“And I don’t care about any of it.” I waited for that to settle in before I said, “You think you have some power over us because my career means everything to me. You think you couldexposeme or Joel or the problems in our relationship and blow my brand to smithereens.” I leaned in, whispering, “But you’d be wrong. You could do your worst to me today and I’d still have the things that matter most. A man who loves me, great friends, a beautiful home, church, community, and a shot at the kind of future I’ve always wanted. That’s what’s real, and there’s nothing you can do to take that away from me.”
“Keep telling yourself that, hon.” She sneered. “And when you’re some nobody little soccer mom chauffeuring snotty nosed kids around, you’ll wonder how the hell you let your big break pass you by.”
“That life you just described sounds like Heaven to me. So, you can pack your shit and get off my property.”
“Excuse me?” She paled. “You can’t fire me! You’re not my boss!”
I smiled sweetly. “Maybe not, but without me there is no show. And if I have to choose between having my husband here, and you, the choice is easy. I want you gone. And I never want to see you again.”
“You think you’ve won—”
I got in her face. “Do your worst, Kaitlyn. It doesn’t matter. I’ll still have everything you want. Because that’s really what this is all about, isn’t it? It’s eating you up inside that Joel loves me, not you.” I held my hand up to reveal the diamond band on my left hand. “You wanted this. You wanted him. But you’ll never have him. So do yourself a favour, make your peace with that.”
“You sanctimonious little bitch. I’m going to ruin you.”
I laughed. “You can try. But there’s nothing you can take away from me that I still value.”
“What are you talking about? This show—”
“Is just a show. It’ll have its run, or it won’t. But one day it’ll be in my rear-view mirror. Like high school and college and all the other chapters of my life.”
“I don’t believe you.”
I shrugged. “I don’t care what you believe. I don’t have to convince you of anything. The person I have to convince is my husband.” Joel had been willing to give up everything to make me happy and I’d been too blind to see it. I let my stupid jealousy and pride get in the way of the best thing that ever happened to me.
“You’re going to regret this.” She dropped the half-empty cup at my feet, causing the hot coffee to splatter my cropped white jeans.
“I’ll say it again,” I said, between clenched teeth. “Get off this property. Otherwise, I have a friend on the police force who’d be happy to provide an escort.”
She glared at me, and muttered a few curse words that would have made my sweet mama blush before she finally beat tracks to the barn where the rest of the crew had gathered.
I was trembling with anger and relief when I felt strong hands close around my shoulders.
“Hope you gave that bitch what she deserved,” he whispered in my ear.
I smiled. Danny. He was a production assistant, and we’d become fast friends. He confessed to me how much he missed his pregnant fiancée, and I told him about the mess I’d made of my marriage. We often talked late into the night, and I hoped we’d remain close long after the show ended.
“I told her to get the hell off my property. Hopefully, that means she’ll be out of a job.” I might have felt an ounce of guilt about that, if I wasn’t sure she’d be placed on another show within the week. I didn’t like the girl, but I had to admit, she was good at her job.
Danny slow-clapped. “It’s about time, girl. Does that mean your husband will be back home where he belongs?”
I met Danny’s eyes, mine filling with tears. “I don’t know. I hope so. Truth is, I don’t even know if he wants to come home to me.”
He hauled me against his chest. Danny was a big, burly guy. Long beard, close cropped hair, lots of tattoos and he always wore flannel shirts, rolled back to the elbow. He looked like he’d fit in better in my hometown than L.A., but he claimed to love Tinseltown, where he got paid to do what he loved for a living.
“Hey, don’t even doubt that he wants to be with you, Gia.” He kissed my forehead. “Given everything you’ve told me about this guy, he’s smart enough to know a good thing when he’s got it.”
It had been so long since I’d allowed myself to feel comforted by someone’s touch, so I sank into Danny’s embrace, and felt soothed by his strength. He reminded me of my older brother, Matt, who’d moved away five years ago to start a construction business in Portland, where there were more opportunities. We still spoke at least once a month, but I missed him like crazy.
“I hope you’re right,” I whispered against his chest, curling my arms around his waist. “But what if he doesn’t want to come home, Danny? What if he realizes he’s missed his life in L.A., and the small-town farming life isn’t for him, after all?”
He framed my face with his big, calloused hands. “Girl, are you listening to yourself right now? You’re making yourself crazy for no good reason. Quit thinking the worst and get on the damn phone. Call your husband, just like I’ve been telling you to do since he left. Or better yet, go see him, bring him home with you.”
“I can’t do that.” I sighed. “The show—”
“What’s more important? Your marriage or this show?”
“My marriage, but—”
