Part 7 (2/2)
”I'd rather hear about what you've been doing.”
”Eating, sleeping, and for whatever crazy reason watching s...o...b.. Doo with my father and Sprout.”
Addison chuckled. ”Your dad is a cartoon addict.”
”I know. Weird. So? How are things going?”
”Good,” Addison said. ”On track for the most part. A couple of minor snags.”
”Oh? Such as?”
”Typical stuff, Em. You know the drill. Jillian Dorn backed out last night.”
”What?” Emma's voice rose an octave. Jillian Dorn had been slated to play a former Hollywood starlet who was vying for the newly single Jack in the Off Screen reboot.
Addison cringed on the other line. ”Health issue, Em. Not her fault, but it could delay filming. And, h.e.l.l... You know what that can mean. Jeff promised the network a rough cut by the end of next month. I have no idea how long it will take to replace her. Jeff's been putting out some feelers, but... It's gotta fit with Sandra, you know?”
”Christie.”
”What?” Addison asked.
”Call Christie. She's between projects, so to speak.”
Addison was blown over by the suggestion. Christie Shelton was a talented actor. She was also one of Emma's closest friends and Tamara's fiancee. Addison would never have considered calling Christie about the part.
”Addy? Did you hear me?”
”Yeah. Christie? Em, do you really think...”
”Christie's great, Addy. She would rock that part,” Emma said affectionately.
Addison sighed heavily. Christie was great. ”Do you think she wants to play a lesbian? I mean, Em... She's gone out of her way to avoid any part like that.”
Emma knew what Addison was referring to. Coming out publicly had been a harder decision for Christie than it had been for Emma. Emma understood all of the reasons, and she also understood Christie's reluctance to take on lesbian roles. The last thing any actor wanted was to be placed in a box. And, there were legitimate reasons to fear that repercussion.
”You won't know if you don't ask her,” Emma said. She heard Addison sigh and chuckled. ”You want me to give her a call?” she suggested.
Addison closed her eyes. ”You don't have to, Em. I know that you don't want to get involved...”
”No. I never said that, Addy. I said that I don't want to be on screen, and I do not want to commit to any projects right now. I never said that I didn't want to be involved.”
Addison thought for a minute. Emma's definitive declaration that she would not sign on to any projects as an actor had been just that. Addison had never considered that there were other ways that Emma could contribute.
”I'm an idiot sometimes,” Addison mumbled.
”What? Addy? Do you want me to? Call Christie, I mean?”
”You think she might do it?” Addison asked.
”I don't know. I do know that the only way to find out is to ask.”
”I love you, you know?”
Emma laughed. ”Miss me, huh?”
”More than you know,” Addison said honestly.
”I'm a phone call away.”
”Not the same thing,” Addison said. It wasn't. Emma knew that too. ”You know, if you had been here, I would have had this solved hours ago. At least, I would have had some ideas.”
Emma smiled at the compliment. ”You don't give yourself enough credit,” she said. ”You've maneuvered more upheavals than I can count without any help from me.”
”Not true,” Addison disagreed. ”I always had you there.”
”Still do,” Emma said. ”I'll give her a call; okay?”
Addison decided it was time for a change in subject. ”How are you feeling?” she asked.
”Good,” Emma said. ”A little tired,” she admitted. ”But good.”
”Good. I just wanted...”
”I know, to hear my voice. Didn't expect to have to hold a conversation, huh?” Emma joked.
”No,” Addison confessed. ”But, I'm glad that we did.”
”Me too. I'll call you tonight so Sprout can say h.e.l.lo.”
”Mm. What about the seedling?” Addison asked.
Emma laughed. ”Seedling?”
”Well, it goes with Sprout,” Addison pointed out.
”Uh-huh.
”You know, King...”
”Goodbye, Addy,” Emma kept laughing.
”You know; it would be...”
”Goodbye, Addy,” Emma repeated. ”I'll talk to you tonight,” she said and disconnected the call.
Addison grinned. A short conversation with Emma had left her feeling a thousand pounds lighter; at least, it did for the moment. She snickered and typed a short message.
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