For a moment her friends studied her, puzzled, as if they thought she was telling a joke and they were awaiting the punch line. When she said nothing more, they exchanged a look of mild alarm.
Her heart sank.
“What are you two talking about?” she repeated, bracing herself for the answer.
2
“Penultimatemeans ‘last but one,’?” said Ellen carefully. “Some people think it means something like ‘even better than the best,’ but—”
“I know what the word means,” Julia said, a note of panic sharpening her voice. She turned back to Nigel. “Why are you using it in this context?”
“Why?” he echoed, puzzled. “You know our contracts end after season six.”
“Yes, but then we’ll renew the series for another two years, as always.”
Nigel put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. “I told you at the Christmas party that I thought it was time to move on,” he said in an undertone, his gaze darting to the nearest guests, who were not quite out of earshot. “I said then, as I have before, that we owe it to our audience and ourselves to bring the series to a satisfying conclusion rather than let it run on endlessly, with the inevitable decline in quality.”
“Yes, but you weren’t serious.” Julia lowered her voice too. No need to ruin a fabulous party with a ghastly emotional scene. “You made that speech right in front of all those studio execs. Obviously it was a ploy to scare them into giving you more money when you renew your contract.”
“It wasn’t a ploy, darling. I was in earnest. It didn’t matter whether the execs overheard because they already knew how I felt. Perhaps they even agreed with me.”
Julia forced a laugh and gave Nigel a playful push. “Okay, enough. This joke isn’t funny anymore.”
He took her hands, raised them to his chin, and held her gaze with his own, sympathetic but firm. “I wouldn’t play such a cruel joke on you of all people. The next season ofA Patchwork Lifewill be our last. Although I’ve enjoyed every moment, for me the conclusion can’t come soon enough. You know Alistair and I loathe spending most of the year apart. I’m returning to London so we can be together.”
“But yourcareer, Nigel. You haven’t peaked yet. You can’t seriously intend to retire.”
“Who said anything about retiring? I’m leaving Hollywood, not my profession.” He squeezed her hands and released them. “I’m not supposed to reveal this yet, so you mustn’t breathe a word. I’ve been cast in the next Harry Potter movie. We begin shooting in June.”
“Wow, Nigel, that’s fantastic!” said Ellen. “I didn’t realize you had a role lined up already. I assume you’ll be a wizard. Hero or villain? Can you tell us?”
He shook his head and raised a finger to his lips. “I’ve said too much already.”
“Wait. Wait.” Julia held up her hands, closed her eyes for a moment, and took a deep, steadying breath. On the exhale, she fixed Nigel with an accusing look. “You said next season would beourlast. You meantyourlast.”
His brow furrowed. “No, as we discussed at the full-cast meeting—” Then awareness dawned. “But you missed that meeting. You were traveling... in Pennsylvania, I believe. Something about a quilt exhibit.”
“Lindsay sent the notes around afterward,” said Ellen. “You mean you didn’t read them? I know you have an aversion to opening attachments—”
“My assistant checks my work email for me when I’m on vacation.” Julia never wanted work to intrude on her tranquil, restorative visits to the Elm Creek Valley. Her trip in August hadn’t been for quilt camp, but she had toured a quilt exhibit and had spent time with quilting friends, so it qualified. “She always brings important matters to my attention when I return. Did she miss something?”
Or had Julia herself missed something? She vaguely recalled her assistant emphasizing an important file she’d received, but Julia had been wildly busy as their season premiere date approached. She’d only skimmed the subject lines in her inbox, opening the emails that sounded important and saving the rest for later.
She had eventually read everything, hadn’t she?
“Oh, Julia.” Nigel shook his head. “No wonder you look so bewildered. I confess I’ve wondered why you haven’t spoken up. I thought perhaps you were in denial.”
Julia felt her heart drop. “What doesthatmean?” She turned to Ellen. “What does he mean? In denial about what?”
Ellen threw Nigel a helpless look, but he only gestured to indicate that she should proceed. “Well, Nigel isn’t the only one of us who’s lined up a new job. I was going to tell you after the party—”
“Tell me what?”
“I’m going to be the lead writer for a new scripted drama series for HBO,” Ellen blurted, the concern in her eyes lingering even as a smile brightened her face. “I helped write the pilot when we were on hiatus last year, and HBO ordered a full season. As soon asA Patchwork Lifewraps in the spring, I’m moving to New York.”
“Wow, Ellen,” said Julia, overcome. She was thrilled for her younger friend, and so proud of her, and yet— “That’s simply wonderful. But—well, doesn’t it seem rather risky to you, to leave an established network for a cable channel?”
Ellen shrugged, her smile dimming. “I think it’s a risk worth taking. There’s so much potential for growth with cable, and HBO in particular is creating very compelling programs.Angels in America,The Sopranos,Sex in the City—they’re giving our traditional networks a lot of competition for Emmys, and for viewers.”
