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Yeah, because you put your show ahead of her needs. You made it all about you. You didn't let her in on any of it.
The smart-ass voice in his head had been unhelpful for days. But instead of wallowing in his failure, Jake picked up his phone. There was just enough time before he had to be on set to get the ball rolling with legal. He wasn't about to let her go without a fight.
* * *
The old familiartwisting in his gut and pre-migraine throb came back the minute he stepped into his old studio. They had recreated the living room from the set, and it was like climbing into a time machine. One that was guaranteed to spin him around and make him nauseous.
There, on portable bleachers, sat a live studio audience who had paid handsomely for the opportunity. There would be glad-handing and an autograph auction after the show, as well as a live bank of operators to take donations from viewers at home. Jake's mouth filled with cotton.
“Okay, let’s get this show on the road!” Martin boomed. Then more quietly, “You okay, son?”
“That’s been a long time coming, but yeah, I’m good."
"You look a little pale. Still get that stage fright?"
Somehow he felt better that Martin had seen that, even if he hadn’t been able to help. "No. There was a fire yesterday at the vineyard. I'm just a little shaken up.” His hands trembled, but his heart was steady.
Jake was ushered to a high-perch leather chair by a production assistant who looked like he was bursting to tell someone about what he’d just overheard. So much for keeping out of the media spotlight. He’d just have to give them something better to talk about.
“Welcome, everyone. Today we have a rare assembly of the cast of Hudson House.”
The moderator was one of the perennially perky professional hosts who could often be found lurking outside red carpet events and reality competition shows. He introduced everyone and quickly got down to business.
“It’s been twenty-four years since Hudson House went off the air. As the youngest members, we’ll start with you, Brittani and Jake. You were still kids when the show went off the air. Where did your paths take you?”
Brittani spoke first. “Well, Stein, I want to say that I will always be grateful for the start Hudson House gave me in this business, but when I left I think my fall from grace was pretty visible to everyone. I was pushed into roles that were too mature for me, you know, the teen vixen. And then I fell into that lifestyle for real. Underage drinking, drugs, sex. I was a predator’s dream.”
Brittani choked back tears and Jake took her hand for support. He squeezed it twice, and she squeezed it back three times. Their old code. A silent reassurance that they had each other's back in front of the cameras.
“There were so many times I wished I could come back home to Hudson House. When I hit rock bottom, Martin helped me find the Sisters of Solace. They gave me shelter and counseling while I detoxed. Without their generous help, I wouldn’t be here today. That’s the reason we are all here. I am so thankful that my Hudson House family could help raise awareness of the amazing work they do. Please give generously during the call breaks to support this great organization.”
“And Jake?”
“I found myself in the same kind of space, pushed to play older than I was. But I think the teen heartthrobs probably have it a little easier than our female counterparts. I wish I’d been able to see it back then. What many people don’t know is that I suffered debilitating stage fright. I was fighting to get out. Martin pointed out the path, and Billy Gene gave me the map by teaching me on this set what a great director can do. I’m still learning, but I’m infinitely happier behind the camera.”
“What have you worked on since leaving the limelight?”
“I worked my way up, but I’m currently the showrunner for Million-Dollar Starter Home and Valenti Vineyards, an upcoming six-episode spin-off.” His mind shifted back to Frankie and how she’d take all of this.
“And what’s next for you?”
“That’s still up for grabs at this point, but I’m hoping to make an announcement soon. It’s not enough to be good at what I do. I should be doing good with what I do. That’s why I am here, to support Brittani and the Sisters of Solace.”
The conversation moved on, and Jake was hanging on every word. Getting these updates and finding out what his TV family had been up to in the intervening years filled him with simultaneous joy and regret. He’d missed so much.
When they did a brief “In Memoriam” section for Brenda, Jake bit back tears. He was included in stills with her from the show, and there was zero shame or chagrin. He realized that no matter what he did with the rest of his life, he was proud of his work on Hudson House because it had brought these people into his life. He didn’t have to chase acclaim anymore. He was enough just as he was.
Frankie was right. He’d put his head down and pushed through a bad situation to make something of himself. But that had been a reaction to having his family pulled out from under him. He hadn’t wanted to be that vulnerable again, so he’d put himself in positions of control. And he’d done so with the skills he’d observed in his mother.
He didn’t have to be that person anymore. He had his family back. He’d proven he was a capable director.
It was time to do some deep thinking about how he’d ended up here and where he wanted to go next.
CHAPTER30
The ground was stillwarm Monday afternoon. The heat rose through the soles of Frankie’s steel-toed boots. She inhaled deeply, trying to tamp down her panic, but her throat burned, still raw from the smoke. She coughed harshly. The respirator mask she wore over half her face was choking her. She longed to rip it off, but the firefighters had warned them that dangerous gasses were still rising off the piles of smoking debris.
Although the main house and most of the vines had survived untouched, the barn and storage shed, along with all of the farming equipment they had stored in there, were toast.
