Bella reached out a hand and linked her fingers between his.
“I spoke to my father, told him how I was losing it. He suggested we move in with him and share the load. Best thing I did thinking back on it. Cory always had someone around and I could breathe, stop killing myself trying to do everything. Finally figured out I wasn’t Superman.”
“I’m not sure I’m at that place yet.”
“But you’re putting yourself out there for some of the same. Look what you’re taking on, Bella. A Valentine’s Day dinner isn’t going to be a small intimate affair if I know your sister. I’ve seen what she’s capable of. The Christmas gala was hugely successful. There’s no way Mari is going to go smaller. I doubt it’s in her.” He did air quotes with his fingers. “Overachievers ring a bell?”
Bella shuffled over and leaned against his chest. “I know but that’s alright. I can deal with it.” She sighed and tilted her head back. “Look out the window, Jake, the stars are shining bright.”
“You’re trying to change the subject, young lady. I don’t want to see you burn out and crumble, okay?” He wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed.
“I won’t, promise.”
“That’s something I’m going to hold you to. I’ve only just found you. Not keen on seeing you fade away on me yet.”
Chapter Ten
Russell sighed over the phone. “I need you back here, Bella. For the life of me, I don’t know what went wrong but the last show has to be redone.”
“Totally?” How could that possibly be? They’d never had to redo a whole show.
“Yes. I’m sorry but there’s nothing I can do.”
“What the heck did editing do to it?”
“I couldn’t believe it either. Apparently a newbie wiped the whole tape. How the heck he even had access to it is beyond me. Needless to say, he won’t be working here anymore.”
“That doesn’t even seem possible. Surely there’s a backup tape or something on the computers.”
“I’ve asked all the same questions, believe me. The studio is going to kick my butt over this because it’s going to eat into their profit. Do you think I want to set up the whole damned studio again?” A few choice curse words came out of his mouth. “The set had been packed away and now we have to pull it all out again unless I can think of something better to do.”
“But that’s not fair, Russell. I can’t come back now. I’m in the middle of a Valentine’s Day prep for Mari. She’s holding a big bash at the hotel and I’m doing the cooking. It’ll have to wait.”
Silence met her words. Finally, he spoke, his voice measured and cooler than she’d ever heard it before which only went to show how much stress he was under. “You are contracted to this show. Regardless of your own personal plans, we need to have it in the can before the end of next week. You know the schedule we work on, Bella. You’ve been with me long enough to understand what’ll happen if we don’t produce the goods.”
“But, I—”
“Make the arrangements. I’ll see you next week.” He slammed the phone down in her ear.
She screamed and slammed her hand on the work counter.
“That sounds frightening. Want me to come back later when you have it all under control?” Mari wandered into the kitchen, a clipboard in her hand.
The pink hearts dangling from thin pink ribbon from her sparkly pink pen only made Bella want to scream more, knowing she now had to fit in redoing her show as well as the Valentine’s Day dinner. How could she possibly be happy with what Russell had dumped on her?
“I don’t believe it. I honestly do not believe what he’s doing to me.” She wiped her hands over her face, screamed again, and stamped her feet for good measure.
Everything for the Valentine’s dinner was planned down to the wire. There simply wasn’t time to go racing off to Seattle and do what Russell wanted. Not until afterward. No room for any interruptions of any kind. He would have to wait and like it!
Mari inched closer. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Apart from cancel all your plans, no.” Each word came out with a bite.
Mari blanched and Bella had a moment of regret. “Oh, don’t believe me. I’m joking.” She picked up a wooden spoon and started tapping it on the counter, trying to work out her problem.
Her sister ripped the utensil from her hands. “Tell me what the heck is going on. I don’t like that look of murder in your eyes and it’s pretty obvious it affects me.”
“I am so angry right now.”
“Really? I never would have noticed. What’s going on, Bella?”
Bella paced the kitchen, her arms folded tight against her chest. “Russell wants me back in Seattle to re-tape the last show.” She bit her lip, trying to come up with a solution.
“Now? Right this minute?” Mari paled even more.
“Don’t freak out yet. I’m trying to come up with a solution, I promise. Thing is, it has to be done by the end of next week. I’m busy here for the next four days so that doesn’t leave too much time. Plus, I have the photographer coming to do shots for the book. There has to be a way to work around this.”
“Can they come here?” Mari paced back and forth. “I know it’s not a studio like you usually cook out of but maybe it would work. Kill two birds with one stone.”
Bella paused, raised an eyebrow, and stared at her sister. For the longest time she stood there thinking. Mari fidgeted, twirled her pen around, and eventually dropped it on the counter and shook her head in despair, looking ready to burst into tears. Then Bella whooped, launched herself at her sister, grabbing her by the shoulders.
She planted a big noisy kiss on each cheek. “You’re amazing, that’s a brilliant
