Page 66 of Born to be Wilder

“Dan, are you sure?” the bald one said. “We need to follow every rule. Clarice is gunning for us, and even a thousand miles away, I’m still terrified of her. If we do this, they need to sign a mountain of paperwork. We can’t survive a lawsuit if they get hurt or leak information.”

Dan nodded. “Yeah. We can get the paperwork done. I think it will be fine.”

Anders looked at the bald one. “Well, Roger, what do you say? Should we sneak these ladies onto the set and get them in a scene or two?”

I bounced on my toes. “Come on, Roger! You won’t regret it! Look at us. We’ve got character. You want these mugs in your shots. Admit it.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright. You’re in.”

“Whoo-hoo!” I whooped, tossing my arms around Alice’s waist and giving her an unwelcome squeeze. “We’re gonna be in a movie!”

She wiggled out of my embrace. “Thank you, gentlemen. Where do we go?”

Anders dabbed his mouth with his napkin. “We’re just finishing up. Set’s only five blocks from here. Why don’t you just follow us?”

“Got it! I’ll gather the gals!” I grabbed Alice’s hand and dragged her back to the table.

“Well?” Sylvie asked with expectant eyes. “I take it your obnoxious hollering was a good thing?”

Alice smiled. “We’re in.”

“Oh! This could be fun!” Doris clapped her hands.

“It worked again?” Sylvie asked with a slight shake of her head.

I nodded, my ecstatic expression sobering a little. “The cancer card truly is powerful business.”

Alice glanced at the three men. “Anders’ mom had it and Dan’s aunt had it. They understand.”

Doris frowned. “Oh, that’s terrible.”

“It’s shocking,” Sylvie said as she tidied up her area. “Every time we use it, someone has a connection. It’s like this invisible club nobody wants to be in, but everyone’s a member.”

“A lot of survivors, too,” I pointed out, nudging Alice. “Fighters. Just like you.”

We all shared a look, one that said no matter what, we had each other. Up, down, in, out, over, under… The Wilder Widows were together through it all.

Even cancer.

“Well, I’m just glad having cancer can do us some good,” Alice said. “Because honestly, this does sound like an interesting way to spend the day.”

I was already heading for the door. “Come on, girls, we don’t want to slow ’em down. Let’s be waiting outside when they’re ready. This is going to be awesome!”

A movie… We were going to see how a movie was made and maybe even get to be in one.

Immortalized forever. Especially in case…

That unwelcome thought flickered into my head, the one that thought… What if Alice doesn’t make it?

Rage filled me up as I beat that thought back down, replacing it with the other one.

She’ll be fine.

She had to be. I wouldn’t allow any other outcome.

The widows came out the door behind me, followed by Dan, Anders, and Roger. We hurried behind them down the sidewalk as they argued and spoke so fast they sounded like auctioneers. The widows whined that they hadn’t even gotten in a shower yet today and didn’t look their best for their movie debut, but Anders assured them hair and makeup would be happening anyway.

Several blocks later, two guards sat at the end of a barricaded street.