Page 68 of The Location Shoot
“She’s got school every day.”
“Maybe I could pick her up after school one day.”
“Michael,” she started, “I really don’t think sending your assistant to pick her up at school is the best thing for her.”
“I wouldn’t send anyone. I’d go myself. Maybe we could go for ice cream or something. Or maybe I could take her out somewhere next weekend. She’s never slept over at my place, so maybe . . .”
“You can’t waltz in and out of her life when it suits you. It’s too confusing for her.”
He sighed. “That’s fair, but it’s not what I mean. I’d like to be a real part of her life. I realize you have every reason to be cautious and angry, but she’s my daughter. Please, Lauren. I’ll do it however you want until I can earn your trust and hers.”
There was a long silence, and eventually Lauren said, “You can take her out to dinner tomorrow night. But Michael, if you screw this up . . .”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Come by at five o’clock. She’ll be ready.”
“Would you like to join us? We can go anywhere you want. Maybe Thai food? I know it’s your favorite.”
“Michael . . .”
“I miss you. I miss you more than I can say. If you’re not seeing anyone, I thought maybe . . .”
“You can’t do this to me. Or to Sophie.”
“Please, Lauren. No matter what happens, I promise I’ll be there for Sophie. Not just checks in the mail, I’ll really be there. But if there’s any way you might also give me another chance . . .”
“After the way you treated me . . .”
“I know,” he said, wincing. “I was a total fuckup, whichI regret more than you’ll ever know. I’ve regretted it all these years and have been too cowardly to make it right. I’m so sorry. Please, just one dinner, the three of us. That’s all I’m asking for.”
“We’ll see you at five. Good night.”
“Good night.”
“JEEZ, THAT WAS SUCH A LONG FLIGHT.I’m exhausted,” Willow said as Brian jumped in the back of the SUV beside her.
“You’ll have a couple of days off before you’re scheduled to work,” he replied.
“What are you talking about? I didn’t think I had anything booked.”
“Remember, that music video I told you about? Don’t worry, it’ll be a two-day shoot max, right on a soundstage in LA. Easy. Then next week is theMaximcover shoot.”
“Brian, I told you I didn’t know if I wanted to take those jobs.”
“I know, I know. I just figured it was nerves before you left for Sweden.”
“Brian . . .”
“Look, if you’re really too wiped, I can see about pushing the magazine shoot.”
“It’s not that. It’s just . . .”
“Trust me, you’ll be glad for the exposure. This is your big comeback,” he explained. “You need to make a splash and strike while the iron is hot. You’re getting older. I don’t know how much longer we can capitalize on your looks.”
She turned to face him with steely eyes. “You know, not that you asked, but I was actually pretty good in the film. Everyone said so. Being part of something artistic like that, well, it helped me reconnect with why I started in entertainment in the first place.”
“That’s great, doll. I haven’t wanted to push you, but there’s a lot of interest rolling in. I can book you for a million things. There’s one promising script that came in—you’d play a drug-addicted stripper. It’s not a big role, but it’s . . .”
