“Bea,” she cooed, staring into the little face. She studied the baby’s nose, so tiny it was hard to understand how she could possibly breathe. “Will you open your eyes for your aunt Dana?” she asked, touching the newborn’s smooth cheek.
The baby’s head turned toward her breast, her little bow lips opening, and Dana was awed. This tiny perfect creature was born less than twenty-four hours ago, yet knew how to turn toward nourishment.
“Did you see that?” she said to the group.
“That’s the rooting reflex, Aunt Dana,” Wesley explained.
Dana turned to Brandon and Chelsea, surprised. “Have you enrolled him in medical school or something?”
“What do you mean?” Wesley asked.
She looked into the sweet face of this child whose whole life had just shifted. “I mean that you’re going to be a terrific big brother,” she said. “With lots to teach your sister.”
Soon, it became clear the baby was hungry, and Dana transferred her to Chelsea’s arms. As she was happily suckling, Kenneth and Jennifer arrived. Dana knew that her mom was on her way from Florida, and things could get awkward fast. Rhonda Barry Spector never enjoyed being in her ex-husband’s presence. And since it would be her first time meeting Jennifer, it would be even more uncomfortable. But for now, the atmosphere was joyous.
* * *
A few months later, Dana was in her dressing room when Megan came by with some news. A producer was creating a new panel talk show, like The View, but more geared toward culture and entertainment than current events. It would be taped in New York.
“He wants to talk to you,” Megan said.
“Me?”
“They’re looking for people to put on the panel, and they’ve had their eye on you.”
Dana lit up. She didn’t even know if she was interested, but the very idea of being courted like this made her light-headed. “Tell me more,” she said.
Megan went on to explain what she knew about the format, and how Dana would fit in. She said that the timing could be perfect, because it was in the early planning stages and might not get off the ground until Dana’s Shopping Channel contract was up.
“And even if it happens faster,” she said, “they might be willing to buy out your contract. I’m telling you, Dana—they really like you!”
“I’m reeling,” she said. “I never expected this. I mean—”
“Before you get ahead of yourself,” Megan interrupted, “there’s one thing you should know. The contract will be even more airtight than the one you have now. Acting would be off the table.”
“No acting?” Dana said, already trying to imagine how she would be able to sneak off to Sweat City once her face was that famous.
“It’s a serious commitment,” Megan explained.
Dana felt short of breath. “I’m going to have to think about this.”
That night, she did her thinking out loud as she and Ari walked uptown, with Ham straining at the leash to greet every animal and human they passed. She started by relaying everything Megan had said. Ari leaned his head toward her, listening. She gesticulated madly as she went on and on about the opportunity, insisting it would be fun and exciting, a great path forward. Before she got to the part about a contract that would lock her out of acting opportunities, Ari gave a little tug at Ham’s leash and stopped. There was concern on his face.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Babe, if this is what you want to do, I’m behind you, but...” He looked down the block, as if the words he wanted were somewhere west of Manhattan, perhaps floating over the Hudson River.
“But what?” she pressed.
He let out a breath. “It sounds like you’re trying to talk yourself into it.”
Dana checked an impulse to be defensive and insist that she might never get an opportunity like this again. “I am,” she admitted.
“So what’s the downside?”
She sighed. “It would mean giving up my acting career. At least for now.”
“Is that really what you want to do?”
Of course not, she thought. But how could she say no to the money, the fame, the excitement, the lifestyle? She realized, then, that somewhere deep inside she had already imagined the high of telling her father and getting his full approval at last.
And that, she knew, was not the reason to give up her dreams.
You’re an actor, she told herself. An actor. The Shopping Channel gig was meant as a stop on that journey, not a whole new trip.
Dana took the leash from Ari, and Ham gave a little skip, anticipating some new excitement, even though he had no idea where they would end up.
She knew just how he felt.
* * *
Acknowledgments
Like many novelists, I have to rely on the kindness of strangers willing to get on the phone and answer my oddball questions. In researching this book, I was fortunate enough to connect with Newark homicide detective Jerry Simons—a real-life Ari Marks—who gently and generously filled in the large gaps in my understanding of murder investigations. Jerry was thoughtful, patient and insightful. I later found out how sick he was at the time of our chats, and sadly, Jerry died shortly thereafter. I hope his family knows how very grateful I am for his input. This book would not have been possible without his help. May his memory be a blessing.
I was also lucky enough to connect with other professionals who were able to round out my limited knowledge of law and order, including Mike Espinoza and Anitra Wheeler.
My good fortune also extends to the incredible team at MIRA. My brilliant editor, Kathy Sagan, offered the guidance I needed to usher Dana through her adventures. Thanks, too, to Nicole Brebner, Margaret Marbury, Rachel Bressler, Samantha McVeigh, Ashley MacDonald, Natasha Shaikh, Lucille Miranda and the rest of the gang.
Much love and thanks to my talented writer friends and beta readers for their support and input, which was more important than ever during the trying times of Covid quarantine. Saralee Rosenberg, Susan Henderson, Alix Strauss, Myfanwy Collins and Susan DiPlacido mean the world to me and then some. And a big thanks to the writer friends who never stop inspiring me, including Robin Slick, Amy Ferris, Debbi Honorof, Carol Hoenig, Peggy Zieran, Jordan Rosenfeld, Lydia Fazio Theys, Debbie Markowitz, Mary Ellen Walsh, Dina Santorelli, Greg Correll, David Toussaint, Debbie Ann Ice, Melanie Benjamin, Elinor Lipman, Susan Isaacs, Tami Hoag, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Jonathan Vatner, Candace Bushnell and Caroline Leavitt.
To my dear friends Wendy Baila DeAngelis and Stephen DeAngelis, and their daughter Alexandra, thank you for the daily love and guidance!
To the hosts, staff and management at HSN, QVC and other real-life shopping channels, my humblest thanks for the inspiration and apologies for the creative license I took with your business models. I hope you can accept this fictional world as homage to the work you do so very well.
Love and gratitude to my agent, Annelise Robey. I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m also grateful to the whole team at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, including Andrea Cirillo. I’m so lucky to have you.
As always, thanks to my kids—Max, Ethan and Rook—for keeping me laughing and living in this actual century. And most of all, thanks to Mike, for everything.
ISBN-13: 9781488055508
The Rooftop Party
Copyright © 2021 by Ellen Meister
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books
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