Chapter 18
Deneford heaved a sigh, resigned. “I’ll give you five minutes.”
“I’ll need at least fifteen.”
“You have five.”
“And when I walk out of here and meet your mother at her car after only five minutes—”
“Fine, fifteen.” Deneford sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “Just get on with it.”
“First of all, thank you for hearing me out,” Julia said, with a small, wry smile to show that she understood it was under
duress. “Let me be perfectly clear: Paige Lyons is an exceptionally talented young actor with tremendous potential. She’s
dedicated to her craft, well-liked by her colleagues, reliable, and a pleasure to work with. That’s why I didn’t want her
to leave our show.”
Deneford studied her. “Fair enough.”
“It was selfish of me to interfere when you offered her such a wonderful opportunity.” Julia drew in a deep, shaky breath.
“All the more so because the sixth season of A Patchwork Life will be our last. At the moment, Paige is available to appear in your film. You should cast her while you still can, because if you don’t, some other, more perceptive director will, and they, not you, will take credit for giving her the breakthrough role that launches her as Hollywood’s newest, brightest star. ”
“I did intend to cast her,” he pointed out. “You convinced me not to.”
“I shouldn’t have.” Julia took the DVD from her tote and went to the flat-screen television in the media cabinet on the opposite
side of the room. “This will remind you why you should have followed your instincts.”
Inserting the DVD into the player, she pressed play and crossed the room to turn out the lights. She remained by the switch
while the reel played, watching Deneford closely for any reaction, but he kept his expression carefully neutral.
When the film ended, she turned on the lights and returned to her seat. “Well?” she prompted, concealing her sudden anxiety.
She had hoped for a spontaneous expression of enthusiasm while he watched, or at least a smile.
“She’s very talented,” he allowed. “That’s why she was my first choice for Emily.”
“Have you given the role to anyone else?”
“Not yet. We haven’t drawn up a contract, but we’re nearly there.”
“Then why not cast Paige as you originally planned?” said Julia, impassioned. “Come on. Give her the part. I’ll even sweeten
the deal. I’d be happy to throw in a bottle of wine from Charles’s cellar—he was quite the sommelier, as you well know—or
my Louisa Matthíasdóttir landscape. I know you admire her work.”
“I do. And that’s a tempting offer.”
“Then what’ll it be? Wine or art? Or both?”
“Neither.” A slow grin was spreading over his face. “I have something better in mind.”
Julia studied him, vaguely uneasy. “I can’t imagine what.”
“No, really, this is a great idea. You’ll love it.”
That did nothing to inspire confidence, but Julia reminded herself that she had promised Paige she’d do whatever it took to fix her mistake. “Fine. Let’s hear it.”
“This might surprise you, but I want to offer you a role.”
“Wow. Yes, I am surprised,” Julia admitted. “Who would I play? Emily’s elderly grandmother? A crotchety old housekeeper?”
“No, no, no. I’m not talking about my movie.” He chuckled at the very idea. “I want you to be in my nephew’s new TV series.”
“Oh. I see.” Julia braced herself for the worst. “Is it a decent role, at least?”
“It’s an ensemble cast, but you’d have a standout part.” He held up his hands as if framing a shot. “Celebrity Jury, a new reality series in which twelve of America’s most popular stars determine the fate of plaintiffs and defendants embroiled
in the quirkiest cases ever brought before the court.”
“A reality show?” Julia exclaimed, dismayed. “I loathe reality television—except for The Amazing Race. Could you cast me in The Amazing Race instead? I’m sure I could convince Nigel to be my partner.”
“My nephew isn’t directing The Amazing Race.”
“But Celebrity Jury, really?” Julia protested. “This sounds terribly irresponsible. How could you allow a dozen celebrities to decide whether
someone goes to prison, or worse? That’s not entertainment. That’s a travesty of the judicial system.”
“What are you talking about? Celebrities serve on juries all the time. Oprah Winfrey was on the jury for a murder case in
Chicago back in August. If Oprah can do her civic duty, so can you.” Deneford waved a hand, dismissive. “Anyway, you wouldn’t
be hearing criminal cases. It would be small claims court stuff, civil cases. The plaintiffs and defendants would have to
apply to be on the show, they’d be thoroughly vetted, and they’d have to agree to abide by the jury’s decision.”
“I don’t know, Stephen. It sounds so vulgar.”
“Final offer,” he said emphatically. “I agree to cast Paige as Emily St. Aubert if you accept a part, at scale, in Celebrity Jury, a new, low-budget reality television series to be directed by my nephew.”
“‘Low-budget’?” Julia echoed. “The more you say, the worse it sounds. Will they at least validate parking?”
“For you, I’m sure something can be arranged.”
Julia groaned and clasped a hand to her forehead. This was for Paige, she reminded herself, and to redeem herself in the eyes
of her friends and colleagues. “That’s your final offer?”
“Final offer.”
“Then I accept.” Before he could celebrate, she held up a hand. “I have two conditions. First, I’ll do one season and one
season only. Second, you may tell Paige that we spoke—she’ll probably ask why you changed your mind and I don’t want to lie
to her—but you mustn’t breathe a word about our arrangement. Not to Paige, not to her agent, not to anyone.”
“Fine,” he said, shrugging. “I’ll say you put in a good word for her, but she was cast solely on the basis of her talent.”
“Good. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.” Suddenly Julia thought of something else. “I’ll allow one exception to
the confidentiality rule. You may tell your mother, if you swear her to secrecy.”
“Are you kidding? My mother would never allow me to extort you like this.” Quickly he added, “You’re not allowed to tell her
either.”
“If you insist, but she’ll probably figure it out on her own when I suddenly appear on your nephew’s show.” Julia sighed.
Reality television—what a dreadful penance.
“Maybe so, but don’t give her any hints.” Deneford rose and extended his hand. “I’m glad we worked this out. I’ll break the
good news to my nephew, and I’ll send a contract over to Maury this afternoon.”
Julia stood too. “But first, the moment I leave your office, you’ll contact Paige’s agent.”
“Sure, of course.”
Satisfied, Julia shook his hand. Maybe Celebrity Jury wouldn’t be as awful as she feared, she told herself as she left Deneford’s office. Even if it was, it would only be for one season.
Soon thereafter, Lillian regarded Julia speculatively as she approached the car. “You look happy,” she remarked as they each
opened their doors and climbed inside.
“Paige has the part,” Julia said as she buckled her seat belt and settled back, smiling in satisfaction.
“That’s wonderful! Congratulations to all three of you. I’m glad common sense surpassed ego.”
“I’m so grateful to you for getting me through the door,” Julia said as Lillian pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward
the front gates. “ ‘Thank you’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“Knowing that I’ll get to see our favorite ingenue in a major motion picture is all the thanks I need.” Lillian gave Julia
a quick, sidelong glance before returning her eyes to the road. “What will I be seeing you in next, I wonder.”
“There’s the rest of season five of A Patchwork Life and then all of season six.
” Julia couldn’t bear to add that after Patchwork, she’d be joining a reality show she fervently hoped wouldn’t be an unmitigated disaster.
After Celebrity Jury wrapped, though, she couldn’t imagine what she might do next.
Then she remembered: Maury already had some ideas.
As soon as Lillian dropped her off at home, Julia emailed her agent and belatedly confirmed the meeting he had proposed via
email the week before. The next day, she went to Maury’s office and listened with an open mind as he pitched the two movie
roles he had mentioned. To her pleasant surprise, both were intriguing parts in feature films with excellent directors and
other acclaimed stars attached. She would need more time to study the scripts before making a decision, but it was comforting
to know that the end of her beloved series wouldn’t be the calamity she had feared.
When the Cross-Country Quilters phoned in for their weekly conference call the following evening, Julia admitted that she had sewn only a few seams for that week’s Harriet’s Journey block, Cross Plains, a pattern that would have been relatively easy to sew, despite its sixty pieces, if only the block were twelve inches square rather than six.
They were thrilled to hear that Paige would be starring in Deneford’s movie after all, and they assured her that Celebrity Jury probably wouldn’t be as bad as she feared.
“Maybe not,” Julia said. “Oh, I just thought of a third condition I’ll have to give Deneford before I sign a contract. His
nephew will have to work around my schedule for the movie, once I decide which role to accept.”
“Follow your heart,” Donna advised.
“Hear, hear,” Vinnie chimed in. “That policy has always served me well.”
“It’s good to see you looking to the future, Julia,” said Grace warmly. “You really do have so much to look forward to.”
Julia truly hoped that Grace was right, but she knew she would move forward with greater confidence and a lighter heart if
she reconciled with the Patchwork Players.
On Friday morning, after the trades broke the news that newcomer Paige Lyons would be starring as Emily St. Aubert in Stephen
Deneford’s much-anticipated adaptation of The Mysteries of Udolpho, Julia sent a group email to the Patchwork Players, as well as others from the cast and crew who had not attended quilt camp