Stunt Doubled: A Movie Star Standalone

He tossed his black cowboy hat at her. “See if you can get that damned red dust out of there. It’s everywhere. It’s like the spot in Green Eggs and Ham.”

I was pretty sure he meant The Cat in the Hat, but I didn’t tell him that. He didn’t really strike me as a Dr. Seuss fan, but perhaps he had grandchildren.

“Who’s she?” The assistant director’s eyes fell on me.

“This is Veronica, Mac’s daughter.”

He eyed me critically. “Is she the one who caused that delay yesterday?”

I answered before Tina could. “Yes.”

“That cost us twenty minutes, young lady.”

“It would’ve cost you more if Tanner had actually hit me.”

The man grunted as he appeared to consider that. “Well, welcome anyway, Mac’s kid.”

Tina smiled encouragingly at his slightly calmer tone. “Veronica, this is the assistant director, Walter Henderson.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said. Henderson—he looked more like a Henderson than a Walter—sat down at his desk and gave me a half-hearted nod.

“He’s worked with your father many times,” Tina whispered as if it was a secret.

That got another nod from the assistant director, but his eyes were on his computer screen.

“Excuse me, Mr. Henderson?” I waited… and waited… and waited until he looked up. “Do you know what I’m supposed to do now that I’m here?”

That got his attention. “Do? That wasn’t part of the bargain. Mac said his kid needed a job so I got you a job. My part in this is done.”

My heart sank as he confirmed what I’d already suspected. This wasn’t a real job. They didn’t need me—they’d just done Mac a favor. This wasn’t a fresh start, it was pity.

Henderson looked up. “Don’t give me puppy dog eyes. Find something to do. Just stay away from where we’re shooting.”

“It’ll be okay,” Tina whispered when I retreated to the front office. “We’ll find something for you. Why don’t you go eat lunch?”

“Should I bring some back for you?”

“That would be great, but only after you’re done. You might as well eat there, it’ll be nicer than listening to him grumble in here.”

I definitely couldn’t argue with that, so I headed out.

Unlike yesterday when I’d grabbed food pretty late, the picnic tables were filled with at least two dozen people. After waiting in a short line, I headed out into the sun with fish tacos, a bowl of chopped fruit, and iced tea. There was an empty picnic table on the far side of a group that had pushed two tables together. But when I walked around them, a young man called to me. “Are you new?”

I nodded, and the two women next to him motioned me over. “Sit with us, new girl.”

They made space and I sat down between them. “Thanks.”

“What department are you with?” the woman on my left asked.

“None, yet.” I wished I had a different answer.

“You must be Mac’s daughter!” That was from the young man who’d originally called out to me. “He’s the absolute best. You should hear some of the actors he’s worked with! Well, I’m sure you know all that.”

Yeah, right. “Do you work with him?”

“Not hardly.” He laughed, which made him sound like he was still in his teens. “We’re the costume department.”

“Which is the best department,” another woman said.

“Do you need any help?” I asked hopefully.

“Can you sew? Or make alterations?”

“No.” My friend Maddie could, but I didn’t know a sewing machine from a gumball machine.

“But she can model,” the young man said, his eyes lighting up.

“Model?” I echoed.

“For Sierra,” he said to the others. Several people nodded.

“She’s the lead actress,” a woman across the table explained. “She’s not needed out here until next week, but we’re working on her costumes now. You’re about her height. It would help if you would try on some of the clothes so we can see how you move in them. She’s got a few action scenes, so we need to make sure the clothes look good but give her enough range of motion.”

That sounded better than spending another afternoon waiting for Tina to come up with things for me to do. “I’m in. Am I really about her size?”

“Height-wise, yes,” the young man said. Then he cupped his hands over his chest. “Breast size, no.”

“But that’s what padded bras are for,” another woman assured me. “Have you seen Sierra Sloane in anything? She’s pretty new to the acting world, but my, is she gorgeous.”

I shook my head. I’d never heard of her, but her name sounded appropriate for an actress.

The group from the costume department finished eating and told me where to find them when they were done.

After I finished my lunch, I took some food to Tina. She seemed happy that I’d found something to do this afternoon. Her excitement made me feel pathetic, like I was a kid she’d found someone to babysit, but hey, if I couldn’t be happy, at least she was.