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She was beyond ready to head to the hotel room and spend the rest of the evening with a bottle of wine, but that was no longer in the cards.
Sarah poured Anna Beth a cup of tea and held it out to her. “If you really want to begin anew, a good start would be to cancel that reservation and stay here. We are family; if you are staying in Snowy Springs, then you should be with me.”
What could Anna Beth say to that? If she argued, it would just cause more friction and be counterproductive.
She raised her teacup and held it up with a nod of her head. “You’re absolutely right. I’ll pick up my luggage and come back. I will probably need to find a quiet place to work, though.”
“Are you still writing for that television show?”
“No, I left when my contract came up.”
Sarah reached across the table and patted her hand sympathetically. “That show was a grotesque bit of fluffery. You’re better off.”
It was slightly condescending, but it seemed as though her aunt was trying. Though The Darcy’s writer’s room toxicity had left Anna Beth never wanting to work on another TV show, she’d learned a lot in the two years she’d written for it.
“Thanks. I wasn’t happy there, so it all worked out.”
“Are you writing for another show?” Sarah asked.
“Actually, I’m developing my own screenplay.”
“Good for you. What is it about?”
“It follows a blended family that falls apart when the matriarch dies and how they come back together.” Anna Beth took another sip of her tea, a sheepish smile on her lips. “A major departure from fart jokes and innuendos.”
Sarah retrieved her cup once more. “I’m proud of you. You deserve to work on your own ideas instead of someone else’s. Despite our struggles, I always knew you were smart and talented.”
Surprised, Anna Beth stuttered, “Th-thank you.”
“Although, it sounds awfully dark. I hope that the family at least gets a happy ending.”
Anna Beth blinked. “I’m not sure yet. Happy endings aren’t realistic.” She knew from experience, since Anna Beth lost the man she loved at twenty-five.
Her aunt clicked her tongue. “Yes, but people watch movies to be entertained, not depressed.”
Anna Beth bit the inside of her cheek. The screenplay wasn’t depressing. Emotional and ultimately uplifting, if not sprinkled with glitter and candy canes.
“I’m only a quarter of the way in, so we will see how it goes.”
“I am sure it will be wonderful and I don’t want to discourage you. I just thought I’d give you my opinion as a consumer.”
“I appreciated it,” Anna Beth lied.
“On a happier note,” Sarah said, while pouring herself some more tea, “you don’t have to worry about finding a quiet place to write. Between working at the police station part-time and helping at the community center, I’m hardly home. You’ll have the place to yourself.”
“What are you doing for the Snowy Springs PD?”
Her aunt’s face twitched, which was as close to she’d ever come to smiling. “I run the front office. After you left, I found myself at a loss, being here alone, and they needed someone to answer phones and do paperwork a few days a week. It’s a win-win.”
Anna Beth couldn’t believe it. Growing up, her aunt had enjoyed various clubs and charity work, but the majority of the time, she preferred to avoid the public.
Could someone really have such a major personality progression without aliens or robots being involved?
You’ve spent way too much time in Hollywood.
“That’s great. I’m happy for you.”
“Yes, I’ve even grown fond of that young man who used to sneak into your window at night when you thought I was asleep.”
