Someday, Someday, Maybe (42 page)

BOOK: Someday, Someday, Maybe

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Now just inches away, Sally is looking at me expectantly. “Shall I …”

I take the eyelash curler from her outstretched hand.

“Thanks,” I say with confidence. “I can do it.”

RING RING RING

CLICK

I can’t come to the phone right now, so please leave me a message
.

BEEEP

“
Hi, Dan, it’s Franny. I’m calling you from my hotel room, in Los Angeles. Crazy, right? How are you? Umm … so … yeah, I think it went well today. Really well, actually. We’re supposed to find out tomorrow—hopefully I’ll know something before I get on the plane. Hey, did you watch
Law and Order
tonight? The teacher did it! I didn’t see that coming, did you? You probably did, knowing you. Anyway, it’s strange, but, I wish you could see what I’m looking at right now. The hotel is right next to the studio where we had the test—it’s this giant high-rise building that overlooks this massive freeway, which sounds really awful I know, but my room is so high up, and the cars are so far away, that the lights below are actually pretty, can you imagine that? It sort of puts everything in perspective. It reminds me of when I cross the bridge on the D train—oh, I’ll just tell you at our dinner, it’s hard to explain. Anyway, I’ve been standing here for a while, just watching them, and—shoot—you know what? I just realized—oh—I forgot about the time change, I think it’s really late there. I’ll hang up now. I just wanted to tell you, well, that I was thinking about—”

There’s a click and a rustling sound, and for a moment I think the phone’s gone dead, but then Dan’s sleepy voice comes on the line. “Franny? Is that you?” he says.

“Yeah, hi, it’s me,” I whisper. “Sorry—did I wake you up?”

“Yes, but, no … I mean, it’s good, though. Let me just turn off the machine … the tape is still recording—”

“Dan, you’re half-asleep. Is it too late?”

“Not at all … I’m happy, I mean, I just … I’ve almost got it. I can almost reach the … aha! There. Now then, Franny, tell me every—”

BEEEP

Acknowledgments

I could not have done this, or gotten anywhere close, without my genius editor, Jennifer Smith. Jen, I was so fortunate to have you as my mentor in this process. Thank you for believing in me, challenging me, and accepting my loose interpretation of “deadline.”

Esther Newburg is the ideal literary agent: smart, honest, funny, tough, and as dismissive of my early doubts as she is toward anyone who doesn’t love the Boston Red Sox. Thank you, Esther, for sending out this manuscript way before I was ready for anyone to read it.

My sister, Shade Grant, was a tireless champion, cheerleader, and best friend throughout and contributed immeasurably to this book. Shade, your ambition, intelligence, kindness, and excellent fashion sense would have made our mother so proud.

Thank you, Diane Keaton, for responding to some long boring story I was probably telling with “You should write a book,” instead of “You should really save this for your therapist.” Your inspiration meant the world to me.

My early readers were invaluable. Thank you to Allison Castillo, Hannah Elnan, Ellie Hannibal, Ratna Kamath, and Mae Whitman, for your notes and friendship.

Thank you, Kathy Ebel, for being friends with me even back when I wore that jumpsuit, and for your generous writerly support and encouragement.

I am blessed to have a team who represent me in my actor life with the perfect mix of humor, vision, love, and cold-blooded aggression. Thank you to John Carrabino, Adam Kaller, Caryn Leeds, Gary Mantoosh, Leslie Sloane, and Eddy Yablans.

Thanks also to Sam Pancake, Oliver Platt, Gary Riotto, Jen and Pete, and everyone at
Parenthood
. None of you had anything to do with this book, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to say how important you’ve been to me.

Thanks, Mom, for living with creativity, originality, and bravery. You paved the way for me to imagine the possibilities. Your beauty, wisdom, and sparkling laugh are missed.

Thank you, Dad, for always letting me buy as many books as I could carry, and for reading to me every night until I thought I was too cool. This book, not to mention my acting career, is a direct result of all the funny voices you probably got tired of doing.

Thank you to Karen, Chris, Maggie, the Grahams (Cousinhood!), Mama and all the Grants, Roman and the Krauses, and all their loved ones. I’m lucky to have a colorful family, filled with interesting stories and excellent storytellers.

Thank you, Peter, for carrying my dresser up the stairs all those years ago, for keeping me company in the office when inspiration eluded me, and for the thousands of other gestures of your strength and kindness. I love you so.

About the Author

L
AUREN
G
RAHAM
is an actress best known for her roles on the critically acclaimed series
Gilmore Girls
and
Parenthood
. She has performed on Broadway and appeared in such films as
Bad Santa, Evan Almighty
, and
Because I Said So
. She holds a B.A. in English from Barnard College and an M.F.A. in acting from Southern Methodist University. She lives in New York and Los Angeles.