Laughing All The Way

By Aileen Kling

For Cecilia Gregor, work is the only thing that matters.  She's busted her butt for years in the film business and now she’s finally got a chance at becoming a director.  Romance and relationships have always taken a back seat in her life.  Nobody has ever been able to match up to her ideal guy, except for the one who is so far out of her league she’d never have a chance with him anyway.  But this Christmas her mom tells her a special someone is joining their family dinner.  Oh, and it just happens to be the very same internationally renowned funny guy…

Trey Norman just quit a successful run on his popular comedy news show and he's feeling conflicted. For the first time in a long time, Trey has no idea what comes next.  For so long, his life revolved around the show that he’s forgotten what it’s like to have a life.  He’s even forgotten what it’s like to go out on a date, let alone chat with someone he’s attracted to.  That’s until he meets the pretty owner of the Bed & Breakfast where he’s staying for a spontaneous holiday getaway.  

Amid a flurry of awkward family meddling and spiced hot cocoa, sparks fly between them and Cecilia can no longer deny her crush on Trey.  Can two workaholics finally take time for themselves and find love?  Will Cecilia admit how she feels for Trey?  Will Trey realize what he's been looking for is right in front of him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Nov 17, 2023

Book preview

Aileen Kling

Laughing All the Way

First published by Aileen Kling Romance 2023

Copyright © 2023 by Aileen Kling

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Aileen Kling has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

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For my mom who always encouraged me to read,

no matter what it was

I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do.

—Georgia O’Keefe

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

About the Author

Chapter One

The Nightly Show Studios - May, 2023

"And that’s a wrap on The Nightly Show with Trey Norman!"

Through the hot stage lights and roaring applause, Trey kept his smile screwed on tightly. He stood up slowly from behind the desk where he’d been sitting for the past nine years. His heart thumped loudly as he raised his hand and waved at the cheering crowd. This was the moment he’d been dreaming about for months. But saying goodbye to this chapter in his life was proving to be more daunting than he’d expected. Then he turned to see a young man waiting in the wings. With a nod, Trey beckoned him out onto the stage.

Before I go, I’d like to personally thank each and every one of you in the audience tonight, both here in the studio and everybody at home. He turned to the associate producer who had been on his team for the past five years. This guy, he turned back to the audience while shaking Andres’ hand, is a brilliant comic and I’ll be the first to line up outside one of his shows. But in case you don’t make it for whatever foolish reason, here’s a little sample. And with that, he backed out of the spotlight.

In a way, Trey realized how incredible it was to be standing on that stage with thousands of people watching him do the thing he had dreamt about for so long. While growing up in the small South London flat with his mum, he’d devoured sketch shows like MAD TV and SNL, and had loved imitating old reruns of The Steve Allen Show and Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. His friends quickly grew tired of playing the roles of his guests but the rush of entertaining and making people laugh was all Trey ever wanted. But now that he’d accomplished all that and so much more, he had an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

After 9 years of interviewing celebrities, including President Barack Obama, Trey was tired of the routine. He yearned for a challenge beyond this studio, something that would test his mettle. Now, instead of entertaining people, he wanted to challenge his audience. But for the first time in his life, he just wasn’t a hundred percent sure of himself.

And that terrified him.

Jerking himself out of his spiral, he forced out a chuckle at one of Andres’ jokes. All Trey did know for certain was that he was making the right move.

Andres rounded out his five-minute set of jokes about his family and upbringing with one about studying microeconomics just so he could become a writer for late-night comedy. When he took a bow to the cheering audience, Trey came over and shook his hand, pulling him in for a side hug. If you don’t know him, Andres Rodriguez Jr., everybody, write his name down. He looked back at Andres, You’re gonna kill it, mate. I’m going to miss you.

Andres grinned and shook his head in disbelief. Not going to be the same without you, he said before leaving the stage.

Trey looked around the studio and couldn’t fight the tears forming in his eyes. He was leaving the show on good terms. As much as he’d loved his time here, a nagging itch had developed over the past few months. It was time to want something else. He waved one last time at the joyous audience before walking off stage.

Once back in his dressing room, he looked at the square piece of cardboard he’d ripped off of a box years ago. The quote by Nigerian poet Chinua Achebe was tacked to the side of the mirror so he could never miss it when he sat down to prepare for a show.

"There is no story that is not true, […] The world has no end,

and what is good among one people is an abomination with others."

And I intend to figure that out, Chinua, whatever that might be, Trey said aloud, holding up a tumbler of whiskey. A loud knock on the door broke his reverie.

A stylishly dressed woman in her mid forties entered the room before he could respond to her knock.

Great show as always, Trey! his agent whirled in like a hurricane dressed in a vermilion red romper. He centered himself by looking straight at the mirror.

Thanks, Monica. I think it was a good send-off. Gave the people what they wanted…even if they preferred I continued the show.

Don’t even stress. Leave them wanting more, that’s the best policy. Especially since you have plenty more to give. Monica Keyes was an unsentimental woman, which made her perfect for working with people in the entertainment business. But she could also lay it on thick when the time called for it.

You’re on your way to big stuff, she was already listing them on her hand, tours planned, hosting the Grammys and, of course, promoting your Netflix special. Trey nodded robotically, knowing she was in planning mode and any attempt at conversing with her was futile.

It’s going to be great, he sounded deflated to his own ears but being the consummate professional she was, Monica beamed at him and then clapped her hands together.

Amazing. And now it’s time to celebrate!

He offered his best trademark smile but it felt like he’d swallowed a bale of hay. As much as he wanted something new in his life, Trey felt like he’d just given back a gold medal because he simply didn’t want to be recognized as a star athlete anymore.

* * *

Townhouse, Brooklyn - December, 2023

Sitting on his couch in his 3,600 square foot brownstone, Trey pulled out his phone for what felt like the eight