Million-Dollar Consequences

Isaac noticed that Sarabeth had been in a bright, sunshiny mood the moment she’d arrived on set. She brought with her the nostalgia of the days past, when they’d rehearsed and filmed together. Now, in the middle of shooting a dramatic scene, that Sarabeth was long gone. She’d been replaced by a drawn and muted Rachael. Sadness ebbed off her and adhered to him, making it easier to genuinely react to her character’s mood.

She was a damn good actress.

She’d aged beautifully, losing the pregnancy weight from her second and third children—twins. And, Isaac knew because they’d discussed it at the table read, it’d taken a few rounds of hormones for her to be able to get pregnant that second time. She’d told him she was planning on using her heartbreak from years of being unable to conceive and pouring it into the tough scene they were performing right this very moment.

“Just like old times,” she said, her smile wistful. “Except this time, I wished with all my heart to be pregnant.”

“I know.” He held her upper arms, giving her as much emotion as he was able so that she could use it for her performance. As if the audience had sensed her vulnerability, a hush had fallen over the set.

“Are you relieved?” Hope filtered into her expression.

“No.” He took a breath. “But we’ll have plenty of other opportunities to try. I’m not letting you leave, Rachael. Never again.”

“I can’t be sure of that.”

“You can.” From his pocket, he extracted a ring. The props department had scrambled to find a replacement for the missing ring. He’d stayed resolutely silent about its whereabouts.

As Danny, he proposed to his on-screen partner. His character had lost the woman he loved and had been granted a rare second chance. “Rachael, I love you. I’ve loved you for half my life. If you marry me, I promise to love you for the other half—for the rest of it. We’ll do whatever it takes to have a baby together. We’ll do whatever it takes to be a family.”

“Oh, Danny.” Sarabeth’s eyes misted over as she delivered one of her patented pretty cries. She hugged him, and he shifted slightly to ensure that she was in frame of the camera over his left shoulder. Then she said the line he knew would win over any audience. “We’re already a family.”

She pulled away, his cue to go in for the kind of TV kiss he’d demonstrated for Meghan last night. He slipped the ring onto her finger and then pressed his lips to his costar’s. As predicted, the audience went wild.

Ashley yelled cut. Sarabeth snapped out of the scene, dried her eyes and broke into a huge grin. The applause was deafening as they clasped hands and took a bow. They’d nailed it.

As he scanned the packed crowd, he was surprised to spot Meghan in the front row. She hadn’t told him she’d planned on watching today’s filming. What a nice surprise.

He kept hold of Sarabeth’s hand and towed her over to Meghan, saying, “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

His fiancée stood when they approached. She was fresh and beautiful in a cream-colored sweater, jeans and boots. She twisted her fingers like she was nervous. Isaac felt for her, he did. Even though she knew the kiss between him and his costar had been for show, he sure as hell wouldn’t like to see Meghan kiss another man.

“Meghan Squire, this is Sarabeth Commons. You might know her better as Rachael.”

“It’s so wonderful to meet you.” Sarabeth extended a hand. Meghan hesitated, her expression strained. An ice pick of worry lodged itself in his chest until Meghan slapped on a smile and shook the other woman’s hand.

“You, too.”

“Meghan was a huge fan of the show back when we were acting our prepubescent hearts out,” he told Sarabeth.

“I’m so embarrassed about my hairstyle and clothes back then.” Sarabeth smiled. “I heard you have a podcast about the show. That is so exciting.”

“She’s been lining up interviews with everyone on set. She’s an amazing interviewer. Generous, funny,” he bragged. To Meghan, he said, “Sarabeth already told me she’d do it. She has toddler twins at home, but vowed to make the time.”

“Heck, I’ll do it because I have toddler twins at home!” Sarabeth laughed. “Eric is great with them. And my daughter is finally at an age where she can help. And by ‘help’ I mean entertain herself.”

Ashley stepped into their tight circle and crowed about how “incredible” Isaac and Sarabeth were in the scene they’d just shot. “Sarabeth, come watch the playback with me.”

“Sure thing. Meghan, we’ll get together soon.”

Meghan offered a nod as the other two ladies walked across the soundstage.

“Everything all right?” he asked once they were gone. Something was off. His Spidey senses were tingling.

“When are you done?” she asked.

“That was it for me. I don’t have any other scenes to film today. Do you want to grab a bite to eat?”

“Actually...” She twisted her fingers again, sending adrenaline coursing through his veins. “Can we take a walk?”