Take One (9 page)

“I research the unknown people in this business. Through IMDB’s website and on a handful of blogs and chat groups I check
up on.”

Chase remembered the first time he saw their work on the Internet Movie Database, and the thrill that came with feeling like
that made them legitimate producers. The warmth from the fire felt good and lent a slow pace to the conversation. “We didn’t
have many credits.”

“No, but I caught a few people agreeing that you and Keith could be the next big thing—a pair of producers with talent in
directing that was fresh and cutting edge in the industry.” She’d backed off on the flirty eyes and body language. Now she
seemed intent only on telling her story. “I got a hold of your direct-to-DVD movie—
Finding Mercy
. Watched it alone in my house one night, and you know what?”

Chase raised his eyebrows subtly, waiting.

“I was blown away. The quality and camera work, the music and acting. The direction.” She angled her head. “You couldn’t have
had much of a budget, but one thing was clear. You and Keith hadn’t compromised on quality.” Her eyes sparkled. “I called
my agent the next morning and asked him to find out what you were working on next.” She lifted her hands a few inches off
the table and lowered them again. “Just like that, here I am.”

“Well.” He gave a slight nod in her direction. “You did your homework.”

“I get tired of working with the same people, hearing the same names.” Her eyes tried to find a deeper connection, and even
when she didn’t find one she didn’t look away. “You and Keith are going places. I saw it in your work, and then today … watching
you with the cast and crew. The two of you are different, somehow.” The embarrassed look flashed on her face again. “Even
after my tirade.”

Her compliment hit its mark. Especially after a day when they’d finished little more than half of what they intended to get
done, and when their finances were so dire there was no guarantee they could finish the film. He clasped his hands and studied
her, choosing his words carefully. He didn’t dare tell her how much he needed her kind words. Not when to say so would be
an open invitation for whatever else she might have in mind. “I appreciate your feedback. Keith and I have big dreams.”

“You’ll reach them. I can feel it.” Admiration filled her tone. “Three years from now, I have a feeling the whole world will
know.” She reached out and patted his hand. “Just remember I told you first.”

Chase almost couldn’t believe this was the same woman who had threatened to walk off the set earlier. He stood and smiled
at her. “I’m expecting great things from you too.” He pushed in his chair. He allowed a hint of teasing in his voice. “Especially
now that you’ll have your salmon every morning.”

She fell in beside him as they walked to the elevators and waited when Chase pushed the button. “I’m not really tired.” Her
smile seemed intentionally innocent-looking. “Do you want to watch a movie in my room? There’s a drama showing and I’d love
your feedback.”

“No thanks. Gotta call my wife and turn in.” Chase didn’t let his surprise show. She really was coming on to him, and if he
didn’t have his faith, if he didn’t love his wife, then tonight he could make choices that would ruin him. He felt sick at
the thought. They stepped into the elevator together. “What floor?”

“Six.” She didn’t look disappointed, but almost humored.

He pushed the six, and the four. Before he stepped off, she gave him a smile that left no guessing at her intentions. “Maybe
some other night. We have four weeks to get to know each other.”

“Goodbye, Rita.” Chase smiled, but his tone was cool and impersonal. “Thanks again for the apology.”

“I enjoyed it.”

The last thing he saw as the doors closed behind him was a smile that told him she believed one thing about their time together.
He might not be willing to accept an invitation to her room tonight. But he would change his mind.

Chase put the entire conversation out of his mind and hurried into his hotel room for the call to Kelly. They were using a
video chat system, one that allowed them to talk through their laptop computers and see each other at the same time. Skyping,
it was called. Almost as if they were looking through a window, or sitting across from each other.

The call from Chase was supposed to come half an hour earlier, but the talk with Rita had sidetracked him. Even so, Kelly
wasn’t angry. She didn’t even mention it. “I love this.” She must’ve been looking straight into the built-in camera at the
top of her computer screen, because her eyes looked deep into his. She’d done herself up for the conversation. Her hair was
curled, and she wore enough makeup that her green eyes looked gorgeous—even on his laptop screen.

“You look beautiful.” He longed to reach out and touch her, feel her soft hair beneath his fingers and take her into his arms.
“I wish you were here.”

“Me too.” The intimacy between them was far stronger than it had been when he left. “The girls have been talking about this
call all afternoon.” Kelly smiled. “We all miss you.” She stood and her orange sweater came into view. “I’ll get them. They’re
upstairs.”

Chase waited, glad that the offer from Rita hadn’t even been tempting. He and Kelly were doing better than ever, and this
was the only way he wanted to spend his late nights. He couldn’t imagine living like so many in Hollywood, where every movie,
every location, brought with it a different affair, a different set of people sneaking into each other’s hotel rooms.

The squeal of his little girls’ voices sounded in the distance, followed by the staccato taps of their feet racing across
the floor toward the computer. All at once their faces appeared, each of them vying for a better position as their voices
ran together. “Hi, Daddy … love you, Daddy …”

Again Chase’s heart ached that he couldn’t lift them up in his arms and swing them around, the way he would if he were there
in person. A lump formed in his throat, but he found his voice anyway. “Hey, girls … you being good for Mommy?”

“Yes, Daddy … yes.” Molly, the older of the two, pushed her way to the center of the screen. “I made you a card today. It
has the best ballerina on it, Daddy. The best ever.”

“Me too.” Macy wouldn’t be outdone. She might be only two, but she did everything in her power to keep up with her sister.

“How did the movie go?” Molly blinked her big eyes. “We prayed for you.” She looked up at Kelly, who was almost entirely out
of the picture. “Right, Mommy? We prayed, right?”

“We did.” She tilted her face so that only her eyes joined the crowded picture. “Was it a good day?”

“Very good.” Chase laughed at the picture they made, crowding in around the laptop. “I can’t wait to see your card, Molly.”

“Yeah, me too.” She reached out and touched the screen. “I like seeing you, Daddy. I wish you could give hugs through this
thing.”

“I know, baby.” The ache in his heart spread. “Me too.”

They talked a few more minutes, and then Kelly asked the girls to go back upstairs. “Bedtime in ten minutes,” she told them.
“Brush your teeth, and I’ll be up in a little bit.”

When the girls were gone, Kelly took her place in front of the screen once more. “Really, Chase? How was it?”

He sighed, and in it he heard how worn out the day had left him. “Tough. Rita Reynolds needed salmon before she would work,
and then a neighborhood cat chewed up our lighting wires.”

“Salmon?” Kelly looked baffled. “For breakfast?”

“Yep.” He ran his hand over his hair. “Supposed to be in her contract. Salmon every morning or she doesn’t work.”

“Yuck.” Kelly laughed and wrinkled her nose at the same time. “Did you make your goal?”

“Not even close.” He didn’t want to end the day worrying about the budget, but the reality remained. “We need to make up time
tomorrow.”

For an instant, worry darkened her eyes, but then she let it pass. “You will. The girls and I will keep praying.” Her smile
was genuine and warm. This was where they’d struggled far too often, and Kelly seemed determined to be an encouragement now—however
difficult day one had been. “You look tired.”

“I am.” He considered telling her about the conversation with Rita, but he changed his mind. He wasn’t taken by her interest.

No need to worry Kelly about it. “Listen, babe. I need some sleep. Let’s talk longer tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Again if she was disappointed by the shorter call, she didn’t show it. “I’m proud of you, Chase. You’re doing what
God wants you to do.” She reached out and put her fingers against the screen. “I can’t wait to see you in person.”

“Me either. If we get on track, I wanna come home over the weekend—not this one, but maybe the next.”

“Okay. Until then I’m here for you.” Her eyes looked shinier than before, and she blinked a few times. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

The call ended and Chase shut down his laptop. As he brushed his teeth, he studied his look in the mirror and celebrated the
great feeling of knowing he wasn’t open to compromise. Sure, he and Kelly had struggled at times. But they loved each other,
and no movie shoot was going to change that. Not for him, and definitely not for Keith. They would show the world that a couple
of married men could go on location for a month and not be swayed into having an affair. God had given them strength;Chase
had felt it keenly in his earlier talk with Rita. He might not be sure about tomorrow’s film schedule, or whether they’d have
enough money to complete the project. But no one was going to make him compromise the vows he’d made to Kelly.

He was sure about that.

Seven

T
WO HOURS INTO THE MORNING
, K
EITH
was thrilled with how much ground they’d covered. Already they were a scene ahead of where he’d wanted to be at this time
today, so maybe they really could make up lost time. This was why he hadn’t wanted Chase to worry last night. God knew how
much money they had and how many days they could afford to be on location. All morning things had been going right, with Chase
moving people in and out of the house and celebrating the quality of acting they were getting on only a few takes.

Before arriving on set, Keith had placed a call to Ben Adams on the West Coast. Word around town was that the billionaire
was looking to help fund movies with a moral message, and Keith had the feeling Ben was the answer to their problems. The
trouble was, he and Chase weren’t on Ben’s radar, and though Keith had called the man four times in the past two weeks, there’d
been no return call.

“May I take a message?” Ben’s secretary sounded almost bored with the process. She probably took phone calls from a hundred
would-be producers every day.

“Yes, I’ve called before. My name’s Keith Ellison. I’m working with Chase Ryan, and the two of us are already on the set of
a movie we’re making called
The Last Letter
. I think Mr. Adams would be interested in helping finance the film.”

The secretary sounded a little more interested. “Mr. Adams is out of the country until the end of the month. I’ll give him
the message.”

Out of the country. Keith had worked to keep his frustration at bay. The one man who might help them wasn’t in town and so
he couldn’t help if he wanted to. Keith was still thinking up ways to get word to him overseas, ways that the message might
become urgent enough to pass along to Ben Adams regardless of where he was or what he was doing.

Now it was a five-minute break and Keith was looking over his notes for the next few scenes when Rita Reynolds walked up.
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but the trees provided enough shade that she didn’t have on her sunglasses. “Hey,” she came
up against his elbow and looked at the clipboard. “We’re making good time, huh?”

“We are.” He felt his guard go up. After her temper tantrum over the salmon, Keith wasn’t sure what his star was going to
do next. “Want some coffee?”

“No thanks.” She turned slightly so she was facing him. “I talked to Chase yesterday. Told him I was sorry. I owe you the
same.”

Keith lowered his clipboard. “It’s okay. You have a right to whatever breakfast you want. It wasn’t your fault someone dropped
the ball.”

“Yeah, but … still.” She looked up at the clear blue overhead and took a deep breath. “I’m just glad that’s behind us.”

“Me too.” He smiled at her in a fatherly sort of way. “I was watching the monitors on those scenes this morning. You’re very
good, Rita. We’re getting some great stuff.”

“Thanks.” She rocked slightly onto her toes, and her expression told him she had something she wanted to say. “Hey, tell me
something.”

Keith glanced at his watch. They had just three minutes left in the break. “Walk with me. I need a bottle of water.”

“Okay.” She kept to his pace as they crossed the street toward the snack table. “Tell me about Chase. We talked for a long
time last night, and I can’t stop thinking about him.”

She might as well have kicked Keith in the stomach. He stopped and looked straight at her. It was all he could do to keep
his tone in check. “He’s your director and he’s married. Not much else matters.”

“I know.” She waved her hand around in front of her face, as if the notion of Chase being married was nothing more than a
troublesome buzzing insect. “Of course he’s married, but … I mean, is he happy? He and his wife?”

“Rita … I find this discussion very awkward.” Keith shifted his weight. “Let’s pretend you never brought it up.” He started
walking again. “And yes, Chase is very happily married.”

“Don’t be offended.” Rita laughed, and the sound was just short of condescending. “I figured if he wasn’t that happy you’d
tell me. If he is, then fine.” She flipped her hair. “It was just a question.” She patted Keith on the shoulder. “Don’t look
too deep into it.”

“Like I said, I’ll forget you ever brought it up.”

She laughed and then turned toward a group of actors gathered near the coffee station. Keith watched her a moment longer,
and then moved in the opposite direction and grabbed a cold water bottle from a cooler. He was shocked at Rita’s brazen behavior.
And what about her conversation with Chase? How come he hadn’t mentioned it?

Keith snatched a second water bottle and walked quickly back to the set. Chase was still inside, talking over a camera angle
with the DP. He looked up when he saw Keith and grinned. “I should’ve listened to you. Today’s been amazing.”

He stuffed the anger churning inside him and tossed Chase a water bottle. “You have a sec?”

“Sure.” Chase’s expression changed. He followed Keith outside to the back of the house. People were walking back from their
break, but for now they had a few seconds of privacy. Chase twisted the bottle open, but his eyes were suddenly filled with
anxiety. “Don’t tell me something’s wrong. Not now.”

Keith reigned in his emotions. He couldn’t accuse his friend, not without hearing his side of the story. “Did you and Rita
talk last night?”

“She sat down with me after you left.” He looked baffled. “We talked about the movie and why she took the part.”

“That’s it?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged, but there was nothing guilty about his tone or expression. “I thought maybe she was coming on
to me. She asked me to watch a movie in her room. I almost laughed at her.”

“You didn’t go, right?”

“Of course not.” Irritation flooded Chase’s voice. “Are you kidding? You honestly think I’d go in some woman’s room to watch
a movie?”

“Rita’s used to getting her way.” Keith could feel his heart trying to find its normal rhythm again. He hadn’t considered
what could happen if one of them compromised their integrity. Even innocently. “Be careful of her, Chase. A scandal would
ruin us.”

“A scandal?” Chase laughed, but it sounded more angry than humorous. “I love my wife, you know that. I’m not interested in
Rita Reynolds or any other woman.”

“Okay.” Keith paced a few steps out into the grassy backyard, and then turned and walked back to his friend. He exhaled, trying
to find the composure he’d had before the break. “She just asked me about you, said she couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
He didn’t hide his disgust. “Wanted to know how happily married you were.”

“That’s ridiculous. I made the answer to that question clear last night.”

“Apparently she wasn’t listening.”

Chase groaned and ran his hand along the back of his neck. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll make sure not to give her a reason
to think I’d be interested.”

The situation was awkward, because Chase was still her director. He would need to work closely with her until the shoot was
finished.

“Good.” Keith gave his friend a solid pat on his shoulder. “Keep your guard up. A guy with your pretty boy looks could get
into a lot of trouble on the road.”

“Listen to you.” Chase laughed, and the sound told Keith he was still baffled by the ordeal. “A couple of the actors say you’re
a dead ringer for Kevin Costner.”

“Right.” Keith rolled his eyes as they headed back into the house.

“I’m just saying …” Chase was teasing him now. “As long as you’re watching out for me, I’ll keep an eye your way too.”

By the sounds of it, most of the cast and crew were gathered in front of the house, and as the two producers made their way
that direction, they heard a few sharp barks and then the sound of a shrill scream.

“What in the …” Keith took the lead, racing to the front door and flinging it open in time to see Jake Olson grab his arm.
At the same time, the dog they were using for the movie scurried to the nearest tree, cowering low to the ground.

Rita’s face was a twist of fear, and she motioned to Keith. “Quick. Someone help him!” A number of actors followed Jake toward
the curb, and from the side yard the dog handler ran up to the dog and chained him. Chase flew down the stairs and motioned
to a police car parked across the street. “We need a medic. Right away.”

As was normal for a location shoot, an ambulance was parked at the other end of the street, out of the way but ready in case
they ran into a medical emergency. The police officer took hold of his radio, shouted something into it, and in seconds the
ambulance wheeled into view.

“What happened?” Keith walked quickly toward Jake.

“Jake picked the dog up.” Rita was breathing fast, fighting tears. “He was being a little rough with him, and then all of
a sudden the dog ripped into his arm. I mean, there was no warning or anything.”

Keith held his hand up to her. “Thank you. I’ll take it from here.” He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Okay everyone,
take another ten. We need to make room for the paramedics.”

As the cast and crew cleared the area, Keith and Chase moved in close to Jake. Someone had wrapped an old T-shirt around his
arm, but even so, blood was seeping through. Jake cussed softly under his breath. “It was my fault.”

“What were you doing?” Chase pulled tighter on the T-shirt, creating more of a tourniquet effect over the wound. The paramedics
were walking up now, carrying a medical bag and looking concerned.

Jake winced. “I’m a method actor. First half of the film I’m a jerk, you know … always storming off.”

Keith had no idea where their male lead was headed with this story. “How did that involve the dog?”

“I wanted to make him a little afraid of me.” He exhaled and the sound was heavy with pain. “You know, so that when I walked
into the room, the dog sort of looked nervous. The way I make everyone feel before the letter.”

“So you picked the dog up in your arms?” Chase looked slightly pale, probably thinking ahead to where this would all wind
up.

“Yeah.” Jake tucked his wounded arm in close to his body. “Like I said, I wanted to intimidate him a little.” He looked up
at Chase, and then at Keith. “It was my fault. Don’t blame the dog.”

The medics moved in then and one of them unwrapped the T-shirt from Jake’s arm. The few teeth marks weren’t very big, just
deep. So deep Keith wondered if the dog had nicked an artery. What else could explain the heavy bleeding? One of the medics
tended to the wound, while the other took Jake’s blood pressure and started an IV. Once the needle was in place, he turned
a knowing look to Keith. “He needs to get to a hospital.”

“There’s one a few miles from here,” Keith said. “I’ll ride with you, if that’s okay.” He turned to Chase. “See if you can
get everyone back on track. There are still a few scenes here without Jake.”

Chase nodded. He looked worried sick, but whatever was going through his mind, he didn’t express it. “Keep us posted.”

“We will.”

The ride to the hospital took almost no time, and by then the paramedic riding in the back had settled Jake onto a stretcher
and used a combination of gauze and pressure to slow the bleeding. Keith turned to the driver. “You think an artery’s involved?”

“Could be. If so, he’ll need surgery. He needs stitches, for sure. Might be dealing with shock too. His blood pressure’s a
little low.”

They parked out front at the emergency doors. Keith watched while the medics wheeled Jake in on a stretcher, and inside the
hospital they were met by a nurse who led them to an examination room. “You’re lucky you came in early. Dr. John Baxter’s
on duty—he’s the best in Bloomington.”

Keith silently thanked God for the single piece of good news. He waited off to the side, and in a matter of seconds, a kind
man with mostly white hair entered the room and moved up alongside Jake’s bed. Something about the doctor looked familiar.
He introduced himself and then peered at the wound on Jake’s arm. “He definitely got you good.” He studied Jake’s eyes for
a moment. “How’re you feeling?”

“Not so good.” Jake looked a little greener than before. “But it was my fault.” He was still on his back, still on the stretcher.
He covered his eyes with his uninjured arm. “I’m a method actor.”

“Is that right?” Dr. Baxter smiled. “My son is too.”

His son? Keith began putting the pieces together, and suddenly he wondered if the reason Dr. Baxter looked familiar was …
“Your son isn’t Dayne Matthews, is he?”

“He is.” Dr. Baxter lifted his eyes to Keith’s. “You’re one of the producers?”

“Yes, sir. Keith Ellison.” No wonder the man had looked familiar. Dayne Matthews was the most recognized actor in the world.
Only recently had he stepped down from acting to live here in Bloomington with his wife and baby daughter. Everyone expected
that at some time in the future he’d act again, but for now he and his wife ran a kids’ theater group in town. Keith didn’t
know Dayne, but he wondered if maybe they’d run into each other during the location shoot.

Dr. Baxter gave him a look as if to say they would talk about their movie connection in a minute. Jake clearly needed the
doctor’s help first. He directed the nurse to get a suture tray, and he glanced at Keith again. “What about the dog? Can someone
get his current shot record? We need to rule out rabies.”

“Definitely.” Keith stepped into the hall and dialed Chase.

“How is he? We’re filming, but everyone’s worried.”

“The doctor’s working on him. I don’t know anything yet.” Keith explained who the doctor was and that they needed the dog’s
shot record.

“The handler already showed it to me. I’ll send him right over.”

“Great. And pray Jake doesn’t need surgery.” Keith didn’t come right out and explain what he was thinking. Surgery would not
only be bad for Jake, but if the doctor had to operate, they were bound to lose a few days in the recovery process. He didn’t
need to spell out the possibilities. Chase certainly knew the dire situation they faced.