Page 1 of Spit Screen

CHAPTER ONE

addison

As a writer,I constantly flex my imagination. From tales of enchanted creatures to stories of crime and passion, I've always prided myself on having a vivid imagination. But falling in love with a TV star? That was beyond any fictional world I could have dreamed up. My encounter with Emma Bronson was unexpected and life-changing. There is something truly unique about her. She's the most genuine person I've ever met, which may surprise those who only know her as a glamorous celebrity. While Emma’s physical beauty is undeniable, it's the way her sweetness and vulnerability shine through that draws people in. Her authenticity remains unwavering whether she's walking onto a set or changing a diaper. After more than a decade together, she still takes my breath away with the simplest gestures—a smile, a raised brow at me when she knows I'm holding back, or the sound of her infectious laughter at our children's antics.

From the outside, it may seem like we lead a charmed life. We’re deeply in love, and our relationship means everything to us. But we have faced challenges along the way. I used to worry my presence in Emma's life would disrupt her flourishing career. She feared her fame would bring unwanted attentionand criticism into my life. As with any relationship, there are moments of miscommunication and misunderstandings, but we learn from them, and I think she would agree we continue to grow stronger together. While our family is the best thing in my life, it wouldn't exist without Emma—she is my inspiration and muse, despite her protests. Without her, I never would have writtenOff Screenor experienced the indescribable happiness of building our family. Emma is the light of our family and the beat of my heart.

Recently, we received news that blindsided me and momentarily plunged my world into darkness. Following Emma's routine appointment with her gynecologist, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Despite the doctor's reassurances it could be treated, and she would fully recover, I felt like my world was crumbling. Emma remained composed and optimistic when she told me the news. It wasn't until the night before her surgery that she finally opened up to me about her fears and worries.The memory still takes my breath away.

“Em?”

“I’m sorry, Addy.”

“Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?” I ask.

Emma shakes her head.

“Em.” I pull Emma into my arms and hold her. “Hey. Are you crying?”

“I don’t want to upset you.”

I can’t help but chuckle. Upset me? Emma has spent the last few weeks supportingme. “I hate seeingyouupset, Em.”

“But I don’t want my fear to make you worry.”

I pull back and take Emma’s face in my hands. “Emma, I need you to listen to me now. Don’t say anything. Listen. Okay?”

Emma nods. “I love you more than anything in this world. You can’t ask me not to worry. Of course, I’m worried. I can’t stand seeing you in pain or sick—and I won’t lie to you. We’ve never done that. The thought of losing you scares me.” I smile at her. “ButI’mnotlosing you anytime soon. You’re going to be fine tomorrow—and you’ll be here to see the kids go to their proms and bringtheirkids home for Christmas.”

Emma chuckles through a sob.

“Everything is going to be okay,” I tell her, and I believe it.

“I love you so much, Addy.”

“I know. I love you. There isn’t anything we can’t get through.”

Emma nods, takes a deep breath, and kisses me. “Addy,” she says. “I believe we can get through whatever life hands us—I do. But this reminds me that one day, there will be somethingwecan’t get through. One of us will leave the other. I hear you. I need you to hear me.”

I nod and fight to swallow the growing lump in my throat. I lost my mother to cancer when I was in college. Emma knows how that experience affected my life. My dad pulled away for years. I always thought his distance was because he disapproved of me being a lesbian. Grief is a bitch. He loved my mom like I love Emma. He didn’t know how to talk to me aboutmyfeelings, much less, his. And he saw my mom in me—something about seeing me made him miss her more. It surprised me to learn that he didn’t think I missed him. It’s strange how we perceive other people’s thoughts and emotions. He took the physical distance between us as a sign that I preferred to maintain emotional distance. The only thing I wanted was for my father to pull me close and comfort me.

“I believe this will all turn out fine,” Emma says. “Ibelieveit. But I also know life can take unexpected turns. I need you to know before I go into surgery—” Emma stops speaking and closes her eyes.

“I know,” I whisper.

I take a deep breath, understanding descending on me like a massive wave breaking on the shore. I suddenly understand what Emma fears most. We have three children who are the center of our lives. I didn’t think I could love Emma more than I did when we took our marriage vows. When she told me she was pregnant with our first child, I felt emotions I didn’t know existed, and I saw the same raw feelings reflected in her eyes. Emma’s an amazing mother. I should know—I had an amazing mom. Emma is worried about our kids losing me to grief like I lost my dad for far too long.

“Em, look at me,” I say,

Emma shakes her head.

“Emma, look at me.”

Slowly, Emma’s eyes open. Tears roll over her cheeks, and I wipe them away with my thumbs.

“I don’t want to think about life without you. I know it could happen one day. But that day is alongway off—like sixty years.”

Emma laughs and cries. “I don’t think I’m Betty White.”

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