Free Before A Perfect World: Movie Trilogy, Book Two (The Movie Trilogy) by Kimberly Stedronsky

finger. Fingers. That’s not fair. Ugh, she’s making me hate her!”
    “ Robin, don’t hate her.” I shrugged. “You can’t hate her any more than you can hate me. We’re very much alike, I’m starting to realize.”
    “Then what are you doing?” she demanded.
    “I’m giving her some space. I’m hoping that the whole thing with Fowler will just self-destruct on its own.”
    “Hoping? You’ve never been one for hoping. You act. You make things happen. That’s what I love about you.”
    I ruffled her hair, and she cringed. “Thanks. I’m stopping by her gram’s house before I leave. Please think about LA.”
    She took a deep breath, letting the air out slowly. A quick smile teased her lips.
    “You know what this means, right?”
    I raised my eyes. “What’s that?”
    “I’m going to be an aunt.” She reached for me, giving me a huge, un-Robin-like hug. “And you’re about to be someone’s daddy. Are you okay with that?”
    I squeezed her back, nodding against her shoulder.
    “I’m okay with that, Robin,” I admitted, pulling away to smile down at her. “Honestly, I can’t wait for that.”
    She grinned, and I almost didn’t recognize her as her smile lit up her face. “It’s no fucking wonder she’s pregnant. You two couldn’t keep your hands off of each other that weekend. If I had to walk in on you groping her one more time,” she teased.
    I returned her grin. “That was some weekend. Sorry,” I tried, and she shrugged.
    “It couldn’t have worked out better. Now go. It’s a four hour drive.”
    I pulled into Gram’s driveway around noon, and found her bent over the flowerbed, pulling weeds. “Keaton!” she cried, and I offered her my hand, helping her stand on her feet. “Honey, you look so much better than the last time I saw you. Healthier.” She reached for my cheek, pinching, and I tried to hide my amusement.
    “Thanks Gram. I’m actually on my way to Ohio. To Vivian.”
    I left my sentence at that, waiting for her reaction.
    She brushed her hands together, letting the loose soil catch the wind. “You know she’s back with her parents?”
    The expression on my face was enough of an answer for her.
    “I talked to my daughter-in-law this morning. Vivian showed up at home with a suitcase. Matthew dropped her off and left.”
    “What happened?” I asked quietly, tucking my hands in my pockets.
    She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s not for me to discuss, sweetie. But I’m sure Vivie will tell you, if you’re going to see her.”
    “Of course. You’re right. ” I smiled, nodding toward her front door. “Can I get you a drink before I leave? Help with anything?”
    “You can go get my granddaughter, honey. That’s all you need to do. You kids like to complicate everything nowadays.”
    I couldn’t hold back my smirk.
    She patted my cheek with her dirty gloves before pointing to the Ferrari. “Go on, Mr. Hollywood. She’s waiting for you.”
    I kissed Gram’s cheek, waving to her as I slid behind the wheel.
    The drive was easy, a straight shot down the turnpike, and then about forty-five minutes through Amish country. Over and over I considered calling Vivian, asking her what happened with Fowler. More than anything, I wanted to make sure that she was okay.
    I pictured her, covered in hives, sick, crying her eyes out, and sped up.
    The acting coach I’d hired for her was an LA native, and I was lucky that he was on the East coast at the moment. Elias Roberts had worked with actresses that I admired like Halle Berry and Kate Beckinsale, and I’d read that he could coax even the most difficult students into brilliance.
    I didn’t expect Vivian ’s training to be complicated, but given that she was inexperienced in film, her stage habits would certainly be hard to break. During her audition, I’d been so caught up with watching her that I’d neglected to pay attention to the aspects of her acting that would need coaching. In reviewing