Goldie had thought about it. And she decided what she wanted next. And once she did, it was easy. Things would fall into place the way they were supposed to.
“I’m going to make some changes in my life. I would love it if you were the right person for this new path I’m going to be on. I’m going to tell you and also let you know that it’s not negotiable. If this works for you, great. If it doesn’t, then it’s not supposed to.”
“Very Zen of you,”
“Not sure if it’s Zen or just middle age, but I’m going to pull a Jeff Daniels here.”
“What? He’s not in the Victor Superhero Universe. Do you want to get him to star in your next project?”
“Ah, no, I mean sure. But that’s not it. A few years before I moved out of Michigan to Hollywood, Jeff Daniels did the exact opposite. He was nominated for Oscars, well respected, and allthat, but decided to run his career from Michigan, not California.”
“Uh, okay, but I’m not really following.”
“I am moving to Michigan permanently. I’m going to limit my shooting schedule to the winter months, maybe a touch into March. But April to, oh, November or so, I’ll be running my little inn in Michigan. Oh, and I’m not going to ever take a role again where the requirement is losing weight. I’m eating what I want. Actually, where’s our server?”
“What about the VSU, about your own franchise?”
“I’m okay with that, but on my terms. If they can’t work with my terms, that’s fine, too. I’ll do smaller pictures. Actually, that’s the next part of my vision.”
“I’m listening.”
“I will be buying up rights, when I can, to books I like, with the express purpose of turning them into movies.”
“Ah, so we’re morphing into Winnie Reese with books and Jeff Daniels with the Michigan thing?”
“No, I have no illusion that I can be either. I just want to be me in a place that values that instead of trying to sell it. I want to be in a town that feels like home and not one that feels like a snake pit.”
“Ah, well, you’ve done pretty well in the snake pit.”
“I just know where I’m going for the next bit and who I want to have with me.”
“I see.”
“Do you want to come along, or do I sort of wing it? I’ve done that before.”
Hedda sat forward in her chair. She locked eyes with Goldie.
“I’m in. I would be nuts to say no to the most powerful woman in Hollywood.”
“Today, I’m the most powerful woman today; tomorrow, it will be someone else.”
“Then today’s the day for you to make this deal.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
“I think this is the beginning of the best part of your career. I know it is.”
“I think it’s the beginning of the best part of my life.”
The summer had turned a corner. Leaves were green; still, the middle of the day was hot, and the boats were on the lake.
But leaves were falling, a few at a time, enough to remind you this was all fleeting. A new season was coming. The light in the evening was burnished gold as the sunset, changed from the blazing orange of July.
Goldie had been back for a week. She’d reunited with Joe. She’d kissed him a time or two even, but that was also in a season to come. The season of whatever they’d be together was ahead of them. She was looking forward to it but not rushing it. And he was letting her set their pace. He was getting used to Myrna. Myrna was tolerating him.
Myrna did seem to like barking at ducks that swam by on the lake. All in all, Myrna Loy was settling in just as Goldie was.
Goldie had spent just about every moment with Joe since she’d gotten back. He was happy to see her, and he told her so. It was sweet, easy, and more mutual than any other romance she’d ever been in. She was just starting to realize the benefits of dating a man who wasn’t a celebrity or who had any desire to be one.
