“No. But it’s why she stayed. And why I had to stay away.”
Tucker arched an eyebrow. He glanced up front. “Does she know you’re back?”
There was no sense in pretending he didn’t know who Tucker was talking about. “Does it matter?” said Brody. “Ancient history. We both moved on.” Of course she’d moved on. A woman like that wouldn’t waste time and wait around. Somebody else would’ve coaxed her to the altar long before now.
“You with somebody?” asked Tucker pointedly.
“No.” As if it mattered.
“Neither is she.”
Brody tried to ignore how his heart began to pound at that news. “What are you saying, Tuck?”
“I’m not saying anything. Just stating some facts.” Information delivered, Tucker sat back. “Should be a good show. With you here, all the old gang’s come out of the woodwork.”
“Think it’ll be enough?”
“Don’t know. But if anybody can pull this off, it’s Norah.”
“Norah?”
“Cam’s fiancée.”
“Campbell Crawford is getting married?” Brody tried to wrap his brain around that idea.
At this Tucker grinned. “Yep. Not a local girl, but you’d never know it. Landed here last year, stuck like glue. She’s the one behind the rehab downtown. Heading up this whole campaign toward rural tourism. She’s really jazzed everybody up for revitalizing the town.”
Which meant she was probably somehow behind the hotel. It made a lot more sense now why his boss had chosen this site. He’d gotten on a kick with urban redevelopment the last few years. Perhaps he’d decided on more of a small town angle. It would suit Peyton’s give-back attitude.
It was odd to think of Wishful as anything other than dying as it slowly had been over the last several decades. Brody found he liked the idea of new growth, of projects aimed at restoring his hometown to its former glory days. Even if those glory days had burnt out years before he’d been born.
“Hey Twinkle Toes McGee, get up here for a reading!” shouted Nate.
“I’m up.” Tucker started to rise.
“Tucker.” Now Brody’s lips did curve into a smile as he uncurled the hand clenching the armrest, offered it. “It’s really good to see you, man.”
After a moment’s hesitation, his old friend took it, pulling him in for a back-thumping hug. “Welcome home, boy-o.”
And just like that, things slid into place, his old best friend accepting his presence without further question. With him, at least, Brody’s return wouldn’t be complicated. That would ease his transition back into the community somewhat. As Tucker climbed out of his seat and headed for the stage where Tyler waited, a script in hand, Brody wished his other relationships could be repaired so easily. Then he cursed himself as an idiot.
She’d made her answer crystal clear eight years ago. At best he was chasing after a memory of what used to be. Which made him nothing more than the romantic fool who’d thought she’d follow him to the ends of the earth. He’d learned better. He couldn’t allow himself to be ruled by nostalgia for the next few months. No, he’d audition, help save the theater as his good deed. And finally get some closure so when he left at the end of the year, he could finally move on with his life.
9 Weeks 'Til Show
Tyler felt a twinge of instinctive annoyance at the sight of Corinne Dawson stepping into the shop, then immediately chastised herself. This wasn’t high school, or even college. They were grown women. The crap from years past didn’t matter anymore. So she had a friendly smile pasted on as Corinne crossed to the counter, her little boy in tow.
“Hey there, Corinne.” Tyler shifted the smile to her son. “Hi, Kurt.”
Kurt pressed his face against his mother’s leg, but Tyler could just see the edges of a shy smile.
Corinne glanced around the empty store. “Slow day?”
Tyler tried to tell herself that wasn’t some kind of criticism or gloat. “We get a lull this time of day. Was there something I could help you with?”
“Well, I hope so. See, I’ve been on Pinterest.”
Tyler laughed. “Famous last words. I think I have about a thousand projects pinned that I’ll never get to.” See, easy. Friendly. Common ground. This isn’t so bad. “What in particular caught your eye?”