What? What had my husband done?
“Barnes brings Luke and Imogen with him to the finale.”
43
2015
SEASON 20, EPISODE 10:
“The Book of Luke, Vol. 2”
Barnes silently embraced Greta before absconding to the van, the rest of us following in our funeral line until I offered Greta the last obligatory farewell.
“Keep it moving. We’re hitting overtime with the crew,” Zara instructed, her icy tone confirming PB wasn’t the only one who felt betrayed tonight.
“Greta, I’ll take you to the hotel in five, and then we’ll do your exit interview in the morning,” Troy added, his rushed squeeze of her arm making her visibly shudder before he strode off.
Even though I’d lost count of all the petty, selfish acts I’d seen Greta perform over the years, I couldn’t help but pity the woman before me, shivering in her parka. “You know, you should call Barnes once the show’s wrapped. He owes you after tonight, so maybe he can push the network to ease Troy off you in the future?”
“Wow, you actually believe that,” she replied flatly.
I shrugged, the spare strains of sympathy I had for her quickly wearingthin. “Look, do what you want, but you’re too smart to be bossed around by someone like Troy. You’ve landed on your feet as long as I’ve known you, so don’t let that sycophantic dick tell you different.”
I made to leave, but she stopped me, her lips pursed, something cracking behind her veneer. “Um, I stole two pairs of Shawn’s sunglasses and hid them under my mattress, just to… create more drama. Can you get them? Please?”
“Luke, now!” Zara shouted from the van.
Greta’s grip tightened, desperation flashing in her eyes, and I nodded begrudgingly. I figured she was trying to repair at least one thing she’d ruined.
The car ride back was miserably silent. Once we got to the house, a stone-faced Imogen pulled me aside in the yard, and I prayed my stunt with PB hadn’t alienated her too.
“Look, I swear I didn’t know Vanessa was that bad—”
“I believe you,” she said grimly.
“Any chance PB forgives me?”
“I don’t know.”
“How about you?”
“You don’t owemean apology.” She gazed unhappily across the lawn. “That wasn’t good. What you said to Barnes.”
“You’re worried about Barnes?!”
“No, I’m worried you’re out of control. Did you even consider what happens when the kids see what you did tonight?”
“How can you say I’m not thinking about the kids?! They’re all I think about.”
“I know you believe that, but you’ve been reckless ever since he got here. I’d hoped I could shield you from him, but… maybe PB was right. We need to get you out of here,” she said, voice thick. “I’ll leave with you tonight. You don’t have to do this alone.”
My shoes shifted in the wet grass as her words began to land, what she was offering, what she wanted to prevent. How many more land mineswould I plant, the clips and sound bites my children would need to explain for the rest of their lives at classmates’ sleepovers and in-laws’ dinner tables? I’d been so certain I needed Barnes gone to correct my past mistakes that I was carelessly adding new ones to my already substantial list.
Imogen took my hand, her voice intent. “Do you think maybe the show has given us everything it was supposed to? That we’ve both done all we were meant to do here?”
That wasn’t true, but I couldn’t tell her that yet, even as she fought to pull me from the cliff’s edge. She didn’t realize I was already midair, and she wasn’t the person who could return me to the ground. No, I had one last mission, or else this whole mess would end as nothing more than a paycheck. And that wasn’t good enough anymore. It never had been.
I remained in the yard after she left, until Barnes eventually emerged from the shadows by the van. “They’re both here,” he said, almost daring me. “Both your girls.”
