by Lynn Stevens
“Oh. My. God.” Carly’s head bent back as she stared at the art on the ceiling. It was a mural of a stage production on one panel, a Vaudeville act on another, and the final panel was a woman in a red dress singing in front of a three-piece band. If Mr. Manfred could ever get the theater to pass inspection, an art restoration was in order. As it was it was beautiful.
“Yeah, wow,” Gracin said as he pulled Carly to his side. “Will this do?”
Carly’s face fell. “There’s so much work to do.”
“Not really,” I said, stepping closer. “I’ve got this. Consider it my present to you. Just have Dad rush the permit so Mr. Manfred can rent it to us.” I turned to Chloe. “You and Tagg can reach out to the guests and let them know the change of location once Dad secures the permit. it will only take him a day or two.”
“What else?” Tagg asked. “Chloe and I can help clean.”
I shook my head. “You have to much to do as it is. I’ll make calls and get it done. The resort will have the supplies I need. Trust me.”
“I do,” Carly said softly. I spun around to face her. “I do trust you, Meerkat.”
For once in my life, I believe that.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It took Dad less than a day to get the permit secured. He paid Mr. Manfred for use of the theater, and I started gathering my forces. If only I had people to gather. I texted Lily, Ivy, and Nena. Then I reached out to Cami to see if she was in town, and finally I texted Iris. I even texted Aiden before I realized that was not a good idea. He wasn’t even in Branson. I quickly sent an apology. He didn’t respond to any of it.
Lily, Ivy, and Nena were quick to agree to come. Cami wasn’t in Branson and wouldn’t arrive until Saturday morning. Iris just didn’t respond. On a whim, I texted Eddie. He didn’t respond either. I didn’t really expect him to though. It was almost the end of June, and he was leaving soon enough.
Monday morning at eight a.m., I parked in the lot behind the Miner’s Theatre. Dad pulled in behind me in a rented van full of supplies. Mr. Manfred had given us the keys and I wanted to get an early start. I’d become pretty handy with cleaning supplies over the summer, so I’d always have that to fall back on. Joy. Maybe I’d own a cleaning company eventually. That really didn’t appeal to me though.
Dad was on the phone as he got out of the van. He was always on the phone. I went to the back of the van and began to unload supplies. He was still on his phone when I came around in front. Without a word, he handed over the keys Mr. Manfred gave him. I kept working, and he kept talking. It took me twenty minutes to unload everything but the floor buffer, but I managed to get it to the edge by the doors. Dad came around the back finally.
“You timed that well,” I deadpanned and stared at him from behind the buffer.
Dad grimaced. “Yeah, sorry. That was the fire inspector. He wanted to give me a preliminary report. The insurance company will do their own inspection. It’s going to take a few weeks to be certain.”
My heart literally stopped. Okay, not literally, but it felt like it stopped. “What do they think caused it?”
Dad met my gaze. “Electrical.”
I swallowed and didn’t look away. “Really?”
“Unfortunately.” He shook his head and sighed. “The lights above the stage must’ve been damaged when that boom fell. I … I don’t know. It passed an OSHA inspection in April. I don’t understand what happened.”
It took me a minute before I caught on to what he said. The lights above the stage, not the lamp. It wasn’t my fault. Glee, jubilation, overwhelming joy rolled through me, and I tried to keep from smiling. I failed. Carly had insisted it wasn’t my fault, and until now, I hadn’t believed her.
“What?” Dad asked suspiciously.
“It wasn’t my fault,” I said with authority.
Dad’s gaze shifted to a glare then he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, that anger was gone. “You’re right. And I owe you an apology for even thinking that much less saying it.”
“Thank you. I… I needed to hear that,” I said, tripping over my words.
“And thanks for thinking of this place for Carly. Your mother is calling everyone to tell them of the change of location. She’s trying to take the pressure off your sister as much as she can. The wedding has been stressful enough. Carly didn’t need anything else.” Dad lifted the buffer out of the van. “I wish she would’ve just eloped.”
I laughed and jumped out. “So does she. Why didn’t she?”
“Your mother for one. And I think she believes Gracin wanted a big wedding.” He smiled and closed the van doors. “Gracin doesn’t care if they get married in their pajamas at Target.”
“I hope somebody loves me like that one day,” I said as we started toward the front doors.
“As long as that person isn’t Eddie Blake.” Dad’s bitter tone told me everything I already knew about his feelings for Eddie. “He’s not good for you.”
“No, he wasn’t.” I tried to smile, but I failed miserably. “He’s out of my life. He’s gone.”
“Gone?” Dad stopped before the theater’s doors.
“I had asked him if he was available to help clean because I need as many people as I can get. He didn’t respond until this morning. He’s in Georgia now.” I finally met Dad’s intense stare. “He’s gone.”
Dad just nodded and opened the doors. We got the buffer to the side of the stage, and I didn’t waste any time. I got out my AirPods and started listening to Cami’s album while I mopped. It wasn’t available for a few more weeks. She’d sent me a download. Country wasn’t my thing, but it was definitely Cami’s. Her voice fit with the genre. She sounded like an angel. I lost myself in the songs and in my work.
When I finished, the floor looked clean and almost shiny, but it wasn’t shiny enough for my sister’s wedding. I wanted it to glow like I knew she would when she stood there saying her vows. I started the first coat of wax. Hopefully, it was going to be the only coat. The next album started in my ears, one of my favorites Meteora by Linkin Park. That got me through until it was time to buff again then I switched it to Twenty One Pilots. Three albums and too many great songs, and the stage was perfect. I finally looked up from my work to see familiar faces cleaning the seats. Nena and Ivy were working on the rows to the left, while Lily worked alone on the right.
We hadn’t talked much since Aiden left, but I didn’t think she was mad at me. Not completely. I hoped anyway. I climbed down the steps backwards, carefully bringing the buffer with me. When I turned around, Lily was there with a smile and a water bottle.
“Thank you.” I opened the bottle and drained half of it.
“Just so you know, he made it back okay.” Her face fell for a moment but perky Lily returned fast. “Grandma’s happy he’s there. She hurt her ankle in yoga.”
“Your grandmother does yoga?” My grandmothers were ancient. I couldn’t imagine they’d ever take a yoga class.
“She tries to stay active.” Lily smiled and opened the can of worms. “I heard Eddie left.”
“Yeah, he’s gone.” I leaned against the edge of the stage. “I wish Aiden would’ve given me a chance to explain.”
Lily leaned against the stage next to me. “He wishes you would’ve been all in like he was.”
“He deserves that,” I said. “And I thought I was, but I didn’t realize … It doesn’t matter now. He’s in Texas. I’m here.”
“But you can be in Texas, too,” Lily said. She ducked her head and smiled. “I still want you to come down. Even if Aiden doesn't. You're my best friend. I want us to go to TCU together and hang out and do college things and whatever else best friends do.”
I pointed at my chest. “Waitlisted, remember.”
“Meh, it’s just a matter of time.” Lily bounced on the balls of her feet. “College will be great. We’re going to have a blast together, Randi. I’ll show you around once you get there.”
I wanted to laugh. And I wanted to
cry at the same time. I pulled her into a hug. “You’re the best person on the planet.”
Lily laughed. “You’re the craziest.”
“You should’ve met Carly in high school.” I said after letting her go. “She was the crazy one.”
“She was,” a voice said behind me. I turned around to see Iris. She smiled shyly, offering a tiny wave. “Carly got in trouble for skydiving underage. She conned her mom into signing the release. But Miranda’s done her fair share of crazy, too. Right?”
Lily glanced at me then Iris. She stepped in between us. “I’m Lily.”
“Iris,” she replied.
“You’ve got some nerve coming here,” Lily snapped. I almost stepped back from the bite in her voice. Lily jabbed toward Iris’s chest. “You don’t get to talk like you’re her friend anymore.”
Iris bowed her head and started to turn.
“Lily, stop.” I was firm but gentle. She was just protecting me. “I invited her.”
“Why?” Lily asked. Her eyes widened like I’d just told her Santa wasn’t real.
“Because we need help.” I pointed around the theater. “It took me two hours to get the stage done. You haven’t done more than two rows of seats, and that’s only on one side. Nena and Ivy are only slightly farther along.”
“She’s right,” Nena shouted before sitting in one of the seats. Ivy sat beside her.
“And I want to help.” Iris shook her head.
“Fine,” Lily said. She turned toward Iris. “But you’re with me.”
I shook my head and headed toward the lobby to polish the woodwork. With my AirPods back in, I fell into a groove. My stomach growled when I realized how long I’d been at it. I hadn’t thought about food. There wasn’t anything to eat in the theater, but there was a diner down the block that served the best open-faced roast beef sandwiches. My stomach rumbled again almost painfully.
Someone tapped my shoulder. I spun around and faced my mother. She held up a bag as I took out my AirPods.
“I thought you might be hungry.” She glanced around until she saw the old snack counter. “I brought enough for everyone. You want go get them?”
I hugged her before she got too far away. “Thanks, Mom. For everything.”
“You’re welcome, honey.” She patted my back with one hand. “Now get the others and let’s eat.”
We ate quietly and loudly. Mom quizzed Nena and Ivy on their lives. Both just graduated from college, but Ivy was moving to North Carolina to get her Master’s degree in criminal justice. Nena started teaching first grade near Kansas City in the fall. I listened to how their lives had changed since high school and wondered where my own was heading.
Lily tried to get Iris into a conversation, but it wasn’t happening. She finally gave up and turned to my mother.
“Can we talk?” Iris asked as she moved to sit beside me on the floor.
I pretended to think about it. “There’s nothing to talk about.” I faced her, meeting her gaze. “You abandoned me when I needed you most. If Carly wasn’t getting married and the theater hadn’t burned, I wouldn’t have reached out to you.”
“I’m sorry, for what that’s worth.” Iris had the decency to look ashamed.
I nodded and stood. It was time to get back to work. Once the wedding was over, I’d figure out what was next.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Iris came back the next day, but she didn’t the Friday before the wedding. The theater was spotless. The seats looked new with their blue velvet smooth and the wood shining under fresh polish. The blue carpeting was gorgeous once deep cleaned. I put a third coat of wax on the stage to make it even brighter.
“What’s on tap for today?” Lily asked as she bounced in front of me. It was just the two of us. Nena and Ivy were getting their dresses after last minute alterations. Iris had to work. Mom was doing whatever the mother of the bride did.
“Decorations. We have flowers to put on the chairs and the stage and the tulle along the aisles. I want to hang some from the balcony, too.” I held up my clipboard. “They should be here any minute. The real flowers won’t be here until tomorrow morning, so if you can help me get those ready tomorrow, I would appreciate it.”
“Absolutely,” she said.
I needed not know, even if I didn’t want to ask. “Have you talked to him? Is he okay?”
“Yeah,” she said softly. “He’s doing okay.”
“Good. I’m glad.” I wanted to ask more, but it wasn’t my place to know anything. I glanced at my friend.
Lily grinned and her eyes twinkled with glee.
“What’re you up to?” I asked, not bothering to hide my suspicions.
She pointed behind me. I spun around, my heart in my throat. I expected to see Aiden. Why else would Lily be so excited? Instead, I was greeted by tall, dark, and handsome with soft lips and a heart of gold.
“Dylan?” I couldn’t believe he was in front of me.
He pointed behind him with his thumb and his crooked smirk appeared. “Cam’s outside. She got waylaid by a couple of fans.”
“Cami Ann Harris is here?” Lily perked up and took off toward the door. It opened and closed faster than I could take a breath.
I started laughing.
“Another fan?” Dylan raised an eyebrow and stepped further inside. His gaze traveled around the lobby, taking in every detail. “This place is cool in that art deco way.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty amazing.” I glanced around again, still finding it hard to believe I managed to get this place in order. When I met Dylan’s gaze, I felt my world tilt. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” He cocked his head, studying me. “You’re different.”
“I’m sorry for the shit I caused last summer.” Then his other words caught up to me. “Different how?”
“Confident.” He smirked again, and I remembered why I kissed him. Mainly as revenge on Cami, but Dylan was gorgeous. When he kissed me back, it felt like he wanted to make me happy. That was the first time anybody had done that. Eddie’s kisses had been ownership, demanding, and all for him. The one kiss I’d shared with Dylan was the exact opposite. “You okay?”
I nodded, but my memory shifted to Aiden and how he made me feel. God I was a fool.
“You did all this?” Dylan asked, changing the subject as he walked around the lobby.
“Well, I got everyone organized and cleaned it. You should see the theater. It looks new.” I hugged my clipboard to my chest.
Dylan opened his mouth, but the front doors opened. His face lit up as Cami walked in arm and arm with Lily.
“Oh my god, I love her,” Cami said to me.
It broke me. I started crying as the pain of last summer rushed me like a tsunami. Cami dropped Lily’s arm and ran toward me. She hugged me tightly, and I felt like part of me was finally home.
“I’m so sorry,” I said to Cami. “I was horrible to you and I had no right to be. I’m sorry I kissed Dylan. Well, to be honest, I’m not sorry. He’s an amazing kisser.”
Cami laughed, thank god.
“But I’m sorry I hurt you and was just a horrible person.” I stepped back and wiped my eyes, smearing my makeup.
“I’m sorry I didn’t fight harder to stay your friend.” Cami wiped her own tears, not smearing her mascara at all. “We can start over.”
“I’ll help,” Lily jumped between us pulling us into a group hug. “Friends are the best.”
I started laughing hard, and Cami joined me. We stood there for a minute until Dylan cleared his throat. Lily turned and nodded for him to join us, but he just held up his hand.
“What are you guys doing here, anyway?” I asked as we took a step back from each other. “Not that I’m not glad to see you.”
“Gracin asked us to sing Carly down the aisle to their song.” Dylan put his arm around Cami’s waist and tucked her against his chest. “Just don’t tell her.”
“It’s a surprise,” Cami added as she stared up at her boyfriend.
“So we needed to check it out and get the sound system ready. We’ll be back in the morning for a sound check.” Dylan grinned at Cami. “Just tell her already.”
Cami’s face turned bright red.
“Tell me what?” I asked. They were too young to get married or … a baby? No, Cami was focused on her career. It was just taking off.
Cami pursed her lips together, fighting the grin.
“The suspense is killing me,” Lily said, bouncing again. I put my arm on her shoulder to keep her from bouncing to the ceiling.
“We’re going on tour.” She glanced at Dylan again then met my eyes. “We’re opening for Florida Georgia Line. It’s a national tour.”
“Seriously? That’s amazing!” I hugged her again. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I never expected to take off so fast.” She gushed and snuggled against Dylan again. “Your sister and Gracin have been so great to us since we got to Nashville this spring.”
“Tell her the rest of it,” Dylan said with a nudge.
“There’s more?” Nothing could be bigger than what she told me already.
“We’re dropping another album in November. We finished recording it this past week.” She smiled at Dylan then glanced back at me. “We still have some mixing to do, but it’s great. And it’s with a major label. They’re picking up the album we already released and going national with it. That’s why the radio has started playing our single. The duet with Gracin put us on their radar. It’s actually happening, Miranda. My dreams are falling into place.”
“This is incredible,” I wanted to hug her again, but it seemed too much. “I’m happy for you, Cami. Really. I always knew you could do it.”
“I just needed the right person behind me,” she said as she gazed at Dylan.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he whispered before planting a kiss on her temple. He whispered something else in her ear and Cami giggled.
“Goof,” she said, poking him in the side. “We need to get set up.” She grinned at me. “Where’s the sound system?”