Page 50 of Winter Solstice
Weeks ago? And you didn’t tell me?
I thought you’d be angry.
I am angry. Howdarehe…
And I knew you’d be upset about the money. I mean, I know we need it. But the good news is, a new opportunity presented itself.
What is it?
A show. A design show on SinTV calledReal-Life Rehab.
SinTV, as in the network that producesSwing Set?
[Pause. Jennifer wonders if Patrick, too, watchesSwing Set.]
Yes.
Does this design show involve swinging?
No. They rehab buildings in bad neighborhoods. They’re setting it in Boston. The first house is in Dorchester. They want me to be the host. I’ll get paid thirty-five thousand dollars per episode for the first twelve episodes of the first season.
Thirty-five thousand per episode? That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you.
But.
But what?
The show is calledReal-Life Rehabfor a reason. I have to tell everyone that I’m a recovering addict. That’s part of the deal. Nonnegotiable.
Oh.
What do you think?
I… uh, okay. Wow. I don’t know what to think. What do you think?
I think I’m going to do it. I’m going to choose bravery over shame. Humility over pride. Otherwise, I’m hiding in the shadows. I don’t want to hide in the shadows. I want the spotlight.
Good for you.
Really?
Yes, really. Come here and give me a kiss.
On Monday morning Jennifer calls Danko and says, “I’m going to do the show.”
“Yasssss!” he says. “The studio execs are going to be thrilled. Good for you, Jennifer. You won’t regret it. I’ll FedEx the contracts to you today, and we’ll likely start shooting the pilot just after the first of the year.”
Jennifer hangs up the phone. She feels brave and humble. And excited!
Now…nowshe can allow herself to think about Thanksgiving. She will make a kale Caesar with homemade dressing and pumpernickel croutons, and an autumn salad of mixed greens, butternut squash, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and toasted pecans with an apple cider vinaigrette.
Yum.
Mitzi has decided to keep dinner “just family,” but even that involves quite a crowd. Kelley and Mitzi will be there, obviously, as well as one or both of Kelley’s hospice nurses, as well as Jennifer, Patrick, and the three boys, and Kevin, Isabelle, Genevieve, and baby KJ. Ava is coming without Potter. (Againwithout Potter? This seems odd to Jennifer and she says so to Patrick. Patrick says, “He’s in California seeing his son.”) Margaret and Drake are coming, just after Margaret’s retirement trip to Barbados. And Bart will be there with his new girlfriend, Allegra, who was the girl dressed up like a geisha at his birthday party.
Despite the presence of hospice nurses, and despite the fact that Kelley’s speech has slowed down and he can’t eat more than a few bites of food, Mitzi has instructed everyone that the holiday is to be treated as it has always been treated in the Quinn household—as a celebration of family, a day of gratitude.
Think how lucky we are,Mitzi writes in the group text she sends.Bart is home.
