Page 79 of At the Heart of It
“I had an idea,” Viv began, “A thought about sharing my feelings in a rather—unconventional way. And I wanted to get his take on it. To see how he thought a bombshell like that might impact the show.”
The words took a moment to sink in. They were still sinking in before Kate could find her voice.
“Wait,” Amy said, catching up more quickly than Kate. “You’re thinking of making this part of the show? The story arc they’re asking for?”
“I wanted to get Chase’s read on it, yes.” Vivienne took a shaky breath and looked at each of them in turn. “You think it’s a bad idea?”
“You’re talking about dating Jonah again,” Kate said slowly. “On television.”
“I thought it might be something people could learn from,” she said. “Seeing me put it all out there. Watching me be humbled, watching me lay my heart on the line. Letting viewers see the authenticity of our interactions with one another in a personal way.”
Kate stared at her. “You’re wanting to win back your husband.”
“Ex-husband,” Amy pointed out, and Kate wanted to kiss her. “What did Mr. Whitfield say about your idea?”
“Chase thought it was a compelling storyline,” she said. “That regardless of how it turns out, we could piece it all together after the fact in editing.”
“I’m sure he did,” Amy said. Her voice was completely professional, but there was an edge to it. An edge only Kate would catch. The blond producer smiled and looked into Viv’s eyes. “Dr. Brandt?—”
“Please, it’s Viv. There’s no need to be formal here. I’m honestly asking for your input.”
“Our input.” Kate hated that she kept parroting Viv’s words, but she honestly couldn’t find her own. “Our input on the idea of introducing this into the show?”
“Yes,” Viv said. “That, and—well, you’ve gotten to know Jonah.” She paused, and Kate held her breath. “I’m wondering what your impression is.”
“Of Jonah?”
“Of whether there’s any possibility we might rekindle things between us.”
“I—I—” Kate’s mouth was dry. “I honestly couldn’t say.”
Amy leaned forward. “Have you broached the subject at all with Jonah? Gotten some sense of how he might be feeling about rekindling things?”
Viv cleared her throat again and glanced away. “Chase Whitfield was of the opinion that we ought to keep it from him. Not to let Jonah know my intent up front. To let things play out on the air however they will.”
“What?” Kate stared at her. She gripped the armrests of the chair as the bottom fell out of her stomach.
“That’s insane,” Amy said.
Viv frowned and met Amy’s eyes again. “Actually, I think he has a point. How better to capture the honesty of the interaction?”
“By being dishonest with a member of the team?” Kate asked. Her words sounded more impassioned than she meant them to, and she ordered herself to calm down.
“It’s not dishonest,” Viv said. “While expressing feelings is important, so is holding them in check until the right time. What sort of world would this be if people went around sharing every feeling they’re having with no checks and balances?” She gave an awkward little laugh and glanced from Amy to Kate and back again. “Just because you have sexual fantasies about the checker at the grocery store doesn’t mean you should blurt it out each time you feel a pang of longing as he bags your carrots. You need to ease into it. Let things play out slowly and naturally.”
Kate’s brain swam with words that weren’t arranging themselves into any rational response.
Why would you?—?
What happens if?—?
How is Jonah going to?—?
“Yes, there’s an uncertainty about it,” Viv continued, reading Kate’s thoughts, though hopefully not all of them. “That’s part of what will make viewers connect with it. The authenticity.”
Amy rested her hands on the edge of the desk. “You mentioned speaking privately with Jonah yesterday. Did you manage to get a sense of how he might respond to something like this?”
“Is he interested in—” Kate’s voice caught a little, but she held it together. “In getting back together?”
