Doug caught Jen’s glance. In the light of the streetlamp, her eyes shone, the corners of her mouth rose, and he felt her exuberance in the air around them.
“Told you so,” she bragged. “I knew all the time.”
“Right,” he said. “Enjoy the moment, but remember that a writer’s life is a rollercoaster ride.”
Chapter 14
In a daze, Doug disconnected the call from Steve Kantor and tossed the cell phone onto his desk. A roller-coaster ride. He’d warned Jen, but even Doug could not have known how prophetic his warning would be. They’d both been euphoric with the Silverman brothers’ plans to investigate a Broadway production of The Sanctuary. But this latest news…? A shocker.
He glanced at his watch, then rose, too restless and distracted now to keep working. Outside his window, sunlight cast long shadows. The maple trees that lined the street were almost bare, but for a few stubborn leaves still clinging to their branches.
Grabbing his jacket, he closed the door behind him, ran down the flight of stairs and stepped outdoors. Jen would be leaving work soon. On this crisp afternoon in October, he’d surprise her at her office building. He’d figure out what to say as he walked. All he had to do was come up with a monologue. Some comforting words so she wouldn’t freak out.
Who was he kidding? Of course she’d freak out at the mention of Los Angeles.
The timing couldn’t be worse. She’d finally become comfortable with the need to commute to New York, to being part of his life there. Her current to-do list included finding a place to sublet in the city as well as planning a modest spring wedding. A big enough list when added to her career.
In what seemed like only moments, Doug reached his destination and began to pace, while keeping an eye on the heavy glass doors. As people started exiting, he sharpened his gaze until there, in the midst of a crowd, he spotted Jen. He could pick her out among millions just by the way she walked, how she tilted her head, her profile with the cute nose. He waved and approached her. Even in the dusk of evening, he saw her wide grin and answering wave. And then she was in his arms, jabbering her delight and asking questions.
“I guess you needed a break,” she said, now slipping her arm through his.
“And you are the best excuse for one.” He leaned over and kissed her quickly.
“Let’s walk and talk. I received…let’s say…an unusual phone call.”
She turned her head and lifted her face toward him. “Is something wrong? Is someone sick?”
“No, no. Nothing like that. I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that Steve called me from New York.”
They resumed their stroll. “What about? Another play?”
“Sort of.”
“Sort of? I think we’ve discovered that you don’t write novels too well.”
The woman could make him laugh. “Remember you once suggested that audiences might enjoy a love story?”
Her nose scrunched up as she thought about her answer. “Hmm…you’re right. I remember throwing that idea around.”
“Well, the truth is, I actually had written a love story, Jen. That story was the failed novel, which I later rewrote as a play.” Feed her the facts little by little.
“Really?”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it with anyone. I sent the script to Steve just for some feedback.”
“And that was the call you received today?”
He paused and turned her toward him. He needed to see her reaction. “Yes. The title is Straight from the Heart. Steve liked it enough to send it to a friend of his.”
“Which one? I met quite a few of your theater friends when we were in the city.”
The more Doug revealed, the more nervous he got. He wanted this opportunity, but he also wanted Jen’s buy-in. His heart thumped hard, and his hand sweated in the cool of the evening. He tried to choose his words.
“Ahh…none of that bunch. This friend of Steve’s wants to talk about converting
it to a screenplay.” He stopped talking to let the meaning resonate.
“A screenplay? In New York? I don’t…
“…not New York.”
They’d reached her building. “Let’s go upstairs,” he said. “I’ll explain everything.”
She twirled and her eyes met his. “California. You’re talking about California.
Screenplays get made into movies, don’t they? Wow, Doug. You don’t give me a chance to breathe.”
“Well, take a deep breath now. Take several. It probably won’t happen anyway.”
He took the key from her shaking hand. “Relax, Henny-Penny. Ninety-five percent of manuscripts don’t make it through. And ninety-five percent of the ones optioned never make it to the screen. My little play is a needle in the haystack.”
He watched her silently put her purse on the table and take off her coat. Her changes of expression told him her mind was racing as fast as a car at the Indy 500.
“But you’re so excited. If it’s a nothing chance, why are you so excited?”
Good question. Not an honorable answer. “Because, sweetheart, I think it’s a compliment just to be asked to the ball. And it also looks great on my resume.”
Now her eyes sparkled. “You mean it’s good for your ego!”
“That, too.” He beckoned to her, and she came, arms raised to wrap around him.
“I love you, Jen. So very much.”
“Make that times two.”
“I know. And I also know you’ll understand that I need to talk to Steve’s connection in L.A. He’s an agent who’s setting up a meeting with some studio mucky-mucks. I don’t even know which studio.”
She plopped herself on the couch. “And I know you’ll understand when I say I
have a three thousand pound stomachache, one pound for every mile.”
He could well believe that. “If any of my work winds up on the big screen, sweetheart, you’ll never have to worry about budgeting again. We’re talking about more money than Broadway could ever pay out with one play.” And if that didn’t win her over her, nothing he said could.
Her mouth opened and closed. Her head tilted back. “You’ve struck out. I don’t worry about that anymore anyway.”
##
In the morning, her first instinct was to call Lisa, but she stopped herself. She’d go to work as usual, focus on her clients as usual, supervise staff as usual. She’d cling to her routine as if it were a lifesaver. And perhaps it would prove to be.
