Free Stars Collide by Janice Thompson Page B

working with you. I’ve loved this show since its inception and see such great things happening in the future.” Releasing my hand, she gave me an inviting smile.
    Okay, so maybe she wasn’t Attila the Hun. Now I was confused, trying to figure out this mysterious director Rex had hired.
    Her gaze darted to him. “He, um . . . well, he told me to come on strong so that everyone would take me seriously. I’ve always worried a little that people won’t see me as a professional in my field, but he said making a vivid first impression would help. Do you think I went too far?”
    Ah, so that explained it. She didn’t have a heart of steel after all. She was just intimidated.
    To my right, Jason messed with one of the cameras, swinging it a bit too close for my liking. A statement, perhaps? Nah, probably just a coincidence.
    “I guess time will tell,” I said. “But one thing’s for sure—everyone will line up and walk straight. And I do think you’ll take this show up a notch in the ratings. I feel sure of it.”
    “Good.” A wide smile lit her face. “That’s the goal. Oh, and Kat . . .” She leaned in, lowering her voice. “I didn’t even know they were letting Mark go, so none of this was planned or anything. I want you and Scott to know that. I wasn’t out to get his job. I would never do that.”
    “Oh, I didn’t think you were,” I assured her. “I just assumed this was . . . is . . . God’s timing.”
    “Wait . . . you’re a Christian?”
    When I nodded, she said, “I’m so glad. And to go back to what I was saying a second ago, it’s no fun to get ahead of God. His ways—and his timing—are perfect. If I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s that. Well, that, and it’s not wise to get ahead of him. I’m pretty bad about taking the reins myself. Just part of that type A personality, I guess.”
    “I’m more prone to hang back and wait too long,” I said. “Sometimes I hesitate. Wish I knew what was coming next. That sort of thing.”
    “Sounds like we need to meet in the middle.”
    “Maybe. But I’m glad you’re here, Tia. I think you’ll be a breath of fresh air. We need a new vibe.”
    Jason coughed. Loudly. I looked his way and he turned his attention back to the camera. Hmm. Maybe he didn’t care for the new vibe.
    “Just hope people will accept me.” She glanced at Jason then the other tech guys. “Might not make much sense to some of these people that I’m here and Mark’s not. Women still have to fight for their place in the industry.”
    “Tell me about it.” I paused. “But the way I look at it, things don’t always make sense to us. They don’t have to. That’s part of the adventure. Some things in life defy explanation.”
    “Right. Like my crazy family, for instance.”
    I wasn’t sure what she meant by that exactly, but I smiled anyway.
    She dove into a conversation about how great it was going to be to work with a live studio audience again. Then she went off about something having to do with the multicamera setup, but she lost me when she got to the part where she started discussing camera angles. To be honest, my focus was on Grandma Lenora, who’d cozied up to us in her eye-popping red gown. Her eyeliner was a bit wobbly, as always, but she looked dazzling in every other respect. More than dazzling, actually. If someone turned a spotlight on her, she’d light up the city.
    Tia, God bless her, managed just one word: “Wow.” I’d have to explain later. If she wanted to be part of the Stars Collide family, she had to accept Lenora Worth as a substitute grandmother figure.
    Athena passed by with scripts in hand—a welcome distraction. The dark-haired beauty gave me a little wave, then turned her attention to Grandma and let out a whistle. “Who are we today, Lenora?” she asked.
    My grandmother grinned. “Ethel Merman. There’s No Business Like Show Business. 1954.”
    “Ooh, love that one!” Athena said. “Watched it over and