“One of my favorites,” Mauve said.
“It’s a story about grief,” Marcus said. “And survivor’s guilt. All the stuff I understand.”
“Will it be too hard for you to delve into all that?” Reese asked.
Marcus shrugged. “I mean, I kind of have to if I’m serious about being an actor. It’s not like I think it was worth it to go through all that drama with my mom just so I could be a better actor but it’s … it seems like the best thing I could do with what happened. Like putting it into art is a way to understand it. Or something.”
“I understand,” Reese said. “And agree.”
“You should ask Jason to coach you,” Mauve said spontaneously. “He probably has a lot of insight into the whole process. What they’re looking for maybe?”
“I thought so too,” Marcus said. “Do you think he would?”
“For sure,” Reese said. “He’d love to help.”
“And he’s a great teacher,” Mauve said, unable to keep the pride out of her voice. “You should see him with Ollie.”
“Cool, I’ll ask him tonight,” Marcus said. “I’m going to work on memorizing these so I can get to the real stuff.”
“What schools did your counselor suggest?” Reese asked.
Marcus sat on the coffee table, leaning over his legs as he spoke. “We have a list. Tisch is the one I really want but I don’t know if I can get in. Mr. Dansen thinks I have a shot at Carnegie Mellon and USC. BU is a possibility too. University of Vermont will be my backup school, but I really hope I get one of the others. I send my audition video in and, if they like it, I’m invited out to the school for an in-person one.”
When Marcus barreled off to his room a few minutes later to start working on memorizing his monologues, Reese turned to Mauve.
“I remember being that age, so excited about ballet. Hoping I’d get in to my dream academy.”
“And you did,” Mauve said loyally.
“Somehow, this feels harder. It’s one thing if I’d failed, but seeing my kid go through it is terrifying. What if he doesn’t get in anywhere he wants to go? What if his heart gets broken?”
“He will get in to one of them. But I get your point. Whatever happens, he knows you and Roan are here for him. He’s lucky.”
“He’s been categorically unlucky for most of his life, but yes, he has us now.”
“Are you worried about the tuition?” Mauve asked. “It’s not like either of you were expecting to have teenagers at age thirty-four. And now a baby on the way.”
Reese nodded, a flush rising to her cheeks. “Jason already told us he wants to pay for the boys’ college.”
“What? Really?” Of course he had. That’s the kind of man he was. A family man, even if he thought differently.
“He said he has the means and wants to take that burden off us. Roan tried to decline, but Jason won in the end. Thank goodness.”
“I can’t wait to be an aunt,” Mauve said.
Was it her fate to only be an aunt and never a mother. That thought made her so morose that she pushed it aside to focus on her friend. “All right, no wine, but how about I make you a cup of herbal tea?”
“That sounds wonderful,” Reese said.
“You stay here. Have a rest. I’ll bring it to you.”
“Maybe some crackers too?”
“I’m on it.”
She left her best friend on the couch and went to the kitchen, thinking about Jason and his big heart. No wonder she loved him.
Yep. She loved him.
