Chapter 51
THE HAT TRICK
LOURDES
“Lourdes, you cannot be serious!” Martha erupted.
“Well, you said start of December, not end of May!” I protested.
“Lourdes, at your age—”
“I get that I am an elderly actress with no endearing qualities,” I said flatly, “but Leah is pregnant.”
“Leah… Roughy?”
“That would be her, yes. We’re together and having a baby late this year. I need to be off work to help her care for that baby.”
“And that happened how?”
I wasn’t asking her opinion. I was in full protective mode.
“Well, obviously, as I possess neither a prick nor testicles, it required a third-party. But it happened.”
“Lourdes, you are difficult—”
Difficult. This was what I feared. I chose myself. I chose to finally love myself, but here it was. No matter how well I insulated myself all these years and denied myself a love affair for the ages, my bravery bit me.
I contemplated waffling. I started the mental gymnastics, then thought of Leah, London, and the life we deserved years before. I hadn’t been the woman she needed then. Now, I had to be. And if that cost me, it was what needed to be done.
“I’m not. You sold me an unmitigated bait-and-switch that put me in an impossible situation. I simply cannot make this schedule work. I tried to think of a way to do both, but Leah rightly told me to either fix it or pull out of the show.”
“If you pull out, you will never get another lead part.”
“Yeah, well, I am aware it makes me look complicated, but I cannot wait around and pause my life for a maybe.”
“You should have trusted the process—”
“For how long?” I demanded. “She waited ten years for me. I waited forty years to be happy, Martha.”
“It is the part of a lifetime!”
My jaw tightened, “Not if it costs me all the happiness in the world!”
She fell silent.
I continued, “I assumed this show wasn’t getting off the ground. My Dad is dying. This is likely our last chance to do this.”
“I cannot believe Leah would give you an ultimatum. She is in the business—”
“And asking her to accept this isn’t fair no matter if she’s in the biz or not,” I said. “This is my family. And as much as this role has meant to me my entire life, I can only take the part if this works.”
“I really want you to—”
An idea flashed in my mind, and I cut her off. “Sorry. I must… I have an idea. I will ring you back.”
I hung up and texted Leo.
ME
Do you have Lana Dobbs’s number
He typed, then gave up and forwarded her contact information without question.
ME
Love you, mate!
I dialed Lana, unsure what to expect. To my surprise, she answered the unknown number with a bit of trepidation. Bold move, Lana!
“Yes?” Lana asked.
“Lana, it’s Lourdes Lennon.”
“Oh,” her voice dropped.
“I feel dreadful to call like this, but… I want to do something, and I need to know if it suits you.”
“I’m having a baby in three weeks, Lourdes.”
“I know,” I said. “And I’m about to pack up after Victoria to take a part you deserved. I’m so sorry.”
“That’s kind of you, Lourdes.”
“It’s honest. And so is this.” I lay my cards out.
“My girlfriend is giving birth at the end of the year sometime. I was supposed to take a very limited engagement, but it’s now going on longer.
My agent says they wanted me through August if they could have me, but I couldn’t do it.
My body won’t even allow me—baby or no.”
“That is wonderful. Congratulations!”
“Same to you, darling. And your husband. Uh… so, here’s my proposal if you are interested—I don’t want to speak for you.”
“Okay? Go on.”
“I could work until the start of November, then you could take over. It would give you about as much time to prepare as it did me. I know it is so much to ask postpartum, and you have every right to say no—”
“I’ll do it. If they offer it, I’ll do it. I will make it work,” Lana declared without hesitation. “Lourdes, that is… so generous.”
“It’s practical.”
“No, it’s lifting up, not punching down. Bless you!” She sounded choked up, which hit me in the feels.
“I am sorry I get to do it first, but—”
“No. You’re doing such a great thing.”
“There is no guarantee—”
“Remember that you’re a legend, Lourdes,” Lana said. “And they would be so lucky to have you to sell tickets.”
“You, too.”
“They will have me… eventually… if they are smart.”
“So, you’re alright with me calling my agent right now?”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Lana laughed. “And thanks for ringing me. When you get to London, you’ll have to come to dinner or something. If your wife wouldn’t mind?”
My wife. I didn’t debate it because the title didn’t bother me. If I was lucky enough to wed Leah Roughy, I’d be the happiest girl alive.
“Sure. I’d love that. Best of luck with the baby if we don’t chat again.”
“Fingers crossed we’re rehearsing together in a few months.”
I smiled and ended the call, remembering Lana’s words.
I was a legend. I could do this—for us. There was no reason women had to give up monumental opportunities because they grew a family.
My worst fears faced me now, but I wouldn’t bow to them.
I held steady. If they called me a diva, fine!
But I would make them millions if they just acquiesced.
I knew for a fact I was in the best bargaining position I ever could be.
Without me, they had no way to go into pre-production in 2 weeks. I had the power.