Casting Call (Off Screen Book 5)

by J. A. Armstrong

  “Yeah.”

  “Emma…How long has this been going on?” Sherry asked.

  “I don’t know. A couple of days, why?”

  Sherry sat down across from Emma and tried not to laugh. “Just queasy?”

  “And, tired. I’m sure it’s just that I finally have some downtime,” Emma sighed. Sherry could no longer help herself and laughed. “What’s so funny?” Emma asked.

  “Emma…Don’t you think that maybe it might be something else?”

  “You mean like the flu?”

  Sherry shook her head. “No. I mean like maybe you are pregnant.”

  Emma narrowed her gaze at her mother. “No…I don’t think so.”

  “Why is that?”

  “We took the test. It was negative.”

  “Uh-huh. When was that?” Sherry asked.

  “About a month ago now. Next month we will try again,” Emma said.

  “About a month ago? Emma…”

  “Mom, I can’t be.”

  “Have you had…”

  “Yes. Well, sort of,” Emma said with a frown.

  “You sort of had your period?” Sherry chuckled. “Let me guess, it seemed like it was starting and it disappeared.”

  “Yeah. So weird. How did you know?” Emma wondered. Sherry got up and retrieved the house phone. “What are you doing?” Emma asked.

  “I’m assuming this test was a stick in a box,” Sherry answered.

  “Yeah…”

  “Uh-huh. I’m calling Dr. Madison to see if she can fit you in this morning for a real test.”

  “Mom, I’m not pregnant.”

  “Emma, I will bet you your first year of diapers that you are,” Sherry laughed.

  “It’s not possible.”

  “Oh yes, I think it is. You wanted to know how I knew? I spotted with all three of you the first month. Jackson for the first three. I’ll bet you those diapers and dinner at Hanson’s tonight that you have morning sickness.”

  Emma’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God.”

  Sherry smiled and made the call to her doctor. She turned back and found Emma frowning. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want to get my hopes up,” Emma confessed.

  Sherry nodded. “I know. I could be wrong,” she admitted. “That’s why we are leaving here in an hour,” she said. Emma sighed. “I could be,” Sherry said, “but, I’m not,” she laughed.

  Emma chuckled. “Well, if you are right you will be paying a small fortune to Pampers.”

  “Happily,” Sherry said.

  ***

  “Excuse me?” Addison barked into the phone.

  “Don’t kill the messenger,” Jeff said.

  “I’m sorry. He’s just such a…”

  “Asshole?” Jeff guessed.

  “That works too,” Addison said. “I’m sorry he put you on the spot.”

  “No big deal. But, Addison we need to give him something. There is no way he is going to go for killing off Dominick. Trust me. You won’t win that battle,” Jeff told Addison.

  “It’s okay. I have a different story line in mind. You are just going to have to trust me on this. Push him. It will open up a whole new world. No one dies.”

  “Why the cryptic?” Jeff asked.

  Addison sighed. “It’s better if it waits until I am back. And, it’s better if Bellson finds out like everyone else when we get ready to do the read through. Just trust me.”

  Jeff groaned. “Okay, Addison. I will run interference as long as I can.”

  “Trust me.”

  “I’m not the issue,” Jeff reminded her.

  “It will be unexpected,” Addison promised. “No matter what,” she said quietly.

  “What? I missed that last part,” Jeff said.

  “Nothing. Just do what you can. Tell him that I am confident it will surprise the viewer and it will definitely create a buzz.”

  “Okay. You know we are getting short on time, Addison.”

  “I know. I have my reasons, Jeff.”

  “You always do,” Jeff chuckled. “I’ll see you next week. Tell Emma I said hello. How is Tom doing?”

  “He’s good. Still gets a bit tired, but I think part of that is Sherry and Emma’s constant doting,” Addison laughed. “Actually, Em’s been a little off the last few days.”

  “It’s probably all finally catching up to her,” Jeff said. “That had to have taken a lot out of her…worrying about her dad. And, Addison, the last few days on set here were brutal. She didn’t even get to catch her breath.”

  “Yeah, I know. That’s why I am glad we are here for another four days. She can use the vacation—from everything,” Addison said. “Too much pressure.”

  “Well, tell her I owe her a glass of wine when you get back for running her ragged that last week.”

  “I will,” Addison promised. “Thanks, Jeff.”

  “It’s what I do,” he said with a sigh. “Talk to you later.”

  Addison hung up the call and shook her head in frustration. She laid back on the bed in Emma’s old room and stretched. She had enjoyed her day with Emma’s father. The pair had spent a few hours fishing, although if Addison were, to be honest, she had done far more spectating. Fishing was not her passion. It was Tom’s and she was more than happy to escape with her father-in-law for a few hours, even if it was a chilly early September morning. She closed her eyes and replayed their conversation.

  “Thanks for springing me,” Tom said. “I know it’s cold.”

  “My pleasure—really,” Addison told him. It was cold. Addison knew they were not here expecting to catch any fish. They both needed an escape.

  “How are you doing, Addy?” Tom asked with genuine curiosity.

  “Good. Why?”

  “Work is good?” he asked as he cast out his line.

  “Yeah. It’s work,” Addison chuckled. “I guess I’ve sort of had other things on my mind.”

  “I imagine that’s true. How is your father?” he asked without removing his focus from his fishing line.

  Addison considered her response for a moment. “Do you mean, how is he physically? Or, do you mean how is he with me?”

  “Either.”

  “The same. He’s the same physically and mentally and the same with me as he has been now for going on thirteen years,” Addison said.

  “Can’t be easy for you,” he said.

  “I don’t know. I’m used to it.”

  Tom finally turned to his daughter-in-law. “Addy, I don’t think any of us gets used to our parents’ judgment,” he told her. Addison’s curiosity was evident. Tom handed her his pole and laughed. “I already know you don’t want to bait the hook,” he laughed. He picked up the second pool and set about baiting the hook while he continued. “My father was an interesting man,” he said. “He had definite ideas about who we were supposed to be. Drilled it into our heads. Church on Sunday. Respect your elders. God fearing, gun loving, rod and staff kind of raising. That was his style. Well up until after I married Sherry,” he said.

  Addison listened attentively. Something told her that this was a conversation that neither of them ever expected to have. It also seemed apparent that Tom had something he needed to say. Addison felt an odd sense that she needed to hear it.

  “He wasn’t a bad man. He wasn’t exactly the gentlest man I ever knew,” Tom said honestly. “I remember so many times promising myself I would not become him. My kids would have a different life than I did.”

  “They did,” Addison commented.

  “They did,” he agreed. “That was mostly because of Sherry,” he admitted.

  Addison looked over at the man and shook her head. “Emma adores you.”

  Tom smiled. “I know,” he said. He took a deep breath. “My mother was not Sherry,” he mused. “She deferred to my father in everything. You’ve met Sherry,” he laughed. “That was not my reality,”

  Addison laughed. Sherry Bronson was a character in her own right. Emma’s mother was beautiful. She
was intelligent and compassionate. She was also fiercely opinionated and animated. Listening to Tom’s mild-mannered and thoughtful exposition, Addison realized how much of a blend of her parents Emma was. She had the fleeting wonder what that would mean for the children she and Emma hoped to have.

  Tom looked over at Addison and caught the whimsical expression on her face. “I think my father did the best he could,” Tom said. “I woke up one day and looked in the mirror and realized I was more like him than I ever wanted to be. I never hit my kids, but I didn’t hug them very often either,” he said.

  Addison offered her father-in-law a sympathetic smile. “My father was different when my mother was alive,” Addison said. “I’m not saying he would have made the cut for a new Brady Brunch or anything,” she said with a smile. “But, he was present.”

  “I’m sorry, Addy,” Tom said. “Loss does funny things to people sometimes.”

  “Yeah, it does.”

  “My mother barely spoke to me after my father died,” he said. Addison was surprised. Emma had never mentioned that. “Oh,” Tom began, “it’s not something Emmie or the boys would have noticed. They were still young. Gran was their Gran,” he chuckled. “My mother was a warm person, Addy. I think, in some ways she feared my father. She loved him. I never realized how much until he was gone,” Tom said. “I didn’t understand it for a while. She would find reasons to leave the room when I was there. She’d coax the kids away or even Sherry.”

  Addison understood the feeling. “I know how that feels, well, not the kids but…”

  Tom nodded. “The thing is, when she got sick, I would walk into the room and she would think I was my father. I just chalked it up to the senility and cancer. Then that day I looked in the mirror, I saw him looking back–I understood,” he said. Addison was puzzled. “I reminded her of him too much,” he said. “I was the reminder of what she’d lost. She wasn’t Sherry. Sherry loves me, but she doesn’t depend on me for herself. Do you know what I mean?”

  “I think I do,” Addison said.

  “I remember I was sitting at the kitchen table later that morning and Jackson came in with Andrew. He was just a baby. I watched Sherry take hold of him like I had watched her with our kids so many times. I just never paid attention. There were bills and futures to plan,” he laughed. “I forgot they weren’t my futures to plan. I swore at that moment I was going to be me, not him, for the rest of my life. I just didn’t know who that was. It took me a while to remember that I was his son. That didn’t mean I had to be my father.”

  Addison sighed. “I understand—I think.”

  Addison felt peaceful lying in Emma’s old room as she recalled Tom’s words. It had never occurred to her that her father might see her mother when he looked at Addison. Addison loved her parents. She missed her mother every day. She longed for her father’s comfort, but she had come to doubt she would ever have that. Tom was telling her in his own way to let go now, not of her father, but of the ideal. Time passes quickly and life is unpredictable. Addison had become acquainted with that lesson early on in life. Now, she needed to embrace it. Let the past go. Look forward to the future, but live in the now. She was not her father. She was not even her mother. Addison mused silently that she wanted to look in the mirror and see pieces of them both, but she wanted to know she was looking at Addison. That was what her mother would have wanted. In his own way, that’s what Tom was telling her. She smiled when she sensed a presence in the doorway.

  “Did you have fun shopping with your mom?” Addison asked without opening her eyes. “And, did you bring me anything?”

  “You could say that,” Emma answered as she took a step into the room.

  Addison opened her eyes and saw Emma approaching with a wrapped box. “What is this?”

  Emma smiled. “First payment,” she said placing the box on the bed next to Addison. Addison looked at her quizzically. “Open it,” Emma directed Addison.

  Addison looked at Emma suspiciously. “Should I be afraid?”

  “Maybe,” Emma kept smiling. Addison pulled the yellow bow off and tore off the white and green paper. She stared at the contents for a moment and looked back at Emma in confusion. Emma raised an eyebrow. She was trying not to burst out laughing at the look of complete bewilderment on Addison’s face.

  “Was I whining a lot or something?” Addison asked. Emma shook her head. “What did I do?”

  “I told you it’s the first payment,” Emma said. “Mom bet me something this morning. That is her first payment.”

  “What kind of bet?” Addison was curious.

  Emma kissed Addison gently. “Addy, trust me when I tell you this will be the gift that keeps on giving.”

  Addison looked back at the box and then at Emma. “Pampers?” she asked. She looked back at the box and then slowly back at Emma. “Em?”

  Emma chuckled. “Guess we aren’t the greatest test takers.”

  “Are you telling me what I think you are telling me?”

  “If what you think I am telling you is that you will be changing diapers in about seven and a half months or so, then yes,” Emma said.

  “You’re pregnant?” Addison asked. Emma nodded. “But…you… I mean…Are you sure?”

  “Positive,” Emma answered. She watched the flustered expression on Addison’s face slowly give way to a familiar twinkle in Addison’s eyes. “Addy?” Addison leaned in and kissed Emma tenderly. “Are you okay?” Emma asked.

  Addison kissed Emma again and pulled back slowly. “I just…I can’t believe it. In a good way, I mean.”

  “I know.”

  “We’re really having a baby. I mean, you are…but…”

  Emma laughed. “We are,” she said. Addison reached for Emma and pulled her close. “You okay?” Emma asked. Addison did not answer. Emma pulled back and wiped the tears that were falling down Addison’s cheeks. “Why are you crying? Happy tears?”

  Addison smiled. “Of course, they are happy tears,” she promised. “I love you, Em.”

  “I love you too,” Emma said.

  “How did you even…”

  “Mom,” Emma answered. Addison shook her head in confusion. “I haven’t been feeling well the last couple of days on and off. I said something this morning and she put the pieces together. I told her it was impossible. We took the test. I had some…well, I just dismissed it. She bet me our first year of diapers that we were expecting.”

  “How did you find out?”

  “Oh, you know Mom. She pulled her usual strings. She and Angie Madison have been friends for years. Angie delivered Andrew and Evan. She worked me in, ran the blood tests. She knew as soon as she did an exam. Didn’t even need the test, but that was positive too,” Emma explained. Addison moved to pull Emma down on the bed with her and Emma laughed. “No can do. The second part of the bet was dinner at Hanson’s.” Addison groaned. “Come on, Momma, get it in gear,” Emma teased.

  Addison flashed Emma a smile. “Weird.”

  “What’s that?” Emma asked.

  “Mom. We’re going to be someone’s Moms.”

  “I guess we are.”

  “What do you think it will be?”

  Emma started laughing. “Addy, I just found out we were having a baby two hours ago.”

  “You’re not curious?”

  Emma kept laughing. “Of course, I am.”

  “Ha! See you did already think about it!”

  Emma rolled her eyes. “It’s going to be a long seven months,” she giggled as she left the bedroom with Addison following closely behind her.

  Chapter Six

  Addison slipped into bed and put her arm around Emma’s waist to pull her closer. They had enjoyed their evening with Emma’s parents celebrating their news. Addison was feeling on top pf the world. Emma had been quiet after dinner. That was followed by twenty minutes in the bathroom. Sherry explained that while the morning was, in fact, the most common time to feel the effects of morning sickness, different things could trigger it. It
would pass. Addison felt horrible for Emma and a bit helpless. Emma had emerged from her quick bout seeming back to herself and smiling genuinely.

  Addison kissed the back of Emma’s neck and whispered in her ear. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  Emma turned in Addison’s arms. “Better now,” she said with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. She let her hands fall to Addison’s breasts and gently began to explore them.

  “What are you doing?” Addison asked with a smirk. Emma arched an eyebrow as her fingers brushed over Addison’s nipples. “Oh, I see. Is this a good idea?” Addison asked. “I wouldn’t want to give you motion sickness,” Addison teased.

  “Mm. Funny lady,” Emma said. She took Addison’s face in her hands and kissed her slowly. “I think we are safe now,” Emma assured her wife.

  Addison’s hands glided over Emma’s back lovingly. “I hate that you are sick,” she said.

  Emma smiled at Addison. “I’m okay, Addy.”

  Addison kissed Emma softly. “You're incredible.”

  “Addy,” Emma brushed the hair from Addison’s eyes. “Make love to me.”

  Addison was happy to comply with the request. She kissed Emma again gently. Emma’s tongue softly danced with Addison’s and Addison lost her breath. There was no urgency in the kiss. Rather, it was a soothing caress. Addison fell into Emma completely. Their kiss was languid. Neither felt any inclination to cease the searching and silent communication that passed between them. Pure emotion eclipsed unbridled passion. This moment was not meant for lustful endeavors. It was a quiet moment steeped in an expression of acceptance and commitment. There were times that their lovemaking was urgent and unrestrained. At this moment, Addison felt desire mingle with gravity. So much had transpired in their lives in a short time. They had faced the fear of potential loss, and now, they looked forward to the reality of new life. Addison felt Emma against her. She felt Emma through her. Emma was as much a part of Addison as the air in her lungs. She pulled back slowly.

  Emma wiped the tears that had begun to fall from Addison’s eyes. “I know,” she said softly.

  Addison’s reply came in the form of tender kisses over Emma’s neck. She reached down to pull Emma’s shirt over her head. She looked down at Emma and inhaled a ragged breath. “God, you are beautiful,” she said in awe.