Mackenna on the Edge by Djuna Shellam

Author:Djuna Shellam [Shellam, Djuna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780971052758
Amazon: B00I64OF30
Goodreads: 21789402
Publisher: Magnhild Press
Published: 2013-12-30T03:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

“The Plaza, My Dear"

Eve stood at the door of the dimly lit library and knocked softly on the doorjamb. “Hi… You busy?”

“Huh?” Mackenna looked up from the computer screen squinting toward the silhouetted figure standing in the doorway.

“Of course you are…” Eve’s face flushed slightly. “I mean, might I interrupt you for just a minute?”

“Sure, of course. Come and sit down.” Mackenna motioned to a wingback chair nearest her desk, closed the laptop computer and sat back in the large leather swivel chair. “I could use a little break.” She yawned and wearily stretched her arms above her head.

Eve crossed the room and sat on the edge of the chair seat and quickly took a sweeping inventory of the room. “Wow,” she exclaimed, “this is some room, isn’t it?”

Mackenna nodded and drew a slow deep breath. “It was my father’s favorite room, and I… well, I’ve kind of adopted it,” she said as she absent-mindedly ran her hand over the brass tacks on her chair, remembering. “I’m finding it a pretty decent place to write.”

“I love it.”

“Thanks.”

“Actually, I just wanted to stop in and tell you I’ll be gone for a couple days—maybe more.” Eve threw her hands up in the air and smiled. “I completely forgot about a job I signed for three months ago. Can you believe that? Who forgets they’re going to be in a movie?”

“Sure, I can believe it.” Mackenna rubbed her eyes and said, “It’s been just a little distracting these last few days. Where’s the shoot?”

“New York.” Eve settled back into the chair. “It’s a small supporting part in a film—only about twenty lines.”

“That’s wonderful! Tell me all about it,” Mackenna prodded.

“Well, Francine Carter and Riley Landau are producing.”

“You’re kidding! I know them both—Francine backed my first Off-Broadway and I’ve known Riley for about five years now.” Mackenna smiled wryly. “That was when she was still married, though—Francine, that is.”

“Wow… small world, isn’t it?” Eve said, marveling at the coincidence.

“Who’s directing?” Mackenna asked with mild enthusiasm. “Well, just tell me everything. I’ll be quiet.” She smiled.

“All right. Well, Riley’s directing and Deirdre Collier… uh… oh…” Eve stopped suddenly as she remembered Mackenna’s history with Deirdre. Knowing their relationship ended badly, she felt a terrible case of hoof-in-mouth disease coming on. Eve practically murmured the rest of Deirdre’s name. “…Gunn is starring with William Allen.”

“Oh.” Mackenna tried to hide the pain that crossed her face but was unsuccessful. “Small world, indeed.”

“I’m sorry, Em… Mackenna.” Damn, she thought.

“No, no, Eve, please. It’s nothing, really. I’m okay.”

“Really? Okay… and I’m really sorry that I keep calling you, you know… Em. It’s so hard after all these years… to change, y’know. But I understand, and I am trying. I swear.” She didn’t really understand, not totally, but she saw Mackenna flinch every time she slipped and it wasn’t a happy reaction.

“That’s okay,” Mackenna waved away the apology. No, it wasn’t okay, but what was worse? Hearing “Mackenna” coming from Eve’s lips or “Em”? Either name evoked painful memories for her.

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