"Ladies and gentleman we will begin our descent into LAX airport in approximately forty-five minutes. Our estimated arrival time will be 4 a.m." The pilot's voice echoed throughout the plane's cabin. At the announcement, Derek looked to his two traveling companions and smiled. Though his daughter's eyes and hair color were identical to his, her big eyes and other facial features were entirely her mother's. At the present time both of his favorite girls were sound asleep with Karen's head inclined against the window and Lizzy's against her car seat. Aside from a few whimpers during takeoff when her ears popped, his daughter had been wonderful. With a headphone in one ear her laughter at the cartoons she watchedfilled the first class space for the first hour of the trip until his little girl succumbed to sleep.
"Your family is beautiful," a voice next to Derek broke his reverie. He turned and found the voice belonged to an elderly woman sitting across the aisle.
"Thank you," he smiled.
"I'm Edna Williams," she introduced herself. "If you don't mind me asking, are you heading to Los Angeles for business or pleasure?" She inquired.
"Hello Edna, I'm Derek Wills," the director responded. "It is a pleasure to meet you and I don't mind you asking at all. Our trip is for business but hopefully there will also be some time for pleasure along the way." He answered.
"Oh," the elderly woman stated with hope. "Does that mean Gatsby will be coming to the LA Theater?" She questioned sheepishly. "I'm a huge fan of the theater and I was in New York to see your wife's last performance. A friend of mine told me about her departure and I just had to go. She is incredible."
"Thank you, I'm sure if she was awake she'd greatly appreciate the compliment. Unfortunately Gatsby will not be making a run in Los Angeles but it will be making an appearance on the big screen." He commented with a smile. "We will be turning Gatsby into a movie and Karen along with the other main leads from Broadway will be the stars."
"Oh wonderful!" Edna gushed. "I can't wait. Do you know where you will be shooting?"
"No that is main reason for our early arrival. I have two weeks to find the ideal locations to shoot before filming starts."
"Perhaps I can help? My husband before his passing was in the movie industry as a producer and I know more than several individuals who have large estates with grounds reminiscent of the Gatsby era." She remarked.
"That would be something I would definitely consider," Derek replied not wanting to be rude. "Who was your husband if you don't mind me asking?"
"Thomas Henry," Edna answered. The name was immediately recognized by the Brit. Thomas Henry was one of the original producers in film industry and the fact that he would have access to some of his contacts was like a gift from the Hollywood Gods.
Derek's eyes widened, "your husband is a legend," he stated, earning a smile from the elderly woman. He could see the pride in her eyes at his remark.
"Thank you, I like to think so." She grinned. "But, there are very few directors in today's industry who even know who he was. The new generation is vastly different." She frowned. Derek understood her sentiment; in today's industry money was the bottom line and with Gatsby, Lions Gate was not interested in spending large sums. The fact the movie would be musical made the company skeptical so the movie's budget was limited to say the least. Derek was going to have to work magic to produce something memorable but he was more than up to the challenge.
Before the director could respond the conversation was interrupted by the pilot's announcement of the pending arrival into LAX. He excused himself from their talk and promised to exchange information. He and turned his attention his wife and daughter. "Love," he called out to Karen in a whispered tone. When he received no response he brushed her cheek. At his touch her eyes fluttered opened and she moved to straighten herself in the seat.
"Are we here?" She asked still groggy.
"Yes we are." He replied as the plane began to approach the runway. The change in altitude caused their daughter to stir and whimper softly. Karen pulled out a pacifier and carefully waited for her daughter to accept it in her mouth. With her ear popped she settled back into a peaceful sleep. Thirty minutes later Derek, Karen, Lizzy and Edna were waiting for their luggage to arrive at baggage claims. The two women enjoyed a conversation about old Hollywood couples while Derek was directed to grab their bags. Once everything was secured the foursome followed the limo driver who had been patiently waiting. He had agreed to give the elderly woman a ride.
"Where will you be staying?" Edna asked the couple.
"The studio secured a house for us in the Hills I believe, but that is all I know." Derek answered.
"Oh some of those homes have beautiful views." She remarked. "Hopefully yours will be one of them. Perhaps once you're settled we can arrange to meet and I can show you the homes I mentioned earlier." She suggested.
"I'd love that, but even without the leads, we would welcome the opportunity to meet for dinner." Karen nodded in agreement. It wasn't everyday Derek warmed to someone and she assumed with Edna, her husband could see a motherly figure.
"I look forward to that," she said handing them a card with her name and number. Derek smiled as he accepted the information and the car came to a stop outside a grand estate. It was easy to see from its outside appearance the home was from an older time.
"Oh my god this is beautiful," Karen complimented.
"Thank you, my husband loved the architecture; it was one of the reason's he purchased the home despite there only being two of us." She smiled. "Well, I look forward to seeing you again; I better leave you to it." The couple exchanged a hug and watched as the driver helped Edna up the stairs and waited for her to enter her home. Twenty minutes later the couple arrived at their home.
Eyes wide and mouth agape, Karen looked at the modern mansion unable to form words. "Welcome to La La Land, Love." Derek kissed her cheek.
"It's amazing," she whispered, her eyes still staring in awe while her husband removed the seatbelt restraining their daughter's car seat. The car door opened and the driver leaned in to help the brunette out. Derek handed the car seat to his wife and exited next. Handed the keys to the home, Derek guided his wife up the steps to the main entrance while the driver remained to retrieve the luggage. When Derek opened the front door and moved to let his wife pass, he smiled when he heard a gasp. "Look at the view," she squealed with excitement, trying not to wake her daughter. Derek moved to take the car seat and allowed his wife to take in the spectacular view from the floor to ceiling windows. Illuminating their backyard were the soft lights reflected from the Hollywood sign.
Staring out the window Karen was oblivious to the fact that the driver had finished retrieving their luggage and it was now just the couple and their daughter in the home. She was still taking in the moment when she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist. She gave an embarrassed grin when she looked at the man next to her and her very awake daughter who was smiling in his arms. "Sorry," she voiced. "It's just so different."
"There's no need to be sorry, Love. I want you and Elizabeth to enjoy your time here. I want this to be memorable for you and I'm relieved you like the house." He assured. "This will be our home for the next six months." He informed.
"The house is incredible but I love it even more because I have my family here. I would never have dreamed my life would be this way. I'm married to the man of my dreams, I have a beautiful daughter and together we are going to embark on a new adventure." She beamed. "In case I haven't told you lately, I would be nothing without you Derek Wills and I love you with all my heart." She tip-toed and placed a kiss on his lips.
"And I love you, Karen Wills." He responded. Just as he moved to deepen the kiss, Lizzy reached for her mother and giggled when instead of Derek's lips meeting those of his wife, they meet the right temple of his daughter who had moved her to wrap her arms around Karen's neck. "Someone wants you just as much it seems, Love."
Karen laughed "hey baby girl, you want to come with momma?" she cooed to her daughter. "You were such a good girl on the plane," she complimented with a kiss to her daughter's cheek. Elizabeth smiled at her mother and quickly snuggled against her shoulder when Karen shifted the little girl to the opposite side. Once her daughter was situated the actress moved closer to her husband and leaned into his frame. Together the three watched the sunrise and as it dawned so did the start of a new chapter in not only their lives but those of their friends. In three weeks, the couple would be joined by their Broadway family and Karen couldn't wait. She had a good feeling.