Stars Collide

by Janice Thompson

  “We’re going to pray about it and ask for a revelation from on high. Until it arrives, we just keep moving forward without saying a word, one way or the other.”

  “You mean we’re not going to tell her that her only granddaughter isn’t engaged?”

  “We’re not going to say anything at all, either way. We’ll just act like none of this ever happened. And if she brings it up, we’ll simply smile and change the subject. We won’t lie, but we won’t make a big deal out of it either. From everything I’ve read, it makes things worse to argue with a person who has memory-related issues. They can become belligerent.”

  “I know. You’re right. I’ve experienced that firsthand.” I plopped down on the sofa, completely overwhelmed. Suddenly I just wanted to go home and climb in bed. Pull the covers over my head. Did we really have plans to meet his parents for dinner tonight? How could I manage that . . . and all of this too?

  Only one way. With the Lord’s help. Squeezing my eyes shut, I appealed to him for mercy. And wisdom. And patience. “What are we going to tell the others?” I asked.

  “The cast and crew, you mean?” Scott raked his fingers through his hair. When I nodded, he shared his thoughts on the matter. “I say we tell Rex what’s going on with the two of us. He’s probably already got it figured out, anyway. If he feels like we need to tell the others, we will. We all want to be on the same page with your grandmother, after all.”

  “You’re right.” I shrugged. “I guess it’s time to let everyone else know that we’re a couple.” Somehow just saying those words made me feel better.

  Scott joined me on the sofa and slipped his arm over my shoulders, pulling me into a comforting embrace.

  Seconds later, Athena stuck her head in the door, her lips pursed. She looked back and forth between us, her eyes twinkling as she noticed our comfortable position. After a moment, she voiced her thoughts. “So, does your grandmother think that you and Scott are . . .” She pointed to her ring finger.

  Scott nodded. “Yep.”

  “So she somehow thinks you’re really getting married?”

  “Yep.” He offered up a woeful shrug.

  “Well, there you go then.” Athena shook her head, saying absolutely nothing for a few moments. As she turned to leave, I heard her mutter, “Houston, we have a problem.”

  At that very moment, a cheerful voice rang out from the hallway. “Tom Hanks. Apollo 13. 1995.” Grandma Lenora popped her head in the door, gave me a wink, and then kept right on walking.

  9

  Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

  The trip home was made with Grandma Lenora chattering all the way. I’d never seen her so happy or so excited. As we rounded the turn on Sunset just past the Beverly Hills Hotel, she let out a squeal. “KK, stop the car!”

  Not again.

  “It’s important. I want to see if they fixed the map. We need them to get it right, now more than ever.”

  I pulled the car off the road, and before I could even slip it into Park, my grandmother scrambled out of her seat belt. Minutes later, I followed her to the stand where Damian stood waving.

  Unfortunately, he looked right past Grandma to me. “Kat! You’re back.”

  Mustering up as much enthusiasm as I could, I nodded. “Yes, I’m back.” Whether I want to be or not.

  “Might I see the new and updated version of the Hollywood map?” Grandma Lenora extended her hand in his direction.

  “Certainly, madam,” he said with flair, passing one her way.

  My grandmother squealed with delight as she located Worth Manor on the map. She turned to Damian with a smile. “It’s more important now than ever that people are able to find my home.”

  “Oh?” He looked confused. “Why is that?”

  “Because . . . we’re having a wedding!” Grandma’s ripple of laughter followed.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for the inevitable.

  “Are you getting married, Lenora?” Damian asked, throwing his arm over her shoulders. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

  Grandma began to fan herself with the map. “Don’t be silly. I’m not getting married. KK is. We’re meeting her future in-laws for dinner tonight, in fact.”

  Oh, yikes.

  Damian released his hold on Grandma and turned to me, his eyes huge. “Are you serious? You’re getting married?”

  “It’s not really like that,” I whispered. “See, this is what happened . . .” I started to explain, but with my grandmother standing so close, I couldn’t.

  Lord, help me out here!

  Grandma’s eyes twinkled with merriment. “Oh, Damian, you should have seen it. Jack got down on one knee and popped the question. In front of all the kids and everything. The look on KK’s face was priceless. Oh, it was perfect. I couldn’t have planned it any better myself.”

  “Jack?” Damian looked confused.

  I whispered, “It’s not what it sounds like.”

  He nodded. “I’m sure your house is the perfect place for a wedding.”

  “Oh, just the reception,” Grandma said with a wave of her hand. “My granddaughter will get married in church. We’re firm believers in going to church.” Her gaze narrowed. “Do you go to church, Damian?”

  “Uh, well, when I was a kid, I used to go with my mom. Haven’t been in years, though. Not really my thing.”

  “You should get back in church, young man.” She put a fingertip on his chest and he nodded. “Whether it’s your thing or not. It’ll do you some good.”

  “Guess I should.” He appeared to be thinking about it.

  Grandma Lenora’s eyes took on a faraway look. “KK will be married in church. Her dress is going to be the most beautiful thing you ever saw. And the veil too, but we haven’t really made a decision about all of that. Oh, I can’t wait till the newspapers and magazines post their photos. Don’t you think she will look beautiful coming down the aisle?”

  “Of course.” Damian nodded, then looked back and forth between Grandma and me.

  I said nothing. Maybe Scott was right. Letting things ride would be for the best. To stop my grandmother now would create an avalanche effect. Then again, letting her ramble on wasn’t doing much good either.

  “The reception will be a wonderful affair at Worth Manor.” Grandma began to pace. “I plan to renovate between now and then, but surely I can have the place ready for guests in a month or two.”

  “A month or two?” Damian and I spoke in unison.

  Grandma nodded, clearly lost in her ponderings.

  Damian snapped to attention. “Well, I’ve got the maps, if anyone needs to know how to get there.”

  “In that case, I’ll take two hundred.” My grandmother reached inside her purse and came out with a checkbook. “How much are they?”

  I don’t know who was more stunned, Damian or me. I could see the dollar signs where his eyeballs used to be. “T-two hundred?” he asked.

  “Grandma, you really don’t need to—”

  She shushed me. “KK, I have the most glorious idea. We can fold the maps and put them inside the wedding invitations. Won’t that be cute? Then everyone will know just where to come.” As she made out the check, she continued to ramble on about the wedding. I did everything in my power to warn Damian that her story was fatally flawed by giving him frantic glances. Unfortunately, he was too busy snagging the check to pay any attention.

  We left ten minutes later carrying two hundred maps of Hollywood. What we would ever do with them, I had no idea. Maybe, if I lived through all of this, I could throw a party and invite everyone I knew. Give each of them a map, just so Grandma’s money wouldn’t go to waste.

  As we climbed back in the car, I glanced at the clock and gasped. Five thirty? We were supposed to meet Scott and his parents for dinner at seven. My heart gravitated to my throat as I contemplated the potential for disaster. Hopefully Grandma Lenora would forget all about my so-called engagement before seven or we would be in a world of trouble.

  W
hen we arrived home, I sprinted up the stairs to my room, then peeled out of my jeans and raced for my closet, anxious to find the perfect outfit. What was one supposed to wear when meeting the mother of her fiancé?

  Oops. Just a slip.

  What was one supposed to wear when meeting the mother of the man she was engaged to on a television sitcom?

  I settled on a soft green blouse, a pair of black capris, and my favorite strappy sandals. I’d paid a pretty penny for them, but they were worth it. Nothing like impressing the future in-laws.

  I giggled as I thought about it. Even though the whole thing was based on my grandmother’s confused state of mind, I now knew what it would feel like if it ever really happened. Nerve-racking!

  At six thirty, Scott called to say he would be arriving shortly to pick us up. While I had him to myself, I decided to fill him in on the latest events.

  “Scott, I’m really worried about what happened today. Grandma is planning our wedding. You won’t believe what she told the guy at the map place. And wait till you hear what she bought.”

  I conveyed the whole story—every gory detail—and Scott groaned. “Man. Do you think he’ll try to sell that story to a reporter?”

  “I don’t know. He seems like a good kid and he’s familiar with my grandmother now, so I hope not. I think we can trust him.”

  “Good.”

  “Do you still want to stick with the original plan?” I asked. “Do nothing, say nothing? Just let her go on with this? Even with your parents in town? Heaven only knows what she might say to them. You know?”

  “Yeah.” He paused. “I tried to call my dad’s cell phone a few minutes ago, but he didn’t answer. I wanted to bring him up to speed on her . . .” He stumbled over the word. “Condition.”

  I sighed. “He didn’t answer?”

  “No, but I’ll try to figure out a way to tell him—or my mom. It’s going to be okay.” Scott paused. “I’ve prayed about this, Kat, and I just keep coming back to the fact that she’s not well. I certainly don’t want to lie to her, but neither do I think we should make a big deal out of the fact that she’s wrong. That will only lead to trouble and more confusion on her part. What’s the harm in just not saying anything at all as long as all the people around her are aware of what’s really going on?”

  “For one thing, she’s going to want to start planning a wedding. A real wedding. The kind with dresses and flowers and food and stuff. She’s already talking about the guest list and has the invitation worded. You don’t realize how females are. Once they hear there’s a wedding coming, they slip into planning mode.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that too,” he said. “And I’ve already talked to Athena about it. The writers are at work, planning the end-of-season finale, our wedding day. I mean Angie and Jack’s wedding day.” Scott’s words came much faster now. “Anyway, Athena says it’ll be fun to sit and plan out the wedding scene with the writers—you, me, and even Lenora. That way she feels included.”

  “You don’t understand. She’s got a big church wedding planned.”

  “So we’ll create a church setting for the scene. The viewers will love that. And I’m sure Rex will like the idea, since it’s a family show and all. A church wedding makes sense for Jack and Angie.”

  “And when we tie the knot on the show, then what?” I rose and began to pace. “Then she’ll think we’re married in real life, and that will create an even bigger mess. Don’t you see? She’ll probably try to send us on a honeymoon.”

  A nervous chuckle erupted from his end of the line. Then he grew more serious. “I don’t know, Kat. I’m just trying to spare her feelings. We’ll keep praying about this. But right now I have to let you go. I’m pulling up to your house.”

  “I’ll open the gate.”

  A couple of minutes later, I met him at the door.

  Scott whistled when he saw me in my new outfit. “You look great, Kat.” A kiss on the cheek followed. Then he turned his attention to Grandma, who had appeared in a lovely cream-colored dress, slightly less elaborate than the one she’d worn earlier but still over-the-top. I’d never seen her in an off-the-shoulder gown before. Not bad.

  “So, where are we going to dinner?” I asked as we walked together to his SUV.

  Scott gave me an odd look, one I couldn’t quite interpret. “Promise you’ll play along?”

  “Sure.”

  “They want to go to IHOP.”

  “IHOP?”

  “The International House of Pancakes.”

  “Oh, sure. I know what it is. I’ve been there before.” Once. On a road trip with my parents. When I was four. So much for the nice hairdo and makeup job. I’d had visions of taking them to Spago in Beverly Hills, really doing it up nice. Obviously they had other ideas. “Okay.” I managed a shrug. “IHOP it is.”

  “It’s my dad’s favorite place and they don’t have one in Alma, so he always looks for them elsewhere.”

  Scott’s cell phone rang. As he talked to his agent, he also played the role of gentleman, opening the car doors for us. Grandma sat in the back and I joined Scott in the front. Though I tried not to be nosy, I couldn’t help but overhear his conversation. Sounded like big plans were in the works. Very big.

  “Everything okay?” I asked when he hung up.

  “Yeah, that was weird.”

  “What?”

  “He said that the Coen brothers have asked for me. For a movie, I mean.”

  “Wow. Really? What kind of movie?”

  “I’m not sure yet. Bert’s going to send me the script. I don’t know, though. Doing movies is a big risk right now. I’m not sure this is the best timing. And I want to be really careful about the work I choose, so finding something family friendly is critical. You know?”

  “I do.”

  Grandma clucked her tongue. From the backseat, she warbled out her thoughts on the matter. “You’re getting married, honey. That’s enough of a production, and plenty family friendly. You don’t need a movie career right now. If they really want you, they will wait on you. That’s what my agent always said, anyway. Patience is a virtue. And if those Coen brothers have any virtue at all, they’ll wait.”

  Scott chuckled. “Great advice, Lenora. I might just have to follow it.”

  “I’ve been around,” she responded. “I know a thing or two. Now, let’s talk about your wedding. I’m ready to start planning your big day.”

  She continued to chatter all the way to the restaurant. Several times I looked over at Scott to make sure he hadn’t slipped into panic mode. As always, his features were relaxed and friendly. I could tell he wasn’t acting. This guy was the real deal, through and through.

  Thank you, Lord. I’m not sure what I ever did to deserve him, but I’m so grateful.

  For the first time all day, I paused to think about Scott as real husband material. He certainly had everything I was looking for, right down to a strong faith in the Lord. I let my thoughts slip off, my imagination running away with me. If we really got married, would we go on filming the show? Sure, why not. Maybe we’d even have a couple of kids and incorporate them into the plot.

  “Kat, you okay?” Scott looked my way and grinned.

  I tried not to let my embarrassment show as my gaze shifted to the window. “Mm-hmm.”

  “Where are we going?” Grandma piped up. “I’ve haven’t been out this way for ages.”

  I had to agree with that. There were certain places in L.A. we rarely saw. These days, our whole world was the stretch between Beverly Hills and the studio. Strange, what a small world it had become. There really was life beyond it all.

  “Where we’re going is a surprise,” Scott said.

  My grandmother clapped her hands. “Ooh, I love surprises!”

  The look on her face as Scott pulled his SUV up to the front of IHOP was priceless. To my knowledge, she’d never been inside a pancake house before. Not in this decade, anyway. This should be interesting. And her ’60s cream-colored gown was
more than a little out of place.

  We’d no sooner arrived than a couple of teen girls ran our way. “You’re Jack and Angie.”

  They began to squeal, and before long a crowd had gathered and we were signing autographs. One after another the fans came, each one louder than the one before. I’d been swarmed by fans in the past, but never with Scott at my side. Apparently he was quite a draw. The teen girls went gaga over him. He played along, but I could see the tension underneath his smile. Funny, this was the first time I’d ever seen his nervous side. Perhaps it had something to do with the impending arrival of his parents.

  They showed up just as one of the teens pulled out her cell phone to snap our photo. I was introduced first to Scott’s father, Charles. Sizing him up didn’t take very long. He stood about five foot ten. Balding. A stern expression but kind eyes. Not terribly vocal, but that was okay. I wasn’t sure I could keep a conversation going with him, anyway.

  Next I turned my attention to his mother as Scott introduced us. “Nancy.” I extended my hand. “It’s so great to meet you.”

  “Nice to meet you too,” she said. She stood about five three, slightly chubby, with a delicious sparkle in her eyes. Her slacks and blouse were plain but nice. She didn’t seem the type for makeup, though I detected a hint of lipstick and some powder. Her salt-and-pepper hair was cut short, like many women her age.

  I could hardly get past the look of shock on her face as she took in my grandmother’s formal attire. Still, she responded with graciousness and greeted us like old friends.

  The hostess seated us at a large table, and I found myself between Scott and his mother. Grandma Lenora sat across from us in all her glory. She pulled out her compact and touched up her lipstick. And her blush. And her eyeliner. Lovely. Thankfully she didn’t say anything about our engagement. That would’ve been the icing on the cake. With all of the hoopla with the teen fans, Scott hadn’t had a chance to warn his parents about Grandma’s volatile state of mind. That would likely have to wait till after dinner. In the meantime, I would pray. Hard.

  “Where are Bryan and Julia?” Scott asked, looking around. “Running late?”