I look up to see her spread a warm smile around the room.
“And I do hope to make lots of friends.”
That evokes a small murmur of laughter before the next cast members introduce themselves.
“I like her,” Jill says, pitching her voice low.
“Why?”
“She’s one of those people who pulls you in. Ya know? She’s sincere. And I have an instinct about folks.” She taps her nose. “I can smell a phony a mile away, and she’s the real deal. Good job finding her.”
“Monk found her.”
“Um, you fought pretty hard for her.”
I snap a glance up to study her face. “How do you know that?”
“Evan told me.”
“Figures.” I roll my eyes. “She’s the right choice.”
“I believe it and I saw her screen test. I see why you’re so into her.”
“I am not into . . .” I cut my words off when I realize how closely Jill is watching my face. Dammit. I gave her too much. Jill’s as observant as an owl.
“I am not,” I finish more evenly, “into her.”
Graham shoots us the kind of look reserved for kids talking in church. She puts a silencing finger to her lips.
“I just know talent when I see it,” I say in a barely audible whisper.
“Sometimes you just know,” Jill agrees, smiling like a sly cat. I don’t even want to speculate what that means or what idea has gotten lodged in her head.
Once the introductions are complete, I stand. Jill is right. I’m basically vibrating with the need to get started. I school my expression to implacable, but inside, my desire to tell this story echoes like a voice that hasn’t been used in a long time and is ready to sing.
“Alright,” I say. “If that’s everyone, get out your scripts. Let’s read this thing through.”