Page 20 of Spit Screen

“I think that happens when kids have older siblings.”

“Yeah. See, I didn’t have siblings. But it was Em’s life as a kid.” I sigh. “Me? I’d love to live somewhere quiet for the rest of my life.”

“But?”

“I miss Em when I’m in LA, and I miss everyone in LA when I’m in Kansas.”

“And?” Christie asks.

“I miss working with Em. I admit it.”

Christie reaches across the breakfast bar and squeezes my hand. “So, youarea littlerestless.”

I chuckle. “I guess I am.”

“Addy, if I had to make a bet, I would wager you’re right about Emma. She hasn’t said anything to me about wanting to move back to LA. But I know working is on her mind. We’ve always been a little different—me and Em. I don’t think I could step back as far as she has from acting. For her, it’s a difficult balancing act. She’s torn.”

“I know.”

“I’ve always admired you and Emma.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

“Oh, I’ve heard the way people who don’t know you talk,” Christie replies. “I realize your marriage isn’t perfect. No one’s is. Don’t tell Tam I said that.”

I laugh.

“But we both know it’s true,” Christie continues. “You and Emma have always worked well together—not only on a set or a project.” She smiles at me. “I do recall a couple of times when you weren’t communicating well at all about what you needed and wanted from each other.”

Christie and Tam saw the highs and lows of the early days of my relationship with Emma. Our first year together was filled with both incredible moments and significant frustrations. Emma hesitated to introduce me to her professional life, fearing it might overwhelm or negatively impact me. I worried our relationship could damage her career, so I also held back. By the end of that year, we were each secretly considering marriage but kept it from one another. A series of misunderstandings—or perhaps more accurately, misinterpretations—caused us both unnecessary stress and heartache. In the end, it resulted in me proposing during a heated debate about marriage—not quite the romantic moment I’d pictured.

I massage my eyes and groan. Christie is right. I need to talk to Emma and lay all my cards on the table. As much as people close to me think they understand me, they often failto understand Emma is the center of my world. There isn’t anything or anyone I love more in my life than Em. And maybe, even after all this time, some tiny part of me fears losing her.

“Addy?”

“Sorry. You’re right,” I tell Christie. “I know I need to talk to her.”

“Mm. You’ll figure it out once you let her help,” Christies says. “Stop trying to devise a plan, Addy—or an argument. Just tell Emma what’s on your mind.”

“You know, if you ever decide to leave acting, you might consider therapy,” I say.

Christie’s eyes pop wide.

“I meantasa therapist—not toseeone,” I tell her.

“Well, that’s good. I spend enough on Merlot and Malbec already,” Christie says.

We both laugh.

“Thanks, Chris.”

“Advice is free—for now,” she quips.

I chuckle and lift my coffee.

“This is fantastic,” Tamara tells me.

I hadn’t planned to share everything I’ve drafted forDomesticatedwith Tam on this trip. I could tell by the tone in Emma’s voice last night that she’d read what I left her. After my talk with Christie this morning, I decided to bounce the idea off Tam.

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