Chapter 18 Hunter #2
Other than for Delphine, circumstances had changed for them over the last year, thanks to the kids pushing them a little. But this was about their life before a second chance. This was about the time before, when they only had one another. And it had been enough.
Down the row, the older kids had gone quiet. Tyler was looking at his lap. Annie had her arm around Grace, who was crying. Peter and Bella sat shoulder to shoulder, unusually still. Robbie was scribbling something in a notebook.
They’d just watched a movie about their mothers. About the years when it was just five women and their children against the world. Before Grady and Vance and Alex and me. Before second chances.
Robbie spoke first, his voice thoughtful. “I remember how we used to dance in the kitchen.”
“I want to dance in the kitchen,” Madison said. “I missed out on everything.”
“I’ll dance with you,” Margot said.
“I’ll dance with you too,” Grace said, wiping her eyes.
“We’ll all dance with you, Madison,” Mia said. “Anytime you want.”
Bella nodded. “I wasn’t there to dance back then, but I’m here now.”
“I can bust a move with you,” Peter said, which made the younger children laugh.
“My mom never danced. Or had friends.” Margot looked over at Lila. “Now I have Lila, and everything’s different.”
Lila held her arms out and Margot went to sit on her lap, snuggling close.
Madison tugged on Esme’s sleeve. “Mommy, is that why you always cry when you read those books?”
Esme laughed through her tears and pulled Madison onto her lap. “Yeah, baby. That’s why.”
“Is that why you read them over and over?” Robbie asked.
“That’s why, yes,” Esme said. “And because I love Seraphina’s books.”
“That’s the best movie I’ve ever seen,” Madison said. “Even though I’m only a baby in it. I’d have liked to have a line or two.”
“Well, I don’t want to make this all about me,” Grace said. “But we were so right to get you all on that dating app.”
“Totally agree,” Mia said.
Annie, who had been quiet, nodded. “Even though we’re only kids, we’ve seen how hard you’ve all worked for us. All the sacrifices. All the little things you do on a daily basis. We’ve wanted you all to have a happy ending.”
“And now we do. Except for me, which I’m totally fine with,” Delphine said quickly. “But it’s obvious from the movie that I’m the funniest and most clever of all of us.”
“Is that really what you got out of it, Mom?” Annie said, serious. “Because I think there’s more of a message in there than that.”
Delphine tried to dismiss her with a flutter of her hand, but Annie was having none of it.
“Mom, it’s time. It’s your turn,” Annie said.
“And I’m not going to let it go just because you’re afraid.
Like your character says in the movie. ‘Mama didn’t raise us to sit around crying.
She taught up to get back up and take care of what needs taking care of.
’ And Mom, we’re all taking care of you, whether you like it or not. ”
“Let’s put a pin in that,” Delphine said, more lightly than she probably felt. “We have a party to go to.”
And so we all gathered our things and traveled out to the lobby and into the waiting cars. I took Seraphina’s hand and leaned close to whisper in her ear.
“Well done, baby. Well done.”
She smiled up at me and my heart fluttered. “Thanks for being here.”
“There’s no other place in the world I’d rather be.”
And that was the absolute truth.
The after-party was on a rooftop in West Hollywood with a view of the city sprawling below, lights glittering all the way to the hills.
A DJ played something smooth and jazzy at one end, where a small dance floor had been set up.
White-jacketed servers circulated with trays of champagne and appetizers that looked like tiny works of art.
Madison spotted the food table first. “Grady, look at the food.”
“My stomach can’t wait,” Grady said.
“Mine either,” Madison said, taking his hand as they walked over to get a better look.
It was an impressive spread, including a raw bar with oysters and shrimp, a carving station with prime rib, miniature tacos, bruschetta, cheese boards, a chocolate fountain surrounded by strawberries and marshmallows.
“Tyler, you guys can go ahead get something to eat,” Seraphina said. “I have to mingle a little.”
“Will you keep an eye on Madison and Margot?” Esme asked the older kids.
“We got you,” Grace said. “Come on, let’s do this. And Seraphina, if it’s appropriate, I would like to meet Pepper Griffin. Maybe get a photo, if you think that’s okay?”
“I’ll make sure it happens,” I said.
“How about now?”
We all turned to see Pepper standing there.
Grace covered her mouth with her hands, as if stuffing a scream back inside.
Pepper smiled at Grace. “I hear you’re quite the super star at your high school.”
Grace simply stared at her. It might have been the first time I’d ever seen her tongue-tied.
“Your Aunt Seraphina told me all about you,” Pepper said. “And aren’t you lucky to know some people in the industry already? Study your craft and let me know when you’re ready.”
“Oh. My. God. Thank you.” Grace was visibly shaking. “I love you. All your films. And you’re so pretty.”
“Thanks, doll.” Pepper gave her a kind smile. “Now, I have to take Seraphina around and introduce her to some folks, but it was nice to meet you.”
“You … you too,” Grace said.
The men followed the kids over to the buffet table, supervising as everyone filled plates.
The older kids claimed a high-top table near the dance floor. Husbands had formed their own cluster near the bar. Grady and Vance were deep in conversation as they swirled two glasses of red wine. Alex had his phone out, likely checking in with the nanny about Leo.
Seraphina was swept away by Pepper then, leaving me alone. I hung back and watched. This was her night. Her moment. I didn’t need to be in the middle of it.
“Hunter Sloan.” A voice called out my name, slightly high-pitched. “Wasn’t that just magnificent?”
Brooke Gaines appeared at my elbow, champagne glass in hand, smile wide. The Hawthorne marketing director with vampire energy. I recognized her from photos Seraphina had taken at a book signing. She wore something silver and sparkly that caught the light every time she moved.
“It was great,” I said.
“I always knew this film would be special. From the very first pitch meeting, I said to Sylvia—this is it. This is going to put Seraphina Sinclair back on the map.” She sipped her champagne. “Not that she was ever off it, of course. But you know how these things go. Visibility is everything.”
An image of Seraphina crying in her hotel room a few hours ago because of an article this woman’s publicity push had set in motion flashed before my eyes. I kept my expression neutral.
“She’s talented,” I said. “The work speaks for itself.”
“It certainly does. And with the buzz from tonight, plus all the recent press coverage.” She gave me a knowing look. “We’re projecting a significant bump in backlist sales. It’s going to be epic.”
Before I could respond, Sylvia appeared. Seraphina’s editor. She was a sharp-eyed woman in her sixties with silver hair, wearing a black dress.
“I’m Sylvia,” she said warmly. “Seraphina’s editor. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
“Likewise.” Not really. But I was going to play nice so it didn’t hurt Seraphina’s career in any way. However, I really wanted to give them both a piece of my mind.
“Seraphina’s a treasure. One of our best. I’ve been telling her for years she’s capable of more than she gives herself credit for.” Sylvia glanced at Brooke. “We’re very optimistic about her future at Hawthorne.”
Funny how that optimism had appeared after the movie premier and the publicity surge. Not long ago, Sylvia had been talking about pivots and declining sales. Again, I kept that thought to myself.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I said. “I should find Seraphina.”
I found her tucked into a booth, talking to a woman I didn’t recognize. She had dark hair pulled back in a low bun, a simple navy dress, and a warm laugh that carried over the music.
“Hunter.” Seraphina reached for my hand, pulling me into the conversation. “This is Nina Voss. She wrote the screenplay.”
“The adaptation was incredible,” I said. “You really captured something.”
“Are you familiar with her books?” Nina asked.
“I certainly am. All sixty-one of them. In fact, I’d love to see more of them land on your desk. You really understand her sensibility.”
Nina’s eyes crinkled when she smiled. “It’s all Seraphina. The source material was so rich. The characters so clearly drawn. I just tried not to mess it up.”
“She’s being modest,” Seraphina said. “The way you wove the stories together was brilliant.”
“I’ve been doing this for a long time.” Nina shrugged. “Screenplays are just a different beast.”
“Nina has two kids,” Seraphina told me. “She understands the single mom life.”
“Knew,” Nina corrected. “Past tense, thankfully. I got lucky a few years ago and met someone wonderful. But when I read The Bellflower Girls, I knew it had to be me. I called my agent that day and begged her to get me the gig.”
“She fought for it,” Seraphina said. “There were other writers interested.”
“None of them would have loved it like I did.” Nina touched Seraphina’s arm. “Which brings me to something I’ve been waiting to tell you all night. Netflix wants to move forward with the next film. Lily’s story.”
Seraphina’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
“Really. I’m supposed to get started right away.
And something else really exciting that I’m not even supposed to know but I’m going to tell you anyway.
They want to give you an executive producer credit, in exchange for consulting on the script.
Like last time, I’ll ask you to weigh in on things, only you get credit this round. ”
I watched Seraphina process this. Shock first, then disbelief, then something that looked like fear.
“I can’t believe it,” Seraphina said.