Page 71 of Faking the Shot

“Butisthe time right to pull the pin?”

“What would you do instead?”

“That’s just it. I hardly know. I just sense that I need to do something more. Something more real.”

“Something like…?”

Why did Aunty Win keep doing that, like she and Zac had rehearsed this and were reading from the same script? “Something like a movie about people smuggling, or the effects of domestic violence.”

Her aunt’s face shadowed. “I see.”

“Not your story, of course,” she added quickly. “But I feel guilty that the White Night event, which was supposed to be about putting a spotlight on domestic violence and supporting those in that situation, resulted in all these stupid articles about me and Zac and Jason. I wish there was a way I could make up for that.”

“By killing off Abigail in your most famous role?”

“Not kill her off necessarily. But maybe do something else as well.”

“I thought that was what the Christmas mysteries show was about.”

“It is, but it’s also kind of the same. It’s not that different really. Just contemporary and set here and not on a ranch.”

“Your Hallmark movies are contemporary, and set in small towns.”

“But it’s still much the same vibe, just a bit safe and harmless, and, I don’t know, not very realistic.”

Her aunt nodded. “I can see what you mean, but doing these different types of shows is a way of gently guiding your fans to expect more than one type of character or storyline from you.”

That was a different way of looking at things. “I always appreciate your perspective.”

“It helps to have someone who knows the industry, and who remembers how hard it can be to catch a break. If you walk away from Abigail, then you’re walking away from a lot more than just a role.”

“I guess that’s part of the thing though. I’m conscious that I am a role model, and I wonder what it’s saying to young viewers if they see a Christian woman who is constantly needing to find love.”

“Don’t you need love?”

“Well, yes. But that’s different.”

“How?”

“I have found love.”

“With this Zac man?”

“No, with God.”

“I see.”

It sounded like Aunty Win didn’t. Not really. “No, I mean I feel rock certainty of God’s love in my life. I’m not chasing it. And that’s part of why I’m happy to keep this thing with Zac strictly platonic.”

“Is he happy to keep it strictly platonic?”

“Yes.” Why did people keep asking her that?

At her aunt’s dubious look, she rushed to get the conversation back on track.

“I guess I’m just aware that there are people who look at me, who look at what I do, at the characters I portray, and I feel like sometimes they’re a little one-dimensional, and I want something that feels a little more real.”

“Like domestic violence?”

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