They announced Ian’s death on all the news channels that morning. There were tributes to him in every newspaper, with the long credits of his distinguished career. The obituary his press agent wrote said that he had died after an illness, and the funeral service and interment would be private, with only the family present. A brilliant mind had been snuffed out, a talented director and loving husband and father. The funeral was in three days, to give them time to get organized and make all the arrangements. They were not disclosing the location, to avoid being mobbed by fans, and Maeve was having his body cremated, which was what Ian had wanted, since he felt his body had betrayed him.
Nick called Kait from Wyoming the night Ian died, after speaking to Maeve. She had invited him to the funeral, as one of Ian’s oldest friends, and she had sent Kait an email, telling her she would be welcome too.
“I’m flying in tomorrow,” Nick told her.
“How do you think Maeve is doing?” she asked Nick, concerned.
“She’s an incredibly strong woman, but this is going to be very hard on her. They were married for a long time, and they were crazy about each other. They were the only people I ever knew who made me wish that I was married. Ian had an older brother who’s flying in from somewhere. I offered to take Maeve to the funeral, but he’s going with them. Would you like me to go with you?”
She thought about it for a minute and realized she would. The whole experience was still very fresh for her after Candace and would be even harder than it would have been otherwise, and she felt desperately sorry for Maeve and her daughters, although they had been prepared. But Maeve had admitted that none of them had expected him to go so quickly. It was a mercy for him, instead of lingering for years on a respirator, frozen in his own body, with his mind intact. Kait couldn’t imagine a worse way to die, but Maeve said he had been peaceful in the end, and died in her arms. It broke Kait’s heart to hear it.
Nick said he was staying at the Pierre, not far from her apartment, and would be on his way to Europe after that, to meet friends in England and look at some horses he wanted to buy. He was tempted to ask her to go with him, but he didn’t dare. But Ian’s death was a reminder to all of them that life was short and unpredictable. He promised to call her when he got to the hotel, and he invited her to dinner the night he arrived. He was sad about his reason for coming, but happy to see her again.
She talked to Zack after that and he wasn’t coming. Maeve hadn’t invited him. He admired her immensely, but they weren’t close. And then Agnes called and said she was going on her own.
The following day, Nick called her in the late afternoon once he was in his suite. There had been paparazzi outside, and he wasn’t pleased about it. Someone had tipped them off when they saw his reservation. But he had gotten through them politely and took refuge in his room.
“That must get tedious. People come up to Maeve all the time to ask for autographs when we have lunch.”
“You learn to live with it,” he said simply, and said he’d pick her up at seven-thirty for dinner at 21, which was his favorite New York restaurant.
She was wearing a navy dress and matching coat when he arrived at her apartment. She felt very grown up and respectable after months of wearing jeans and T-shirts on the set, which was the only way he had seen her so far. The dress was short enough to show off her legs, and she had worn high heels. He was wearing a dark blue suit and looked like a banker. He smiled when she got into the car.
“You clean up pretty good,” he teased her. She looked beautiful with her red hair loose and long. And he got the royal treatment when they got to the restaurant. It reminded her that she was with a major movie star, which was easier to forget at the rodeo or on the set. She suddenly smiled when they sat down, thinking of him on the bucking bronco. “What’s funny?” he asked her after he ordered bull shots for both of them, which was mostly beef bouillon with a shot of vodka.
“I was thinking about you at the rodeo on the bronco.”
He laughed at the memory she conjured. “My ribs are finally feeling better after the last one,” and he told her that Maeve had asked him to sing “Amazing Grace” the next day, which had been Ian’s favorite hymn. It had been sung at Candace’s funeral too.
They had a quiet dinner tucked away in a back corner, talking about some of his movies and her children, the magazine, and her column. She told him she was planning to quit after they saw what the ratings looked like.
“I’m going to miss it. But it was hard keeping up with it this summer. I wish they’d find someone else to write it. I hate to let people down, they count on that column.”
“To everything a season,” he quoted, smiling at her. “You’ve already started a new chapter, Kait. You’ve got to go with it, and be free to do that. You can’t drag the past along.”
“I hate to stop, and they asked me to finish out the year. I wanted to honor the commitment, but I didn’t realize how hard it would be to do. The Wilder Women has eaten up all my time. Everything that happens on the set is so consuming.”
He nodded in agreement and knew it from his own experience in movies. “I can’t wait to start shooting the next season,” he said, smiling warmly at her, and she felt that way too. He said it seemed like forever, waiting. “I feel like I’m part of the show already.” He looked pleased. And he was going to be their big surprise for the viewers. A very big one, and no one had squealed so far. There had been no leaks to the press, and Zack was happy about that. Once the word was out, Nick and Maeve were going to do a press conference. And before that, they wanted Charlotte, Dan, and Abaya to do one. There was going to be a big press push for the show, to drive the ratings. It made Kait think of Downton Abbey again. She hadn’t had time to watch it in months, she’d been too busy. She admitted her passion for it to Nick, and he laughed.
“I love it too.” And then he mentioned three others that he liked too, which were more hard-edged and male oriented: a police show, one about an undercover drug agent, and one that was pure science fiction. They were the shows that everyone watched and would be their competition for the ratings.
He took her back to her apartment after dinner, and she didn’t ask him to come up. They were both tired, he had flown in that day, and they had two hard days ahead of them. He was going to see Maeve in the morning, and had promised to take her to lunch to give her a break from the funeral arrangements.
“Do you want to come to dinner tomorrow night?” she asked him. “I’m a lousy cook, but I’ll pick something up. I haven’t really cooked since the kids left, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
“That would be great.” He was pleased at the chance to see her again. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek when he left her and went back to his hotel. And the following night he showed up at seven, and she had a spread on the kitchen table of roast chicken, vegetables, and a salad. He took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves and sat down to eat with her. She was wearing slacks and a sweater, and he told her how Maeve was doing. The funeral was the next day.
“I think she’s on autopilot, but she’s a remarkable woman. The girls are pretty badly shaken up. But given what he had ahead of him, it’s a mercy,” Nick said solemnly.
“I know. She warned us that we might have to shoot around her. She didn’t think it would be so soon.”
Nick told her over dinner about the horses he was going to buy in England, and a shooting weekend with British friends, which was a tradition he enjoyed. He had a very pleasant life when he wasn’t working, and always went back to the ranch for the lifestyle he enjoyed most. That much was clear. He was still a Texas boy at heart, despite living in Nashville, L.A., and Wyoming since then, and occasionally New York. He told her that at one time he had tried doing Broadway and it wasn’t for him. He preferred the movies to the stage. He found stage acting too limited and stilted.
“I won’t tell Shakespeare you said so,” she
teased him.
They made it an early evening because of the funeral the next day. He came to pick her up in the morning wearing a black suit and black tie with a white shirt, and she was wearing a black suit too, with black stockings and high heels. They said very little in the car on the way to the church where the service was being held. It was a small church near Maeve and Ian’s home, and Maeve had hired off-duty policemen, just in case they needed them. But the service was exactly what Ian had wanted, his family and a few close friends to say goodbye to him. Both Tamra and Thalia spoke at the funeral. And, as promised, Nick sang “Amazing Grace,” without a quaver in his strong, beautiful voice as tears rolled down his cheeks. And then a procession of men carried the urn out of the church, and they all watched it placed in the hearse, and drove behind it to the cemetery where he was to be buried. Maeve and the girls had picked the plot together in a small garden, under a tree, with room enough for his wife and children, and a little fence around it. And there was a stone angel looking over him. They each left a white rose on his grave, and Maeve read his favorite poem before they left.
On the ride back to the city with Nick, Kait didn’t speak for a long time. She couldn’t. It had been too moving, too painful, and too poignant with Maeve and the girls there, and the ache in her heart for Candace was too strong. It had reopened the wound that hadn’t even healed yet, and Nick understood. They just sat in the car together, holding hands, as she felt his strength running from his arm into hers.
They spent two hours at Maeve’s apartment, talked to Agnes for a while, and then slipped away. Maeve looked exhausted, and it felt like a cruelty to her to linger. She needed time alone or with her daughters. Nick took Kait back to her apartment, and she heaved a sigh when they sat down on the couch. The day had been so emotional, it had worn them both out. Nick knew he would sleep on the flight. He was leaving for London that night on his plane.
They didn’t mention the funeral again before he left, it was just too much for Kait, and he sensed that. They talked quietly for a while, and then he had to leave. She walked him to the door and thanked him for going with her.
“Have a good time in England.” She smiled at him, and he looked at her and gently touched her face.
“Take care of yourself, Kait. And good luck with the show.” The premiere was only a week away, and the tension was nauseating. Then he bent toward her and kissed her on the lips, and she put her arms around his neck while he did. She hadn’t expected it, but after he kissed her she was glad he had. “To be continued…” he said, smiling at her. “In season two.”
“I think you have me confused with Maeve,” she said, with a warm look in her eyes.
“No, as a matter of fact, I don’t. I know exactly who you are, Ms. Whittier.” And he liked her just the way she was. With that, he rang for the elevator and was gone a moment later. And Kait walked back into her apartment with a broad smile.
Chapter 16
A week after Ian’s funeral, Kait, Maeve, and Agnes had agreed to watch the first episode of the show together at Kait’s apartment. Maeve still looked rough, and didn’t want to see anyone except her two friends. But none of them wanted to watch the show alone. It would be more fun together. The Wilder Women was due to air at nine P.M. Maeve and Agnes arrived together at eight, and Kait had set out things for them to eat while they watched, including her grandmother’s 4 Kids cookies, which were a staple in her home, and most people’s, and everyone loved. Both her friends smiled when they saw them. They were too nervous to eat anything, but excited. Zack and Nick had both called Kait right before her guests arrived. Tom and Stephanie were watching that night too.
At exactly nine o’clock, all three of them were in her living room, watching the television intently, and didn’t say a word to one another as the show came on. This was serious business, and they were both thrilled and terrified. The ratings for the first night would set the tone. There had been massive advertising for the past two weeks. The advance reviews had been positive, particularly for the all-star cast. And word of mouth would enter into it after the first night, as people told each other about the show and if they loved it or didn’t. Rather than starting slow, they had a dramatic first-night episode, with all the principal members of the cast involved, so people could get to know them. The big names were featured in the opening credits, except for Nick, and were a dazzling array of major stars. Nick was still their surprise being saved for later in the season.
Kait was sure that the rest of the cast were watching that night too and would be just as anxious to see the ratings and reviews. And her children had sent her texts with good wishes. The three women sat mesmerized as the first episode began, as though they’d never seen it before and were first-time viewers. There wasn’t a sound in the room until the first commercial break, since the show was on a major cable network.
“Jesus, I look a hundred and two,” Agnes finally commented, took a sip of her Coke, and helped herself to a 4 Kids cookie. “Do I really look that old?”
“Older,” Maeve teased her, and Agnes guffawed. “Your wig is really good, though, and your delivery is flawless, and your timing,” Maeve complimented her.
“You made me cry in the second scene,” Agnes returned the compliment. “I hate to admit it, but Charlotte looks incredible on screen. No wonder every guy on the planet wants to go to bed with her.”
“Not lately,” Maeve said tartly, and all three of them laughed. “Besides, she’s twenty-three. When we were that age, they all wanted to go to bed with us too.”
“Speak for yourself,” Agnes shot back at her. “At this exact moment every man over a hundred in a nursing home is lusting after me.” The threesome laughed again as the show came back on. They all agreed that the pace and editing were excellent, and Becca’s script was fantastic, even better than Zack had promised. She had polished it till it shone.
Watching it on television at the same time as the entire country made them realize that their show had a certain magic to it. It flowed beautifully, and the casting was flawless. Each actor was totally believable in their role, their lines delivered perfectly. And Kait smiled as she looked at her two friends and wished she had a photo of the three of them. They had all worn jeans, their hair was a mess, none of them had worn makeup, Agnes and Kait were wearing glasses, and Maeve had contacts. They didn’t look glamorous that night, but like middle-aged viewers with a mission to watch their favorite show and hang on every word.
The first episode of The Wilder Women passed quickly and ended on a high note, with suspense about what would come next. Kait’s phone sprang to life the minute it was over, and so did Maeve’s. In both cases it was their kids, raving about what they’d seen, while Agnes helped herself to another Coke and more cookies.
Tommy told his mother how proud of her he was, and said that Maribeth loved it and was already hooked, and he liked the male characters and the actors who played them. He thought Charlotte was spectacular looking, even if slutty, and that Abaya was amazing for an unknown and was headed for stardom with the show. According to him, it all worked, and Stephanie called as soon as Kait hung up, and said that she and Frank had loved it. So did Maeve’s girls. Carmen texted her, and Zack called again to tell her that it was a sure winner. He was waiting for the ratings and the reviews the next day.
After the calls, the three women talked animatedly about the show, critical of minute details they wanted to improve in the next season. But on the whole, it looked good to them, though the competition was stiff in that time slot. Nick texted Kait a few minutes later. He was back at the ranch after his brief trip to England. He said he was proud to be part of it, and was sure it would run for years. “We’re going to grow old together with this one,” he wrote, and Kait smiled when she read it.
The three of them hung around and talked for another hour, and then Maeve and Agnes went home. They were just as nervous as when they arrived, sin
ce they wouldn’t see the ratings and reviews till morning, which would tell them how they scored. It would be a long night of waiting for them.
Zack called Kait at nine the next morning, six A.M. in L.A. “Try this,” he said, without saying hello. “ ‘In first place for best new show of the year, or old one for that matter, The Wilder Women exploded onto the air last night with a star-studded cast of current and previous movie greats: Maeve O’Hara, Agnes White, current hotties Dan Delaney and Charlotte Manning, and brand-new dazzling talent Abaya Jones, Brad Evers, and a cameo by Phillip Green. An all-star cast, flawless script by Becca Roberts, compelling story by Kait Whittier, about women in aviation in World War II and beyond. This writer’s prediction: seven seasons, at least, maybe eight or ten. Watch it once and you’ll be hooked. And beware to the competition. The Wilder Women will give everyone a run for their money this season. Kudos to all!’
“How do you like that for our first review? And we had a seventy-one share last night for the first half hour, eighty-two for the second. We knocked ’em dead!” Kait had tears in her eyes as she listened, and thanked him for calling her. When she called the others after he did, Agnes was chortling with glee, and Maeve sounded human again and was immensely pleased. She was just sorry Ian wasn’t there to see it. He had believed in the project immediately and convinced her to do it, after she met Kait.
Kait had calls from friends all day, including Sam Hartley, who introduced her to Zack on New Year’s Eve. The next day she called Paula Stein at the magazine, who sounded glum.
“I figured I’d be hearing from you. I watched your show last night. It’s fabulous. I guess we’re history in your life, Kait.” After twenty years.
“But very precious history. I’m going to miss it terribly, but it’s been really tough keeping up once we started shooting. I don’t want the column to slip, and I can’t do a good job at both. It wouldn’t be fair to you.” Kait had a long hiatus ahead of her, but she had made her decision and was ready to give up the column.
The Cast Page 21