“Yes. Three brothers. And two sisters. But on to you. Do we have a decision?”
“I have questions.” She sat down and reviewed her list. One at a time, she posed them.
As usual, Trish did not mince words.
Annie would need to leave for L.A. right after the holidays. How long she would be there would depend on how quickly the script writing progressed and could be approved. “Six to eight weeks,” Trish suggested.
Annie didn’t comment that it was a long time for a newlywed to be separated from her husband. Trish might remind her that Annie wasn’t twenty-five and this wasn’t her first bridal rodeo.
“You said I’d have input on the choice of actors.”
“Input, yes. And your opinion will be seriously considered. Like with a book cover, you won’t get the final say, but if you make a solid case against someone, you might get your way.”
Which probably meant she would not, because the sales and marketing teams were more adept at those things.
“What about final edits?”
“Those are up to the director. Though your opinion will be—”
“Seriously considered,” Annie added, not holding back her sarcasm.
“Sorry, but that’s how it is with film deals. What sets you apart is not only the hefty advance but also that you’ll receive a nice percentage on reruns. I can’t imagine why you—or any author—would pass this up, Annie.”
Trish was right. Annie had been in the business of writing long enough to know that.
“I need to talk about my books,” she said. “What will you want from me going forward?”
“You’ve just started another two-book contract. Naturally, we’ll expect you to keep to those deadlines, though I think we can tag an extra month or two on to give you a breather.”
“But what about the content? Should I write what I’d planned? Or will the series direct the way the plots go?”
There was no easy answer to that, and Annie knew it. But she and Trish went back and forth, bantering ideas of what might play well in print versus on camera. After an hour, Annie was exhausted.
“Okay,” she said. “If you ask one more question I won’t be able to think straight. Just tell me if there’s a timeline to give them an answer. And do they know I’m about to get married?”
“They need to know no later than Christmas Eve.”
“Seriously? Like anyone actually works between Christmas and New Year’s?”
“It’s a budget thing.”
“I’ll need to speak with Louisa,” Annie said. “And show the contract to my attorney.”
“Of course. I think Louisa will be back in town later this week if you want a face-to-face. But along with your attorney, I’m sure she’ll give you the same answers. Like I said, we did this together. We both know I know my side of the business, and she’s a crackerjack at making sure legal issues are covered.”
Annie couldn’t very well zip off to Manhattan for a meeting with her agent. Not this week. Or next. But she’d settle for a phone call. So she promised Trish that she’d have her answer before Christmas. Then they rang off and Annie sat, musing, until Kevin knocked again and stepped back into the living room and said he really had been listening at the door and that he didn’t know what the hell was going on but he figured by the tone of things that she might need her brother.
He was right.
So she stood up and let him hug her, and then they sat, and she explained it all to him.
Kevin said “Jesus” about fifty times.
When Annie was finished he asked, “So. What are you going to do?”
“It’s four thirty,” she said. “I’m going to bed. I think better in a dark room with my eyes closed. In the meantime, promise me you won’t breathe a word about this to anyone, okay? Not to Taylor, not to Earl, and, most of all, not to John. I have to think about how I’m going to tell him.” It wasn’t until then that she realized she should have told John first, the way he should have told her about the car for Abigail and about her weekly rental on the Cape. She supposed it would take time for both of them to know how to act like a married couple.
“Okay,” Kevin said as he stood up from the table. “But make sure you understand this could be a one-shot deal. A chance to earn yourself a healthy stash for the future. You might have some crazy months, but it might be worth it. The worst part is,” he added with a wink, “only you can decide.” He gave her a half a wave, then pointed to her left hand and said, “By the way, nice ring.”
