“No.” She peered away from him. “I do not see the point in worrying over matters beyond my control. The Lord has been gracious to me.” She pointed toward Lydia. “She seems most anxious.”
“She worries I’ll tire myself. Overextend my leg. She tends to me with more diligence than a surgeon.” He rose. “I should rest before tonight.” The letter remained on the pew. “The letter is yours, Esther. Do with it as you see fit.”
She cupped it in her hand, returning it to her reticule.
“Good-bye, Esther,” he said.
She exited the pew into the aisle. “Good-bye, Hamilton. Godspeed.”
“And to you, Esther. Always to you.”
29
JESSE
May
One month to settle in, adjust, find an apartment, decorate his office. Another to form a routine, develop disciplines. A third to pretend it felt like home.
He rose at four o’clock five days a week and drove to the gym in predawn darkness. He worked out to podcasts on the latest technology.
At six, he ate breakfast. By six thirty he was seated at his desk, reading, working, rewiring the cords of his existence from sunny LA to dreary Boston. From actor and screenwriter to engineer and software designer.
At eight thirty, he’d pour his first cup of coffee and stop by his brother’s office for an informal chat about DiamondBros projects and personnel.
On Wednesdays, Dan, Jesse, and VP Paul golfed together. Sundays, he dined with his parents.
He did not decorate his apartment or office. No art or photos. The creative man who’d written a screenplay made into a movie by the great Jeremiah Gonda was dead. If he’d ever lived at all. And the engineer wearing a starched white button-down with dark-blue summer slacks had yet to figure out if he preferred eclectic modern or contemporary feng shui. Whatever that meant.
Dan sent a decorator to his apartment as a surprise one Saturday. Did not go well.
Jesse shoved back from his computer and the design spec open on his screen. He refilled his coffee cup and stared out the window at the busy Boston street. A splash of May rain battered the glass, and he lost his reflection in the clouds.
Chloe. She crossed his mind a thousand times a week, and he had yet to figure a way to purge her from it. An algorithm? Write some code, apply a few electrodes to his heart, and run a zapping program worthy of a sci-fi film?
But he didn’t want to forget. The pain of missing her made him feel alive. Even forced him to finally close all doors leading to Loxley.
Just this week he’d reached out to her parents. To his surprise, they invited him for coffee. Tonight. Anxiety twisted his gut. Whatever they dished out, he’d take it, because he deserved it.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah e-mailed updates onBound by Loveediting. He worked long distance with his team to keep the project on schedule. He filmedSea Dragonduring the day and reviewed cuts ofBoundat night.
It’s good, Jesse. Really good.
Gonda had also leveraged a release date from Zarzour by threatening to hold back the final scenes ofDragon.Bound by Lovewould premier in January.
Great way to kick off the new year!
Had Jesse been rash in leaving Hollywood? In the middle of the mess, leaving felt right. Dan was eager to have him back at DiamondBros, and Jesse’s return was seamless. He flicked off the first pass of regret. No use looking back now.
But if being here was right, why did he feel... empty? Time. That’s all. He just needed more time.
A light rap sounded on his door, and Dan peeked in. “You coming? The TimeQuest meeting is in five. Conference room A.”
Right. The meeting. He was still adjusting to the demands of the almighty calendar. “On my way.”
Jesse set down his coffee and reached for his iPad. Dan crossed to Jesse’s desk, letting the door close behind him.
“Mom said you’re having coffee with the Brants tonight?”
