After dinner, the house settled into its usual silence.
Pearl went upstairs to watch an old TV drama, while George stepped out onto the balcony, the cool Los Angeles air brushing against his face, his mind replaying the day's events.
Talking to Lydia at the set had done something to him..unlocked something. For years, he'd buried that part of his heart under work, fame, and long days on set. But the moment he looked into her eyes as they exchanged a few words, that familiar softness returned. While she looked nervous, she was still as beautiful as ever. Her smile, brief but real, stayed with him.
His mind went back to two months ago..to a phone call that changed everything.
During a night shoot in San Diego, rain machines were roaring and cameras cutting through the mist. The assistant director called for a ten minute break. George slipped into his trailer, grabbed a towel, and checked his phone.
He had a missed call from Chris.
He hadn't heard from his best friend in a while.
George hit call back immediately.
"Hey, man," Chris's voice came through, tired but familiar.
"Chris! Long time. What's up?"
"It's about Lydia." Chris replied.
George stilled. "What happened?"
"She broke up with Jack, two months ago", there was a brief pause "but I have a feeling you already know about that." Chris added teasingly.
George exhaled sharply. "Jack is an idiot."
"She's taking it hard. She's… kind of lost. She says she wants a fresh start." Chris continued. "We tried to convince her to come home but she refuses. She says she wants to stay in L.A., try acting."
George frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Acting?"
"Yeah. She sounds serious. She's been working as a waitress at some small diner downtown. Barely making rent, but she won't ask for help. She has been auditioning for roles but nothing has come through yet."
That made George sad, but also smile softly. It was so Lydia..proud, independent, stubborn to the core.
"I get that," he murmured.
Chris sighed. "I can't be there to look out for her, Georgie. I hate that she's alone out there. If there's anything you can do… I don't know. Maybe just check in? Make sure she's okay?"
George leaned back in his chair, torn.
He wanted to help her, desperately. But the idea of her seeing it as pity? That would crush her. Lydia had always hated being someone's charity. That's why he had not tried to help her despite knowing about the break up. He also didn't want to drag her into his crazy world. But...if she wanted to be an actress, there must be something he could do.
"Does she know you're calling me?" he asked carefully.
"No. And I'd rather she didn't," Chris said. "You know how she is. But you're in the industry, man. Maybe there's something you can do to help her get started. I just want her to have someone nearby. Someone I trust."
George chuckled softly. "You trust me around your sister?"
Chris laughed too, but there was something heavy in his voice. "Yeah, I do. I know you've always looked out for her, even though you try not to show it."
George looked down at the script still open in his lap.
He didn't want to admit it out loud, but when he learnt she was single again, something inside him stirred. Still, he felt a pang of sadness thinking about her heartbreak.
He could picture it too clearly..Lydia trying to hold herself together, pretending she was fine, refusing help, smiling through pain. That image broke him a little.
"She won't want a handout," he said finally. "If she finds out I helped, she'll probably get angry."
Chris laughed. "Probably, she is still the same stubborn girl."
"I'll see what I can do. But she can't know it came from me." George finally said.
That night, George called the film's director, who owed him a favor from an earlier project.
"I've got someone who might fit as an extra," He said casually. "She's new but has potential. Natural charm."
The director agreed to have her on set for a single day, to observe her.
After her first day at the set, George got a text from the director: "We will keep her. Camera loves her. She has potential."
George stared at the message for a long moment, a slow smile spreading across his face.
And now, two weeks later, she was really there at the set, in front of him, talking to him again after all this time.
He didn't want her to ever learn how she got the role, or that he had quietly made sure she had a safe start.
She deserved to feel like she earned it, because after the first day, she earned the extra days all by herself.