第26部分(第2/7 頁)

because　I　felt　so　guilty　and　she’s　so　cute。　She’s　part　chow　and　part　poodle。　She’s　a　choodle；”　Hollis　explained　proudly。　“And　I　wanted　to　see　you　smile。”

The　puppy　was　adorable；　and　Vanessa　fought　a　smile。　She　didn’t　want　to　be　won　over　so　easily。　“Why　did　you　even　set　up　the　meeting？”

“I　got　excited。　I　love　your　story；”　Hollis　said　earnestly。　“But　what　they　want　to　do　isn’t　your　movie。　Once　I　saw　how　off…track　they　were　getting；　I　pushed　them　away　from　your　idea　on　purpose。　I　didn’t　want　you　to　wind　up　making　a　movie　that　would　promise　your　vision。”

“Really？”　Vanessa　grinned　shyly。　Now　that　she　thought　about　it；　Hollis　hadn’t　really　spoken　up　at　the　meeting　until　after　the　story　had　gotten　so　off…track—and　after　Stacy　had　made　it　clear　she　wasn’t　going　to　have　it　any　other　way。

“Of　course。　So　they　want　me　to　direct　the　film。　It’s　on　location—in　Iceland。　And　I’ll　have　to　go　to　Australia　too；　to　cast　the　Maoris。　The　twin　kids　evolved　into　a　whole　family；　like　Cheaper　by　the　Dozen　but　with　Maoris；　in　Iceland。　But　I　told　them　I　needed　to　think　about　it。　I’ll　drop　it　in　a　second　if　you　want　me　to。”　Hollis　gazed　down　at　Vanessa。

Vanessa　glanced　around　the　apartment—the　brand…new　ecochic　furniture；　the　clean；　bare　walls　they　hadn’t　decorated；　the　expansive　living　room　they　planned　to　throw　so　many　dinner　parties　in。　If　Hollis　went　to　Iceland；　it　would　be　a　long　time　before　they　really　lived　in　this　apartment　together。　But　dropping　a　Streetscape　project　was　equivalent　to　career　suicide。

Just　then；　Norma　whined　plaintively。　“Well；　I’m　going　to　take　Norma’s　protest　as　a　no；”　Hollis　shrugged；　scooping　up　the　puppy。

“No。”　Vanessa　shook　her　head　definitively。　They　had　plenty　of　time　to　build　a　life　together。　After　all；　she　was　only　a