“I really enjoyed doing it,” she admitted. “I was terrified because I’d never done comedy of any kind. I worked with Jo and she helped me learn about timing and delivery of a single word. A line. A look. By the time I got to the table read, the director thought I was some kind of comic genius.”
“For this project I’m talking about, I know I was the only lead cast. Now that I’m gone, they’ll be looking for two males and one female lead. Breck’s actually the screenwriter. It’s funny and smart and sophisticated. Why don’t you talk to him about it? See if your agent can get a copy of the script.” He grinned. “Better yet, see if Mac can do the same.”
“Really?” Keely thought a moment. “I think he’s funny. He’s got a serious face, though. I don’t know how well it would play in comedy.”
“Better for him to do a comedy after this serial killer drama and not get typecast.”
“True. I’ll let him and Carson know about it. Thanks, Knox.”
“I’ll put a bug in Breck’s ear while we’re golfing today.”
“Speaking of, go have fun. Let me claim London.”
They said goodbye and she went to the door. London answered the ring almost immediately and pulled Keely inside.
“Come see the nursery. I know I texted you pictures when I finished with it last week but in person is way better. There’s even something you haven’t seen yet. I’d love to hear your opinion.”
Keely followed her friend upstairs and stepped into a nursery like none she’d ever seen. It contained the usual crib, changing table, and rocker with shades of mint green and pale yellow. London carried a girl but she said they wanted a gender-neutral nursery because they hoped to have more children after this one.
What drew her attention was an entire wall painted as the English countryside.
“This is spectacular, London!”
The singer beamed. “Isn’t it? Knox found a painter who would do a wall mural. Even though I’m a Yank through and through now and have my citizenship papers to prove it, I do miss England, especially being out in the country.”
“This looks as if you stepped outside your door into nature. English gardens to the right. Landscape to the left. It’s breathtaking.” Keely sat in the rocker and began rocking as she studied the wall. “I can see you here, rocking and singing to the baby, and drinking in this scene.” She stood.
“That’s the idea. Knox thinks it’s important for our children to know more than just California. He wants us to spend some time in England as they grow up so they’ll know and be comfortable in both countries.”
“I wonder if Baby Girl Monroe will pick up her mum’s English accent or her dad’s American one,” mused Keely.
“I don’t care. As long as she’s healthy.”
“How was your last checkup?”
“Everything looks good. My due date is the same.” London went to a dresser and opened the top drawer, removing a few pictures. “Here’s the latest sonogram. The doctor showed me how she’s sucking her thumb.”
Keely took the picture and felt a strong pull as she viewed it. She’d never thought about having children of her own, mostly because she was so focused on her career, but in part because she’d never found a man she wanted as their father. Now, she had.
She wondered if Mac wanted babies.
“We should probably leave soon,” she reminded London, pushing the thought aside.
“Let me hit the loo one more time. I can’t go ten minutes without doing so.”
“I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Ten minutes later, they were in the car, London chatting happily about different names for the baby.
“I like more traditional names but Knox wants something different. I hope we’ll be able to agree before she pops out!”
“You said at the cookout that your dad and Catherine are coming over?”
“Yes. They’ll wait until closer to my due date. If all looks well, they plan to fly over the day before. It will be nice to have them here. In fact, Dad wants me to FaceTime him from the shower after I’ve opened the presents. He wants to see what Little Monroe gets so that they’ll bring something we don’t have when they arrive.”
Keely kept her face neutral. It was times such as these that she was glad she could fall back on her acting skills. Especially since she was about to burst from excitement. She’d picked up London’s stepmother at LAX this morning, along with Melanie Cameron. Melanie’s husband, Ken, had landed a three-picture deal a few months ago. The interiors were being shot at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, with exteriors in London, Paris, and Berlin. The Camerons had made the decision to move across the pond for the duration of the shoot. They had three-year-old twins and thought it would be better to stay intact as a family for the next two years instead of Ken flying back and forth. London and Melanie had become close friends and Keely knew London missed seeing Melanie on a regular basis.
She couldn’t wait to see London’s face when she saw her stepmother and friend had traveled together from Heathrow to attend today’s baby shower.
They arrived at the DeLaurias and Keely helped London out of the SUV.
“It’s like getting a beached whale up,” her friend quipped. “The doctor says I’ll still probably put on another five to seven pounds. I’m afraid of where it’ll go.”
“You’re all baby, London,” Keely assured her. “You still have thin arms and legs. It just looks as if someone tucked a basketball under your periwinkle dress.”
“I know I have feet. I simply haven’t seen them in a while. Knox is good about rubbing them, though. You’ll need to make sure Mac does the same for you.”
She stopped in her tracks. “What?”
London captured Keely’s hand and squeezed it. “I observed him watching you on Sunday afternoon, Keely. Mac Randall is besotted with you. It wouldn’t surprise me if this time next year I was hosting a baby shower for you.”
Keely sensed her cheeks heating. “Let’s get you inside.”
She rang the doorbell and heard Jax’s yodeling. Knowing how much the DeLauria kids loved the basenji, she’d brought him along this morning and left Jax with them after decorating.
Drew DeLauria opened the door. “Hi, Miss Keely. Miss London. Come in.”
Jax ran up to greet London, Kyle Corrigan chasing after him. Kyle also greeted them and then the boys disappeared, Jax running behind them full speed.
Keely bet Jax would love for her to have children. She shook her head at the thought and warned herself not to head too far down that road. Right now, she and Mac were in the early stages of their relationship. Yes, they’d already used the L-word, but it was still too soon to think the thoughts she was having. She’d never considered having kids for thirty-two years.
Suddenly, she couldn’t get the idea out of her mind.
They entered the large living room which opened to a dining room. Cassie fiddled with a balloon arrangement sitting next to the cake on the table. She stopped and came to hug London.
“You make pregnancy look beautiful with that glow about you,” she complimented London. “You’re still tall and thin except for that belly that enters a room five minutes before you do.”