Chapter 70

Penelope stepped into the kitchen and smiled at Brandi, who was opening the day’s mail and jotting notes in a planner she had open on the counter.

“Good to see you, Penelope,” Brandi said. She looked relaxed in a black long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans.

“How are things going today?” Penelope asked.

“You know,” Brandi said. “Same. Wedding planners lining up to get five minutes with Arlena. I told them they all have to wait until after this engagement party is over. I tell you one thing, if half the folks on this list of potential guests RSVP in the positive, they’re going to have one big gala event.”

Penelope laughed. “I think that’s what Arlena is hoping for.”

“Well, if that’s what the lady wants, she should have it. That’s my motto,” Brandi said with a smile.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Penelope said.

“Me too,” Brandi said. “It’s funny how things come along right when you need them.”

  

Up in her room, Penelope read the email on her phone for the fifth time, then she pressed Joey’s number and listened to the rings.

“Hey,” Joey said. Penelope could hear a crowd behind him, and the faint notes of a Christmas carol. “Where are you?”

“I’m home,” Penelope said. “Arlena’s got enough footage for the moment, so she’s giving the crew a break. I won’t be back at the theater again, actually. I’ve gotten another job, and Arlena thinks I should take it. It’s a big bid that I didn’t think I’d get.”

“Oh that’s great, Penny,” Joey said. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m sorry to hear you won’t be down there anymore. Even though it’s all been resolved.”

Penelope pulled Richard Sotheby’s file from her bag and set it on her comforter. “Most of it has been resolved.”

“So, where’s this job? You’re not starting before the holidays are over, are you?” Joey asked.

“No,” Penelope said. “We can talk about it when I see you later. I’ll make dinner at your place.”

“Okay,” Joey said, relived. “I can’t wait to see you. Hey, I gotta run, gonna grab this cab and head back to Jersey.”

“Be safe coming home. See you in a couple of hours,” Penelope said.

When he hung up she looked at the email again, the acceptance letter to the bid she’d filled out months earlier, then assumed she hadn’t gotten. She stared at the location, Los Angeles, and the dollar amount next to the word ACCEPTED. It was more than three times the amount she’d ever been paid on a job, underwritten by a major production company. Estimated length of project, six months. Housing covered for her and her team. It was the kind of job she dreamed about when she founded her company.

Penelope thought about the houses she and Joey had looked at together, and about how much nicer of a home they could buy together after this job. She thought about what it would be like to marry Joey, start a family with him, and how opportunities like this one wouldn’t be available to her if she had young children at home.

Penelope sighed and stood up, leaving her phone and bag on her bed, and headed downstairs to her kitchen.