Chapter 4 #2
Then came the matter of how they would choose the block of the week.
Julia wanted to start with the easiest patterns and work up to the more difficult ones.
As the least experienced quilter of the group, she figured she would benefit from time to perfect her sewing skills so she would be better prepared to tackle the trickier patterns later.
Grace preferred the exact opposite approach, most difficult patterns to least. Her long-standing habit was to complete a day’s most difficult tasks first, when she was freshest, and to enjoy how her workload became easier as the day went on.
Donna, who always sought fairness and consensus, suggested that they take turns choosing the week’s block, each according to her preferences.
Megan, a methodical engineer, wanted to make the blocks in the order in which they appeared in the quilt: left to right, top row to bottom.
As for Vinnie, “I don’t care which blocks we make or when,” she declared, “as long as we all work on the same block each week and have fun doing it.”
In the end they decided that Megan’s plan would be best. That way, patterns of different degrees of difficulty would be dispersed
over time rather than concentrated at the beginning or the end. Also, if someone finished a block early, she would already
know the next week’s assignment and could work ahead, if that suited her. And if Julia—or anyone—encountered a particularly
challenging block before she felt up to the task, the other Cross-Country Quilters would guide her through it, step by step.
The week after Julia’s season premiere party, the Cross-Country Quilters began working on the fourth block of the second row.
Churn Dash was one of the simpler blocks, with all straight seams and no set-in pieces or curves, so their weekly check-in conference call quickly turned from noting their progress to catching up on their personal news.
Julia’s friends were especially eager to discuss the upcoming Emmy Awards ceremony, which they planned to watch on television.
They couldn’t wait to see her walk the red carpet in her strapless Versace gown of champagne silk chiffon with a small train and a matching shawl, and they teasingly declared that they expected her to mention them by name in her acceptance speech when she collected yet another golden statuette.
“Please don’t place any bets,” Julia begged them. “Everyone says this is Jennifer Garner’s year. Alias is one of the most popular shows on television, and Jennifer has never won. I’m not even writing an acceptance speech.”
The chorus of protests made her glad she had her friends on speakerphone rather than directly in her ear. “But you performed
so well all season long,” said Vinnie. “You had so many wonderful scenes. I know you personally, but you almost made me forget
I was watching my friend. I saw only Sadie Henderson.”
As ever, Julia was grateful for the effusive praise, although after so many years in the industry, she wished she didn’t crave
so much reassurance. “Thank you, Vinnie. That means a lot to me.”
“And I did bet on you to win, so there.”
Julia’s heart sank as she envisioned the elderly woman’s life savings disappearing in a puff of smoke. “Please tell me you’re
kidding.”
“Not at all. We shook on it and everything.”
“Vinnie,” said Megan warily. Almost three years earlier, thanks to Vinnie’s persistent matchmaking, Megan had married Vinnie’s
favorite grandson, Adam. Vinnie often fondly referred to Megan as her granddaughter-in-law. “How much did you bet and with
whom?”
“And since when are bookies allowed to prowl the halls of your retirement community?” asked Grace.
Vinnie trilled a laugh. “Oh, relax, girls. The bet is with Ethel from across the hall. The winner has to treat the loser to
a piece of pie and a cup of coffee at the café down the block. That’s all.”
Julia heaved a sigh of relief, one she heard echoed over the speakerphone. “I appreciate your optimism, Vinnie, but you’re
going to owe Ethel dessert.”
“We’ll see about that,” said Vinnie. “We’ll be watching Sunday night on the big-screen TV in the lounge, and I’ll be the one
laughing when you have to make up a speech on the spot when you win.”
“Lindsay is absolutely thrilled that you’re taking her as your plus-one, Julia,” Donna said. “That’s so generous of you.”
“Not at all. It’s my pleasure, and she deserves to be there. Lindsay inherited your work ethic and she’s exceptionally good
at her job. She’s also delightful company.” Besides, many other members of the cast and production team would be attending
the ceremony, as nominees in other categories. It wouldn’t be right to leave Lindsay out, and it wasn’t as if Julia were dating
anyone.
Vinnie sighed, comically forlorn. “Well, if it couldn’t be me in the seat beside you, I’m glad it’s Lindsay.”
“You were my date last year,” Julia reminded her. “Not to mention that I escorted you to the gala grand opening of the Union
Hall quilt exhibit just last month.”
“So you did,” Vinnie admitted.
“Dibs on the Emmys next year,” Megan sang out.
“I call season six,” Grace chimed in.
“If I’m nominated,” Julia said, laughing, warmed by her friends’ absolute, unshakable belief that she deserved all the awards.
“Don’t go buying your gowns and booking your flights just yet.”
“You will be nominated, if the voters have any sense,” Vinnie said emphatically, “so put me down for season seven.”
“Don’t budge the line,” Donna teased, feigning indignation. “I’ll be Julia’s plus-one for season seven.”
“If there is a season seven,” Julia said.
One of her friends gasped; she couldn’t tell who. “Why wouldn’t there be?” asked Megan.
“I’ve been dying to tell you for days. To be honest, I’m desperate for your advice.”
“My goodness,” said Vinnie. “How foreboding.”
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Julia confided the miserable tale, tearing up as she remembered how happy and proud she had been at the premiere party until her friends’ revelations had blindsided her.
“If Ellen and most of the leads quit, that would mean the end of the show,” she lamented.
“I honestly don’t see how A Patchwork Life could continue without them. ”
“Oh, Julia, dear, that’s simply awful,” said Vinnie. “I don’t understand why anyone would want to leave such a charming series.”
“I don’t either. We haven’t even peaked yet. We have so much more of Sadie’s story to tell.”
As Megan and Grace murmured sympathetically, Donna was curiously silent. “Hold on,” she eventually said. “Is the show officially
canceled? Has everyone been fired? Lindsay hasn’t mentioned it, but it would be just like her not to worry me until she knew
for sure.”
Too late, Julia realized the implications of her news for Donna. “It isn’t officially canceled yet, and we still have season
six to film,” she hastened to assure her friend. “Don’t worry about Lindsay. She already works on other programs when we’re
on hiatus. Whenever Patchwork eventually ends, I’m confident she’ll move on to bigger and better things.”
“The same could be said for you, Julia,” said Grace.
“Thanks, but there isn’t anything bigger or better for me than A Patchwork Life.”
“You don’t know that,” said Megan. “You were an acclaimed actress before the series began and you’re even more popular now.
I’m sure your agent will find you a new show, or maybe a movie. There must be dozens of directors who would be thrilled to
cast a five-time Emmy Award–winning actress in a starring role.”
“Six-time, after Sunday evening,” Vinnie declared. “But that’s not the point. Julia doesn’t want a new show. She has a perfectly
good show right now.”
“And a perfectly lovely cast and crew I’d hate to see go our separate ways,” Julia added, glad that Vinnie, at least, understood.
It was unsettling to hear Grace and Megan echoing Maury’s talking points. “I’m touched by your confidence in my ability to
land another part, but trust me, there isn’t exactly a wild abundance of compelling roles for women my age.”
“Or any guarantee that a new series would last more than a single season,” Donna said.
“Some series get canceled after a few episodes if the ratings are too low. A Patchwork Life is a sure thing. It’s popular and the critics love it.
I can’t imagine it would be in any danger of cancellation if not for
those irresponsible, reckless people who’ve suddenly decide to bail.”
“Networks rarely cancel their most successful shows,” Julia noted, although she winced to hear her friends described in such
terms.
“All good things come to an end,” said Grace.
“That doesn’t mean they should,” Vinnie countered.
“Maybe not,” Grace replied, “but when change is forced upon us, we honor ourselves best by adapting and moving forward with
dignity and hope.”
“Or,” said Vinnie, “we fight like the dickens to hold on to what we have for as long as we can.”
“I know a little something about how well that works,” said Megan. “If I learned anything from my divorce, it’s that—”
“Your first husband was a louse?” Donna finished for her.
Megan laughed. “Well, yes, but what I was going to say is that when someone decides they no longer want to stay, you have
to let them go. You’ll only demean yourself by clinging desperately to something that to them is over and done with. What’s
worse, you’ll never know what wonderful future you’re denying yourself by refusing to move on.”
“Like your marriage to my grandson Adam,” Vinnie exclaimed, delighted. “Wait. Wait. Scratch that. I’m not agreeing with you,
dear. I mean, I am, but only about your marriage. Not about Julia’s series. She absolutely should cling desperately to it
if that’s what she wants.”
“Thanks, Vinnie,” Julia said wryly. “Is that really how I seem? Desperate?”
“Not at all,” said Donna.
“Yes, but in a good way,” said Vinnie brightly.
“Maybe a little,” said Megan.