“I don’t know, Stephen. It sounds so vulgar.”
“Final offer,” he said emphatically. “I agree to cast Paige as EmilySt. Aubert if you accept a part, at scale, inCelebrity Jury, a new, low-budget reality television series to be directed by my nephew.”
“‘Low-budget’?” Julia echoed. “The more you say, the worse it sounds. Will they at least validate parking?”
“For you, I’m sure something can be arranged.”
Julia groaned and clasped a hand to her forehead. This was for Paige, she reminded herself, and to redeem herself in the eyes of her friends and colleagues. “That’s your final offer?”
“Final offer.”
“Then I accept.” Before he could celebrate, she held up a hand. “I have two conditions. First, I’ll do one season and one season only. Second, you may tell Paige that we spoke—she’ll probably ask why you changed your mind and I don’t want to lie to her—but you mustn’t breathe a word about our arrangement. Not to Paige, not to her agent, not to anyone.”
“Fine,” he said, shrugging. “I’ll say you put in a good word for her, but she was cast solely on the basis of her talent.”
“Good. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.” Suddenly Julia thought of something else. “I’ll allow one exception to the confidentiality rule. You may tell your mother, if you swear her to secrecy.”
“Are you kidding? My mother would never allow me to extort you like this.” Quickly he added, “You’re not allowed to tell her either.”
“If you insist, but she’ll probably figure it out on her own when I suddenly appear on your nephew’s show.” Julia sighed. Reality television—what a dreadful penance.
“Maybe so, but don’t give her any hints.” Deneford rose and extended his hand. “I’m glad we worked this out. I’ll break the good news to my nephew, and I’ll send a contract over to Maury this afternoon.”
Julia stood too. “But first, the moment I leave your office, you’ll contact Paige’s agent.”
“Sure, of course.”
Satisfied, Julia shook his hand. MaybeCelebrity Jurywouldn’t beas awful as she feared, she told herself as she left Deneford’s office. Even if it was, it would only be for one season.
Soon thereafter, Lillian regarded Julia speculatively as she approached the car. “You look happy,” she remarked as they each opened their doors and climbed inside.
“Paige has the part,” Julia said as she buckled her seat belt and settled back, smiling in satisfaction.
“That’s wonderful! Congratulations to all three of you. I’m glad common sense surpassed ego.”
“I’m so grateful to you for getting me through the door,” Julia said as Lillian pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the front gates. “?‘Thank you’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“Knowing that I’ll get to see our favorite ingenue in a major motion picture is all the thanks I need.” Lillian gave Julia a quick, sidelong glance before returning her eyes to the road. “What will I be seeingyouin next, I wonder.”
“There’s the rest of season five ofA Patchwork Lifeand then all of season six.” Julia couldn’t bear to add that afterPatchwork, she’d be joining a reality show she fervently hoped wouldn’t be an unmitigated disaster. AfterCelebrity Jurywrapped, though, she couldn’t imagine what she might do next.
Then she remembered: Maury already had some ideas.
As soon as Lillian dropped her off at home, Julia emailed her agent and belatedly confirmed the meeting he had proposed via email the week before. The next day, she went to Maury’s office and listened with an open mind as he pitched the two movie roles he had mentioned. To her pleasant surprise, both were intriguing parts in feature films with excellent directors and other acclaimed stars attached. She would need more time to study the scripts before making a decision, but it was comforting to know that the end of her beloved series wouldn’t be the calamity she had feared.
When the Cross-Country Quilters phoned in for their weeklyconference call the following evening, Julia admitted that she had sewn only a few seams for that week’s Harriet’s Journey block, Cross Plains, a pattern that would have been relatively easy to sew, despite its sixty pieces, if only the block were twelve inches square rather than six. They were thrilled to hear that Paige would be starring in Deneford’s movie after all, and they assured her thatCelebrity Juryprobably wouldn’t be as bad as she feared.
“Maybe not,” Julia said. “Oh, I just thought of a third condition I’ll have to give Deneford before I sign a contract. His nephew will have to work around my schedule for the movie, once I decide which role to accept.”
“Follow your heart,” Donna advised.
“Hear, hear,” Vinnie chimed in. “That policy has always served me well.”
“It’s good to see you looking to the future, Julia,” said Grace warmly. “You really do have so much to look forward to.”
Julia truly hoped that Grace was right, but she knew she would move forward with greater confidence and a lighter heart if she reconciled with the Patchwork Players.
On Friday morning, after the trades broke the news that newcomer Paige Lyons would be starring as Emily St. Aubert in Stephen Deneford’s much-anticipated adaptation ofThe Mysteries of Udolpho, Julia sent a group email to the Patchwork Players, as well as others from the cast and crew who had not attended quilt camp with them. “Our Nine-Patch quilt isn’t yet finished,” she noted. “If you all agree, I’d like us to finish it together. We could autograph our blocks and donate the quilt to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles. I’m sure it would be a popular item in the silent auction at their annual fundraiser.” She invited everyone to gather on Sunday at her place, where she would set up a quilt frame, provide all the necessary sewing supplies, and serve an autumnal buffet lunch. “Please reply to RSVP,” she concluded. “Hope to see you all soon.”
