To Be or Not To Be: The Actors

by Cathrine Goldstein

  She nodded. “I think Streetcar would be a good choice because Stella and I have something in common.” She looked directly into Trevor’s eyes. “I skipped this month, Trevor.”

  “Skipped what?”

  Luis Jr.’s hand captured Trevor’s finger. Trevor shook it and the baby giggled.

  Jenna waited for Trevor to look at her again. When he did, she raised her eyebrows.

  He repeated his question. “Skipped what, babe?”

  She smiled again.

  Carefully shaking free of the baby, Trevor quickly stood up. Jenna clutched Luis Jr. and stood too.

  “What?” Trevor’s eyes grew wide, and he leaned over, running his hands through her hair until they came to rest, cupping her chin. “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never skipped before, so I took a test this morning and well…”

  “You’re pregnant?” Trevor tilted his head.

  “Seems so.”

  “Oh, Jen.”

  Trevor embraced her with Luis Jr. squeezed between them, and Luis Jr. giggled in response. Trevor pulled back, making sure he hadn’t squished the baby. Jenna moved Luis Jr. to her hip, and Trevor reached out to touch her belly. “Jen, I just can’t believe…”

  “Believe, Trevor. You’re going to be a daddy.”

  Trevor smiled at Jenna so completely, it warmed her core. He wrapped his arm around her from behind, his hand resting on her tummy, holding them both protectively. Luis Jr. grabbed a piece of Jenna’s hair and chewed it while they looked out over the mountains.

  “You hungry?” Trevor laughed.

  “No.” Jenna leaned into him. “Just happy. For all these years Trevor, you’ve wanted to make my every wish come true, and you have.”

  “And you’ve made mine come true as well, Jen. Marrying me and now this…this is more than I ever could have asked for. I can’t believe you’re having my baby.”

  She turned and stood on her tip-toes as he leaned down and kissed her.

  Smiling, Trevor broke away and placed his hand back onto her abdomen for a few moments longer. Then he whispered into Jenna’s ear. “Joy.”

  “What’s ‘Joy’?”

  “The baby’s name. What do you think?”

  “I love it…unless it’s a boy.”

  “It’s not. She’s going to be a little spitfire like her mom.”

  “Mom. I like that word.” Jenna looked up at Trevor. “Why Joy?”

  “Well, she’ll be my joy. Like her mom.” Trevor smiled.

  Jenna beamed at him.

  “And also to honor your dad—it’ll almost carry on your family name, Joyce, since you changed your name to Hughes.”

  Tears welled in Jenna’s eyes. Careful of Luis Jr., she threw her free arm around Trevor’s neck. He pulled her close. “You can’t hurt the baby, you know. She’s well protected in there.”

  “I know that.” Trevor held her at arms’ length. “I know she has the best mom in the world, a mom who was worried about her long before she ever came to be.”

  Jenna smiled at him as he stroked her face.

  His brow knitted. “But it’s my job to take care of you both. And I will.”

  “Oh, I know.”

  Jenna laughed as her handsome, successful, wonderful, protective husband wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. He kissed her so completely, there was no doubt, their life was absolutely meant to be.

  A word from the author…

  To Be or Not To Be: The Actors, has a special place in my heart, as I began my career in NYC, sometimes working in decrepit theatres just like Jenna’s theatre…in the basement of ancient churches, with no plumbing and puddles the size of ponds backstage.

  I am very excited to bring you To Be or Not To Be: The Actors, the next book in The New York Artists series, standalone novels about strong, artistic men, and the smart, unexpected women they fall for. If you like sexy, tortured rock stars, I hope you read and enjoy Book 1 in the series, Summer of Irreverence: The Rock Star!

  I am a bestselling author. I write “gritty romance,” and I’m also the author of The Letting and The Coupling, books 1 and 2 of The Letting series. I began my career as an award-winning playwright, and I am a proud member of RWA, PAN. I have my BA in English and my MA in Theatre.

  The loves in and of my life include: Luna Bars, decaf coffee, yoga, Hemingway, Bukowski, family and friends, and above all, my husband and my two young girls.

  To find out more about the New York Artists series, The Letting series, and what’s coming soon, please visit: www.CathrineGoldstein.com

  Thanks so much, and I hope you enjoy!

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