Chasing Life

Previously on Chasing Life

I want to be friends with Dominic. Is that a problem?

I don't have a problem if I don't have anything to worry about.

- Do I? - What happened?

According to her, I'm still in love with April.

It's not true, though, and it's not like she's available, anyway.

- We have a match. - Finally!

The sick kid, his name's Finn. He has cancer and only one leg.

-Hi. -Not to speak ill of the dead,

but Thomas Carver, the year before he died,

he was blowing money, drinking.

The guy had demons even I find dark.

You know what? Screw my dad. I'm gonna write a book.

Oh, writing my book was easy.

I stared at a blinking cursor for six, seven hours a night

until I was convinced I was a total fraud,

and then I started typing.

Well, I've got the fear and insecurity parts down for sure.

Wait until people actually start reading your book, it's terrifying...

And thrilling.

I'm so excited.

Writing a novel is something I never thought I could or would do,

kind of like owning your own house.

That's such a big deal! I wanna see it!

Well, you can. I'll warn you... it's a dump,

but I'll make a home out of it...

Some day.

So, any thought on what your debut is gonna be about?

Mmm, I have three or four ideas I've been kicking around for a while.

Honestly, I just... whatever I write,

I want it to have a real shot at getting published.

You know, I could talk to my agent, Nina, about it.

You guys could sit down, talk about the publishing market.

Really? You think she'd meet with me?

Come on!

The smart and talented daughter of a famous best-selling author?

- Mmm. - It's a no-brainer.

You know, when you say it, I kind of believe it a little.

Seriously. Hey, thank you.

It's nothing.

You're a catch...

- For a literary agent. - Right.

I know she's heading back to New York

for publisher meetings in a couple of days,

so you should plan on meeting maybe tomorrow.

Yeah, I can make myself available.

Could this day get any better?

April Carver, there are but a few major milestones

in ever woman's life which forever shape and define her legacy,

and you, my friend,

have officially come upon one of yours.

For the time has now come to plan...

Your bachelorette party!

Yes! Yes!

I have been so focused

on the wedding part of the wedding,

that I totally forgot

I get a bachelorette party!

We both did. How did we forget about a night

full of male strippers?

Okay, strippers are great...

- Yeah. - But... wild idea...

What if we did

something that could include my mom and grandma.

It's my last week at home, and I just wanna show them

that even though I'm moving out,

they're still a huge part of this next phase of my life.

Fine.

If you want your party to be mom and grandma friendly,

then that's what we'll do.

What about we go out for a classy wine-tasting

at Sip maybe,

then have a nice dinner out afterwards?

What about Brenna? She'll be so bummed to be left out.

Oh no, I already talked to her.

She totally gets that a bachelorette party

that isn't 21-plus doesn't really count,

so she's sitting this one out for the greater good.

So, it's settled.

April's bachelorette party,

a classy affair.

Oh God. I just don't know what I'm going to do

with all these novelty cake pans now.

Oh my. This is...

Girthy.

April’s bachelorette party is tomorrow night

and I'm not allowed to go, so...

I'm just gonna be sitting at home, all night,

all by myself.

- I'm so happy for you. - I know, right?

A whole night off from April’s wedding.

I can just watch TV, eat junk food,

and not have to watch YouTube videos

that teach you how to curl a ribbon.

Yo, I'm in.

So, I'm guessing still no public school friends?

No, not yet. I mean, I talked to this one guy,

he has lymphoma.

Of course, you can't make a normal friend.

Finn is normal. He's just sick.

I feel bad for him.

He has to make this mask all the time.

You should invite him over.

I love a man in a mask.

We're not even real friends yet,

and I don't really know if that's the best idea.

How could finally making a friend not be the best idea?

Because when I look at Finn,

I can't help it... all I see is cancer.

And because of April, there's this part of me

that feels like I have to take care of him.

But school's supposed to be the one place

where I'm not worrying about someone with cancer.

I guess, but on the other hand, new girl,

- beggars can't be choosers. - Maybe you're right.

Maybe you'd be more popular if you stopped eating those gross pickle chips.

Shut up. They're delicious.

- You can have one. - No.

They're so good.

I'm sorry. I've been wracking my brain,

but nothing from dad's last year stands out to me.

Well, Edwin said he completely changed.

You sure you didn't notice anything?

I mean, that was three years ago.

I remember him traveling a lot

who was traveling?

Mom...

Natalie found a manuscript

that dad was working on when he died,

and it's brought up...

A lot of questions from his last year.

- He was probably going... - Oh, stop.

You dad's past is a door I just...

I don't feel the need to open again.

This is April’s last week at home.

I just want to enjoy this time with my wonderful daughters.

Okay.

Most improved."

- From the gymnastics coach. - Oh wow. "Most improved"

is basically just saying you sucked less by the end of it.

- So... - Aww.

- You worked so hard. - Did I?

Mmm.

I can't believe it. Your last week at home.

Leo and I will be close by.

I know, I know, it's just gonna take some getting used to...

Not having dinner with you every night,

not hearing you two fight over the bathroom.

I'll miss just seeing you wake up in the morning.

- Mom, stop. - No, lookit.

I know I've been spoiled having you here

as long as I have.

You know, when we packed you up for college,

I never thought you'd be living here again.

And I never could have guessed

that when you did move out, it was because you were gonna get married.

I never could've guessed a lot of things about my life right now,

but there are so many things happening that I am excited about.

I am getting married.

I've got an amazing honeymoon planned in Italy,

I might write a book.

And don't ever call me again!

It's been a pleasure...

getting to know you ladies.

Well, Sam and I broke up.

Mom, what happened?

Well, we wanted different things and we couldn't work it out.

-What kind of things? -None of your business kind of things.

I'm fine! He's a tool, and I'm moving on.

I was so sorry to hear about your father.

He was one of Boston’s best writers,

and he must've been a great man.

Well, I think you guys are great,

and what you've done for Dominic is so impressive.

Dom is a natural talent,

and he says the same about you.

Well, that's a lot to live up to,

but I'm psyched to try.

And I'm psyched to hear what you're thinking about.

Okay, well, I have been brainstorming this one idea.

It was actually inspired by a piece I was researching for the Post.

It's about a missing woman and her husband...

The market's pretty flooded with "gone girls" right now.

I have this other idea that I really like.

It's about these two adult sisters, and it's their dad's wedding day...

April, I'm gonna stop you right there.

I haven't had much luck selling chick-lit writers.

Umm, I have this futuristic love story idea

- I think is promising. - Futuristic?

I know it sounds a little young adult-ish,

but the story could be really compelling.

- Y.A. Is a great idea for you. - Really?

It's an evergreen market, but more importantly,

that kind of debut novel from you

could be positioned as a young adult Keys.

You think people would be interested in it?

I think the New York publishing houses would.

If you could work on this full-time, it's possible

we could have a book on shelves in three years, maybe even two.

- Two or three years? - Mm-hmm.