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“Well, well. What is this? Break time?”

Mother. Fucker. Somewhere in the middle of that, Mom had wandered in and now stood in the row behind us. I was too busy enjoying being in Winter’s presence to notice. “Yes, as a matter of fact,” I replied, standing to face her. She looked impeccable as always. Judgmental as fuck too. “Winter just wrapped up the first round of auditions.”

“That would explain the weeping girls I passed in the lobby area on the way in,” Mom said with a smirk. Winter cringed, visible in the corner of my eye, and I understood without asking how it hurt her to hear that. She’d crushed a few hopes today and would continue doing so until the show was cast. Part of the job? Sure. That didn’t mean she had to enjoy it.

“I’d better go. Time to prepare for round two of making people weep.” I couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes darted Mom’s way before she swung around and returned to the stage and to that pissant who thought he had any right to breathe the same air she did.

Looking Mom’s way was useless. She was the picture of innocence, eyeing the designs on the laptops as if she had the first idea of what she was looking at. “This is all very complicated,” she murmured with a chuckle. “I don’t see how you keep track of all of it. But then, you don’t, do you? In fact, there’s really no reason for you to be here.”

Look who’s talking. Rather than start a fight, I asked, “What are you doing here today? I said everything I had to say during dinner with that girl you tried to set me up with.” A week had passed since then, and she had yet to apologize or attempt to explain herself. I knew better than to hold my breath.

“I like to show my face at times like this to make sure everyone remembers who’s footing the bill,” she explained.

What was worse? The hypocrisy, or the way she looked at everything like it was somehow beneath her? The queen, observing the worker bees who kept her pampered and Botoxed. “Then I suppose I should be the one standing where you are, shouldn’t I?” I asked.

“I think you have it backward. This is being staged on the company’s dime, not yours. You might want to remember that the next time you make surprise purchases.” Her tone was downright acidic. I was surprised she didn’t burn a hole through the front of my polo shirt.

“Complain all you want…” I chided in an attempt to brighten the mood, “… but you’ll eat your words. I’ll look forward to your apology.”

“Now, my dear, you know I never eat my words.” Glancing at her watch, she added, “But I could use something to eat now that you mention it. Why don’t you take me to an early lunch? We can talk over what you’ve seen so far today.” The request was barely out of her mouth before she began walking up the aisle. As usual, she’d made up her mind. Forget what I might have wanted. I could either suggest she shove it up her ass in front of dozens of techs and performers, or I could go along without complaint.

Something was clearly up with her, and I knew what it was. She was going to hang around my neck like a lead weight until we premiered, micromanaging everything she could sink her claws into because there was so much riding on our success.

It was almost enough to make me wish I hadn’t purchased the rights.

At least, until Winter’s laughter rang out on the stage and reminded me of what I had gained without meaning to.

6

WINTER

First Day of Rehearsals

“You’re getting to be such a big boy, you know that?” I said as I finished dressing Liam for the day in a T-shirt and overalls. His little cheeks were so soft under my mouth when I kissed them.

“Mama, stay home with me,” he pleaded, his blue eyes big and shining.

Was there any request that could break a mother’s heart more easily? “I wish I could, sweetheart, but I have lots of work to do.”

“For a big show?”

“That’s right, for a very big show.” His tiny pout took what was left of my already broken heart and ground it into dust. Moments like this made me question if I was doing the right thing for him. But I had my village—Mom and Audra included.

“Audra said she’s taking you to the movies with Grandma today. That’ll be fun, won’t it?” I asked, trying to lift his spirits.

“I want you to come with me. Pleeease?”

Running a hand over his sandy curls, I sighed. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. You can tell me all about it when I get home later. Next time I have a day off, I promise we’ll do something special together.” I knew it wasn’t enough, but this was part of the deal. Nobody ever said being a working mother would be easy. People did it all the time, though. I was nothing special.

“Come on. Let’s get some breakfast.” I stood and gently took his hand, leading him out of his cheerful bedroom. Mom was flipping pancakes at the stove, and some of the regret tugging at my heart eased when Liam’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. It had only been a couple of weeks since we’d moved in, but he and Mom were growing closer every day, and that was all I could ask for.

“I have to run,” I announced, kissing Mom’s cheek and pouring coffee into a travel cup. Skipping my usual stop for a latte was worth the extra few minutes with my baby. “Have fun at the movies later. Audra said she’d be here soon, so you can chill for a while.” She lived just a few blocks away, and we’d agreed she could stay over if needed. Still, I wanted her to have her own space to avoid burnout.

“Bye-bye, Mama.” Liam was already enthralled by Mom’s pancake-flipping skills, barely noticing when I kissed his cheek again. My heart sank, but it was better that way. He was happy, giggling as Mom let him try flipping a pancake. He was getting so big.

And every day, he looked a little more like Jackson.

Terrific. Exactly the sinking feeling I needed to start my morning. I left the house and slid behind the wheel of the rented Lexus, my thoughts swirling. Liam was still young and sheltered enough not to feel the absence of a father, but it was only a matter of time. One day, I’d have to explain why he didn’t have a daddy in his life. As it was, I’d managed to divert his innocent questions, like when he watched a show with a mommy and a daddy and wondered why he only had me, and he’d always accepted my vague answers. There was only so long I’d be able to get away with that.