We'd spent the last three days on the beach and in bed just like we'd planned but today we had a meeting with none other than Nicholas Sparks.
He had scheduled a meeting with us in New York but he was in California and wanted us to meet us here.
We were on our way to dinner. We had to do a whole shopping trip so I could buy a dress and shoes and so Chris could find a suit because we hadn't brought anything.
I really do not want to do this.
We sit down to dinner and make small talk for awhile.
"I'll cut to the chase." He says, "I'm producing and directing a movie based on my newest book, have either of you read it?"
"Our careers don't leave much time for reading..." Chris says with a chuckle.
"Anyway." He says, "Its about a couple that were together in 8th grade, head over heels in love, that dated all throughout high school and broke up for college. They meet again 10 years later, both married young, divorced young and moved back home. They fall in love again, have kids, the whole bit."
"And what does that have to do with us?" I ask.
"I want you two to star in it." He says.
"No audition?" Chris asks.
"No. I only want you two." He says, "You're married in real life, you're raising a family together, the world was introduced to your onscreen chemistry way before they were introduced to it off screen. This is my biggest project in ten years and you are the only people I want on it."
"That's a big offer but our personal lives might cut into that a little..." Chris alludes. "As well as filming for the show."
"I'm willing to put this off as long as you need." He says, "Is this you two saying yes."
Chris and I look at each other and both nod our heads.
"Yes." I say, "We'd love to be in the movie."
"What is happening for you two that will put this off?" He asks.
I look at Chris nervously and he takes my hand under the table.
"We are expecting another baby." He says.
"I guess congratulations are in order." He says smiling. "I'm happy to push the project off while you expand your family."
"We would really appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone." I say, "We're attempting to keep our private lives as private as possible. Being a celebrity couple makes that extremely hard."
"I understand completely." He says, "My lips are sealed. I will be in touch with your managers about schedules. I am more than happy to work around your filming schedules with SVU as well as anything within your personal lives. I have the liberty here to take as long with this project as I need because of how well everything with the last movie went. I am prepared to offer you both a signing bonus of 1 million and since you both have equal parts in the movie I am prepared to offer you both 20% of whatever we make in box office revenue. The average box office gross is $100 million, that 20% is addition to whatever you two make promoting the movie. You will be making more than average when you promote the movie because of how well known you are already, even more than before you were together. Your off screen relationship adds to your fan appeal."
"That's intense." I say nodding my head.
"We are expecting this movie to be my biggest earner in my career. The early numbers are suggesting a box office gross of over 200 million dollars, not including promotional shows and commercials." He says. "But that's only thing, the projected numbers with any other stars, are average at best, you two are what sent the numbers skyrocketing."
"It sounds like an amazing opportunity!" I say.
"The only other thing is that this movie is going to be shot in Tennessee." He says, "We will pay for all of your flights, first class of course, to and from Tennessee. We will rent an apartment that can be your crash pad for when you're staying in Tennessee."
"Seems simple enough." Chris says.
"You've both had lessons with linguistic experts?"
We nod our heads and he smiles.
"Obviously if the movie is based in Tennessee I'll need you both speaking in Southern accents."
"Not a problem at all." I say.
"I had then contract sent over to your team of lawyers earlier." He says, "They are going over it already."
"Did you send it to all of them?" Chris asks.
"I sent it to Counselor Goldman, Counselor James, and Counselor Christo." He says with a chuckle. "If that isn't all of them then Dick Wolf is paying you guys too much."
"That's only half." Chris says, "There's still Lockhart, Donovan, and Griffiths."
"And what the hell do to well-behaved actors need 6 world class lawyers for?" He asks.
We both laugh and so does he.
We sit through the rest of dinner and talk about SVU, his other movies, and the logistics about the movie.
We finally get back to the hotel room and shed the clothes that we bought and get through the shower. I am so unbelievably happy not to be wearing essentially full stage makeup and 7 inch stilettos.
We fall into bed together and talk about the movie.
"I'm actually excited about this." I say.
"Yeah, $80 million plus sounds pretty good." He says with a chuckle.
"That and doing a movie, I haven't done a movie in 13 years." I say.
"Why not?" He asks.
"I never had anyone to support me while I was doing it." I say, "I get offered movie deals a couple times a year but when I was married to Peter he said he refused to step aside anymore for my career than he already had. And then when I had August, he and I were fighting about me doing SVU, so I didn't even consider doing movies they offered me. "
"Baby, I will support you through every decision you make. Whether it's 10 movies a year, or new tv shows, anything you want to do. If you wanted to stay home, if you wanted to move to Idaho, I'd do it for you." He says quietly, "I know you'd do the same thing for me. I want to give you everything and anything you want in this world."
"Things like are exact reason I fell in love with you, and the exact reason I married you." I say, sitting up and straddling him.
"God I am so in love with you." He says, flipping me on my back.
2 hours later we were both out of breath.
I rest my head on his chest, laying my arm over his stomach.
He puts his hand over my belly.
"What are we gonna name this little girl?" He asks quietly.
"I think she might be our Liv..." I say.
"Yeah?" He asks smiling.
"I think so..." I say, "Nothing's set in stone, we have to meet her first, but yeah, I think she might be."
Chris smiles before kissing my forehead.
Chris lays his head down next to my stomach.
"Hi baby girl..." He whispers softly, "It's your Daddy. I just wanted to tell you how much I love you, how much your Mama loves you. Take it easy on your Mama tonight."
He kisses my belly before wrapping me tightly in his arms.
He's done this every night since we found out I was pregnant. He did it every night after after we found out about Bethany too.
That's the thing about Chris, he loves me and our babies more than anything in this world.
