Scene Change Read online

  SCENE CHANGE

  JA Armstrong

  © Copyright 2019 Bumbling Bard Creations

  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 ONE

  Exhausted. Depleted. Done. Addison Blake wasn’t sure how she would describe her current state of existence. Existence. Most people looking in would imagine that Addison was “living the good life.” Good life? The “good” life was currently 1,400 miles away in Kansas. She threw her head back, tossed her pen onto the desk, and groaned. “Fuck it.”

  Addison looked back at her computer screen and shook her head. Enough was enough. Three weeks had been long enough. She’d never been apart from her family for more than two weeks. Three had pushed her beyond the limits of sanity. It was time to go home. “I can’t do this anymore,” she mumbled. Five minutes later, her flight was booked, and Addison was packing her bag to leave the office.

  ***

  “Victoria,” Emma’s voice took on a familiar warning tone.

  “Mommy,” Vicki answered. She placed her hands on her hips and sighed. “I have to make sure they do it right.”

  “Vicki, they know what they are doing.”

  “Mommy,” Vicki replied indignantly. “Momma is away. I have to keep watch.”

  God, please help me. Addy? Emma nodded. Vicki missed Addison. Addison had attempted to ease their daughter’s anxiety by giving Vicki a job. Frequent calls and video chats were a sad substitution for Addison’s presence. Addison told the toddler that she was counting on Vicki to make sure the contractors built the perfect house. “Keep an eye on things for me,” were her marching orders. Vicki had taken the direction to heart. Emma took a deep breath. Vicki was determined, and that meant that Vicki was willful. “Vicki,” Emma tried again. “You’re right.”

  Vicki grinned.

  Dear God, help me. “Momma did ask you to keep an eye on everything. But she also told you that you needed to help me.”

  Vicki sucked in her lower lip.

  Finally. “And I need your help in the house.”

  Vicki toyed with her lip and looked down. “Sorry, Mommy.”

  Emma reached out her hand. “Let’s go, Sprout. We can come back and check on everything after we make dinner for Grandma and Hannah.”

  Vicki accepted her mother’s hand. “Mommy?”

  “Yes, love?”

  “Do you miss Momma?”

  All the air in Emma’s lungs left her body instantly. She stopped walking and looked down at her daughter. “I miss your momma to the moon and back.”

  “Me too.”

  Emma smiled. “I know you do. I’ll tell you what; why don’t we see if we can get her on a video call when we get to the house?”

  Vicki nodded. “Mommy?”

  “Hum?”

  “Can we go home?”

  Emma sighed. Maybe we should. She tightened her grip on Vicki’s hand. “Soon, Sprout—soon.”

  ***

  “Can we call now?” Vicki requested.

  Emma turned from placing a dish into a cabinet.

  “Who are you calling?”

  Emma spun on her heels.

  “Momma!” Vicki sprinted for Addison.

  “Hey, Sprout!” Addison lifted her daughter and kissed her on the cheek. She looked over at Emma and was surprised to see tears in Emma’s eyes. She smiled and placed Vicki back on her feet.

  “I’m gonna tell Grandma!” Vicki announced and took off in a sprint. “Grandma!”

  Addison took the few steps necessary to reach her wife and embraced Emma. “Em?”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I missed you.”

  Emma pulled Addison close.

  “Em? Are you all right?”

  “I was going to fly home tomorrow.”

  Addison pulled away slightly. “What?”

  Emma shrugged. “Three weeks is too long, Addy.”

  Addison kissed Emma tenderly. “I agree. How are you feeling?”

  Emma smiled. “Better now.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Apparently, this one isn’t doubling as an alien.”

  Addison laughed and pulled Emma back into her embrace. “Have you told your mom yet?”

  “No.”

  “Really?”

  Emma nodded. “I wanted you to be here when we told them.”

  “Here I am. How about the house?”

  Emma pulled back and raised her brow. “Why did you think I would be the best person to keep an eye on this project?”

  “Your dad is here.”

  “Yes, he is. He seems to conveniently disappear with Vicki on a daily basis.”

  Addison laughed.

  “How long are you here?”

  “A week.”

  “Addy, don’t you need—”

  “I need to be here. I hoped that you might come back with me next Saturday. I have something I want to show you.”

  “Show me?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m ready to be home. I just wish I knew where home was.”

  “Well, for this week, it’s here. It won’t be long. I know it feels like it. The house will be ready in a few months.”

  “Yes, well, I hope it’s ready before I am doubling as Orca.”

  Addison rolled her eyes. “Stop it.” She kissed Emma on the forehead. “I missed you, Em.”

  Emma rested her head on Addison’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Three weeks shouldn’t have felt like it was an eternity. It did. Addison’s hands tenderly caressed her back and Emma sighed. Their lives were in upheaval. They’d put their house in Hollywood on the market three months earlier, but still had not found a buyer. They had chosen a design for a home in Kansas, and construction began shortly after that. A couple of unexpected snags had put them behind the construction schedule. Emma hoped to have their third child in Kansas and spend the summer near her family. Little upheavals worried her. What if their house sold before they found a new home in California? What if the house in Kansas wasn’t finished before the baby arrived? She loved her parents. She did not relish the idea of moving into her parents’ home with Addy, two little girls, and an infant.

  “Em, it’ll be okay. I promise.”

  “I know. I just worry.”

  “No worrying. That’s my job, remember?”

  Emma giggled. “I love you, Addy.”

  “I love you too, Em.”

  ***

  “Emmie?” Sherry Bronson addressed her daughter.

  “Hum?”

  “I thought you’d be on cloud nine with Addison here?”

  “Maybe cloud seven,” Emma replied with a chuckle.

  “Do you want to tell me why you’re worried?”

  Emma shrugged. “I wanted to tell you with Addy.”

  “Tell me? Did the house sell?”

  “No,” Emma said. “Which might be a good thing since we don’t have a house to move into.”

  “What is it?”

  Emma smiled. “I’m pregnant.”

  “That’s wonderful. Isn’t it?”

  “It is.”

  “When are you due?”

  “July.”

  “Honey, that’s plenty of time. It’s only January.”

  “I know. I had hoped to be here this time.”

  Sherry smiled. “The house will be done.”

  “I hope so. What if we don’t have any place to live, Mom?”

  “We can always buy an RV.” Addison strolled into the living room and handed Emma a cup of herbal tea. �
�I guess the news is out, huh?”

  Emma shrugged.

  “Congratulations, Addy,” Sherry said.

  “Thanks.” Addison turned to Emma. “Stop worrying.”

  Emma sighed. “It’s just—”

  “A lot of change all at once,” Sherry guessed.

  “Something like that,” Emma replied.

  Addison took a sip from her beer bottle. “Hey, if we need to, we can always pull our house off the market. It’ll work out, Em. It always does.”

  “I know.” Emma stretched and set down her cup.

  “Not feeling it?” Addison asked.

  “Just tired,” Emma said. She moved to Addison and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m going to turn in.”

  “Do you want me to—”

  “No. You stay and visit. You know where to find me. Night, Mom.”

  “Goodnight, Emmie.”

  Addison observed Emma carefully as Emma left the room and sighed.

  “Addy, she’ll be okay. I think there’s just a lot of uncertainty for her right now.”

  “I know there is. Something else is bothering her.”

  Sherry nodded.

  Addison set down her drink. “Mom? Did Em say something to you?”

  “No,” Sherry assured Addison. “It’s more like a guess.”

  “I’m listening.”

  Sherry hesitated to answer.

  “Mom, please.”

  “I think she’s torn, Addy.”

  “Between living here and Los Angeles.”

  Sherry nodded again.

  Addison sighed. “I know she is; I am too.”

  “Your life is there, Addy—both of you.”

  “Not really. Our work is there.”

  “And, that is a huge part of both your lives.”

  “Maybe.”

  “No,” Sherry disagreed. “Addison, you need to embrace that reality. I think somehow Emma thought that being here would ease that—her longing to work. It hasn’t. And, I think she’s starting to realize that.”

  “Em wants to be with the kids.”

  “Yes, I know. Emma’s been here for three weeks. I can see the way her eyes light up when you send her something to look at.”

  Addison scratched her brow. “I’ve tried to gently push her to work—just a little. She swears she doesn’t want to do it.”

  “She needs something for Emma,” Sherry said.

  Addison agreed. “I don’t know what to do, Mom.”

  “What you have always done.”

  “Which is?”

  “Tell her the truth.”

  “She doesn’t always listen.”

  “She does. It just takes her a while to hear. She thinks she needs to choose.”

  Sherry’s observation didn’t surprise Addison. Emma was torn. She’d been torn on and off for over four years. There was no role that Emma loved more than the role of “mom.” She was a creative person by nature. She needed an outlet to express her emotions and ideas. Addison wasn’t sure how to help Emma balance her love for their family and her passion for her work. She had one idea. She hoped that maybe Emma would be receptive to it.

  “I have an idea. I don’t know what Em will say, though.”

  Sherry winked. “Push gently, Addy. Sometimes, she needs that.”

  Sometimes, we all do.

  ***

  Addison slipped into the bed and wrapped her arm around Emma. “Are you awake?”

  “Mm-hum.”

  “Em?”

  “Hum?”

  “What do you think about moving here full-time?”

  Emma turned in Addison’s arms. “What?”

  “Well, I was thinking that—”

  “Addy, I can’t be apart from you for that long. Neither can the kids.”

  “Would you let me finish?”

  Emma sighed.

  “Please, Em, just listen.” Addison took a deep breath. I was going to talk to you about this when we got home.”

  “Talk to me about what?”

  Addison chuckled.

  “Sorry. I’m listening.”

  “When I got here, I realized that we need to establish where home is for us. I don’t mean finding the right house, or building the house here; I mean where we are at home. And, Em? I think that place is here.”

  Emma lost her breath for a moment. She sat up and shook her head. “Addy, your work is in Los Angeles.”

  Addison sat up and took Emma’s hands. “What if it wasn’t?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about leaving the everyday work of producing On Screen.”

  “What?”

  “Listen—”

  “Addy, no. No. That is—”

  Addison pressed two fingers to Emma’s lips. She sighed. “I’ve missed too much this last year, Emma.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “With Vicki and Hannah—with you. It’s been great. My heart isn’t in it anymore. Jeff’s heart still lives in that show. We have talented writers. It’s time for me to step away.”

  Emma sat shell-shocked.

  “And, it’s time for you to step back in.”

  “Addison, we’ve been over this. And, anyway, a pregnant actress isn’t exactly a high-demand category.”

  Addison laughed. “I didn’t mean right this second, Em.”

  “Addy—I don’t know where all of this is coming from. You want to live in Kansas? You’ll be bored in a few weeks.”

  “No, I won’t. And, you promised that you would listen. I think we should start a new production company.”

  “You have a production company.”

  “With Jeff.”

  “And?”

  “I think I should let Jeff buy me out.”

  Emma was stunned into silence—again.

  “I’m not kidding,” Addison continued. “You and me, Em. I think we should start a production company together—here.”

  “Here? In Kansas?”

  “Why not?”

  Emma stared at Addison.

  “Come on, Em. Think about it. We can help people realize their vision. We can look to create new things together.”

  Emma smiled. “Addy,” she began gently. “I know what you’re doing.”

  “What am I doing?”

  “Trying to find a safe way for me to work.”

  Addison shook her head. “No. I’m not.” She squeezed Emma’s hands. “I’m not.” Addison sighed and closed her eyes.

  “Then what is this about?”

  “Home, Em. It’s about home. I know—I do know there will come a time when you need to be away for a job, or I will. I know that time will come someday. Right now, I don’t want to be apart for weeks at a time. Off Screen was always our project. On Screen started that way too—it did. It’s not the same without you, not for me. My heart isn’t in it, and I can’t keep pretending that it is. Jesus, Em, Vicki starts kindergarten in the fall. I don’t want to go back and forth. I want her to be able to do what we did as kids. You know? Ride her bike with friends, walk to a neighbor’s house to play. I want her to have that. I want all of our kids to have that. I want to go to the damn PTA meetings, and I don’t want to be caught at the studio when she graduates.”

  “That’s a way off, love.”

  “Graduates anything!”

  Emma laughed. “Addy, this is a huge step that you’re suggesting—for all of us.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Maybe it is. That doesn’t mean it’s not the right decision.”

  Emma leaned in and kissed Addison softly. “We’ll talk about it.” She heard Addison sigh with disappointment. “We’ll talk about it,” she repeated the words gently. “We need to talk about this, Addy. There are a lot of things to consider.” Emma cupped Addison’s cheek. “Now, it’s your turn to listen to me. I love you. I love you so much, Addy, that some days it hurts. I hate being apart as much as you do. You know that. I’d be lying to you if I said that I h
adn’t thought about making our life here. But we’ve built a wonderful life together in Los Angeles. We have. There are people we love there—both of us. There are people Vicki and Hannah love there too.”

  “I know, but—”

  “No. There is no but in this equation. There are a lot of ands, and a lot of considerations. We made a plan together last year.”

  “Plans change all the time,” Addison said.

  Emma smiled. “Yes, they do. We’ll talk about it—all of it.”

  “That means no.”

  Emma chuckled. Addison could be hyper-sensitive at times. “It means that we will talk about it. And, it does not mean no. We’ve made every major decision in our marriage together. It’s part of the reason we work.”

  “I know. I want you to be happy,” Addison replied.

  “Oh, Addy, where did you get the idea that I’m not happy?”

  “You’re worried.”

  “Yes, I am. I’m concerned about having a solid footing before this baby arrives. I need that, love. I can’t explain that to you; I need that. Maybe to other people it seems ridiculous. Of course, we will have a place to live. I want it to be the place we are planning to live. I want the kids to start—I want us to all be home.”

  “That’s why I—”

  Emma silenced Addison with another kiss. She laid back and pulled Addison into her arms. “We’ll work it out, Addy. We always do.”

  Addison held onto Emma. “I know.”

  ***

  “Okay, out with it.”

  Tamara looked at her wife and shrugged.

  “Tam—”

  “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  “How about telling me what is going on in that brain of yours.”

  “At least, you didn’t say little brain.”

  “Tamara.”

  “Okay! I don’t know, Chris. Something is up with Addy.”

  Christie nodded.

  “You noticed it too?” Tamara asked.

  “She’s been quiet the last few weeks. I chalked it up to being apart from Emma.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You know Addison,” Christie continued. “She hates being apart from Emma and the girls.”

  “Mm.”

  “What aren’t you saying?” Christie asked.

  Tamara groaned.

  “Tam?”

  “She’ll kill me.”

  “Addison?” Christie guessed.

  “Em.”

  “As long as we’ve been together, I still cannot decode your logic. What are you talking about?”