Page 44 of Bridge to Home

“Who was that?” Her father sipped his coffee, eyeing her over the rim. “I don’t want to be nosy, but someone keeps texting you.”

“It’s Robert. He started texting last night and has been blowing up my phone ever since.”

“Let me guess. It’s about the movie deal.”

“He’s pressuring me to sign the addendum,” Harlow said. “I’ve been giving it some thought. To be honest, the extra time they’re offering me is generous in the movie industry, at least speaking from experience and the previous deals we’ve negotiated.”

“At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the physical therapist said it would be months before you’re firing on all cylinders.”

“Kennedy said I’m doing good. Maybe I could push myself.” Harlow’s phone rang. She dismissed the call. “He’s bound and determined to get me to sign.”

“How much money do you make on a movie project?” David made a timeout with his hands. “Never mind. You don’t have to tell me.”

“It’s okay.” Harlow rattled off the number. “Thirty million.”

His jaw dropped. “Thirty million dollars?”

She nodded. “Now you can see why Robert isn’t giving up. Although some of it is spent right off the top. We have a laundry list of expenses. Managers’ fees, handlers, lawyers on retainer, security, his assistant, office rental, plus all the debt we’ve accumulated over the years.”

“Maybe you can negotiate an even longer extension,” her father said. “I don’t want you to leave or sound like I’m rushing your recovery, but it is a hefty chunk of change.”

“I know.” Harlow bit her lower lip. Itwasa lot of money. It had taken her years to claw her way to the top, to reach the pinnacle of her career. She had no idea what canceling the contract would do to her reputation. Would other film studios or production companies boycott her?

Surely, they had to understand she’d been seriously injured, but then…it was a cutthroat industry. Harlow was certain at least a dozen A-list actresses were salivating over the news of her accident, ready to pounce and take her place in a heartbeat.

“I still have a few days to sign and send it back.” Her expression grew glum. After getting the first of Robert’s half dozen texts, she’d tested her body, to see how far she could push it, only to discover it didn’t take long before pain shot through both legs.

There was no way she could stand for hours, at least not yet. If she signed the extension, what would happen if she found herself struggling to keep the pace? Yes, there would be stunt actors to handle the dangerous scenes, but most of it would still be on her to perform.

Was it worse to back out now or take a gamble, hoping she would be physically ready to fulfill her end of the deal?

“Let’s get out of the house.” David set his empty coffee cup in the kitchen sink.

“And go where?”

“Into town.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Remember what happened the other day at the café?”

“More than half of the islanders know you. Have known you since you were in diapers. They won’t treat you any differently than anyone else.”

“It’s been years since I’ve wandered around downtown. It would be fun to check it out.” Harlow rinsed her cup in the sink and returned to her room to swap out her sweats for a favorite pair of capris and a printed cotton T-shirt.

She smiled as she slipped it on. Robert would hate her outfit. He hated T-shirts and casual clothing, always drilling into her head she was a star which meant Harlow needed to act and dress like one.

And if she did dress a bit more casually, it had to be designer duds he pre-approved. If Harlow really thought about it, her husband controlled most of her everyday life. Where she went. What she ate. What she wore.

It was like a breath of fresh air not having him micromanage her every thought and move. In fact, she was beginning to enjoy being in control of her life again.

Harlow grabbed a ball cap off the dresser, popped it on her head, and returned to the livingroom. Mort and her father stood waiting by the door.

“I like your shirt. You know how much your mom loved sunflowers.”

“She did. What happened to her sunflower patch?”

“It’s still here, in the corner, on the other side of the gazebo. If we have time, we’ll stop by there on our way home.” David helped Harlow navigate out of the house and to the front of the property.

Reaching the sidewalk, she noticed a shiny yellow tandem tricycle parked near the gate. “A tandem trike.”

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