“Yes, okay. That’s probably best.”
“We have Nashville for just the two of us,” Hunter said. “This weekend is about you and family.”
“Thank you,” I said, standing on my tip-toes to give him a kiss.
Tyler returned, already dressed for the pool, but went to the windows. "We can see the Hollywood sign from here."
Just barely, in the gap between buildings, the white letters on the hill. Hollywood Boulevard spread out below us, the Walk of Fame stars embedded in the sidewalk catching the sun, the TCL Chinese Theatre visible from where we stood.
“This is so cool, Mom,” Tyler said. “Everyone’s going to have such a blast.”
“This is very cool,” Hunter said. “Lucky us. We get to hang out with a famous author all weekend.”
My phone buzzed with a text from the woman at the studio who had arranged everything, with instructions for later. Apparently they were sending a makeup artist to the hotel and a stylist was bringing several dresses for me to choose from. I’d brought my own dress but it might be fun to see what choices they might bring.
“They’re sending a makeup person and dresses,” I said to the boys, who were currently looking through the options in the wet bar.
“No way. It’s like you’re a star,” Tyler said. “I can’t wait to tell Grace.”
“Let’s go enjoy the pool,” I said. “The others are meeting us there.”
“I’m ready,” Tyler said, tugging at his swim trunks.
Hunter and I hurried off to put on our bathing suits. A few minutes later, we headed down.
The water,a gorgeous, almost otherworldly blue, snatched my breath away. Beneath it all, the painted mural lines shimmered and shifted. It was like a movie. All of it. Laughter drifted overthe surface, mingling with the clink of glasses and the low hum of music.
“That does not disappoint,” Robbie said, peering into the pool.
We spread out on the loungers that lined the pool deck, the scent of sunscreen in the air.
Vance, Grady, Alex and Hunter all headed to the bar, promising to return with drinks. The ladies and I laid back against the mesh covering of the chairs and watched the kids playing in the pool.
Fortunately, it was a slow afternoon at the hotel. It almost felt as if we had the place to ourselves. Tyler, Peter and Annie claimed the far end of the pool, tossing a beach ball back and forth across the water. Margot and Madison were playing mermaids at the other end.
Grace, Mia and Bella had positioned themselves under an umbrella, oversized sunglasses perched on their faces, scanning the pool deck with studied casualness. They were so obviously looking for stars that it made me laugh.
“See anyone?” I called over to them.
“Not yet,” Grace said, keeping her voice low. “But it’s early. The real celebrities come out at sunset.”
“How do you know that?” Gillian asked. She had baby Leo tucked into his pouch against her chest.
“Everyone knows that,” Grace said.
Mia nodded sagely, adjusting her sunglasses. “Totally.”
The three of them looked like they were auditioning for a magazine spread about Hollywood ingénues. For a second, I longed for the days when they were all Madison’s age, their noses covered in freckles, playing in the pool instead of all grown up and watching for movie stars. The time had gone chest-achingly fast. They were also way too pretty. We would need tokeep an eye on them here in Hollywood. Who knew what seedy characters lurked nearby?
Robbie had claimed a lounge chair in the shade, happily reading about early Hollywood, occasionally looking up to tell us something he’d learned.
“Honey, you should swim with the other kids,” Esme said.
“No, thank you,” Robbie said. “It seems important to understand the historical significance of where we are if I’m to fully take in the experience. I can swim at home.”
Esme didn’t argue, but she did shoot me a look.
“What’s the schedule for later?” Lila asked me.
