Waiting in the Wings Read online

  Waiting in the Wings

  The Off Screen Series: Episode Seven

  J.A. Armstrong

  © Copyright 2016 J.A. Armstrong Books

  All Rights Reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced without permission.

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  “Uh, no. I don’t think so, Sprout,” Emma warned her daughter gently. Vicki looked up and into her mother’s eyes and frowned. Emma smiled gently at the toddler, who was already chewing on a chocolate chip cookie. “I realize that cookies are a major discovery,” Emma teased. “But, no more until after your Momma gets home,” she said. The mere mention of Addison made Vicki’s lips curl up into a smile. “Mm-hm. You are definitely your momma’s girl.” Vicki stretched her arms up, and Emma accepted her gratefully. “So? What about a swim instead? Want to go put on your duckies?” Emma asked.

  Vicki squealed. “Boat?” Vicki asked.

  Emma laughed. “How is it that you can say boat and not all the other words Momma and I try to teach you?” she wondered aloud, tickling Vicki’s tummy.

  “Pway boat!” Vicki repeated excitedly.

  Emma kept giggling. “More like fish,” Emma mumbled.

  Emma carried Vicki off and into Vicki’s bedroom to get her ready for a swim. It was not the first time that Emma had considered she might have given birth to a fish or a dolphin. Vicki loved the water. She fussed when Emma or Addy tried to take her out of the bathtub regardless of how cold the water became, and she squeaked with delight whenever she had the chance to go into the pool. Emma found it amusing. Vicki had no genetic link to Addison, yet in more ways than Emma could count, their daughter resembled her momma.

  “Mommy’s got to get changed, Sprout,” Emma said as she secured the waterproof diaper around Vicki’s waist. “I sure hope you are done with these before the next little fishy arrives,” she laughed. Vickie giggled. “That’s funny, huh?” Emma asked. Vicki laughed harder. “Why is that funny?” Emma wondered. Vickie kept laughing. Emma kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Somehow, I think I just will have to get used to double duty,” Emma chuckled. “Well, you have eight months,” she said with a wink. “Don’t tell Momma yet,” she said.

  Emma shook her head at her daughter’s cackling as she made her way to the bedroom she and Addison shared to change. She often wondered what Vicki found so amusing. It seemed that nearly anything could make Vicki laugh. Good-natured did not begin to describe the toddler. Emma was grateful that her daughter had always been that way. They had suffered through a few bouts of illness, the occasional bad mood, and, of course, there were a few challenging nights with budding teeth, but overall Vicki was perpetually happy. It didn’t matter. Emma had never been happier in her life, and she was positive that Vicki and Addison were the cause.

  “Your Momma is going to be surprised, Sprout.” Emma stepped out of her shorts and into her bathing suit. “I know I was,” she said.

  Emma offered her hand to Vicki, and helped the toddler to stand. Vicki started toddling beside her mother, holding onto Emma’s hand as they went. Emma chuckled when Vicki wobbled and fell softly on her butt. She didn’t mean to laugh; Vicki’s frustration was evident as she tried to pull herself back up, but the expression on the toddler’s face was frame-worthy. “It’s okay, Sprout,” Emma reassured her. “There’s a reason no one says ‘first time’s the charm.’ Which, my munchkin, is why your momma is probably not going to believe that another little fishy is on the way,” she explained as she lifted Vicki onto her hip and headed to the pool.

  Vicki looked at her mother curiously. “Mommy?” she asked.

  “Yes, sweetheart?”

  “Bishy?”

  “Fishy,” Emma chuckled.

  “I a bishy?”

  “That you are,” Emma agreed.

  “Momma a bishy,” Vicki said proudly as Emma waded into the pool and retrieved the floaties that sat beside it.

  “Yes, your momma is definitely a fishy too,” Emma said.

  “Mommy bishy?” Vicki wondered.

  “Mommy is a landlubber,” Emma teased.

  “Bubber?”

  Emma chuckled. “Lubber. A lover of land,” she explained.

  Vicki seemed to consider her mother’s words thoughtfully. She was getting ready to turn three, but extremely verbose and curious. Emma credited Addison with Vicki’s vocabulary. Vicki had started spouting off basic words at eight-months-old. By the time she had reached her first birthday, she had an extensive albeit creative vocabulary—one that continued to grow by what seemed like the minute. She still only managed to string three or four words together at a time. Emma suspected that was because Vicki, much like Addison, was thoughtful about how words went together. It would not have surprised Emma if her daughter ended up becoming a prolific novelist one day.

  “You,” Emma told Vicki. “Are a fishy. Well, you’re getting pretty big so maybe you are a dolphin!” she joked, swirling Vicki through the water.

  Vicki laughed. “Gen, Mommy.”

  “Again?”

  “Gen!”

  Emma repeated the swirling. “See? A dolphin. Which means you can help teach the new fishy.”

  “We get bishy?”

  “Not the kind you put in a bowl,” Emma said. “No. A fishy like you,” she said with another romp through the water.

  Vicki giggled. “Mommy?”

  “Yes, Sprout?”

  “Has to beed bishy?”

  “Yes, fishies all eat.”

  Vicki’s brow wrinkled in concern.

  “What’s the matter?” Emma asked.

  “Not too much,” Vicki said seriously.

  Emma bit her lip to keep from laughing. “And, not too little,” she said. Vicki nodded. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Momma and I won’t overfeed the fishy.”

  “Dey gets big, Mommy.”

  “I know, sweetie,” Emma agreed. She and Addison had read Dr. Seuss to Vicki at night since she was born. “Just a pinch,” Emma promised, Vicki nodded and put her arms around Emma’s neck. Emma kissed the toddler’s forehead. “Want to dip?” she asked. Vicki nodded excitedly. “Okay, let’s see if there are any fishies down there!”

  ***

  “I just don’t understand why you won’t ask her,” Jeff said.

  Addison Blake ran her hand through her hair and groaned. “Maybe because I would like to stay married,” she finally replied.

  “Writing these shows has made you overly dramatic,” he quipped.

  Addison leaned back in her chair. “You think so? You know Em.”

  “Yeah, I do. It’s a two-month commitment at best, Addison. You know she has to be missing it.”

  “Acting?” Addison asked for clarification.

  “Yes, of course, acting!”

  “Maybe,” Addison conceded. “But, I don’t think Em has any roles on her mind except being Mom right now.”

  “Okay, but it’s not like she won’t still be Mom,” he pointed out the obvious. “Strike while the iron’s hot! If Sandra is on board for an Off Screen movie, then we’ve got a window that we…”

  Addison held up her hand. “I hear you.”

  “So? Just talk to Emma. Jesus, Addison—think about it. You know, no one wanted to end the show when we did.”

  Addison groaned. Off Screen had been at the height of its popularity two years ago. An unexpected car accident had left one of Emma’s co-stars dead and the other facing an uncertain future. Addison let out a heavy sigh as the memories of that time flooded her
mind. She looked back at Jeff and shook her head. “Jeff,” she started cautiously. “I hope no one has been pressuring Sandra about this.”

  “You know me better than that,” he replied immediately.

  “Yeah, I do. I don’t have that same confidence in everyone else,” Addison explained.

  “Look, Addison, I know that you and Bellson have had your issues over the years. Granted, the guy can be a serious pain in the ass, but he’s not heartless.”

  Addison massaged her eyes in frustration. Don Bellson had been a thorn in her side over the years that she and Emma had filmed Off Screen. More than once, Addison had considered writing a crime thriller and making Bellson her victim. She snickered softly at the idea and shook her head. Jeff was right, Bellson did—much to Addison’s great surprise—possess a conscience of some sort. That did not change the fact that Bellson was a business man to his core. He was less concerned about creative endeavor or personal conflict than he was with the bottom line of any production. She had little doubt that her old nemesis had put some amount of pressure on both Jeff and Sandra to agree to sign on to a movie. Off Screen had served as Sandra’s first big break into film. She had become an overnight star playing opposite Emma. The bonus to working on the show had been the personal friendships that developed among the cast and crew. The most surprising of which had been Sandra’s romantic relationship with their male co-star Dan Starr. Shortly after the accident that had claimed Dan’s life, Sandra had confessed to Emma that she was pregnant. Life was upside down in less than a heartbeat for everyone. Emma and Sandra remained close. Addison was certain that Sandra had not told Emma that she had any inclination toward taking on another major project. Addison also knew that Sandra was feeling a bit like a sail without a boat blowing in the wind. She was a single mom whose career had hit an abrupt and violent halt. Addison suspected that Sandra was likely looking for a tether.

  “Tell me something.” Addison looked directly at her friend. “How was this brought to Sandra’s attention without my knowledge?”

  Jeff frowned. “It was an open-ended conversation, Addison. We had dinner a few weeks ago, and the topic came up.”

  “The topic came up or you deliberately brought it up?” Addison questioned.

  “Look…”

  Addison shook her head. “Jeff…”

  “Come on, Addy. I saw Emma last week. My God, she spent over an hour reminiscing about the time we spent together on Found and Off Screen. She misses it. I could tell. Seriously, what is the harm in just talking to her? The worst she can say is no.”

  Addison nodded. “Let’s hope so,” she thought.

  ***

  “Hey,” Addison called into the kitchen as she closed the door behind her.

  Emma turned and smiled. “Hey, yourself,” she greeted her wife. “How did it feel to be back in an office?” she teased Addison. Addison offered Emma an uncomfortable smile. “That good?” Emma asked lightly. She opened her arms to Addison. Addison entered them willingly. “Want to talk about it?” Emma asked.

  “Not really,” Addison mumbled into Emma’s neck. “I can think of things I’d rather do,” she flirted.

  “Is that so?” Emma playfully bantered. She pulled back from their embrace and kissed Addison tenderly. “Missed me?”

  “More than you know,” Addison replied. Emma grinned and let her lips trail over Addison’s neck. Addison’s eyelids fluttered and closed against Emma’s sensual assault. “Where’s the munchkin?” Addison managed to ask through a ragged breath.

  “Napping,” Emma replied as her hand slowly traversed the expanse of Addison’s back. She lifted Addison’s shirt and let her hands drift to Addison’s hips and around to her stomach. As she felt Addison respond to her touch, Emma considered the reality that it had been far too long since they had engaged in an impromptu lovemaking session. She missed those moments with Addison. Life with a toddler seemed to quell their romantic playfulness measurably. Emma loved to seduce Addison without warning. She found her thoughts drifting to an encounter before Vicki had arrived in their lives in the very spot that they now stood.

  “Em,” Addison sighed and pulled Emma closer. She desperately wanted to lose herself in Emma’s touch. Emma had a unique way of being both commanding and tender at the same moment. Feeling Emma close was intoxicating, but it simultaneously sent Addison’s thoughts spinning. She needed to talk to Emma. They had never kept secrets from each other, and she was certain that Emma would sense her tension. As if on cue, Emma pulled back from her explorations and looked at Addison with concern.

  “Want to tell me what’s going on up there?” Emma tapped lightly on Addison’s forehead. Addison sighed heavily. “Addy?” Emma urged gently. Addison pulled away to put some distance between them so that she could gather her thoughts. “Something happen with Jeff today?” Emma inquired.

  Addison nodded. “He brought a new project to my attention. Something he and Bellson have been talking about,” Addison said. Emma waited. Addison took a deep breath and released it slowly. “They want to revive Off Screen,” Addison told Emma. She watched as Emma leaned back against the kitchen counter and folded her arms across her chest. “Start as a movie,” Addison clarified. “Or a T.V. movie. A one-shot,” Addison explained. Emma made no response. Addison continued, sensing that she needed to dig herself out of a growing hole. “I guess Jeff had lunch with Sandra and she expressed an interest in…”

  “I see,” Emma said. “He didn’t react well when you told him about our plans?” Emma asked. Addison grimaced. Emma nodded. “You didn’t tell him about our plans.”

  Addison tried to back pedal. “I didn’t know if you would want me to,” she said. Emma raised her eyebrow in challenge. “Em, I wasn’t sure you wanted everyone to know about…”

  “About what, Addy? About us trying to have a baby? Why would I care if people knew that? We’re not on a set anymore. I don’t have any contractual obligations that I am aware of,” Emma replied.

  “That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” Addison slipped into defensive mode.

  “I’m listening,” Emma said. “I’m assuming there is something more you wanted to tell me.”

  “No… I just,” Addison fumbled. “Jeff thought that since Sandra…”

  Emma nodded knowingly. “Jeff assumed that because Sandra is on board, I would consider signing on,” she guessed. Addison’s soft sigh confirmed Emma’s guess. “I see,” Emma said. “And, you thought you would—what? See if he was right?”

  “Em, come on,” Addison tried to smooth things over. “You do miss it.”

  “What do I miss?”

  “You miss working. You talk about Sandra and Dan all the time.”

  “I miss a lot of things, Addison,” Emma said dryly.

  “Emma, it’s not as if this project would stop our plans,” Addison tried to reason with Emma. Emma lifted her brow again in obvious displeasure. “You and I both know that it could take some time before we add another baby to this family,” Addison said. Emma made no response. “If it gets the green light, it’d be fast tracked to filming. A year at most to release, start to finish.”

  “I see.”

  “Em, I’m not saying we should do it or not. But, if you wanted to do it… It would only mean putting things on hold temporarily.”

  “I don’t want to do it,” Emma said bluntly. Addison sighed. “If you want to do it, Addison then be my guest. Write the best screenplay you can about Jack’s life and give Sandra the spotlight. I am not on board. I thought we were on the same page about things.”

  “We are,” Addison said.

  Emma shook her head. “Apparently not, if you actually thought I might say yes.”

  “Em…”

  Emma pushed away from the counter and started toward the living room.

  “Emma…”

  Emma turned back to face Addison and shook her head at Addison.

  “Talk to me,” Addison said.

  Emma took a deep breath. “I’m pregna
nt,” she told Addison before turning on her heels and leaving the room.

  Addison stood pinned in place. She watched Emma leave, her eyes locked on the space that Emma had just occupied. Emma’s words rolled through her brain, taking a moment to register. “Shit,” Addison groaned. “Way to go, Blake,” she admonished herself. “Fuck.”

  ***

  Emma stepped into the doorway of Vicki’s room and silently regarded Addison as Addison stood over Vicki’s small bed. “Expecting her to flee or something?” Emma asked. Addison remained silent. Emma slowly closed the distance between them. “Come on,” she gently prodded Addison. “We need to talk.”

  Addison had spent the last hour privately admonishing herself. Emma seldom became angry. Addison seemed unable to banish the vision of Emma’s expression earlier that evening from her mind. More than angry, Emma had clearly been hurt by Addison’s suggestion. For the last hour, Addison had been asking herself why she felt the need to raise the idea of Emma taking on a new project. Perhaps it was true; Emma did miss working at times. Emma had shown no signs of regret in her decision to step away, and her enthusiasm for growing their young family was evident to anyone who took the time to talk to Emma. With a deep breath, Addison reluctantly followed Emma from Vicki’s room.

  “I’m sorry,” Addison said as she sat down on the living room sofa.

  Emma smiled and nodded. “So am I.”

  “You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” Addison replied honestly. “I, on the other hand, am an asshole.”

  “No, you’re not, and yes, I do,” Emma disagreed.

  “Em…”

  “No, listen for a minute,” Emma said. “Addy… I understand more than you think I do,” Emma told Addison. “I’ve watched you grow more and more restless over the last year.”

  “I’m not restless.”

  “Yes, you are,” Emma said. “Don’t,” Emma stopped Addison from arguing. “You are, and that is okay. You miss working, Addy. You’ve been home with us for a full year. Only one major project since Off Screen ended. It’s okay.”