by Thea Dawson
“Funny to think he was the same age then that I am now,” Chris went on, trying and failing to imagine himself with a twelve-year-old kid. “He was a country singer. He’d just gotten his first real break. He was going on tour to open for Haley Winchester, but halfway through, the puddle jumper they put him on hit bad weather, and that was that.”
“Shit,” Luke said again. “Must have been rough.”
Chris nodded again, anxious now to change the subject. “Well, it was a long time ago. What about you? What are you up to these days?”
“I work for Laughing Vine Winery. I’m the wine club manager.”
“Laughing Vine? Where we used to perform?” Chris raised his eyebrows and Luke nodded.
“Yep. It was actually performing there that helped me get the job. I was stage manager for a production of Romeo and Juliet a few years ago. I got to know the old owner of Laughing Vine when I was coordinating everything there, and he ended up offering me a job. New owner seems to like me enough, too. Unfortunately, she won’t let the Players perform there anymore.”
“More money in weddings—Joy mentioned that. Do you get to drink on the job at least?”
Luke laughed. “Sometimes. I don’t buy alcohol for minors anymore, though.” He shook his finger warningly at Chris. “Good thing you’re over twenty-one now.”
Chris smiled. Thirteen years ago, Luke had come through where Joy had not and kept the underage cast members well supplied with cheap beer and spirits.
“Speaking of,” Luke went on, “looks like Joy’s forgiven and forgotten. Nice to see you two working together again.”
Chris shifted slightly in his seat. “I doubt she’s forgotten, and I’m not sure about the forgiven part.”
Luke wave his beer-free hand. “Eh, she’s dealt with a lot worse since then.”
Chris narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
Luke’s expression turned slightly guilty. “I probably shouldn’t have brought it up. It’s water under the bridge now.”
“But you did bring it up, so spill.”
Luke sighed in resignation. “Well, it’s not like it’s a secret. You’d probably hear it sooner or later. You know she got divorced, right?” Chris nodded. “Long story short, her husband had an affair with someone else who also worked at Falls State. Which would have been bad enough, except he and his girlfriend were caught half naked and very passionate, if you know what I mean, in Perry Park after dark one night. And that would have been bad enough, except some kid from the campus newspaper was doing a ride-along with the cops that night. Next day there was a photo of Joy’s husband and his lady friend on the front page of the campus newspaper. The newspaper tried to drum up some extra scandal about the two of them doing something unethical with university funds or something, which, honestly, I don’t think had any basis in reality, but the affair was real. It was all anyone talked about on campus for weeks.”
“Damn,” said Chris. “I always knew that bastard wasn’t good enough for her.”
Luke narrowed his eyes at him. “You still have a thing for our Ms. Albright?”
Chris shook his head a little too quickly. “C’mon, you wouldn’t wish that on your worst enemy.”
Luke cocked his head thoughtfully. “I might,” he said.
Chris conceded the point. “Maybe my worst enemy. But not Joy.”
Luke chuckled. “I think you’re still sweet on her.” He gave Chris a sly grin. “I advise against any more drunken shenanigans if that’s the case.”
“Was she ... was she really mad about that?” Chris tried to keep his voice casual. He wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know, but the words were out before he could think them through.
Luke shrugged. “Don’t know, really. Once the play was over, we all kind of went our separate ways. I didn’t see her again until the next summer, and it didn’t come up in conversation. Anyway,” he looked back at Chris, his eyes bright and smiling, “she can’t still be mad. It’s been over a decade.”
“Let’s hope not. So tell me about yourself. You’re working at Laughing Vine. No wife, no girlfriend?”
“I remain on the market, despite my best attempts. Hey!” Luke dropped his voice. “Is it true you and Vanessa Swink are an item?”
Chris shook his head. “Nah, that’s just tabloid BS.” He didn’t bother adding that Sherri had cultivated the BS with carefully staged appearances for Chris and Vanessa at clubs, restaurants and movie premiers. “She’s just a friend. Always has been. She actually just got engaged, but it’s still a secret so don’t tell the press.”
Luke pretended to lock his mouth shut and throw away the key. “Well, if you happen to know any other exceedingly wealthy former porn stars who are single and looking, you just feel free to introduce them to your old friend Luke, okay?”
“Deal.” They clinked glasses.
The burgers arrived and were better than Chris had thought they’d be. Luke shrugged off most of Chris’s questions about him, insisting that he led a pretty dull life, but he didn’t miss a chance to brag about his niece and nephew, whom he clearly adored.
Chris enjoyed himself. He’d forgotten what a sincerely decent guy Luke was. They hadn’t been very close friends, but they’d been friends—why had he lost touch?
He’d finished his burger and was contemplating another beer, when something suddenly caught Luke’s attention.
“Hey, don’t look now, but I think our very own Ms. Albright just walked into the bar.”
Of course, Chris looked.
Beth, Zena’s mom, had asked Joy to join her and Cat’s mother, Molly, for a girls’ night out. Joy hadn’t socialized much since her divorce and had agreed, but she began to regret it almost as soon as they stepped into Angel Ray’s. It was loud and crowded, and it took only a couple of minutes in their company for her to remember that she really didn’t have much in common with Beth or Molly. Beth giggled annoyingly every few minutes, and Molly was ogling men at the bar even before they sat down.
Hanging out at the Courier with Chris, Luke, Brice and Simon had been fun—old friends coming together with a purpose. It quickly became clear though, that Molly and Beth’s purpose revolved around getting drunk and meeting men. Neither option held much appeal for Joy.
Well, she’d stay for a couple of drinks and go home. She doubted they’d be offended.
Beth and Molly promptly ordered margaritas—Joy, having had a cocktail already, settled for a ginger ale. As soon as the waitress had stepped away, Molly turned on Joy.
“Oh, my God! How could I forget?” She was so loud that patrons at nearby tables looked over at her. Giggling, Beth shushed her, and Molly lowered her voice a couple of decibels. “I saw you at the farmers market a few weeks ago with Chris McPherson! I swear it was him!”
“Are you serious?” Beth was leaning in now, ready for some gossip.
Joy felt the weight of their eager gazes on her, and tried to think of a response. There was no point in hiding it; after all, they wanted the publicity that Chris would bring.
She nodded briskly. “Yeah. You know the Silver Scene Players, the community theater group? Cat and Zena tried out at auditions this afternoon?” Beth and Molly nodded vaguely. “Chris is going to be directing their Shakespeare play this summer. And I’m helping out as production manager.” She shrugged casually and took another sip of her ginger ale.
“Wait, Cat tried out for a play that Chris McPherson is involved in?” said Molly, a quizzical look on her face. “I can’t believe the little brat didn’t tell me. Hell, I would have come, too!”
Joy silently thanked Cat for not telling her mother about the auditions.
“At least you got to see him at the farmer’s market,” Beth pouted. “I haven’t seen him at all.”
“You’ll get your chance. He’s going to be living here over the summer,” Joy pointed out.
“Seriously?” Molly took a long sip of her margarita. “That boy is hot. I would jump his bones in a New York minute.”
Molly laughed loudly. Again, heads turned toward them. “I thought he was dating that actress, Vanessa Swink?”
Joy looked up from her ginger ale. “Oh … I don’t know.”
“They’re always in the magazines together. Not that I’d mind being his girl on the side, if you know what I mean,” Molly continued. “Well, honey, if you decide you don’t want him, be sure to send him my way, okay?”
Joy had to press her lips into a tight smile in order not to make a nasty comment. She had firm opinions about cheating, and she didn’t like hearing Molly talk about Chris like he was a piece of meat. Her good mood from the Courier was slipping away fast. She took a noncommittal sip of her ginger ale. “Beth, are you still working at the library?” she asked.
Beth nodded. “Yeah. I’m working in reference now. It’s kind of fun. We get some interesting questions—”
“Tell her about the guy who came in ‘researching’ STDs,” Molly interrupted with a laugh.
Beth looked embarrassed. Joy sensed that she’d told the story to Molly not expecting it to go any further.
“What about you, Molly? How’s your job going?” she asked quickly.
“Ugh, don’t get me started. My boss is an asshole, and his clients are worse. He was supposed to give me a raise three months ago, but he hasn’t. I mean, I can hardly afford groceries. And did I tell you my bastard ex-husband is trying to cut back on alimony payments—again? Says he can’t afford them, which is complete bullshit—”
Joy zoned out after just a few words. It had been several months since she’d been out with Molly and Beth, and now she remembered why. Beth could be quite sweet, but Molly after a drink or two was bitter and would gripe about her ex, her job, her children, and anything else for hours. Even in the depths of her own misery when Scott had left her for Melanie, she had realized she didn’t want to be the kind of divorcée who couldn’t move on.
Had she moved on? She thought about Scott and his request that she sell the house. She’d almost forgotten about it in her excitement to start working on the play, but now it rose up in her mind again, nagging at her like a loose tooth.
She looked up in surprise as the waitress put three more drinks in front of them. “Compliments of the gentlemen over there.” The waitress jerked her head across the room.
“We-ell.” Molly interrupted her tirade about her ex to look approvingly in the direction the waitress had indicated.
Joy looked up. Chris waved cheerfully at her and Luke raised his pint glass. For a moment, she felt a flash of delight at the sight of Chris’s handsome face, but it quickly turned to trepidation at the thought of introducing them to Molly and Beth.
Things were about to get either much better or much worse.
“Your movie star is adorable, Joy. And his friend isn’t bad either.” Molly gave them a little wave with her fingers.
Joy considered her options. She didn’t want to prolong the evening by inviting Chris and Luke to join them, and she wasn’t sure she’d be doing them any favors if she did. On the other hand, now that they’d sent the drinks over, she couldn’t very well not introduce them.
Damn guys, trying to be nice.
“Joy, I think you should introduce us,” Molly hissed.
“I’ll be right back.” Joy was quite happy to have a reason to leave the table. She taken only a couple of steps toward Chris when a tall man approached her.
“Hello, darlin’. Can I buy you a drink?”
She could tell he was drunk. “No, thank you.” She tried to push past him but he stepped in front of her, blocking her way to Chris.
“C’mon, just a drink. I won’t bite. But I wouldn’t mind if you did.” He leered at her.
“Would you get out of my way, please?” Again she tried to step around him and again, he blocked her path.
“I’m just trying to be friendly. Why don’t you want to be friendly back?” he objected, this time putting a hand on her arm.
“Don’t touch me!” she snapped. She looked around and caught the waitress’s eye, but before she could beckon her over, Chris was beside her, his eyes blazing.
“Leave the lady alone!” he snarled.
“What’s your problem?” The drunk man stepped between Chris and Joy, deliberately knocking into Chris with his shoulder as he did. Chris, sober and stronger, reacted instantly by giving him a hard shove. The man staggered back, but didn’t fall. There were gasps of surprise from the patrons around them, and Joy felt the weight of a dozen gazes on her.
“What the hell?” the drunk slurred.
Behind them, Joy saw Luke stand up, concern etched on his face, ready to help.
“No punch-ups, remember?” Joy muttered.
Fortunately, at that point, the waitress stepped in. “Carl, back to your table. I’m calling your wife to come pick you up.” Carl glared but turned around, slinking back through the crowd. “You,” she glowered at Chris, “I know Carl was being a jerk, but I don’t put up with fights in my restaurant. You can stay and finish your drink, but any more trouble and you’re banned for life, understood?”
A muscle in Chris’s jaw twitched, and Joy could see he wanted to argue, but to her relief, he just nodded. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”
The waitress turned away, presumably to go call Carl’s wife, and the patrons, disappointed in their hopes for a fight, went back to their drinks and talk.
Joy grabbed Chris’s arm and pulled him toward her table. She’d get the introductions over with and then it was high time she left.
“Molly and Beth, this is Chris McPherson. We’re working together on the play this summer. Molly and Beth are Cat’s and Zena’s mothers. Remember, they tried out today?”
Chris seemed to have forgotten his rage from half a minute ago. He shook hands and greeted the women graciously. “Moth and Mustardseed, right? The roles they got,” he explained when Beth and Molly looked blank. “Fairies in the play.”
“No one actually knows that yet. We’ll be sending out a cast list tomorrow,” Joy added quickly.
“We won’t tell them,” Beth promised. Molly might as well not have heard.
“That was very gal-lant of you, stepping in to protect Joy from that asshole.” Her voice was sly. “Maybe you and your friend would like to join us for a few drinks?” Molly was not subtle; she practically licked her lips as she looked Chris up and down.
“Unfortunately, Chris won’t be able to stay much longer,” Joy said quickly. “I just brought him over to say hi. In fact, I’m going to have to go myself. I have an early yoga class tomorrow.” She hastily pulled some money out of her purse and put it on the table. It was too much for the single ginger ale she’d drunk, but she didn’t want to wait for change. “Come on, Chris, I want a word with you. It was lovely hanging out with you two!”
“I see you’re not wasting any time,” Molly said drily. “Thanks for the drinks, Chris.” She lifted her fresh margarita at him before taking a long sip.
Joy pulled Chris back to where Luke was sitting. “Hi, Luke.” She turned to Chris and lowered her voice. “Listen, you were about two steps from a drunken brawl back there, and that is exactly the kind of publicity we don’t want. Cops and reporters, remember?”
Chris looked put out. “I was trying to help, you’re welcome.”
“It would be helpful if you stayed out of jail. That escalated way more quickly than it needed to. I’d also appreciate you not embarrassing me. I have to live in this town, you know.” She gave him a hard stare, hoping her words would sink in. “Anyway, I’m heading out now. I’ll see you Monday night at rehearsal.”
“Let me walk you to your car.”
“I’m fine.”
“But I’m not. I won’t get any sleep tonight if I don’t. Luke, I’ll be right back.”
Luke gave Joy a friendly wave as she and Chris made for the door. She was painfully aware of Molly and Beth’s eyes on her. What must
they be thinking?
Finally, they were out in the cool evening, the only sound a passing car and some crickets. The quiet was a relief after the noisy bar.
She turned to him, her arms crossed over her chest. “Here’s my car. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“I wasn’t really going to hit that guy,” Chris insisted. “Well, I might have—but only if he’d hit me first.”
Joy sighed. “Look, I don’t know how much of what I see in the papers about you is true, but please, if you’re going to bring attention to yourself here, make it for something good, not something stupid, like a bar brawl.”
“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you in front of your friends,” he said humbly. His handsome face looked penitent and the hot fury that had overcome him in the bar had vanished.
She sighed again, more heavily. “They’re really not my friends. Don’t worry about it. And it was nice of you to buy us drinks. But unlike certain movie stars I know, I do kind of like to keep a low profile, so if you could please keep that in mind ...?”
He nodded. “Help Joy keep a low profile. Understood.”
He was such a goofball, but he was such an earnest, well-intentioned goofball that she couldn’t stay mad at him. With a reluctant smile, she said good night, got into her car, and drove away.
A last glance in the rearview mirror before she turned into the street showed him still standing there, watching her go.
12
On Monday night, Chris surveyed the faces in the audience once again, far fewer of them now than had been there for the audition. He smiled broadly, hoping his acting abilities would be enough to cover up his doubts—about both them and himself.
“Before we get started, I’d like to tell you more about why I’m here this summer, working for the Silver Scene Players.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Fourteen and a half years ago, I had to fill an arts requirement for college. I’d wanted to take drawing, because I’d heard it was an easy A—” there was some laughter, “—but I guess everyone else had heard that too, because it was filled up with a waiting list. So I signed up for Victor Blumen’s Intro to Acting Methodology class. I figured if I couldn’t take art, at least acting might be good for some clowning around ...”