Chapter 26
Jordan was late, and Matilda was getting pissed.
“Where is she?” Matilda asked Gigi, checking her watch for the twentieth time in as many minutes.
Every one of her short dark hairs was in perfect order and her makeup as flawless as ever.
You could take the girl out of Hollywood, but the glam had come with her to Gansett.
They were seated on the porch of her hotel with a splendid view of the Salt Pond, but Gigi was fairly certain Matilda hadn’t even noticed the view.
“On her way.”
“I said nine o’clock.”
“You gave us an hour’s notice. She might’ve been busy doing something.”
“Like her firefighter?”
“Perhaps,” Gigi said, cracking a grin. “They are rather insatiable.”
“What’s he going to do without her when she goes home to LA?”
The question astounded Gigi. Did Matilda honestly think Jordan was going to leave Mason to go home to LA?
If so, she hadn’t been paying attention.
“No idea,” she said, keeping her reply intentionally vague.
It wasn’t up to her to break the news to Matilda that Jordan had probably permanently relocated to Gansett Island.
“Well, I hope she gets here soon. We’ve got a lot to discuss.”
As she sipped her second cup of coffee, Gigi was curious about what Matilda wanted to talk about, but her thoughts kept wandering to Cooper and how his meeting was going.
He’d put so much work into his proposal.
She hoped it was well received by the people he wanted to partner with.
And she hoped Jared and Lizzie would get some good news about the baby before too much longer.
They had to be stuck in purgatory waiting to hear from the baby’s mother.
“Did you hear what I said?” Matilda asked.
“Oh, sorry, what?”
“I asked if you’ve reviewed the endorsement offers you’ve both received in the last couple of weeks.”
“Not yet.”
“What’re you waiting for, Gigi? The two of you are sitting on a gold mine, and you need to strike while the iron is hot.”
“We’ll worry about that when we’re done shooting the season.”
“Those offers have shelf lives. You need to get on it.”
Normally, Gigi didn’t sit on stuff like that. She got shit done for herself and her clients, but since she’d come to Gansett, her sense of urgency had faded into an odd state of relaxation that had seriously messed with her mojo. It was time to go home, in more ways than one.
Jordan came rushing in five minutes later, full of apologies. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
“Where’ve you been?” Matilda asked.
“I had something I needed to take care of first thing, and time got away from me. Won’t happen again.”
Yes, it will, Gigi thought as she tried not to laugh at Jordan’s bullshit. Judging by the freshly fucked look of her friend, Gigi concluded that the thing she’d had to take care of first thing had been Mason. Good for her.
“Now that you’re both here, we have a lot to talk about,” Matilda said. “First and foremost is the final episode of the season and how we want to leave things. We want to make sure the viewers are clamoring for next season the second this one ends.”
“Ah, about that,” Jordan said. “I don’t think there’s going to be another season.”
Matilda stared at her as if Jordan had just said the sun was purple. “You’re not serious. You two are sitting on the most popular show on cable. You don’t walk away when you’re number one, Jordan.”
“Maybe it’s not done, but that’s what I want. I’m in love with Mason. We’re expecting a baby and getting married, and we’re going to live here. I’m going to keep working as the part-time activities director at the senior center and raise a family with the man I love.”
Gigi had known it was coming, but to hear Jordan say it out loud was still a blow. Life as they’d known it in LA was over, and Gigi would be going home alone.
One thing Gigi could say for certain was that Jordan was doing the right thing for herself.
They’d shot a memorable episode with Jordan and Gigi entertaining the seniors for this season, and Gigi was looking forward to seeing that one put together.
It’d been touching and hilarious at the same time.
Jordan had a deft touch with the elderly population, and they adored her.
Mason adored her, too. He loved her the way Jordan deserved to be loved, and no one was happier for her than Gigi, even if her heart broke at the thought of living so far from her best friend—and her best friend’s sister.
They’d had a good run, but the time had come for them to live their lives separately. It would take a while for Gigi to get used to being without Jordan and Nikki, but she’d survive. She always did.
“What do you have to say about this, Gigi?” Matilda asked.
“It’s her show. I’m just the sidekick.”
“You’re much more than that, and you know it,” Jordan said. “I don’t mean to mess things up for you, but I can’t leave Mason. I won’t leave him, especially now that we’re expecting.”
“Congratulations on the baby,” Matilda said.
“That’s exciting news indeed, but none of this has to spell the end of the show.
You two are magic together on camera, and I have to believe there’s a way to continue with everyone getting what they want.
One of the main reasons I wanted to see you both this morning is the network has prepared a major offer for three more seasons. ”
Matilda handed them each a sheet of paper that spelled out the terms of the multimillion-dollar deal that put Gigi’s salary on the same level as Jordan’s for the first time.
Jordan glanced at Gigi, seeming to gauge her reaction.
“You’re the boss,” Gigi said to her friend.
“I just don’t know,” Jordan said, seeming torn. “I love making the show with you both, but my life is here now. I’m not going back to LA. I’ve spoken to a Realtor there about putting my house on the market.”
That news had Gigi struggling to swallow the huge lump that suddenly appeared in her throat. This was really happening. Jordan was staying on Gansett.
Stop being an emotional fool, Gigi told herself. You knew that already. Yeah, but I hadn’t heard her say it out loud.
“I get what you’re saying,” Matilda said, “and I understand your desire to make a life here with Mason, but surely there has to be some sort of happy medium. Gansett’s high season is the summer, so we can film in LA in the winter.”
“Mason is the year-round fire chief on Gansett, Matilda. He can’t come and go as he pleases.”
Matilda sat back in her chair, seeming stunned. “You’ve both worked so hard to get to this point, Jordan. You’re a big star in your own right, completely separate from Zane.”
“Don’t mention his name in our presence,” Gigi said harshly.
“I’m sorry to bring him up, but we both know that’s how this started, through your connection to him. But it’s gone so far beyond that now.”
“We’re going to need some time to talk about this,” Jordan said.
“That’s the thing. We don’t have a lot of time.
If the show is over, we have one episode left to shoot to wrap things up.
If it’s not over, we need to figure out how we’re going to leave them hungry for more.
The plane is coming next Tuesday to pick us up to go home, which means we’ve got this week to shoot our final episode of the season.
I’m going to need you two to tell me later today what you decide so we can end the season on the proper note. ”
Matilda signed the check the waiter had left on the table, took the receipt for her expense account and stood.
“Here’s the script for the first two-thirds of the final episode.
” She put two copies of the document on the table.
“The last third is contingent on whatever you guys decide to do. I’ll leave you to discuss it, and I hope you make the right decision.
Opportunities like what you’re being offered don’t come along every day in this business.
You have a real chance to build your show into an even bigger hit than it already is.
I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you soon as whatever you decide will need to be written ahead of shooting the last episode. ”
After she walked away, neither Gigi nor Jordan said anything for a full five minutes as they pondered what she’d said.
“So,” Gigi finally said, “how’s your day going?”
“It started out great, but now? I don’t know.”
“While Matilda was talking, I had an idea I wanted to run by you. Hear me out before you say no.”
“Okay…”
“What if Mason was able to somehow take a three-month leave of absence in the off-season so we could film the show in LA or some other location, and he could be with you and the baby?”
“I doubt he’d go for that. His career is important to him, too.”
“I know, but he’d tell you himself it’s dead around here in the winter, and it probably wouldn’t be a big deal for him to turn the department over to a deputy during those months.”
“I’d hate to even ask him for that.”
“He’d hate for you to give up a huge opportunity that could set you both up for life without even asking him about the possibility.”
“You want to keep going, then?”
“Only if we can find a way to make it work for both of us. I’m fine with stopping now or keeping it going.”
“I want you to have the financial safety net. I’m sure the crew would be thrilled to have guaranteed employment for a few more years, too.”
“I’m good. I’ve been very frugal with what we’ve already made, and I’ve got my practice and a bunch of endorsement offers—as do you.”
“But this kind of money would make life easier for you forever. I want that for you.”
“Not if it messes up things for you with Mason. That’s got to come first.”
“What about Cooper?”
Gigi nearly recoiled from the question. “What about him?”
“Doesn’t he factor into the decision for you?”
“Of course he doesn’t. I just met him.” Feeling immediately disloyal to him, she said, “I like him. He’s a nice guy, and he’s been very sweet to me. But it’s just a fling.”
“Who are you trying to convince of that? Me or yourself?”