiled. So far, she and Addison had enjoyed their spring respite. Neither Addison nor Emma had any significant projects this year while on hiatus from filming Off Screen. It was the first time in their relationship that they had a couple of months to enjoy a significant amount of downtime together. Emma had been away for a few days twice, but none of her commitments required any long separation or distant travel. Addison still had responsibilities and meetings that she occasionally needed to attend. Her days were typically short. They had agreed to spend a week at Emma’s parents’ home in Kansas before filming would resume on the television show. Addison loved visiting Emma’s family. Emma understood that it filled a void for her wife.

  Addison had been extremely close to her mother. Her father was a different story altogether. He hadn’t disowned Addison, but he had made it crystal clear that he did not approve of her choices in life. Those choices included where she lived, her career, and her marriage to Emma. Rather than suffer through the pain that his rejection caused her, Addison made a point to keep her distance. She still felt the need to call him every month or so to check in. After each call, Emma would note that Addison would become quiet for a few days. Being in Kansas with Emma’s family always brightened Addison’s spirits. Sherry and Tom Bronson had not only accepted Emma and Addison’s relationship, they had embraced Addison as if she were their own daughter. Emma’s brothers were no different. Her brother Jackson and his wife Janine adored Addison. Her nephews Andrew and Evan thought Addison had hung the moon.

  Sherry watched Emma as Emma continued to watch the pathetic attempt at a football game that was unfolding in the yard. Emma’s eyes twinkled. “Emmie?” Sherry called to her daughter.

  “Hum?”

  “What is going on in your head?” her mother asked.

  Emma shook her head but kept smiling. “I just love seeing her so happy. It’s hard for her sometimes.”

  “What is?”

  “Her father. Missing her mother,” Emma said with a sigh. She turned to her mother. “You know Addy. She puts on a good show. It hurts her—far more than she is willing to admit.”

  “I can imagine that it would,” Sherry said.

  “I don’t understand it at all. I’ve tried,” Emma confessed.

  “I can’t either,” Sherry admitted. “Some people, Emma—they just cannot accept anything that is out of their comfort zone. That is not about Addison or you. You do know that?”

  “I know. I know I would never treat our children that way. No matter what they could ever say or do, I would never.”

  Sherry nodded. “No, you wouldn’t. You also will not always agree with them. You will have moments when you want to throttle them—trust me. Sometimes, because you fear they are headed down a painful path and sometimes because you can just can’t understand where they are coming from, even when you try. One of the hardest parts of being a parent in learning that your kids are not you.”

  Emma looked at her mother. “I know they won’t be me.”

  “Mm-hm. You know they won’t have your experiences. Sometimes, Emma, we all forget that our kids only come through us. They look like us, talk like us, even think like us, but they are not us.”

  “Speaking from experience?” Emma laughed.

  “I am.”

  “Thanks for the tip.”

  “Emma?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Are you and Addison talking about a family of your own?” Sherry asked.

  “Not actively, no.”

  “What does that mean?” Sherry wondered.

  “It means that we haven’t discussed when. Someday.”

  Sherry nodded and followed her daughter’s gaze toward Addison. “When do you two go back to work?”

  “Two more weeks,” Emma sighed.

  “You don’t sound particularly excited,” Sherry observed.

  “Actually, I am. Addison and Jeff developed the outline of a fabulous season. The best yet, in my opinion.”

  “So?”

  “What?” Emma asked.

  “Why the lack of enthusiasm?”

  “It’s not that. It just gets hectic. I think I had forgotten what it was like to slow down, at least for any length of time,” Emma explained. Sherry nodded.

  “Hey!” Addison called as she ran over with Evan on her back and Andrew on her heels.

  Emma shook her head and laughed. “You are a mess,” she said. Addison had grass in her hair, dirt on her face, pieces of, Emma wasn’t sure what, sticking to her shirt. “You need a bath more than the boys.”

  Addison put Evan down and shrugged. “That’s football.”

  “Is that what you call what you were doing?” Emma asked playfully.

  “I scored a touchdown!” Andrew exclaimed.

  “Did you?” Sherry asked. Andrew nodded. “Well then, how about some ice cream to celebrate?” she suggested. Andrew high-fived his little brother. “Uh-huh. Off to the picnic table. Ice cream, and then I will hose you two off,” Sherry chuckled.

  “I don’t get ice cream?” Addison pretended to be hurt. Emma shook her head and smiled affectionately.

  “Oh, you can have ice cream,” Sherry said. Addison smiled. “But, I am not stripping you down to hose you off. That’s her job,” she pointed to Emma.

  “Mom!”

  Addison laughed. “Works for me,” she said.

  “I figured it would,” Sherry said as she headed into the house.

  “You are impossible,” Emma said. “Why do you encourage her?”

  “Your mom?” Addison asked.

  “Yes. You know she loves to torture me.”

  Addison smiled broadly. “I like to torture you too,” she said taking a step toward Emma.

  “Oh, no! You are filthy!” Addison moved closer slowly. “Addy!” Addison grabbed Emma and pulled her into her arms. “Addy! Is that hay in your hair?”

  “Can’t be. I only roll in the hay when I am with my wife.”

  Emma pursed her lips and then laughed. “You are impossible.”

  Addison kissed Emma gently. “You know, now you are dirty too.”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  “Guess we can hose off together.”

  Emma laughed harder. “Was that your secret plan?”

  “Phase one, anyway.”

  “Ice cream!” Sherry called.

  “Come on!” Addison grabbed Emma’s hand.

  “You are worse than those kids,” she said. God help me.

  ***

  Addison walked into the house after a short meeting with Jeff about the filming schedule. She was excited about the new season, m
ore excited than she had ever been. This season was going to present the cast with challenges. It was also sure to challenge viewers. Addison and Jeff had been reworking some of the earlier episodes in the season to work up to a dramatic altercation between the characters of Genevieve and Dominick. She was not only pleased with the work they had done, she was proud of it. It was her best writing to date and she knew it. She was confident that Emma was going to sink her teeth into this season. Jeff had suggested that they might just be looking at an unprecedented award year for their cast. That delighted Addison. She was less concerned about any accolades for herself. Watching Emma’s career soar, watching Emma work, and seeing her receive the praise that Addison felt she deserved, made Addison happier than any acclaim she had ever received for herself.

  Addison was energized. One thing puzzled her. Emma did not seem as enthusiastic. They had been home from Kansas for over a week. Addison had thought that Emma would be getting pumped up to begin filming. That was normally what happened. Then again, Emma had always worked in the off time. This year had been different. At first, Addison chalked up Emma’s nonchalant attitude to being relaxed. She wasn’t worried about Emma’s performance once filming began. She couldn’t help but be curious about what was driving the change in Emma’s usual attitude. Emma was typically forthright about something that was bothering her, and always honest about any concerns she had over the show. It puzzled Addison. She hadn’t yet determined how to broach the subject.

  “Hey! Cooling off or working on a tan?” Addison asked Emma, who was floating on a pool lounge chair.

  “Wow. You’re back already,” Emma responded.

  “Yeah. Not a long meeting at all. Jeff and I just seem to be in sync. Weird, huh?”

  Emma smiled. “No.” She was happy for Addison. Addison was more excited about the show than she had been when it was initially picked up. Emma felt a tremendous sense of pride in Addison’s accomplishments, and she was looking forward to the new season as an actor. She’d read some of the early re-writes. There were only a few episodes still not written. Those were assigned to other writers. And, the last three episodes of the season had yet to be determined. Emma was curious about those. In fact, they had been consuming her thoughts of late.

  Addison noted the thoughtful expression on Emma’s face. Something was clearly on Emma’s mind. “You want to go out to dinner tonight? Celebrate the end of our vacation” she asked.

  “I thought maybe I could cook us dinner and then we could enjoy some wine poolside.”

  “Sure,” Addison agreed. “We could play trivia,” she said with a grin. Trivia nights tended to heat up in the Blake household. That thought made Addison more than happy to stay home.

  Emma offered Addison a weak smile. “Actually, I was kind of hoping we could,” she took a deep breath, “talk.”

  Addison swallowed hard. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, Addy. Everything is okay. Maybe I just would like to be home with my wife before we have to share our time with everyone under the sun next week,” Emma said honestly.

  “You never have to convince me to spend time with you,” Addison answered. “Do you care if I take a swim before we start the evening festivities?”

  “Not at all,” Emma said.

  “Will I require any special attire?” Addison flirted.

  “Play your cards right and you won’t require any attire at all later,” Emma returned.

  “Sounds like my kind of evening,” Addison said as she headed back into the house. What exactly is on your mind, Em?

  ***

  Addison regarded Emma across the small table that sat beside the pool. They had enjoyed a quiet dinner. Quiet was the perfect adjective, Addison thought. It wasn’t uncommon for Addison and Emma to spend an evening quietly together. Many nights, Addison would sit writing on her laptop while Emma curled up beside her with a book. Some nights, Emma would lie in Addison’s lap while they watched old movies. Still others, they would sit by the poolside and talk. Talk was the key element in the equation that was missing. Emma had said she wanted to talk. So far, their evening consisted of little conversation. At least, little conversation had occurred that was out of the ordinary. Addison could not imagine what was on Emma’s mind that she would feel reluctant to bring up the subject. Nearly three years together was more than enough time for Addison to detect apprehension in the woman across from her. She watched Emma carefully for a few more minutes as Emma sipped her wine and stared into her glass. With a sigh, Addison decided it was time to break the tension.

  “Em?”

  “Yeah?”

  Addison smiled. “Did I shrink one of your favorite blouses again or something?”

  “What?” Emma asked.

  “Well, you said you wanted to talk, but you’ve barely said two full sentences to me all night. Last time that happened, I messed up the laundry.”

  Emma smiled. “You didn’t mess anything up.”

  “What’s going on with you? Is it the show?”

  Emma took a deep breath and held it for a moment before exhaling it slowly. “Kind of.”

  “Okay?”

  “I just…I’m curious about what you think you are going to do with Genevieve and Jack at the end of the season. How are you going to finish the season? Aren’t you worried that the scene where Dominick takes advantage of Genevieve will eclipse the end unless it is the finale?”

  Addison took a moment to process Emma’s questions. Emma’s character Genevieve was slated to have an altercation with her husband. The show needed a believable and dramatic storyline to pump it up. Genevieve was married to a famous actor whose star was beginning to dim. They had been friends for years. Dominick’s marriage proposal had come in the form of a business proposition. Dominick provided a believable cover for Genevieve, while Genevieve helped keep Dominick in the spotlight. In reality, Genevieve Bordeaux spent most of her nights with her lover, Jaqueline (Jack) Forrest. Jack was the love of her life. Life in the 1950s was not hospitable for a couple like Jack and Genevieve. Jack had initially resisted Genevieve’s faux marriage, but she and Dominick were friends. After some upheaval and a bit of distance, Jack accepted the arrangement albeit reluctantly. She trusted her lover and she trusted Dominick. It was an arrangement, not a marriage.

  Dominick’s career had begun to move from a dip to a full-fledged slide. He had hoped his marriage to the popular actress would reignite his star. It did not. This season on Off Screen, Dominick would begin a downward spiral into a depression made worse by a steady consumption of alcohol. His temper would flare on and off. Genevieve would try to reach out to him as a friend. In his depressed, intoxicated haze, he would overstep his bounds. He could not reclaim his fame. He could not seem to command the hearts of audiences. He would control his wife. The episode that Emma was referring to would contain one of the most emotional and unsettling scenes Emma had ever had to play. As the season was currently scheduled, there would be three episodes to deal with the aftermath of Dominick’s actions. Jeff had been inclined toward changing the season around and ending it with Genevieve going to Jack to tell her about Dominick’s abuse. Addison was not ready to take that route. She felt there might be other avenues to pursue in the aftermath.

  “Are you worried?” Addison wondered.

  “Not worried,” Emma said. She took a deep breath. “Addy…Do you think about us…Well, I mean about us having a family?”

  Addison shook her head slightly. “Honey? What is going on? What are you so afraid to talk to me about?”

  Emma looked at Addison. “I’m not afraid to talk to you. I guess I just don’t know exactly what to say.”

  “How about you just tell me what is on your mind?”

  Emma sighed again. “Addy, how long do you think Off Screen is likely to run?”

  “What do you mean? Are you worried about this season getting us canceled?” Addison asked. Emma shook her head. “Okay. Well, I don’t know. The show is doing well financially and critically. I can’
t imagine we don’t have at least a couple of seasons left in us. I don’t foresee an end right now. Could be two, three, maybe even four seasons the way Jeff and I are thinking,” Addison said. Emma nodded. “Is that a bad thing?”

  “No,” Emma said. “But, it does go to my original question.”

  “Which question?”

  “About family,” Emma said. Addison looked at her wife in confusion. Emma set out to explain her line of questioning. “Addy, that complicates the situation a bit.”

  “What situation?”

  “Four more seasons? What if it does last four more seasons?” Emma asked.

  “I know that I am supposed to be following this. I have to confess, I am at a loss here.”

  Emma nodded. “Being the star of a television show about a lesbian who is pretending not to be a lesbian, who is a movie star in the 1950s is not the exactly the most conducive thing to having babies.”

  Addison’s heart skipped several beats. “Em? Are you trying to tell me you want to have a baby?”

  Emma closed her eyes. “I do want to have children with you, Addy. You know that.”

  “Is there a but in here?”

  “No,” Emma said emphatically. “There is a reality. What if the show does go on for four more seasons? Honestly, Addy…I don’t think I want to wait that long.” Addison chuckled. “Is something about that funny?”

  Addison was taken aback by the hurt that colored Emma’s voice. She got up and moved to kneel in front of her wife. “Em…” Emma closed her eyes against an onslaught of tears. “Honey, look at me.”

  “It’s not funny, Addy.”

  “I know it’s not funny. Please, look at me,” Addison implored Emma. Emma complied reluctantly. “I had no idea you were thinking about this.”

  “I think about it all the time,” Emma said softly. “You don’t?”

  Addison smiled. “Of course, I do. I started laughing because it hadn’t occurred to me that you wanted to be the one to get pregnant.”

  Emma was stunned. “Addy, do you want to have a baby?”

  “With you, yes. And, I basically figured since I don’t have any close family…Well, I thought you’d want one of your brothers to be a donor…Plus, like you said there is your career. Mine isn’t an issue.”