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“Hmm,” Fallon said. “A cocktail and beatdown could make for a niceafternoon. Where should we gather?”

“Somewhere low key where people won’t take our photo.”

“So the Chateau Marmont, then?”

“Very funny. What about that place The Varnish? Reminds me of aspeakeasy, and that dim lighting might be what I need to blend.”

“Done. See you in an hour?”

“Prepare yourself for sad and guilty.”

“Good Lord.”

“I know.”

Ninety minutes later, and Carly had a whiskey sour and Fallonsipped a candy-apple martini that came with a chili rim. “So what are we goingto do about it?” Fallon asked.

“Do about which of the many issues?” She had laid out everythingthat had gone wrong as soon as they’d arrived, sparing no detail.

“Well, I think you have a lot of things going on. Some old. Somenew.”

“I can agree.” She claimed the cherry from her drink and watchedthe bartender restock the sugar. “This morning was definitely rock bottom forme. I can admit that.”

“Career first. So you haveFamilyFeudcoming up this week?”

“No, it’s the pyramid one.”

“Right. So your financial prospects aren’t dead. They’re just notwhat they once were. No one pays you millions to offer clues to paralegals.”

“Not even close.”

“Well then, let’s figure out your priorities, shall we?”

“Please.”

Fallon took out a pen and grabbed a spare cocktail napkin fordiagramming. “We need to figure out what you can and cannot live without. Let’sstart with your house.” She wrote it down.

Carly considered the question. “I love where I live, but I couldbe happy with a much smaller, more modest space. In fact, that’s probably themost practical choice.”

“All right, so the materials can go.” She crossed it off andcontinued to take notes. “The luxury cars?”

“Just a bonus. I don’t need them. I can drive a Nissan.”

Fallon nodded and adjusted the list. “Carly in a Nissan. This isgoing unexpectedly well. What about your celebrity? How important is it thatpeople see you as a high-status star in Hollywood?”

“I’ve loved that part of my life, but if you ripped it away, I’dstill be standing.”

Fallon nodded some more. “What about acting?”

That one was harder. Things weren’t going so well in thatdepartment these days. She loved her job and would sorely miss it if she had totake up another career. “That one would be a big loss. I’d rather not give upacting, but I understand it may not happen at the same pay grade I’m used to.”

“Would you be happy doing a smaller project, like a TV show oranother regional play somewhere?”

Carly had never been happier than during the run ofStarry Nights, whichwas maybe why her current existence seemed like such a steep fall. “That’sactually not such a bad idea.”

“Got it. Acting is a keeper, but it could happen in a variety offorms. Now, what about Lauren? If things don’t work out there, will you beokay?”

“I don’t want to think like that.” She couldn’t, in fact. The ideaof going back to her life before Lauren felt hollow, cold, and unimaginable.“No.”