The Mighty Quinns: Dex

“I’ve put together a production schedule. Since I’ve already scheduled our first interview with Aileen for Friday, we have a lot of work to do before then. I think you should meet Aileen first so you can get to know her. You’re going to love her.”

“No, I’m not. And you shouldn’t, either,” he warned.

Marlie ignored him. It was ridiculous to think that she shouldn’t admire Aileen. “And Ian Stephens, her research assistant. He’s providing a lot of the background information on the search. I also have a contact who will digitize all the archival photos we want, and I’ve looked at a few spaces for a temporary studio.”

“I have a small studio in Dublin where I store all my equipment. We can use that.”

Marlie couldn’t believe it had all worked out so well. Earlier that afternoon, she’d thought the film—and her career—was ruined. But tomorrow they’d begin work on the project that would transform her into a real producer. She’d finally gotten her big break, and now that it was here, she couldn’t wait to get started.

“All right,” Marlie said. A wave of exhaustion came over her and she fought back a yawn. “I should probably turn in. I’ve been up since 6:00 a.m., and the whiskey is making me sleepy.”

Dex stood up and took her hands, guiding her to one of the bedrooms. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

“I could use something to sleep in,” she said.

“Wait here,” he said. He disappeared into the other room and returned with a faded rugby jersey. Dex held it out. “Will this do?”

“That will be fine,” she said. Marlie paused, fighting the urge to throw her arms around him and kiss him again. It was the only way she could think to communicate her gratitude. A handshake wouldn’t do. In the end, she pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning, Dex.”

“Good night, Marlie.”

When she closed the bedroom door behind her, Marlie leaned back against it and took a ragged breath. This was all so strange, spending the night under the same roof as a virtual stranger.

Marlie crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the old iron bed. Now that he’d agreed to do the film, she’d thought the pressure might fade a bit. But instead, it had only become worse. If they didn’t develop a good working relationship, then the next two months would be very difficult.

But Dex was a strong personality, and she’d have to work hard to make sure he took her ideas about the film seriously. She had less experience as a producer and so much more to lose if this film wasn’t good. Her bosses at Back Bay already had high expectations for this documentary, and she needed to deliver. And if she did, maybe she’d finally be able to prove to her family that she’d made the right career choice.

It wasn’t easy being a Jenner. Both of her parents were surgeons at the best hospital in Boston, her father also serving as chief of staff. Her four older siblings, two sisters and two brothers, had also opted for careers in the medical field, but only after attending Ivy League colleges and prestigious medical schools. Boston Magazine had even done a feature article on the Jenners, calling them Boston’s first family of medicine.

Marlie sighed. They’d called her the black sheep of the family. She knew what they all thought, that she was somehow defective since she had no interest in the “family business.” She’d always loved art and books and movies and music. She’d played the piano and taken ballet lessons, and yet none of her successes as a child had made a difference because she hadn’t skipped a grade or two in school or gotten a perfect score on her college entrance exams.

Why was she still bothering to try? Marlie wondered. They’d never consider her work important. She wasn’t saving lives or doing critical research. In their eyes, she’d always be a failure.

“But I’m not,” she said as she stripped out of her clothes. She had managed to snag Dex Kennedy, one of the world’s best documentary filmmakers, and with him at her side, they’d create something everyone would finally be proud of.

The bedroom was damp and chilly, so she quickly crawled beneath the faded bedcovers, then pulled them up to her chin. But the more she tried to relax, the more her mind kept spinning with everything that had happened that day.

Though she’d occasionally had men in her life, her relationships never lasted very long. She usually ended up with men who wanted a sweet, compliant woman who would put her career on the back burner for them, which she tried very hard to be. She’d turn herself into exactly what they wanted, but eventually the charade would become too much bear.