Playing at Forever - By Michelle Brewer Page 0,73
buzzed to life as everyone passed around the various dishes, complimenting Marion on a job well done.
“So, Tommy, what’s next on the agenda? Anything big in the works?” Elliot asked, always interested in the latest movie news.
“I’ve just signed on for a film that I also wrote the script for.”
“Oh, really? You write, too?” Marion asked.
“Just something I was messing around with.” He took a sip of wine. “Actually, Penny’s playing a role, too.”
“Really?” Marion sounded very surprised.
“Oh, I always knew Penny would return to the acting world.”
“It’s just a small role, Dad. Nothing to get too excited about.” Penny tried to blow it off.
“Penny, it’s a film. That millions of people are going to see.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves…” Tommy interrupted, chuckling a little. “But she’ll be great. I’m really excited to work alongside her one more time.”
Oh, the irony, Penny thought, taking a long sip of her wine.
That night, Penny and Tommy retired to bed at a fairly late hour, both of them trying to avoid the small bedroom waiting for them upstairs. Finally, though, Penny had given up, seeing how exhausted her parents were.
Now, she stepped out of the bathroom, trying her hardest to avoid looking at him. He passed by her without a word, closing the door behind him.
Everything was so strained, now.
“I wish you wouldn’t have said that about Christmas.” She found herself saying a moment later as he exited the bathroom.
“What was I supposed to say? ‘Sorry Mom and Dad, but I don’t think Christmas will be happening this year. Penny’s contract expires that week.’”
“You could have just said we’ll see.” She glared at him. “Don’t give them hope for a future there’s no chance of.”
“Maybe you should listen to your own advice. Telling me not to give them hope—did you see the way your mom was looking at you when you were talking about kids?” Without asking, he was making a bed for himself on the floor.
“I was talking about Darla and Amber.” Still, she hadn’t missed the way her mom had lit up at the mention of kids. Marion Lang was growing very impatient for grandchildren. Penny couldn’t blame her—she felt the same. And more and more every day, she started to believe it was never going to happen for her.
“Just go to sleep, Penny. We’ll put all of this behind us just as soon as we head out in the morning.”
He shut the light off and Penny stared into the darkness for several moments.
“Is that really all I was to you, Tommy?” She heard her voice before she realized she was actually talking to him. It had been plaguing her since she’d heard the words, though. “Just another notch on your bedpost?”
“You’ve said it all along, Penny. This is just business.” Tears flooded her eyes almost instantly.
“I wish you’d never come back, Tommy.” She whispered into the darkness, the sorrow obvious in her tone.
The very same sorrow that tore Tommy apart inside.
The goodbyes had been quick. Marion had cried, because she always did. And Elliot had made Tommy promise that he wouldn’t wait so long before coming back.
Tommy, of course, felt like a jerk. He hated making promises he knew were going to be impossible to keep.
With a sigh, he navigated the car toward the expressway.
“Didn’t you say your dad was living in Florida?” Penny asked suddenly. Tommy was so surprised that she was even talking to him that he stuttered for a moment before finally providing a response.
“He does. An hour or so away from here.”
“Don’t you think you should go visit him?”
“Why, so he can tell me what a failure I’ve been?” Penny turned to look at him.
“You gave thanks for second chances last night. Don’t you think you owe him the same courtesy?”
She was right, of course. She was always right.
“He can’t be that bad.”
“You don’t know him.”
“The only way I’m going to do this movie with you is if you go and visit your dad, Tommy. Otherwise, you can just count me out.”
He stared at her for a long moment before finally giving in.
Fine. She wanted to see how bad Colonel Davidson was? He would show her.
The drive wasn’t too bad. He’d made it a couple of times before—though he hadn’t actually seen his father. He hadn’t been able to drudge up the courage to even get out of the car.
But today, he had a point to prove.
They pulled up to the modest house in a quiet little suburb, Tommy not even stopping to take a