On Monday, she drove her BMW down the winding road through the Malibu hills and south on Pacific Coast Highway to Maury and Evelyn’s gracious Brentwood residence. Over iced teas and decadent sandwiches of turkey, Brie, caramelized onion, and green apple chutney on brioche, they chatted about the glowing reviews the season premiere had received, what the Benowitzes’ grandchildren were up to, and what Julia and Evelyn planned to wear to the upcoming Emmys, where Julia expected to lose graciously to Jennifer Garner. After the meal, Evelyn declined Julia’s offer to help tidy up and shooed her and Maury off to his study. There Julia settled down on the soft, tapestry-covered sofa in front of the fireplace, the scene of so many crucial deliberations about her career and countless other conversations of a more personal nature. Maury had been Charles’s oldest and dearest friend, and although he hadn’t intended to play matchmaker, he had brought them together by landing her a role as a narrator on one of Charles’s documentaries. In that sense Julia owed Maury both her career and the happiest years of her life.
“So what’s on your mind?” Maury asked as he took his usual seat in the adjacent armchair. “You seemed a little distracted at the launch party. Did you see something in the episode you wished you’d done differently?”
“Don’t I always, but that’s not the problem.” She leaned forward, bracing her hands on her knees. “Were you aware that everyone but me expectsPatchworkto end after season six?”
His brow furrowed. “Who’s ‘everyone’? No one at the network has said a word to me suggesting they want to cancel.”
“This isn’t from the network. It’s from Ellen and Nigel. They’releaving for other roles, and they say Noah and Chance are out too. Ellen’s exact words were ‘Everyone else’—everyone but me—‘is moving on.’?” Julia lifted her hands and let them fall to her lap. “Even if Ellen’s exaggerating and only she, Nigel, Noah, and Chance are leaving, what wouldA Patchwork Lifebewithout them?”
“It would be an entirely different show.”
“You’re almost right. It would be theendof the show.”
“Not necessarily.” Maury rubbed his jaw, thinking. “The network hasn’t officially canceled the series. I would have heard from them, since your new contract is pending. Maybe they plan to hire a new showrunner, write the actors who are leaving out of the story—”
“I don’t want a new showrunner and I don’t want new castmates,” Julia said, emphatic. “Why prepare to fix what isn’t broken when you can hold it together and keep it from breaking?”
“I’m sorry, Julia, but it doesn’t sound like you can hold this together. If Ellen and the others have decided it’s time to leave the show, you have to let them go.”
“Not if I can persuade them to stay. And that’s where you come in.”
Maury sat back, grimacing. “I’m not sure I like the sound of this.”
“I’ve had all weekend to think about it, and I know what to do.” She inhaled deeply, pausing for dramatic effect. “You agents all know one another. You talk all the time. I think you need to get on the phone with each of their agents, or meet for drinks if you think that would be better, and through some subtle questioning, find out what it would take to convince Nigel, Noah, and Chance to stay on for another two seasons. Ellen and I have a history, so I’ll work on her. I’m sure their asks will be reasonable, and I will personally deliver them to the network. The network owes me. Ellen and I brought them a hit, right?”
“Julia—”
“After these four commit, I’m confident ‘everyone else’ will decide to stay too.” She studied him, expectant. “What do you say? Are you in?”
He shook his head. “I know you mean well, but this is a terrible idea.”
“Why?” she protested. “You said yourself that the show isn’t officially canceled. Why not offer them an incentive to stay?”
“It’s probably already too late. Since they’re leaving for other roles, they’ve surely signed binding contracts.”
“That only applies to Nigel and Ellen. Chance is still negotiating, and Noah wants to go to college.” Julia waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, as the old saying goes, contracts are made to be broken.”
“That’s not how the old saying goes.” Maury heaved a sigh. “Julia, think this through before you do anything you’ll regret later. Your castmates wouldn’t have made these decisions lightly. I’m sure deep down you’re happy for them, that you want them to succeed and thrive.”
She shifted uncomfortably. “Of course I do, but they can succeed and thrive onPatchwork.”
“Would you really want them to stay if they’re no longer passionate about the show? Surely you wouldn’t wantPatchworkto limp along with performances from a half-hearted cast, the diminished quality tarnishing the memory of a once-acclaimed program.”
She frowned. “You sound like Nigel but without the accent.”
“I’ll fake the accent if that’s what it takes to convince you. Look, Julia. Your friends are moving on to exciting new opportunities. You could do the same. The end ofPatchworkwould give you time to pursue other interests. A passion project. A return to live theater. More directing. Say the word and I’ll start making inquiries.”
For a moment intrigue kindled, but the thought of hanging up Sadie’s bonnet permanently was so alarming that the small spark was promptly extinguished. “Thanks, Maury,” Julia said, without a hint of actual gratitude, “but I’m much too busy preparing for season six to even consider any other long-term plans.”
He shrugged and spread his hands, conceding defeat. “As longas you know that you have options, if you want them. Let me know when you’re ready.”
She managed a tight smile as she thanked him for his counsel, which was lamentably less helpful than she had expected. Obviously shecouldmove on, but she didn’twantnew opportunities. She wanted to keep what she already had, a successful series and the best cast and crew she’d ever worked with. Was that really so wrong? And if Maury wouldn’t help her convince her friends to stick around for another season or two, or even more, to whom could she turn?
At least she knew the answer to the second question—the Cross-Country Quilters.
3
Although Maury hadn’t agreed to help Julia quite the way she had hoped, she still left the Benowitz residence no less determined to persuade the cast and crew not to abandonA Patchwork Life. The Cross-Country Quilters didn’t have Maury’s connections, but they were her dearest friends, each of them wise in her own, unique way. They would surely come up with some creative solutions together.
