Stars Collide

  “You’re moving to the jungle?” she asked, her brow now wrinkled in confusion.

  I slapped my head. “No, goofy. I already live in the jungle. I’m moving to the Amazon, where the natives are friendly and the only headhunters are the kind that eat you for dinner. I’ll be safe there. Safer than I am here, anyway.”

  She chuckled. “Okay, I get it. You’re worked up. I’m not saying I blame you, exactly. I guess this is pretty embarrassing.”

  “You can say that again.”

  She’d just started to when Scott stuck his head in the door and smiled. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” I forced a smile, but my heart wasn’t really in it.

  “So, I hear we’re a pretty hot topic,” he said, entering the room. “My mother called this morning to say she saw us in the paper and on television. Apparently we made Good Morning America and The View.”

  “Scott, I’m so sorry.” I buried my face in my hands. “How are we going to fix this?”

  “Let them talk, Kat. Let them all talk. I still say we just ride the wave. If nothing else, this will be great PR for the show, like Rex said.” He shrugged. “It’s not hurting my reputation any for people to think that a girl like you would even think about marrying a guy like me. It’s pretty flattering, in fact.”

  Okay, maybe I could get used to this. My bundled nerves began to loosen as I observed the smile on Scott’s face. How did he do it? Even with the storm waters raging around him, he still managed to be calm, cool, and collected. The guy was a walking advertisement for antiperspirant.

  “She’s thinking about moving to Africa,” Athena said, gesturing to me. “You’re not going to let that happen, are you, Scott?”

  Before he could answer, I corrected her. “Not Africa, the Amazon.” Turning to Scott, I sighed. “Do you ever just wish you could run away?”

  “I already did that,” he said. “It’s how I ended up in L.A., remember? Small-town boy leaves small-town life to pursue opportunities in bigger places . . .”

  “Touché.”

  “You’re not going anywhere, Kat,” he said, his eyes filled with empathy. “I don’t think my heart could take it.”

  Athena looked back and forth between us, her eyes narrowing into slits. “I knew you were head over heels for each other! I can’t believe I thought it was just great acting on your part.”

  “Hey now,” I said, crossing my arms at my chest. “Are you saying my acting isn’t great?”

  “Not as great as this.” She pointed to the two of us. “This is better than any script I could write, Kat. And trust me, God’s lines are far better than mine, so I’m not arguing.”

  Scott slipped an arm over my shoulders. “We’ve already told Rex,” he said. “And when the time is right, we’ll let others know too. It’s just been a little tricky.”

  “So you didn’t want people to know you were dating, but you’re perfectly okay with letting everyone think you’re engaged?” she asked. “Because half of America has already gotten the memo, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  “That’s different.”

  “Okay.” After a moment’s pause, she asked, “But are you sure you two aren’t really engaged?”

  “We’re not,” I assured her. “If I’m ever engaged, you’ll be one of the first to know. I promise.”

  “Okay then.” She offered a satisfied smile.

  “Oh, and speaking of people knowing, I called my parents on my way home from our dinner the other night,” Scott said. “I explained everything.”

  “Thank goodness.”

  “Actually, my mom was really disappointed. She was hoping we were really engaged. My dad seemed a little confused by it all, but then again, everything about life in Hollywood confuses him.”

  I heard a commotion out in the hallway, so I stuck my head out of the door to see what I’d missed. Bianca Jacobs, Candy’s mother, stood nose to nose with Tia Morales, letting her have it about something. Picture the mighty Goliath facing down little David. Tia’s petite form seemed dwarfed by this stage mom’s overwhelming presence. Bianca’s voice grew shriller, and she waved her hands in Tia’s face.

  “Wow.” I watched in amazement as Bianca continued to rant.

  “This is better than the WWE,” Scott whispered. “Who do you think is gonna come out on top?”

  “Hmm.” I paused to think about it. “Tia’s got the power, but Bianca’s got the guts. This is going to be a close call.”

  “My money’s on Tia,” Athena whispered. “She’s got a lot to prove. Besides, she’s one tough cookie.”

  “Maybe not as tough as Bianca, the ultimate stage mother,” I added. I’d never known anyone as aggressive as that woman, except, perhaps, her daughter. Candy regularly pitched fits when things didn’t go her way. Most of us had grown weary of the youngster’s ongoing temper tantrums, but even she looked mild in comparison to mama.

  I listened as Bianca ranted, trying to get a feel for what was going on.

  “Is it really true that you’ve decided to cut over half of Candy’s song from that last episode?” she asked.

  “Well, the scene went a little long, and—” Tia never had a chance to finish because Bianca looked like a teakettle about to blow.

  “What?” Bianca glared at her. “Do you know how many gigs we turned down so that we—I mean, she—could play the role of Kimberly? We had a deal. Mark promised to showcase Candy’s talents in this stupid sitcom of his. This is completely ridiculous.”

  Ouch.

  Silence fell over the cast and crew at this proclamation. Tia took a couple of steps back. For a second there, I thought she might take Bianca down. Instead she drew in a few slow, calculated breaths, then managed what had to be a rehearsed sentence. “There has been a change in plans, Ms. Jacobs. And let me remind you that Mark is no longer here. I’m here, and I’ve decided that Candy’s song was too long to include all of it in the scene. We’re trimming back a little, only using half the song. There will be plenty of opportunities to showcase her talent later. Right now, we need to focus on the proposal and the upcoming wedding.”

  Lovely.

  Bianca opened her mouth but stopped herself from saying more when she realized everyone in the place was now watching her. Oh, if only her daughter could practice the same amount of restraint. I caught a glimpse of the eight-year-old with her perfect curls and frilly dress standing nearby. Nothing could match the child’s beauty on the outside. But, on the inside?

  Hmm. Looked like we were about to find out what she was made of.

  Everyone watched with calculated breaths as Candy rose and took a few steps in Tia’s direction. She maintained her composure for a moment, but I was pretty sure I saw steam erupt from her ears as the foot-stamping episode began. Then her high-pitched voice rang out.

  “Mark told me I could sing my song! The whole song, every word! Why are you cutting it?” She had morphed from adorable child star to demon-possessed thriller material. She drew closer to Tia, waving her hands and shouting all sorts of obscenities. Even the prettiest of blonde curls couldn’t mask this sort of ugliness. To her credit, Tia took a giant step backward and refused to join in the chaos.

  Then Bianca dove in again, speaking more forcefully to Tia. “We’ve said all we have to say on the matter. And just so you know, Candy and I will be leaving at three fifteen today. Mark already approved it. She has an audition for a movie at four o’clock, and we’re going to be there one way or another.”

  “Ms. Jacobs, you know perfectly well that won’t happen,” Tia countered. “We won’t even get to her scene until three thirty at the earliest. You saw today’s production schedule.”

  “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear,” Bianca huffed. “Candy has an audition and she can’t miss it. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

  “She’s only eight years old and she’s already got a prominent role on one of the top-rated sitcoms in America. I would think that would be opportunity enough.” Tia stared her down. “I won’t be adju
sting the schedule.”

  The tips of Bianca’s ears turned bright red, and before long her clenched jaw became evident. Goodness. I had a feeling she might blow like a top. Thankfully she turned away from Tia and headed to the side of the room where Candy had settled, a pout on her face. Seconds later, the child’s piercing wail filled the room.

  “But I want to audition for the movie! It’s not fair. She’s such a—” A repulsive word escaped the child’s lips, and everyone in the studio turned—in slow motion, no less—to see what might happen next. Candy stamped her foot, not just once, but twice. “I. Am. Going. To. The. Audition.” She marched in Tia’s direction again and began to scream bloody murder.

  The rest of the cast members looked on, mortified.

  I turned back to Scott but didn’t see him. Ah. He’d already headed in Candy’s direction. Within minutes, he had her calmed down. Amazing, the power he had over even the unruliest of people. If this acting thing didn’t work out for him, maybe he could seek out work as an exorcist.

  Rex walked up to Bianca, his voice unusually tremulous. “Ms. Jacobs, I would like a word with you in my office.”

  “Whatever you have to say can be said here,” she said.

  “Fine. Let it be understood that you will never again speak to Ms. Morales in the way I just witnessed. And if you have a problem with anything related to your daughter’s role in this show, please come to me, not her.”

  “Now, why would I come to you?” Bianca looked down her nose at him. “No one even knows why you’re here. Mark told me himself that you should have retired years ago.” She rambled on, but I didn’t hear another word. I was still trying to recover from the shock of what she’d just said. Talk about nervy.

  Rex appeared to be handling himself better than I would have. “Ms. Jacobs, I don’t believe my role here at Stars Collide is in any way hindered by my age. Most of these folks believe my years in the business lend credibility to my job as producer. Sure, I’m older than most. But you know what? With age comes wisdom. And understanding. And that, frankly, is the only reason I’m able to stand here and accept this sort of irrational attack at all.”

  She crossed her arms at her chest. “Well, I never—”

  “No, I don’t suppose you ever paused to think about how hurtful your words could be to others,” he said, giving her a stern look. “Your daughter, even. But I can and will tell you that this has to stop. If you can’t get these emotional outbursts under control, you will be in breach of contract.”

  “I . . . I beg your pardon?” She gave him an incredulous look. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Actually, it’s not,” he said. “Read your daughter’s contract. You signed it yourself. There’s a morality clause, and it covers not only the child but also the parent. These constant battles you wage are detrimental to the well-being of the other children. And frankly, they’re embarrassing, not just for those of us who produce the show, but for you as well. It’s a shame you don’t see that.”

  She grew quiet, but I could see her hands shaking. Why in the world did she have to get so worked up? Didn’t she realize how awkward this was?

  Grandma Lenora chose this moment to enter the room, wearing a brilliant purple gown.

  Rex took one look at her and let out a whistle. “Hello, gorgeous!” he said, extending his hand.

  “Oh, Rex, you got it right!” She batted her eyelashes . . . so hard they almost came loose.

  “Barbra Streisand. Funny Girl. 1968.” He nodded. “Same year you got your star on the Walk of Fame.”

  Grandma’s face turned crimson. “Your memory is incredible.”

  “My memories are . . .” He paused, his eyes taking on a faraway look, then ran his hand over his balding scalp. “Anyway, you look lovely.”

  Grandma looked around the room, clucking her tongue as she saw Bianca with a feisty expression on her face. “I don’t know what all of the fussing and fighting is about anyway,” she called out. “What’s wrong with you people? This is a joyous day! My beautiful granddaughter is getting married . . . and you are all invited!” She dove into a lengthy description of the reception she planned to host in the gardens of Worth Manor, and before long even Bianca was completely silent.

  One of the little boys came up to me and tugged on my sleeve. I looked down.

  “Yes, Toby?”

  “Kat, you and Mr. Scott are really getting married?”

  I groaned. “It’s a long story, honey. Just don’t believe everything you hear, okay?”

  “O-okay.” Looking more confused, he sprinted off to join his friends.

  I could sense the eyes of everyone on the set on me, so the time felt right to head to my dressing room. Scott caught up with me in the hallway.

  “Kat, slow down.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Sure you can.”

  “Nope. Can’t.”

  “Kat, it’s going to be okay.”

  I turned to face him, shaking my head. “I don’t see how.” Leaning back against the wall, I closed my eyes, deep in thought. A couple of minutes went by, and I said nothing.

  “What are you thinking about?” Scott asked finally.

  “How I’m going to decorate my hut.” I opened one eye.

  “Your hut?”

  Both eyes popped open. “When I get to the Amazon, I’m going to have to figure out how to decorate my hut. I don’t think I can transport my stuff from home. I’ll never get half of it through customs. So I’ll have to start from scratch. Do you think they have a Container Store down there? Maybe an IKEA?”

  “Kat, you’re not going anywhere.”

  “I have no choice. How can I stay here and face everyone? There’s no way to fix this, Scott, and it’s only going to get worse. Before you know it, Grandma will spend thousands of dollars fixing up the house for the reception. She’ll buy roses for nonexistent flower girls and have invitations printed for a ceremony that’s not real. And there’s not a thing in the world I can do about it.” I paused, my thoughts shifting. “Do you think I can get Wi-Fi in the rain forest?”

  “Maybe you’re not the one who needs a vacation,” Scott said. “Did you ever think of that? Maybe your grandmother needs to get away for a while until all of this simmers down. We can send her on a vacation until the scene is filmed. When she comes back, all will be forgotten.”

  “That sounds good in theory,” I said. “But she can’t possibly travel alone. No telling where she would end up.”

  “True.” He laughed. “Though it would be kind of funny to see her land someplace in the Sahara wearing one of those sparkling dresses. Might give a whole new meaning to the word mirage.”

  Finally I found something to laugh about.

  “It’s going to be okay, Kat,” Scott whispered, leaning so close it sent delightful shivers down my spine. “Athena is right. God is a great scriptwriter, better than any we know. He’s got this one figured out and he knows what’s coming next, even if we don’t.”

  I shrugged. “Wish I could see the upcoming scenes. My guess is they’re going to be pretty unbelievable.”

  Athena stopped by at just that moment. “Oh, you’re wanting to see the upcoming scenes? No problem. We’re already working on your wedding scene. I know it’s not going to be filmed for a few weeks yet, but Rex wanted us to get a running start on it.”

  I realized she’d misunderstood me, but I never got the chance to say so.

  “Why are you working on it so soon?” Scott asked.

  Athena lowered her voice. “Rex is nervous because there’s talk of another writers’ strike. Didn’t you guys know about that?”

  “No way.” I shook my head. “Talk about lousy timing.”

  “No kidding. But if the writers go on strike, we’ll have to join them.” She released an exaggerated breath. “I’m not saying I agree with it, Kat. But that’s how the cookie crumbles.”

  “Stop. You’re making me hungry.” I reached into my purse and came out with a Snickers bar, which I
shoveled down in short order. Athena and Scott both watched me, clearly mesmerized with my speed. Only when I reached for a second did Athena stop me.

  “Kat, don’t. You’re not going to fit into your wedding dress.”

  I groaned then pressed the still-wrapped candy bar back into my purse. “Who cares? I could gain a hundred pounds and it still wouldn’t change a thing. Jack would just be marrying a chubbier version of Angie.”

  “Still. The people in wardrobe would kill you.” Athena chuckled and grabbed my hand. “Want to see what we have so far? I think you’ll be tickled by it.”

  “Sure. Why not.” I gave Scott a woeful look as he headed off toward the men’s dressing room, then I followed Athena to her office, where three of the other writers sat congregated in the middle of the room, brainstorming.

  “It’s going to be hysterical,” Athena said, pointing to the storyboard. “Angie is going to be coming up the aisle and trip over something on her way to meet Jack.”

  “Of course she will.”

  “We haven’t decided what she should trip over yet,” she explained. “That’s up for debate.”

  “Flower girl basket,” one writer threw in.

  “Her veil,” another countered. “It can be one of those really long ones. Maybe it will get tangled in a candelabra or something. Your grandmother’s been helping us come up with some of this stuff, by the way.”

  “Of course she has.” Only, she won’t remember it tomorrow.

  Athena shook her head. “Anyway, Jack is going to catch Angie before she hits the floor. It will be so romantic.”

  “Of course it will.”

  “Great opportunity for a close-up,” a writer named Bob said. “Maybe when the camera pans in close, one of your fake eyelashes could fall off and get stuck on your cheek.”

  “Lovely.” I sighed. “Just the way I always dreamed my wedding would be.”

  “Oh, and your grandmother came up with a great line for when Jack catches Angie,” one of the other writers threw in. “He’s gonna say, ‘Here’s looking at you, kid.’ ”