[ Neither will help her ankle ultimately. It's an old injury reinjured. Pushing herself to be someone she used to be in hopes of fixing her marriage. If she changed even just enough, maybe... maybe her husband will look at her the way he did when they first met.
Her gaze wanders as a frown tugs at the corners of her lips. She misses that... pull. It almost felt magnetic. Gravity. Somehow they always ended up in the same room. The same area. Each other's space. Even after they were married... the Casey movies... "Departure" and "Retuen"...
Now it's like he repels her.
She must have gotten too weird for him.
I always thought I would.
After all, Alan has had stress about books. "Departure", "Initiation." They had gotten through it fine before. "Return" should be no differenr. Yet, it's more like the book is pushing them apart. Which means she must have gone too deep into her job. The weirdness of Bright Falls. He wrote longer hours so she worked longer hours. The resentment of being at her job and not being there must have started all of their problems. At least, she thinks there should be resentment. Why wouldn't there be?
Why else would he write about the Lake House... and her and Estevez...
Alan continues to speak about his relationship with the talk show and it's host. ]
Warm sounds nice. [ Her voice is far away. Withdrawn. Things this Alan may recongize from his own someone. ] We'll look into it after Deerfesf.
[ Her fingers curl around Alan's hand just enough for him to notice. So he is aware she is acknowledging the gesture in good faith. He's trying. It feels that's more than her Alan is willing to do now. Or, maybe, she's not worth the effort now.
I can't even dance for him...
Beth's eyes raise just enough the moment her Alan mentions his inspiration. Someone who is private. Her heart gives a steady beat. Does he mean her? She can still be his inspiration--his muse--despite the fact they barely talk? They hardly see one another? ]
"Well, I'd hate to ruin our good relationship. Having number one on a best selling author! Wow! In seriousness, Alan, I think it's fair to protect someone's privacy. Not everyone wants the spotlight."
[ Beth's gaze lowers once more. ]
"Let's talk about something more publicly known then. Your dream team, I've heard it called in the industry. The team behind bringing the Casey movies and books to life--and now your new trilogy. You, Barry Wheeler, and Alice Madden. The Writer, the Manager and the Photographer. I gotta say, you three knocked it out with "Return." This book cover is stunning! She really put the work into bringing that weird vibe of the forests but maybe the skyline of a city as well. Sort of blending how this follows up "Initiation", I'd say.
How did that conversation go? The pair of you discussing how to do the cover and how your manager got to..."
[ At the mention of "the dream team", the dynamics in the room shift. Beth is standing up, hand falling away from Alan's. By the end of Mr. Garret's question, she's hobbled to the back door that leads to the porch.
It slams shut behind her.
Footsteps shuffle off.
Tim holds his arm up to keep Alan from going anywhere. A level look is given to him. ]
"It's best if you leave her alone for a bit, Alan."
no subject
Her gaze wanders as a frown tugs at the corners of her lips. She misses that... pull. It almost felt magnetic. Gravity. Somehow they always ended up in the same room. The same area. Each other's space. Even after they were married... the Casey movies... "Departure" and "Retuen"...
Now it's like he repels her.
She must have gotten too weird for him.
I always thought I would.
After all, Alan has had stress about books. "Departure", "Initiation." They had gotten through it fine before. "Return" should be no differenr. Yet, it's more like the book is pushing them apart. Which means she must have gone too deep into her job. The weirdness of Bright Falls. He wrote longer hours so she worked longer hours. The resentment of being at her job and not being there must have started all of their problems. At least, she thinks there should be resentment. Why wouldn't there be?
Why else would he write about the Lake House... and her and Estevez...
Alan continues to speak about his relationship with the talk show and it's host. ]
Warm sounds nice. [ Her voice is far away. Withdrawn. Things this Alan may recongize from his own someone. ] We'll look into it after Deerfesf.
[ Her fingers curl around Alan's hand just enough for him to notice. So he is aware she is acknowledging the gesture in good faith. He's trying. It feels that's more than her Alan is willing to do now. Or, maybe, she's not worth the effort now.
I can't even dance for him...
Beth's eyes raise just enough the moment her Alan mentions his inspiration. Someone who is private. Her heart gives a steady beat. Does he mean her? She can still be his inspiration--his muse--despite the fact they barely talk? They hardly see one another? ]
"Well, I'd hate to ruin our good relationship. Having number one on a best selling author! Wow! In seriousness, Alan, I think it's fair to protect someone's privacy. Not everyone wants the spotlight."
[ Beth's gaze lowers once more. ]
"Let's talk about something more publicly known then. Your dream team, I've heard it called in the industry. The team behind bringing the Casey movies and books to life--and now your new trilogy. You, Barry Wheeler, and Alice Madden. The Writer, the Manager and the Photographer. I gotta say, you three knocked it out with "Return." This book cover is stunning! She really put the work into bringing that weird vibe of the forests but maybe the skyline of a city as well. Sort of blending how this follows up "Initiation", I'd say.
How did that conversation go? The pair of you discussing how to do the cover and how your manager got to..."
[ At the mention of "the dream team", the dynamics in the room shift. Beth is standing up, hand falling away from Alan's. By the end of Mr. Garret's question, she's hobbled to the back door that leads to the porch.
It slams shut behind her.
Footsteps shuffle off.
Tim holds his arm up to keep Alan from going anywhere. A level look is given to him. ]
"It's best if you leave her alone for a bit, Alan."