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Martin had been a pivotal role model for Jake. He’d talked to Jake like a person, not just a kid, and he’d offered friendship and counsel while Jake's actual father had been largely absent. He’d been the one to suggest that Jake had the brains and the eye to make it behind the camera as well as in front.
Jake thought of how much he’d missed because of his mother’s interference and his own stupidity, and wanted to throw up. He hugged Martin back as tightly as he could instead, as if he could transmit his apology through his arms.
“Martin, listen, I’m so sorry.” His voice rasped as he spoke through the grateful tears he’d managed to trap in his throat.
“I’m gonna stop you right there, Jake. Britt explained everything. Your mother was a viper back then, and by all reports is even more so now. You were just a kid. You’re supposed to be able to trust the people who love and raise you. We’re going to put all that behind us.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. I’ve been following your career. I’m proud of you. Come on back to the grill and tell me about your next project.”
Those words—words his own father had never spoken—washed away the last of the fear in his heart. He hadn’t completely screwed things up. His shoulders dropped in relief, and he felt the migraine pulse start to recede. Just like that. Could forgiveness really be that easy? Jake would forever remember the kindness of this man in this moment.
That meeting set the tone for the others as people began to arrive for dinner. Sadly, his mother from the show, Brenda Milliano, had lost her battle with breast cancer five years back. But Brittani and her best friend from the show were there, as well as their on-screen neighbor, Jake’s schoolmate, and the guy who ran the diner on the show. He couldn’t believe that everyone welcomed him back so readily. But he wasn’t going to jinx it by asking too many questions. He was going to put in the time and effort and get these friends back for real. He was livid that his mother had kept them from him in the first place. The smell of roasting tri-tip and barbecued chicken swirled through the air on the eddies of decades worth of conversations flitting back and forth.
“So, Mister Up-And-Coming-Showrunner, get us up to speed on the personal. Any special person in your life?”
Was Frankie in his life? Had she written him off completely? He sure as hell hoped not. He wanted to be able to count her among his family. “I’m working on that, but I sure hope she is.”
He told them about the show, and how things had hit the skids between them.
“Well then, when you’ve fixed things, you’ll bring her to a barbecue. I want to meet the woman who's managed to get under your skin.”
Martin ruffled Jake’s hair the same way he had twenty-five years ago and Jake grinned. Thank God some things never changed. He thought back to the last barbecue he’d attended with burned steaks and scorched sheets, and his resolution to fix this firmed. Martin's optimism unlocked Jake's own. “That’s a deal.”
After the plates were empty and bellies were full, Jake pulled Brittani to the side with a hug around her shoulders.
"Thanks for this."
"It's nothing," she demurred.
"It's everything, and I think you know that."
"We're family." She shrugged it off, but Jake was not deterred.
"Exactly. So I'm going to ask you this like a big brother would. Financially, how are you? I know we're doing this show tomorrow to raise money and awareness for the sisters, but are you working on other projects?"
Again Brittani shrugged and looked away. "There's the money from the Hudson House syndication, but nothing I've auditioned for has come through. I guess people just aren't willing to take a chance on a has-been."
"You aren't a has-been. You're a will-be-again, and I've got a project to talk to you about if you're interested in hosting a home renovation show."
Jake laid out the pitch that Greg Fowler had approached him with. He'd had no interest in getting back in front of the camera, but Brittani did and she still had that America's Sweetheart glow about her. This could be the perfect launch pad for her next career, wherever that might take her.
"Jake, you don't have to make up things for me to do."
"I'm not. This isn't even my project. I just know they need someone from the show, and I think you'd be perfect. If you're interested all I will do is put Greg in touch."And watch out for you on the network side, he added silently. He couldn't bear the thought of his little sister getting taken advantage of again. Not while he had any say in it.
"I…I think I'd like to hear more," Brittani said, quiet hope blooming in her eyes.
"Consider it done."
CHAPTER29
Jake walkedinto his LA condo, tired but at peace for the first time in years. He hadn't lost them. The people he'd loved and needed in his life had welcomed him back with open arms. Now if he could just convince Frankie that she belonged there too. He pulled his phone out of his pocket to see if he'd missed a call from her and realized he'd left it on airplane mode.
He clicked it over to accept phone calls, and his phone blew up in his hand. There were messages from everyone. Jo, Dom, Trina, Adrian… Everyone but her. His texts were still downloading when he listened to the first message from Jo and collapsed on his couch.
A fire?
