Page 44 of Spit Screen

Sandra shivers. “Frogs?”

I wink at Sandra and continue to laugh. I’ll have to ask Addy to add a frog into one of her scenes. I can’t wait.

CHAPTER SEVEN

addy

JUNE3rd

My mom used to tell me time passed more quickly with each year. I don’t think I understood what she meant until I had kids. How is Vicki turning nine today? Nine! It can’t be nine years ago that I heard her cry for the first time. I thought that day would be thebestday of my life. And it was. But I’ve had a lot ofbestdays, more than most people get. They all share one thing in common: Emma. The first time I kissed Emma, the first day on the set ofOff Screen, our wedding day, the night Emma and I both won an Emmy, the day she told me she was pregnant with Vicki, and watching Hannah and Noah born—those were all the best day of my life in some way. But there was something truly magical about the day Vicki was born. Becoming someone’s parent—watching Emma hold Vicki—nothing could have prepared me for what it felt like.

“Addy?”

I turn and sigh.

Emma smiles brightly at me. “She’s nine, honey. You’re not about to walk her down the aisle.”

I groan.

Emma walks to me and puts her arms around my neck. “It has gone by fast, hasn’t it?”

“Pretty soon, she’ll want posters of boy bands on her wall instead of princesses and animals.”

Emma grins, her eyes lighting with affection. “Boy bands?” She kisses me. “You know, she might prefer girl bands.”

I roll my eyes.

Emma laughs. “I think you have a little time, love.”

“That’s just it, Em. We have alittletime. It just keeps going faster. It feels like the other day she wanted to sit in my lap."

“Addy,” Emma says. “Vicki will always beyourlittle girl, andyouwill always beherperson. Don’t look at me like that. Vicki loves me—she loves us all. You’re her person. I don’t think there’s a force on Earth that could change how Vicki looks at you.” Emma cups my face. “You feel the winds of change. A lot is changing. But it’s going to be wonderful, Addy.”

Emma’s gentle touch soothes me. She knows me better than anyone else does. While I’m excited for our future, change always makes me feel uneasy.

The other day, Emma received a call from her friend Ben Landon, a film director known for his successful romantic comedies. He wanted to talk to her about his upcoming movie, which has been generating a lot of buzz. It’s based on a popular novel and was set to star Monica Lewis and Bryce Cannon. Monica, who starred in a sitcom for eight seasons, has since become one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Unfortunately for Ben, Monica recently broke her leg in a horseback riding accident. He asked Emma if she would be interested in taking over the role. At first, Emma hesitated, but I could tell how much she wanted to say yes. Emma worked with Bryce when we first got together, and they’ve remained friends ever since. The movie they made was a huge commercial success, which sparked talksof them reuniting on screen. They’ve tried to find a project, but the timing never seemed to work out until now. The last time someone approached Emma with an opportunity to work with Bryce, we had just learned she was pregnant with Noah. This is a terrific opportunity for Emma, and the part is perfect for her.

She’s right—things are changing for us. In two weeks, Emma will leave for Connecticut to begin filming. I’ll stay in Kansas until Vicki and Hannah finish school, and then we will join her there. I'd like to think my convincing arguments ultimately persuaded Emma to accept the role, but I believe it was a call from Bryce that sealed the deal. He told Emma that his friend had a home near their filming location that would be available for rent during the summer months—a three-bedroom house by a lake. Knowing she could have the kids close while she worked convinced Emma to take on the project.

“What are you thinking about?” Emma asks.

“You’re right.”

Emma grins. “Am I?”

“You don’t have to gloat.”

A chuckle passes through Emma’s lips. She leans in and kisses me. “It will be wonderful,” she says. “It will also get hard and stressful, and we’ll have our share of bumps. I know that. But I feel it, Addy.”

I nod.

“This is right for us—for our family.”

I feel the power of Emma’s confidence course through me. She’s right—again. This film with Bryce dropped into her lap out of nowhere. Everything seemed to align perfectly. Spending the summer in Connecticut will also give us an opportunity to find a house. Maybe the reason I feel a little nervous is that I want to make this move so badly. It’s hard for me to believe it, but I’m more excited about the prospect of launchingDomesticatedthan I wasOff Screen.

Emma senses what I’m thinking. And I think she feels similarly. Sometimes the ghosts of my past creep into my head. I was so excited to start a new adventure when I left for college—scared but hopeful. I looked forward to sharing every part of my journey with my mom. Losing her not long after I left home devasted me. It also created a sense of fear in me of disaster swooping in just when everything seems to be going my way. More than anyone, Emma has helped me navigate those worries. She accepts that we never know what will greet us in the next minute. It’s not that Emma doesn’t have fears, but she possesses a deep faith—not religion—faith. She puts her trust in me, our marriage, family, friends, and herself. Me? I know Ishouldhave more faith in myself. I have faith inherand that our family can endure anything. She would say we’ve given faith to each other. I do know my love for Emma and our children is bigger than any fear could ever be. Emma has a wonderful way of looking at life.

“Change is inevitable, Addy. It might not always be a happy occasion, but we can always find purpose in it.”

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