Chapter 6

All characters belong to NBC.

This chapter is written by Samhainix.

Karen's POV

Richard, my old friend, it's good to see you" Jerry said, somewhat unconvincingly

Richard put on a grin and pulled Jerry into a business man's hug with lots of back slapping and fake laughing.

"It's such a pleasure to see you again, Jerome but I'm afraid I'm here on business matters"

Jerry cautiously stepped back, confused and maybe even a little worried.

"What business matters?"

"Your next big thing, old man"

Richard let Jerry know that he was the orchestrator behind his newfound power, even implying that he helped him out of loyalty to their friendship.

"I've been hearing complaints about Bombshell" Richard cut to the point "Some nonsense about sabotage, most likely the fault of their incompetent cast and crew"

Karen had to hold back Derek from lashing out at Richard but the business man didn't even bat an eye in their direction.

"I was in the shower the other day" Richard continued, making Karen slightly nauseous "These thoughts of complaints on my mind when I asked myself, who in this day and age even goes to the theatre anymore? It's a waste of production, these days online subscription services are where the real money is made"

Jerry looked like a deer in the headlights, unsure of his place and what to say.

"Think about it, your film contacts, my investment, a guaranteed sixty million dollar budget... Bombshell: The Motion Picture, coming next summer to DisNet Prime"

That put a twisted smile on Jerry's face, probably because it was an admission that he was needed but Karen suspected that there were sixty million other reasons for that slug eating smile.

Derek and Eileen yelled in protest of Richard's plan but Karen couldn't help but turn her attention to Tilda, who was busy pushing open the door to the buildings exit, her face blotchy from all her tears. Karen followed her out, not wanting her to be left alone with all that had been said.

The last thing Karen heard before she left ear shot was Richard's plans for replacing Audrey as director, citing her lack of talent. Karen felt pure venom run though her veins but knew that Derek wouldn't let their daughter go undefended; she just trusted that Eileen would stop him from doing anything stupid.

Outside the autumn leaves crunched under Karen's boots, the rain was light and the night was cool. Karen found Tilda sitting under a tree, speaking to someone on her phone.

"Can you come pick me up?" Tilda asked before ending the call with "I love you"

"Helena?" Karen asked

"My human comfort blankie" Tilda smiled, wiping away a few tears

Helena was Tilda's wife and co mother of their daughter Harper; they made such a sweet couple.

Karen sat down next to Tilda; she could see the goose bumps travelling up her bare arms, unlike Karen, Tilda had not dressed warmly. Without a word, Karen took off her jacket and put it around her friend. Tilda tried to hand it back but Karen refused and eventually Tilda gave up and hugged it tightly.

"Those things Richard said to you, you know he's wrong, don't you?"

Tilda nodded before adding "I know my worth, Karen, it's just jarring... Hearing that from him"

"Your uncle" Karen remembered the family connection

Tilda looked like she wanted to say something for a moment, before turning away and closing her eyes.

"Some family members can be so toxic, hon, I'm so sorry you had to go through that"

"You don't get it" Tilda whispered

"Then tell me"

An air of silence washed over them, Tilda was clearly struggling with something that she felt she couldn't share.

"Family isn't just blood, you know" Karen cut through the silence "It's the people who care about you, who love you as you are, me, Derek, Eileen, Tom, Julia, we're your family, Tilda and we will always have your back"

Tilda smiled sadly, it looked as if she had made her decision about whatever was on her mind.

The rain got heavier and their shelter under the tree became less and less. Karen was about to suggest that they go grab some pumpkin spice treats at a nearby coffee house when a green Tesla pulled up to the curb.

The window went down and Helena Campbell-Winters stuck her head out.

"You trying to catch a cold?"

Tilda giggled, looking from Helena back to Karen. Tilda took Karen's hand, her voice becoming serious again.

"I think you need to see something, something really important"

On the ride to Tilda's house, Karen fired a text to Derek telling him not to worry and that she'd meet him back at the apartment.

When they pulled up into the driveway of the vinyl sided building, Helena wrapped her arms around Tilda, whispering assurances to her and some fantastically creative threats against Richard.

Inside the house, Julia Houston sat babysitting little Harper, while watching an old Dracula movie by the fire.

"Long time no see!" Karen cried, giving them both big hugs

Julia explained that she was in town for a few days and that Tom was back in London, unable to make it out to the states as he had fallen for the new actor playing Erik in Phantom of the Opera. They were fast becoming a glossy magazine headlines.

When Julia asked what was new with Bombshell, Karen knew that was a story best left for after the bedtime of a certain eleven year old and most probably over a glass of something incredibly strong, so she changed the subject.

"Why are you two watching a horror movie?"

"It's film history" Julia told her as Harper playfully tried to nom her arm.

"Karen..." Tilda called, requesting her upstairs

Karen made her excuses and gave Harper an invisible stake to the heart before climbing the stairs.

Tilda was in her home office; Karen had never been in there before, never had a reason to. The walls were lovingly lined with posters from all the shows Tilda had helped Eileen produce down the years, from the space musical Captain Proton to the stage adaptation of The Third Street by Joan Ellis.

Tilda was opening a safe in her desk with a very old looking key.

"Back when I started transitioning, about thirty years ago..." Tilda started leafing through documents in the safe "I needed my birth certificate to legally change my name..."

This wasn't really news to Karen as Ivy had cruelly outed Tilda years ago and Karen had since helped Tilda advocate for a number of charities helping Trans people who had become homeless. Tilda shared her personal story a few times, it always made Karen weepy.

"When my mom refused to hand over the certificate, I stole it"

Tilda slid a piece of paper across her desk, it was of course the stolen birth certificate, marked with Tilda's former name, something Karen refused to pay attention to, out of respect for her friend.

Taking a closer look, Karen saw that Tilda's mother was called Penelope Moreau but her father's name had been scratched out with a pen, like someone had reconsidered his role. Karen strained her eyes to make out the hidden name. Her head ached but she succeeded. Richard. Lynn.

"My own dad hates my guts"

Karen didn't know what to say, what could anyone say to that. A thought suddenly crossed through her mind.

"Wait a minute, does that mean Ivy is your sister?"

Tilda nodded.

"She has no idea"