Celebrate in Good Hope (Good Hope #22)

Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

During the rehearsal, Roe kept her focus on the business at hand. Sarah Rose had her lines nailed. With her dark hair and spunky personality, the girl not only looked like a young Gladys, but she acted the part.

The voice coach had done a stellar job helping to hone her singing skills, and the child’s desire to give the best performance possible was evident.

Fin Rakes, well, Fin had star quality. Gladys had mentioned that she’d seen that in Delphinium since she was a teen. A career in LA, then returning to Good Hope to marry her high school sweetheart, have three sons and handle PR for Good Hope had kept Fin busy in the last ten years.

Shortly after Roe had started, Gladys had told her she was close to luring Fin over to the dark side, which Roe took to mean Fin would be onstage more in the future.

As for Gladys, Roe never tired of watching the older woman onstage. She danced, sang and commanded the stage each time she stepped onto it.

In Roe’s mind, Spotlight was a celebration of aging, showing that age was just a number and that passion and talent can endure throughout one’s life.

How lucky Gladys was to have been able to pursue her passion while being surrounded by people she cared about and who cared about her.

Near the end of the performance, Clay and his sister, Greer, came in and sat at the back of the auditorium. Though today’s performance wasn’t open to the public, the high school principal and the former mayor weren’t just anyone.

Once the cast and crew were dismissed, Roe saw Clay motion to Boone and then walk out with him a few minutes later.

Roe hadn’t had a chance to say more than two words to Boone today and was disappointed when she saw him leave. She consoled herself that she would spend the entire night with him.

Roe was nearly to the door when Gladys, who’d been in a deep conversation with Fin only moments before, suddenly appeared in front of her like a spirit rising from the mist.

“I was going to say good-bye, but you were speaking with Fin,” Roe said, “and I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“We were talking about you.”

The serious look on the older woman’s face had a knot forming in the pit of Roe’s stomach. “Is something wrong? If there is something in the show you want to change, we can make it happen, even though it’s late. If you let me know what it is, I can get with anyone else it might impact?—”

Gladys’s hand on her arm stopped Roe’s rambling. “This doesn’t have to do with the show.”

Fin walked up, chic and gorgeous in tailored pants and a cashmere sweater. “There’re are a few crew members still around. Let’s take this discussion somewhere private.”

Fin glanced at Gladys for confirmation and received a nod of agreement.

“Excellent idea.” Gladys turned. “We can meet in my office. ”

Roe’s head whirled. She couldn’t think of what to say. Had she done something to offend the two women? She thought back to today’s performance and her constructive comments.

“Is it about what I said to Jimmy about the lights?” Roe tried to come up with something else but failed. She turned to Gladys. “I know you wanted the full spotlight on you, but it was too harsh and?—”

“This doesn’t have anything to do with Jimmy. I happen to agree with you. That change was necessary.” As if sensing Roe’s unease, Gladys placed a bony hand on Roe’s bicep and steered her toward the office. “This change is also necessary.”

They were going to fire her right before the dress rehearsal.

Roe couldn’t imagine why, and she had only heard of it happening once at this late stage.

Most of the time, if the stage director was going to be dismissed, the powers that be waited until after opening night—unless, of course, the person was totally botching everything up.

That hadn’t been the case with this production. Fin and Gladys had often told her how well she was doing, complimenting her on how she interacted with both the cast and crew.

When they reached the office and shut the door behind them, Roe told herself she wouldn’t beg. This production’s success was due in no small part to her efforts.

No, she thought as she sat in the chair Gladys indicated, she would thank them for the opportunity and, when the time came, walk out with her head held high.

Fin sat in a chair to Roe’s right while Gladys took what Roe thought of as the seat of power behind the desk.

Roe stared into Gladys’s unblinking blue eyes for several exceedingly long heartbeats. The paleness of her eyes had initially thrown her off, but over the past weeks, she’d seen warmth and approval so often in those depths that Roe had been able to relax.

Until now.

She wondered if Gladys expected her to start the conversation. Not happening. If they wanted to let her go, she wouldn’t make it easy on them.

“Gladys and I have something we want to discuss with you.” Fin’s words pulled Roe’s gaze from Gladys to her.

“That’s what you said,” Roe said when the silence once again lengthened. It felt as if days rather than hours had gone by, but Roe knew it just felt that way.

“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I’m the sole owner of the Good Hope Community Theater.” Gladys, her deep voice still strong and capable of reaching the back row of any theater, tossed out the information.

It explained a lot, Roe thought. She’d wondered how they had such uninhibited access to the facilities. “I didn’t know that.”

“Not surprising. Typically, community theaters are nonprofit organizations that are run by a board of directors or a group of volunteers dedicated to promoting the arts. That’s how this theater was run for many years. It broke my heart to see it floundering from incompetence and lack of attention.” Gladys waved a dismissive hand. “No matter. I had the vision and the resources to make it what it is today.”

Despite the seriousness of the discussion, Roe smiled as admiration surged. “You’ve done well.”

Gladys accepted the compliment with a regal nod. “I have.”

The older woman’s eyes took on a distant glow before she returned her gaze to Roe. “This upcoming birthday has made me face facts. I’m not getting any younger, and it’s important to me that I leave the theater in good hands.”

Roe moved uneasily in the straight-backed chair that was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute. She didn’t know how to respond or even why Gladys was telling her all this. She just wished the woman would get to the point.

Gladys turned to Fin, and the two women exchanged looks. “I’m signing over ownership of the playhouse to Delphinium. I could wait until after I’m gone, but why? This way, she can benefit from my tutelage while I’m still around.”

The concern that shot through Roe had her leaning forward, her gaze riveted on Gladys’s face. “Are you ill?”

Gladys’s full-throated, husky laugh seemed to rise from her belly. “Oh, no. I’m fine. I’m just getting older, and I’ve always liked having my ducks in a row.”

Roe nodded. That made perfect sense.

“You may be wondering why Delphinium? I’m sure many will be asking that question.” Gladys’s fondness for Fin was evident in the smile she bestowed on her. “From when this one was a little girl, I saw her talent and passion for acting. I always hoped she would be the one to take the reins when I deemed it was time.”

Gladys shifted her gaze to Roe. “I see the same passion in you, Roe. Only for managing people. That’s why we’d like to offer you a permanent position as stage director.”

Dakota’s phone call on Roe’s way home from the theater couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. She needed to talk out her options. With her friend knowing both Gladys and Fin personally and being from Good Hope, who better to bounce ideas off of?

The wedding update came first, followed by talk about respective Christmas celebrations.

“I wish Nolan and I could have sung carols in the square with you. And serving dinner to one and all at Muddy Boots on Christmas Day was one of my favorite things to do.” A wistfulness filled Dakota’s voice. “No place does the holidays quite like Good Hope.”

“Speaking of Good Hope, there’s something I want to ask you.”

Knowing that Dakota’s time was precious, Roe leaped in and laid it all out for her friend. The job offer from the large children’s theater in Texas and Gladys’s unexpected offer for Roe to manage productions in Good Hope.

“Wow. I don’t know what to say.” Dakota gave a little laugh. “When it rains, it pours.”

“Feast or famine,” Roe agreed.

“They both sound like fabulous opportunities.” Dakota paused. “Are there any other possibilities in the works that you’re waiting on?”

Roe thought of Boone mentioning that he’d reached out to some friends in Denver but knew she couldn’t count on that leading to an offer. So many people she knew had reached out to friends in far-off cities, and nothing had come of those efforts.

“No. I was going to get some contact names from Fin and reach out to them, but it seems unnecessary now.”

“I assume you’ve done a pro-con list?”

“I haven’t,” Roe admitted. “Only because I haven’t had the chance. I just received the Texas offer this morning and the Good Hope one this afternoon.”

“I think making a list might be a good place to start.”

Roe nodded and then realized they weren’t on FaceTime, so she responded, “I agree.”

“Dakota…” Roe began and then stopped, wondering why she hadn’t ended the call yet. But she hesitated, not ready to say good-bye.

But why? Then it struck her. Considering Dakota’s love for Good Hope, Roe had expected Dakota would push her to accept Gladys’s offer.

She made that point to Dakota, who responded, “These kinds of decisions are never easy.” Sympathy filled her voice. “I know what one I think you should choose, but I’m not you. Only you know what it is you’re looking for in life.”

Roe couldn’t wait to speak with Boone when she got home, but the house was empty when she arrived. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been walking out of the theater with Clay.

For a second, she couldn’t figure out where he could be, then she realized. Like all of the cast and crew, he’d spent most of the day at the theater, which meant he hadn’t gotten his workout in yet.

Boone never missed going to the gym. He was convinced that the sooner he was up to full speed and could rejoin his team, the better. It was as if he feared they’d forget all about him if he was gone too long.

Roe didn’t know how that worked, but she could see it was a valid concern.

Selfishly, she wished he would stay in Good Hope through Dakota’s wedding. He’d have to move out of the house when Dakota and the bridesmaids arrived, but surely there was a place in town he could stay temporarily. The truth was, she wished he never had to leave.

Roe couldn’t imagine her life without him in it.

Not meant to be, she told herself.

She’d been down this wishing road before each time she’d had to leave close friends behind. Then she’d gotten smart and quit letting others get close so it wouldn’t hurt so much when she had to go.

Somehow, Boone had slipped through her defenses. He’d scaled the wall she’d long ago erected around her heart.

With Boone, it didn’t matter whether she accepted the position in Texas or Good Hope—either way, she would be without him.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Roe poured herself a glass of wine and opened her laptop. Pulling up a blank page, she began listing each job offer’s pros and cons.

The person she’d spoken with in San Antonio had given her until January third to give them her answer, with a starting date of March first. That would allow her to attend Dakota’s wedding before moving to Texas.

Adding that as a pro under the Texas column, Roe began to make her list.

One hour and another glass of wine later, the list appeared complete. Roe was staring at the computer screen when she heard footsteps, and Boone called, “Roe?”

“In the kitchen.” Saving her work, she pushed to her feet and moved to greet him.

His expression brightened when he saw her.

Unable to keep from touching him, she wrapped her arms around him, smiling when he tugged her close and held her tight for several heartbeats.

Planting a kiss on top of her head, he stepped back.

“I wasn’t sure where you were, but that slightly damp hair tells me my suspicions were correct.” She smiled brightly. “Did you have a good workout?”

“Trent pushed me hard.”

Though his matter-of-fact tone should have reassured her, Roe pulled her brows together as concern flooded her. “Within the doctor’s parameters, right?”

“Right.” He glanced around the kitchen, his gaze lingering on the open laptop. “Looks like you were working while I was at the gym.”

“I have a tough decision to make,” she said, taking his hand. “I was hoping you could help me decide.”

“Sure. What do you need assistance with, m’lady? ”

Roe rolled her eyes, then motioned for him to sit. “It’s serious stuff.”

Concern filled his dark eyes, and suddenly, he was all business. Reaching across the table, he grasped her hand. “What is it?”

“I have two viable job offers, and I’m not sure which to choose.” Taking a deep breath, Roe laid it all out for him, then gave him a hopeful smile. “I’d love to hear your thoughts.”