by Thea Dawson
Now, at his suggestion of dinner, she dropped her eyes to the ground, but he could see the faintest hints of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Is this business or pleasure?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t see why it can’t be both,” he answered. “I mean, we should probably get used to mixing them. If you’re going to run my foundation for me, we’ll probably end up at a lot of events together. In fact, I was thinking it might even be a good idea for you to come to Indonesia with me. That way, we can work out all the details in person.”
She raised her eyes to his, suspicious but amused, and her eyebrows arched skeptically.
“But we’ll start with dinner,” he conceded. They looked at one another. “I’ve missed you, Joy,” he said quietly.
To his relief, she nodded. “I missed you too.”
He stepped closer. She didn’t back away but looked steadily up at him. Tentatively, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, pleased that she didn’t balk at the intimacy. She stepped into his arms and he instinctively wrapped them around her, happy to feel her relax against him, her cheek on his shoulder.
It wasn’t the time or the place to say all the things he wanted to say, to make all the promises that he wanted to make, but it was, perhaps, the time for them to take the first tentative steps toward starting again.
Epilogue
One year later
Home-town Boy Turned Star Cuts Ribbon, Ties Knot
By Krystal Winston
Silverweed Fall’s very own Hollywood star returned to his former stomping grounds this week for two very important ceremonies.
On Wednesday, Chris McPherson took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Falls State University’s campus for the Victor J. Blumen Dramatic Arts Building. The new building, which replaces the original theater built in 1908, consists of a 500-seat theater as well as classrooms, practice rooms, and offices for the Music and Dramatic Arts programs and faculty. Construction was funded by the Roger C. McPherson Foundation, which supports education in the performing arts. The new building is named in honor of Chris McPherson’s mentor and beloved FSU drama professor, Victor J. Blumen, who passed away in August of last year.
Also in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Mr. Blumen’s long-time partner, Simon Lockhart, and Joy Albright, Director of the McPherson Foundation, along with numerous students, alumni, faculty, and Silverweed citizens who had been touched by Mr. Blumen’s life-long enthusiasm for theater.
As if that wasn’t enough excitement, on Saturday, Mr. McPherson and his fiancée, the above-mentioned Ms. Albright, were married in a private ceremony at Laughing Vine Winery. Ms. Albright was attended by her daughter, Charlotte Albright, as maid of honor. Her bridesmaids were Tracie Ellington and myself, Krystal Winston.
Luke Ryder was best man. Groomsmen were Jordan Rhimes and Simon Lockhart.
Other notable guests included Doug Sampson, who directed Mr. McPherson in Galactic Crusaders, and actress Vanessa Swink, and their spouses. In addition to the glamour provided by the Hollywood stars, guests enjoyed food catered by The Stovepipe Restaurant and Laughing Vine wine—though observant guests might have noticed that the bride drank only sparking water.
The couple plans to make their home in Los Angeles, where they both work, but it is rumored that they have bought property in the Silverweed Falls area and will be using it as their vacation home. If this is true, we hope to see more of both of them.
In any event, Mr. McPherson assured me that they will be back to Silverweed Falls next summer when the Silver Scene Players, the community theater program in which Mr. McPherson got his start, performs A Comedy of Errors. We look forward to seeing Mr. and Mrs. McPherson then, along with the twins that he and his new wife are expecting in February.
We here at the Sentinel Society Page wish the McPherson family much happiness and success!
Acknowledgments
As I wrote Chris and Joy’s story, I had help from a number of people, all of whom deserve recognition.
First, to my beta readers, who gave me feedback on the plot, caught a zillion little (and not so little) errors, and provided encouragement when it was needed most. To Charlene Burlison, Mary B., Tanya Wheeler, Anne Donaldson, Lucy Ladeira, Marina, Karen Loomis, Amy Caswell, Sandra Singleton, Kathy, Hafsa, Natasha Neumann, Daniel Hunt, Katie Williams, Teresa Williams, Kate Schieber, and Shari Gross—thank you all very much!
To my brother, Andrew Barbour, Esq., who gave me legal advice (which I ended up ignoring for plot reasons) on Chris McPherson’s behalf. If you’re in Arizona and you need a lawyer, look him up—he’s a great lawyer and a great guy.
And finally, to my husband—chief cook, child-wrangler, sounding board, and #1 beta reader: thank you. You’re my very own romance hero.
About the Author
Thea Dawson has lived in Rome, Tokyo and London, and spent much of her twenties traveling around the world. Eventually she met the love of her life and settled down in the Pacific Northwest, where she now lives with her husband and three children. After a checkered career which included stints as an English teacher, librarian and editor, she now writes full time, telling tales of romance and adventure.
If you'd like to keep up with her and learn more about her books, please visit her website at www.theadawson.com or find her on Facebook at fb.me/TheaDawsonAuthor.