Page 86 of To the Moon and Back

Lauren turned and her gaze landed on Carly’s. It was surreal to bein the same room with her, even more so when she hadn’t prepared for it. Sheswallowed, rebounding. “Two minutes, huh?” She smiled as butterflies hit herstomach. Carly was standing right in front of her. “Still an improvement.”

Carly smiled nervously, still as beautiful as ever. Laurencouldn’t stop looking at her. “I didn’t know who I’d be reading with. I hoped.But I wasn’t sure.”

Lauren shifted. “Jeanine here tells me I have you to thank for therecommendation.”

“I just gave them your name. The rest was all them.”

Jeanine stood off to the side, watching them in mystification.“It’s great to see you two in the same room. Would you be willing to read thescene in the park?”

“Of course,” Lauren said.

Carly slid her leather bag off her shoulder and retrieved herscript. Once Jeanine settled back in with the others behind the table, Laurenkicked them off.

“You’re in a unique position, Reagan. No one faults you forwanting to protect your parents.”

“You do.”

Lauren shook her head. “That’s the thing. Not even me. I just wantthe information required to put this case to rest. There’s a woman out therewho lost her kids.”

Carly nodded. “You don’t think I know that? You don’t think it’skept me up every night since I first found that paperwork?” She shoved a strandof hair behind her ear and met Lauren’s gaze, fire in her eyes. “I can’t thinkabout her right now.”

Lauren stepped forward. “She’s thinking aboutyou. She’s beenthinking about you for nearly thirty years now.”

“Well, I can’t. I can’t just turn my back on the people I lovebecause they did something awful once.”

“This is about righting a wrong. I know it hurts. I know you feellike your life’s been ripped from you.”

“Everything has.”

The scene played on, and the further they got into it, the moreLauren found her rhythm. It was so easy with Carly. They had such powerfulgive-and-take.

Finally, Jeanine raised a hand. “Let’s stop there.”

Lauren lowered her script. She smiled at the room, returning toherself.

“That was great,” Carly said to her quietly, as the tableconversed. Heather Kim pointed to something Jeanine had written on her pad andnodded emphatically, then wrote something back.

“Thanks. I’m nervous,” Lauren whispered. Carly, after everythingthey’d been through, still had an uncanny ability to center Lauren. It helpedthat the read had been with her.

“Lauren, I can’t thank you enough for coming back today. We’ll bein touch, okay? Can I get you a water or coffee for the road?”

Lauren held up a hand. “No, I’m good. Thank you for inviting me. Ihad a nice time.”

“Jeanine, do you need me anymore?” Carly asked.

Jeanine looked to the table. “No. I think we’re all set. Iappreciate you coming in, and we’ll see you soon.”

“Great. I’ll walk out with Lauren.”

Lauren lifted a hand in farewell and headed out of the room.

“This was unexpected,” she said to Carly in the elevator.

“I should have given you a heads-up, but what if they hadn’tdecided to call, you know? You look great, by the way. So pretty,” Carly said.She blinked and stared at the floor, probably feeling off-kilter.

“Thank you.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence. When they hit thestreet, the noisy sounds of traffic and people hit. They stood on the sidewalk,dodging the quick flow of pedestrians heading to business meetings, work,lunch, auditions, or who knew where.

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