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“So does she resent you for having a career as an actor now?”
“I don’t think so,” he said. “She stopped going to auditions and started doing something in the fashion industry after we broke up. We haven’t kept in touch over the years, but I heard she ended up getting her real estate license and doing really well.”
“You know,” Maye said, changing the subject. “While this relationship is problematic, I can see how it would happen. The way your character and Stacy’s mom handled the situation was very adult. Full of blissful ignorance, but adult-like.”
“That sounds like a rave review. Put it on the DVD box!” Chris said. “You ready to volunteer at a summer camp?”
“Noooo,” Maye quickly shut that down.
“Have you had your first movie plot outing yet?” he asked.
“Oh! Yes!” Maye said, excitedly. “Well, I don’t know if it’s a movie plot, but I did try something new. Kickboxing!”
“Wow! Bold choice!” Chris sounded impressed.
“There were no impromptu proposals or interrupted kisses, but I had a good time.”
“Look at you, Maye! I’m proud of you!”
“Thanks. I’m kinda proud of myself too. Hey, can I ask you something about this show we’re supposed to be doing?”
“Oh, so now this is a business call? I was here for pleasure.”
Maye smirked.
“But, hey,” Chris continued, “if we’re gonna talk shop, then we can count this as our weekly check-in call, okay? So we won’t need to do that again til there’s some new info. Anyway, carry on.”
“What’s the deal with Jayce?” she continued. “Can I ask that? I don’t know how else to ask. I don’t really know what to think of him. Is he trustworthy? Is he slimy? What do you know about him?”
“No, you’re fine,” Chris said. “It’s good to wonder. I mean, this is all new to you. Jayce has been a production assistant for a few years, that I know of, and he really wants to get his name on something as a producer. So, he’s hustling, trying to make things happen.”
“Can I trust him?” Maye asked.
“Well, you can trust me,” Chris said. “And Jayce can’t pull things over on me, so you’re safe. But he’s trying to make a name for himself, so he’ll probably make some mistakes. He’s still young and has a lot to learn, but he’ll figure it out. I’d like to produce as well. It’s hard to get your name on something that has some momentum, and this little idea, since it happened so organically and publicly, has some momentum.”
“So, this idea, this show…like, what is it…?”
Chris laughed. “It is whatever it needs to be at this point. Jayce is trying to drum up interest and sell the idea so it can be a movie review show, or a question-answer show, or whatever type of show will attract eyeballs. It’s currently in the development stage. So, it’s very fluid.”
“I see…” Maye said, still confused.
“What’s important, though, is you and me. We seem to have a very special chemistry. That attracts people. And where there’s a crowd, there’s money to be made. That’s what the broadcasters and streamers need from a business sense. What I care about is getting to do what I love, and having fun while I’m doing it, and I have a lot of fun with you, Maye.”
Maye’s chest tingled and she smiled to herself. It was no wonder he won over so many fans. “You’re a pretty fun time, too,” she said. “And thanks to you distracting me, I have no idea how or why your character is responsible for making meals for all the campers. What happened to the cook?”
“He was only available to film for one day, and we needed another meal-time scene. We had to improvise a bit.”
“No food service gloves? Unbelievable…” Maye said, shaking her head and smirking.
“We were in the woods!” Chris shouted.
- 8 -
A Hard Bargain
At the start of the bargaining phase, Maye didn’t feel like journaling, so she bargained with herself. If I can make it all the way to the office without thinking about Randall, then I will reward myself with no journaling today.
Well, here we are. Bargaining week not off to a great start. This week I need to go through the scenarios of what I could have done differently. What if I paid more attention to what was going on around me? What if I asked more questions about Randall’s day? What if I had been more fun? Maybe then Randall’s dad wouldn’t have sold the business and Randall wouldn’t have wanted to go hiking. But that jerk did sell the business and so jerk jr. went hiking. Okay, clearly a little leftover anger creeping into bargaining week. Totally normal and healthy. I just need to focus on the things I can control. I’m supposed to try to convince the universe to bring Randall back and magically repair what has happened. If I swear to be more fun and less rigid, then everything can go back to normal. But wouldn’t ‘normal’ be unfun and rigid? So how would that work? And…I hesitate to even put this down on paper but I know I need to be honest with myself. I am not even sure I want the universe to bring Randall back. I’m still really ticked off at him! If I just focus on the now, on spending time with Tracy, on the ridiculous movie plot thing Chris and the Lunch Ladies want me to try, then I will be able to move on to the next phase of grieving and get through this.
