Off Screen: Waiting In The Wings Part 8

Emma picked up her phone when it buzzed again: Think about it. If you let me get a dog, we won't have to name our son King.

Emma rolled her eyes. For some reason, Addison wanted a dog. Emma could not begin to imagine why.

If you bring home a dog, the only thing you'll be naming is the car you'll be sleeping in.

Addison picked up her phone and laughed. "I do miss you, Em."

Chapter Five.

One Week Later "Hey," Addison called across the hallway. Sandra turned and smiled. "Hey, Brody!" Addison crouched down to the toddler.

"He's a little restless," Sandra commented.

Addison laughed. "Oh, I don't know anything about that."

"So? Emma's expecting again, I hear," Sandra replied.

Addison picked up Brody and beamed. "Yep."

"Too bad you're so miserable about it," Sandra laughed.

Addison shrugged while Brody played with her ponytail. "Yeah, well, I was surprised it happened so quickly to tell you the truth. But, it's good. Emma didn't want the kids to be too far apart in age. This one will be more than three years younger than Vicki. I doubt she'll want to wait all that long the next time."

"The next time?"

Addison laughed. "Well, I know she'd like three. Which is strange. I hate the idea of a middle kid, but she was one of three, and I guess she kind of liked it that way," Addison explained. Sandra nodded. "Hey, listen, I know you are b.u.mmed about Em not being on board with this project."

"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't hoped she would be," Sandra admitted.

"Me too," Addison said.

"Sounds like you two have other projects that are more important."

"True. I miss having her here, though."

Sandra nodded. Brody began to fidget, and Addison placed him back on the floor. "I swear, if he gets any faster I'll need a race car just to keep up. He takes after Dan. I've never moved that much in my life. Well, unless there was a snake nearby-or maybe a spider."

Addison chuckled. She could relate. Brody was a year younger than Vicki and had only recently found his feet. Addison thought better of warning Sandra that his speed would only increase when he found his center of gravity. Vicki was constantly on the move. Addison wondered at times how Emma was going to keep track of their curious daughter while she tended to the needs of an infant. Parenthood could be exhausting.

"Wearing you out, already?" Addison teased.

"Some days," Sandra confessed with a smile.

"So, what brings you down here today?" Addison wondered. Sandra grinned. "Oh. Looking for Jeff?" she guessed. Sandra blushed. "Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, but my partner in this current crime is down in San Diego for the day meeting with an investor. He'll be back tonight," Addison said. She watched Sandra's smile fade and felt her heart ache.

Sandra had been through more than Addison wanted to imagine in the last couple of years. Dan Starr's death had been hard on everyone involved with Off Screen. It had been nearly unbearable for Sandra. Emma had taken Sandra under her wing not long after the series had begun. Addison knew that Emma had enjoyed watching Sandra spread her wings and fly professionally. The two had become close friends over the years that Off Screen had been filming. Both Addison and Emma had delighted in the off-screen romance that had developed between Sandra and Dan. They had complimented one another. Dan's sudden death had ended far more than a television series. Sandra had been left to mourn the man before she'd even been able to tell him she was expecting their baby. Addison couldn't fathom that reality. The thought of losing Emma made her physically ill. More than once after Dan's death, Emma had confessed to Addison that she had pondered what she would have done had it been Addison. It had left them both with a sense of gratefulness and tremendous sadness for Sandra.

Addison regarded Sandra thoughtfully as the actress attempted to corral her son. She found herself smiling at the sight, and realizing that Sandra was likely starved for a bit of adult companionship. As much as Emma loved being with Vicki, Addison had seen the evidence of Emma's need for adult companionship many evenings.

"Let me guess," Addison began. "You were hoping instead of Calgon that Jeff might take you away for the evening?"

Sandra shook her head. "Calgon? Addison, how old are you?"

Addison laughed. That was exactly what she imagined Emma would have said. "I like vintage commercials."

"Explains why Emma has always said you were a bargain.'

"She did not!" Addison chimed. Sandra smiled. "A bargain?" Addison asked sullenly. Sandra laughed. "Very funny. You know, you technically work for me," Addison joked.

"G.o.d, help me," Sandra teased.

Addison rolled her eyes. Having Sandra in the office reminded her of the years they had all worked together. There had been ups and downs, but far more ups than downs. Addison missed seeing the familiar faces sometimes. "So? I know, I'm not Jeff, but my wife left me all alone for a couple of weeks. Strange thing? No toddler in the house, but also very little adult conversation. Unless I count myself, and I'm pretty sure Em would argue that could go either way."

"You know, Addison, that's the closest to being asked out on a date I've had in over two years," Sandra teased. Addison laughed. "And, as far as adult conversation goes, I'm afraid that Little Mario Andretti here might have other ideas."

Addison shrugged. "Like I said, my verbal skills can go in either direction. What do you say? You can bring Brody over to the house. Vicki's room is like Disneyland," she laughed. "I mean, for a toddler."

"Missing them, huh?" Sandra guessed. Addison blushed. "Well, I know I am no subst.i.tute for Emma, but I'd love to."

"Good. I have a few things to wrap up. I'd offer to cook, but maybe it'd be better if I just picked up a pizza."

"Yeah, how long has Emma been gone?

"Eleven days, four hours," Addison looked at her phone, "and sixteen minutes."

"Not that you are counting or anything," Sandra replied. Addison shrugged again. "Mm-hm, and how many times have you had pizza since she left?" Sandra asked.

"I had Chinese too."

Sandra laughed. Some things never changed. It was a standing joke among their friends. Emma was the cook. Addison was the diner. When Emma was away for even a day, take-out was always the menu. "She'll kill me if I encourage you," Sandra said.

"Nah. I made myself dinner last night."

"Do I want to know?"

"Peanut b.u.t.ter and jelly. Oh, and corn chips," Addison said.

Sandra shook her head. "Tell you what. You agree to be the pace car for an hour, and I will make dinner."

"Really?" Addison's eyes grew wide.

"Trust me, Addison. It won't be Emma-worthy. I'm thinking spaghetti and meatb.a.l.l.s.

"Garlic bread?"

Sandra laughed. "Are you related to Jeff and no one told me?"

"Why; does he like garlic bread?"

Sandra smiled. "So? Deal?"

"Yeah, it's a deal. You need me to pick stuff up?" Addison asked.

"No," Sandra replied. "He loves to ride in the cart. What time?"

"Give me about an hour and a half?" Addison asked.

"See you then," Sandra said.

Addison nodded and waved goodbye. "See you." She watched Sandra turn the corner and shook her head. It hadn't escaped her notice that every time Jeff's name was mentioned, Sandra had blushed. "Well, well," she mused as she headed to her office. "Better get a move on Jeffrey," she said and closed her door. She smiled and picked up her phone. "Jeff? Yeah, I know you will be back tonight. No, nothing is wrong. Oh, will you just be quiet and listen! I didn't call about the meeting. I called about this weekend... Yes, I know. Just listen. I think you should come to Kansas. Why? Well, because I do! Geez! You know, it is your G.o.ddaughter's birthday," she reminded him. Addison gloated when she heard his response. "Sure, I am sure. Mm-hm. You can make it happen. Be like Captain Picard... Make it so."

"So?" Sandra asked. "When are you leaving for Kansas?"

Addison took a sip of her wine and smiled. "Tomorrow at noon."

"Really? I thought Jeff said you two had meetings until Friday?"

"We did. Now, he does."

Sandra grinned. "Couldn't take it anymore, huh? Not even my spaghetti helped?"

Addison sn.i.g.g.e.red. "It helped. It's just..."

"Not Emma's."

Addison smiled. "It did help, actually-having you and Brody here tonight helped. It's too quiet here.

"Well, I doubt you'll be complaining about that much soon," Sandra offered.

"You would think that. It's strange," Addison said.

"What's that?"

"I used to get so frustrated by noise when I needed to work. Now? I don't know. If I don't hear something being banged on or there are no smudges on my papers... I don't know, I..."

"I get it," Sandra said. "I feel the same way lately," she replied. Addison was curious. "Since you started this whole reboot. Jeff? He's been away so much," Sandra said. Addison listened, careful not to give away her suspicions in her expression. Sandra's gaze retreated into her wine gla.s.s as she continued to speak. "I guess I have gotten used to hearing him come through the door. Brody looks for him. It's just so quiet lately. I can't concentrate."

Addison smiled. It was difficult for her to believe, but she had the same problem. The sounds that accompanied her daily life had become part of the fabric that held everything together-even Addison's work. From time to time, Addison did need silence. Everyone did. Emma did too. Most days, Addison felt at home in the commotion of a household with a toddler at its center-a household with Emma holding them all together. She wasn't surprised at all by Sandra's revelation. Addison and Emma were both aware that Jeff had fallen for the actress. They both suspected that Sandra's feelings ran deeper than friendship. Both understood that the idea of exploring what those feelings might mean terrified Jeff. Addison was unsure if Sandra had realized how her feelings for Jeff had grown.

"I get it," Addison said. Sandra looked up. Addison noted the insecurity in her eyes. "I know you miss Dan," Addison said.

Sandra nodded. "I do," she agreed. "I miss Jeff more."

Addison smiled knowingly. She could see the tears pooling in Sandra's eyes. "Why don't you tell him that?"

"I don't know," Sandra confessed. "He's my best friend, Addison. I don't want to lose him. I can't lose him too."

Addison pushed back her tears. She understood better than Sandra could guess. She had felt the same way about Emma. At times, she still did. Addison didn't fear Emma walking away from her. She was confident that they would never separate willingly. Like Sandra, Addison had lost the most significant person in her life once. That kind of loss conjured a brand of pain that a person never forgot. It lived inside a person every minute of the day. You learned to live with it. You never completely let it go. Addison had also learned that you couldn't walk away from loving someone because they might leave. People did leave. If not by choice, then as a result of nature. Someone always left, and someone was always left behind. That was part of life.

"I don't think you need to worry about that," Addison told Sandra.

A weak smile tugged at Sandra's lips. "I know he loves me."

"It is pretty obvious," Addison said.

"But, it's a lot to ask," Sandra said. "He loved Dan too."

"We all loved Dan," Addison said. The words were greeted with a genuine smile from Sandra. "But, Jeff is in love with you," she said honestly.

"It's a lot to ask. Brody is a..."

Addison held up her hand. "Give him some credit," she said. "I can't tell you what to do," Addison said. "When Emma and I were first getting to know each other... When I realized that I was in love with her, I was scared s.h.i.tless."

"Why? Because she wasn't out?"

"Partly. Only partly. She made me feel like I had a place to land. Do you understand what I mean by that?" Addison asked. Sandra nodded. "I had forgotten what that felt like. Losing that... I just couldn't bear that thought."

Sandra sighed heavily. "I know that I should tell him. I want to. I just..."

"It isn't safer to keep it locked up inside," Addison said. "Tell him the truth. Tell him why it scares you too."

"Speaking from experience?"

"Yeah, you'd think a writer would be better at knowing what to say."

"You seem to be doing a good job so far," Sandra observed.

"Mm. With you, maybe. With a script. With Em? Sometimes, Sandra, it's still hard."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure," Addison said. "Because she's where I land-wherever she is. It's just always been that way-from the first cup of coffee we shared, if I were to be honest. I don't know. I love her so much that sometimes I forget how much she loves me. Maybe that's it. I hate to admit that. Maybe that is it."

Sandra smiled. "You are a complete romantic, Addison."

"Guilty. That doesn't make it less true. I can't tell you what to do. I do have a suggestion."

"I'm listening."