Off Screen: Waiting In The Wings Part 9

"Come to Kansas this weekend. Jeff will be there. I invited him this afternoon."

Sandra's eyes twinkled. "Addison, are you trying to write a script with Jeff and me?"

"Nah. Well, maybe a little," she admitted. "I really would like you both there. I know Emma would too. She misses you."

"I miss her."

"Yeah, I know. I think she could use your friendship, to tell you the truth. So could I."

Sandra nodded. "You guys have always had my friendship; you know that."

"Yeah, but I mean I'd like to have you around more. h.e.l.l, our kids are almost the same age. I wish I that I had friends to grow up with like that."

"Okay."

"Really?" Addison asked.

"Yeah. I'm not promising you that I'm confessing anything to Jeff, though," Sandra said.

"I get it."

"Who else is going to be there?" Sandra inquired.

"Em's family mostly. My dad comes in tonight. He'll beat me there."

"Your dad is coming?" Sandra asked.

"I know. Crazy. Emma can convince him of anything," Addison chuckled affectionately.

"I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

Addison's smile did not reach her eyes. "He'll be glad to see the munchkin, and he will definitely be happy to see Em," Addison said.

Emma had confided to Sandra a bit about the tenuous relationship between Addison and her father. And, Sandra had seen evidence of the stress and sadness that often caused for Addison over the years. She could see that plainly now. It was written more clearly than any of the lines Addison had drafted in a script.

"Make you a deal," Sandra said.

"A deal?"

"Yeah. I will give Jeff a chance if you give your father one," Sandra said.

Addison nodded. "Not quite the same thing," she said.

"Maybe not. You wanted to be the matchmaker," she laughed.

Addison chuckled nervously. "I'll try."

"Good. Now, pour me some more wine," Sandra said.

"Just don't tell anyone I got you drunk."

"Never."

Chapter Six.

Addison took a deep breath and gripped the steering wheel tightly. She'd talked to Emma and Vicki shortly before turning in for the night. Emma had seemed happy that Sandra and Jeff had both agreed to stay in Kansas that weekend. And, Emma had been more than a bit amused by the slurred speaking of her former co-star. Sandra had ended up pa.s.sing out on the couch with Brody while Addison had talked to Emma. They had both agreed that their friend needed the escape. A few gla.s.ses of wine in a safe environment had given Sandra the opportunity to confide in Addison and to relax for a bit. Emma told Addison she thought it had been good for them both.

Addison never said anything, but Emma was sure that at times, Addison felt a bit lonely. Tamara and Christie had moved back to Los Angeles, but Tamara had been traveling with Christie a great deal. She'd been home for about a month when she had been offered a production job on a project that was filming in Australia. She would be gone for another six weeks. Jeff's time had become consumed with Sandra. That left Addison to spend most of her time with Emma. While that had many benefits, Emma recognized that everyone needed a life outside of their marriage. Emma saw Christie frequently now that Tamara was away, and she spoke daily with her mother. Emma also guessed that Sandra was in need of a friend to talk to about everything in her life. Addison was a terrific listener. Emma hoped that Sandra and Addison might grow to be closer friends now that they were working together again.

The car speakers blared the news of an incoming call, startling Addison from her thoughts. Emma wasn't expecting her until Friday night. She readied herself to accept the call without giving away the fact that she was only about ten minutes from Emma's parents' house. "Hi."

"Hi, honey. Are you in the car?"

"Yeah. Thought I'd step out of the office for a few minutes and grab some lunch," Addison replied. Well, that was partially true. Addison smirked at the McDonald's wrapper sitting on the pa.s.senger's seat.

"Did you have to carry Sandra to her car this morning?" Emma teased.

Addison laughed. "Nah. I told her just to lock up when I left. To tell you the truth, I felt a bit guilty for letting her tie one on like that."

"She needed it," Emma replied.

"Yeah, I think so," Addison agreed. "So, how is the munchkin?"

"Busy."

Addison chuckled. "I'll bet she is. What's she up to?"

"Following your father everywhere," Emma said. Addison remained silent. "Addy?"

"How's he doing with that?" Addison asked. She was looking forward to seeing Emma and Vicki. She'd been thinking for hours about the kiss she intended to plant on Emma's lips the moment she saw her. Addison had conveniently avoided thinking about seeing her father.

"I think that you could say he loves it," she told Addison. Emma heard Addison sigh. "Addy... He did ask when you would be here.

"Well, I guess there is that," Addison said as she turned a corner.

"I will be glad to see you," Emma changed the subject.

"You will, huh?" Addison brightened.

"Yep. I'm away for a short time, and you are already getting the girls drunk at home."

Addison laughed. "Yeah, that was a romantic adventure last night. I have no idea what she feeds Brody, but oh, my G.o.d!" Addison said.

Emma laughed. "Got stuck with diaper duty, huh?"

"Uh... I let her sleep. It was ugly enough without the risk of injury to our carpet or anything else," Addison joked. She looked ahead as the final turn that would take her to Emma came into view. "Hey, listen, I'm about to pull up..."

"Let me guess? McDonald's?"

"What? Me, eat that sludge?"

"Mm-hm. When the wife's away...."

"Yeah, yeah," Addison looked briefly at the wrapper on the seat and shook her head. Emma most definitely had her number. "I'll call you in a bit."

"Enjoy your McNuggets."

Addison laughed. "Bye, Em."

Emma hung up the call and shook her head.

"How's she doing?" Sherry asked.

"Oh, she's fine. I just hope that was red wine they were drinking last night," Emma commented.

"Why?" Sherry asked.

"It'll help unclog her arteries after all the s.h.i.t she's been eating this last week."

Sherry laughed and patted Emma's back. "You know; she'll be looking for cookies when she gets here."

"Mmm. She looks for cookies daily," Emma replied.

Sherry raised an eyebrow. "Well, we'd better get on that then, don't you think?" Sherry suggested.

Emma smiled. "You love encouraging her."

"I think, Emmie, with Adam here, maybe cookies are a good idea."

"Probably so. There are two things that those two have in common for sure."

"What's that?" Sherry asked.

"Neither of them ever tire of the sprout and both can never seem to get enough of my cookies."

Sherry laughed. "I'm not sure I'd put it in those words to Addison," she commented with a chuckle.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Mom!"

Sherry shrugged and pulled Emma into the kitchen. "I'm sure she's happy to share just about anything, but your cookies," Sherry teased.

Emma laughed. "You're impossible."

Addison took a deep breath and turned off the engine. She was anxious to see Emma. Any other trip to Kansas, and Addison would have run for the front door. She closed her eyes and took another slow breath, opened her eyes and opened the car door.

"Momma!" and exited voice screamed.

Addison turned to the sound and instantly felt her heart swell. "Hiya, Munchkin," she called to her daughter. Vicki ran as fast as her legs would allow. She tripped in her excitement and landed on her knees.

"Oh, no," Addison hovered over her. Vicki pouted with frustration and looked up at her momma. "You okay?" Addison asked.

Vicki huffed, and Addison pressed down her urge to laugh at the look of consternation on her daughter's face. It was a familiar sight. She's seen both Emma and Sherry sport the same look a few times. Usually when Sherry was ready to throttle Emma's father or when Emma was ready to strangle Addison.

"Is she okay?" Adam fled to his granddaughter.

Addison kept her eyes squarely on her daughter. She was confident that when Vicki stood up, there would be evidence that she had fallen. Gravel had a tendency to leave a mark on bare knees. She also did not want to encourage a tantrum from Vicki. Vicki's adventurous nature had already earned her a fair number of b.u.mps and bruises. Addison wondered if this would be the first skinned knee. Lucky her, she got to deliver that news to Emma.

"I think she's okay," Addison replied. She reached down and helped Vicki to her feet.

"Ouchie!" Vicki's eyes started to water.

"Yep, looks like you got an ouchie, Munchkin," Addison agreed. She scooped up her sniffling daughter and kissed her on the cheek. "How about we go find Mommy?" she suggested. Vicki nestled into her neck and nodded.

"I'm sorry, Addy," Adam apologized as they walked to the house.

Addison was confused. "Sorry for what?" she asked.

"I should have had a better hold on her."

Addison detected the genuine concern and guilt in her father's voice. She smiled at him compa.s.sionately. "It's okay, Dad. She's quicker than she looks," she chuckled.

"Emmie?" Sherry called out.

"Yeah?" Emma answered from the pantry.

"Uh... Did Addison say anything about getting here early?"

Emma emerged carrying a large bag of flour. "No, why?" Sherry pointed out the kitchen window.

Emma moved to take a look. She dropped the bag of flour on the table and rushed to the back door. "What are you doing here?" she asked as she and Addison stepped onto the porch.

"h.e.l.lo to you too," Addison replied.

Emma smiled and then noted the tears streaming down Vicki's cheek, matched by the small trickle of blood trailing down her leg. "What happened?"

"Sprint and flop," Addison answered. Emma bit her lip to keep from chuckling.

"It was my fault," Adam offered.