40. Nora
40
NORA
“ S o you still haven’t heard anything? It’s been, what, six weeks?”
I shake my head and smile at Maddy’s impatient tone. More like eight weeks, but I don’t think correcting her would be helpful. “Not a word. Miles keeps trying to tell me that the TV industry can move slowly sometimes, but I’m starting to wonder if anything is going to happen at this point.”
I bounce Ileigh on my knee, occupying her so that Maddy has a chance to snuggle three-week-old Edie for a few minutes. Annie sips a cup of decaf from her place on the other side of the kitchen table, enjoying a well-deserved break from mom duties, though she’ll be the first to tell you that she likes being a mom way better than being pregnant.
The men and the older kids are in Maddy’s backyard having a water balloon fight, which the three of us declined to participate in, even if the October afternoon is unseasonably warm. The sound of their shouts and laughter makes me smile.
“It just seems like it wouldn’t be that hard to give you some kind of update. Like, are they still working on it or have they decided to pass?”
I smile and shrug before leaning in to blow a raspberry on Ileigh’s neck.
On some level I agree, it would be nice to know one way or another, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t truly matter. The last two months since Alex and I returned from California have been the happiest of my life. We quickly settled into a routine of shooting videos and hanging out with each other and our families. Our channel and the blog have continued to show steady growth, including a couple of substantial sponsorships from a cookware company and a seasonings company. The combined income of the sponsorships along with the ad revenue is enough that I went down to part-time at the restaurant, filling in where needed and keeping the steady paycheck, but giving me more time to work on my business.
The night we made up, we discussed what was next for the show over dinner. Ultimately, we agreed that it was a waste of time trying to make any kind of decision without knowing what opportunities would be on the table. The network had thrown out so many different possibilities that I couldn’t even keep up, and it was no use strategizing before we knew what they were going to offer, so we decided to proceed as we had been until then.
But as the days have gone by without a word from them, I’ve realized that I can be content even if that dream doesn’t come to be. There are always more dreams to pursue, and I don’t want to limit myself to one pet dream that will make or break me. As long as I have my people, the rest of it is negotiable. A long stream of drool drips from one of my littlest people onto my leg, making a round, dark, wet spot on my jeans.
“Yuck, Ileigh!” She giggles as I dap her mouth with her bib.
On the table, my phone starts to buzz with an incoming call. I lean over and check the screen. Speak of the devil…
“It’s Miles!”
“Here.” Annie plunks down her mug and reaches for Ileigh. “You have to take it. Maddy can’t hold out any longer without knowing.” She winks at Maddy, who rolls her eyes but can’t hide her excitement.
I grab the phone and swipe, tapping to put it on speakerphone as I stand. “Hello?”
“Nora, I just forwarded you a very exciting email from the network. They’re in! Depending on how quickly you and Alex respond, we can get the ball rolling and perhaps start filming as soon as the first of the year.”
“Wow, that’s…that’s great news.” I take a few steps, pacing in Maddy’s kitchen. “So it’s a good offer?”
“It’s good,” he says. “Of course, you’ll want to have your own attorney look over it and advise you if there’s anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
“Right, of course. We’ll look at the email this afternoon and go from there. Thanks for calling, Miles.”
I turn around to look at the girls after we hang up. Maddy squeals and bounces on her toes, careful to keep from jostling Edie.
“You’re going to be a TV star!”
“Now wait a second, we haven’t even looked at the paperwork yet.” I’m trying not to get too excited. We’re still a long way from having everything settled, after all.
“You should get Alex in here and look at it right now,” Annie says. “Forward it to Maddy so you can pull it up on her computer.”
“Right now?”
“Yes!” they say in unison.
I throw up my hands. “Okay, I’ll forward it.” Thirty seconds later, the email is sent and I’m leaning over the back porch rail, calling for Alex.
He tromps up onto the deck, with Grant and Chris behind him. Olivia, Rowan, and Seth continue flinging water balloons and shooting each other with water guns as if they don’t even notice the grown-ups are gone.
“What’s up?” Alex asks, grabbing a towel from a deck chair and rubbing it over his sopping head.
“Miles called. He sent over the offer from the network for us to look at. Maddy is pulling it up on her computer now.”
Grant claps his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Let’s go check it out.”
In a matter of minutes, Alex and I are seated at the kitchen table in front of the laptop with Grant and Maddy looking over our shoulders.
As we read through the message and attached documents, my excitement steadily grows. The terms lay out how the network would be purchasing the From Couch to Potatoes brand, including the YouTube channel, blog, and any other related endeavors, and contracting Alex and me to continue our association with the show as hosts. The compensation for the purchase and for shooting a ten-episode first season is more than I hoped for. The only thing that concerns me—that’s been weighing on my mind from the beginning—is the geography of it. Based on the tentative production schedule they included, I’m not sure if we’d need to relocate to California to be available when we’re needed.
A year ago, I would have jumped at the chance to live in a new place and chase a promising opportunity. But since meeting Alex and growing closer to the rest of the Lockwood family, I feel like I’ve sprouted roots here. I know Alex has, with his job in his family’s business added on top of it, a job I know he enjoys. I’m not sure I can ask him to give all that up.
When we reach the end, Alex turns to me with an excited smile. “What do you think?”
I feel my eyebrows drawing together, even as I try my best to relax my features into a neutral expression. “I’m not sure.”
“What’s holding you back?” he asks, observing me intently. “Your dream is sitting right here in front of you.”
“That’s just it,” I say slowly. “It’s my dream, but I have to have you to accomplish it. That’s the problem.”
“How is that a problem?” He seems genuinely confused.
“Because we might have to move. You’d have to quit your job, sell your house, and leave your family for this thing that I want.”
“Yes,” Alex nods slowly. “That’s true. But if I’m willing to do it, what’s the problem?”
“I’m not sure I should let you.” I run a hand through my hair. “What if we get there and the whole thing implodes? Or what if it goes well, but you realize you’re not happy and you start to resent me for asking you to do this? What if you meet a gorgeous starlet and realize you could do better than me?”
“Sleepy kitty,” he says with a smirk. “Sleepy, sleepy, sleepy kitty.”
“What the heck is with the sleepy kitty?” Grant asks, and I realize I was so focused on Alex and the issue at hand that I’d forgotten we have an audience. My cheeks heat.
“It’s something he says to stop me when I’m overthinking,” I explain. “But I don’t think I am. Do any of the rest of you think this could be a problem?” Since they’re all listening anyway, I’d just as well get their input.
“I can see where you’re coming from,” Annie says thoughtfully. “It is a big sacrifice.”
“Yeah, but like he said, if he’s willing to do it, what’s the issue?” Grant says. “Seems like it should be up to him to decide.”
“I really don’t think he’ll run off with a starlet,” Maddy says, for some reason zeroing in on the least important concern I voiced.
“Guys,” Alex holds up his hands. “I think this should be between me and Nora.”
“Well, she asked,” Grant grumbles.
Alex ignores him and focuses on me, taking my hands in his. “Rose, I know this is your dream, and I know exactly what I might have to give up to make it happen. And maybe this will sound crazy because we’ve only been together for a few months, but…I love you.”
All the air seems to whoosh out of the room at those words. My eyes fill with tears, even as my mouth stretches into a huge grin. “You love me?”
“I do.” He nods firmly, gently squeezing my shoulders. “I love you more than anything and anyone—no offense guys.” He glances around at the crowd of family members.
“None taken,” Maddy says with a sniff that says she’s tearing up like me at the intensely romantic scene unfolding before her.
“So when I say that I’m willing to do what it takes to be with you and make this happen for you, I mean it. It would be my privilege to follow you to California and make a bizarre career pivot from HR manager to cooking show host.”
A laugh slips out of me.
“Please let me do this, Rose.”
I launch myself into his arms, plopping into his lap and burying my face in his neck.
“Is that a yes?” he asks with a chuckle.
I pull back and look into his eyes. “Yes,” I whisper. “And I love you too.”
He hooks a hand behind my neck and pulls me forward to plant a sweet kiss on my forehead.
His grin when he leans back to look at me is enchanting. “We’re going to California.”