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Ellie:You don’t need to worry about me…media-savvy superstar here, remember? And it’s hard to get too worked up when it’s obvious how much they love you. Embarrassed maybe, but not upset. Now go focus on the things that really matter, like running the hospital. I’ll call you when I know when we’re meeting
Asher:You matter, too, El. A lot. But I did just pull into the parking lot, and I see one of the ED docs waving me down, so I’ll carry on with my day. Talk to you soon
Ellie set her phone down then handed Sofia an empty mug. “I know you have questions, but I think we both need coffee first. And just so you know, I’m not going to spend all day talking about this. I want to show you pictures of my dress because I need your help with jewelry. And then I want you to help me run some lines for the shoot I have in April. And after that, I want to hear about your current project.”
Sofia eyed her then let out a huff. “Fine, but don’t think I’m going to let you off easy. You may not want to talk, but I’m going to get everything out of you that I can in the time I have.”
“No,” Angelica Thomas said.
“Yes,” Sofia countered.
“I’ve designed costume pieces for you, Sofia. I can’t design jewelry for the Oscars,” Angelica retorted.
It had taken an hour—and the help of a failing water heater at Sofia’s house—for Ellie to convince Sofia to drop her interrogation. After popping back to the lake house to meet the plumber, they spent another few hours going through the various jewelry websites her stylist had sent. They found a few interesting pieces, but nothing had grabbed her attention. Not until Sofia brought up Angelica’s website. The young woman might be a recent college graduate who helped her dad run the Boom, but her talent with design and materials all but leaped off the screen. Unique, diverse, and eye-catching, without being trendy or trite, each piece Ellie saw she fell a little in love with. Angelica’s current collection didn’t include any Roman-inspired styles—what Ellie needed to complement her dress—but she wanted to know what the young woman would come up with if given free rein. And a solid budget.
“I know it’s scary,” Ellie said, cutting Sofia off. Her friend meant well. But arguing with Angelica wouldn’t help her see the opportunity in front of her. “I’m guessing you’re afraid that you might design something people will hate—or disparage—on national TV.” She paused and waited for Angelica to respond.
“I’ve never done anything like what you’re looking for,” she said. “I don’t even work with real gems yet. Just glass and crystal.”
“How often do you work in your studio?” Ellie asked.
Angelica frowned. They were sitting in a booth at the Boom, but the restaurant and bar hadn’t opened yet, so it was just the three of them.
“Every day,” she answered.
“And what do you like about it?” Ellie asked. Beside her, Sofia started to say something, but Ellie motioned for her to let Angelica answer.
“It’s…it’s kind of magical having this idea in my head and then seeing it become real,” she answered. “It’s a lot of work. And I make a lot of mistakes. But I’m getting better with each piece. And there’s nothing quite like getting an email, or picture, from a client who loves the piece I created for them. It’s a part of me that’s made them happy. And I love that.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” Ellie said. The young woman studied her, her green eyes flashing against the dark tone of her skin. “Every time one of my movies is released, I’m nervous. Like really nervous.”
“But you’ve won three Academy Awards and a bunch of others,” Angelica said.
Ellie shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Like your jewelry, every film I’m in carries a piece of me. Exposes a piece of me. And it’s out there for the world to see. To love or hate. To praise or critique. Some I get more worked up about than others. But I’m always nervous.”
Angelica’s brows dipped. “How do you cope?”
“Some days are better than others. I call friends. I remind myself that even the most famous pieces of art have their detractors. And when I know something isn’t my best work, I acknowledge that and remind myself that being perfect all the time—or even most of the time—isn’t the dream I’m chasing. When something is perfect—if that ever even happens—it means there’s no room to grow. And how boring does that sound?”
Angelica’s red-tipped fingernail tapped on the scarred wood table. “Is this your way of telling me that I should take a chance? That there may be people who hate what I design, but that I should do it anyway. Because there may be people who love it, too. People who it brings…joy, or if I’m lucky, wonder to?”
Ellie nodded. “I am. But the choice is yours. It takes guts to put yourself out there like I’m asking you to. But if you love designing jewelry and if you want to share this part of yourself with the world, then you can’t do that without taking chances. Without being vulnerable.”
“It kind of makes me feel a little sick to my stomach,” Angelica groaned.
Ellie laughed. “Yeah, vulnerability and fear can do that to you.”
She and Sofia remained silent as Angelica considered her options.
“You really want me to design something for you?” she asked. Ellie nodded. “I don’t have real gems to work with, I told you that.”
“That’s not an issue. Once you have designs, I can get you whatever you need,” she said.
“And how long do I have?”
“Five weeks. The Oscars are late this year, so we’re lucky that way.”
“What if something goes wrong? I don’t mean, what if I fail. I mean something like what if we can’t get the right gems or one of my machines breaks? I don’t want you to be without something.”
