No Angels (Willow Creek Christmas)

4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Bianca

Farrah’s friends are all laid back and happily in love. Not the least bit catty. They could easily become my inner circle.

“I have a Bianca Cassidy playlist in my streaming account,” Taren tells me.

“I think those days might be behind me,” I confess. “I don’t think the vocal surgery worked.”

Emma and Sarah’s eyes darken in sympathy and all four of them gasp.

“That’s a tragedy.”

Sarah’s observation is like the twist of a blade between my ribs. “I hope all I need to do is rest my voice and do the exercises my therapist insisted on.”

Emma cocks her head to the side. “What’ll you do if a return to Broadway isn’t in the cards?”

“I guess I’ll have to figure something out.”

“There’s always the feed store. It’s the only one in town and some of the guys your Mom hires are disrespectful idiots.”

“I think Mike Callihan has been helping her run it.”

Farrah glowers. “Then I’m going to have a word with him about the way some of them talk about my sister. I’m surprised River hasn’t already taken care of it.”

Taren raises a brow. “I know you’re protective since the two of you made up, but how do you know River hasn’t already taken care of it?”

“I feel like I’m missing essential intel,” I say as my gaze flashes back and forth between the two of them.

Sarah draws me close so she whisper in my ear. “Farrah’s talking about her half-sister Roxie. She’s with River. He used to be her farmhand and he’s a lot younger. But he worships the ground she walks on. Even though he’s a golden retriever, I’m pretty sure he’d pulverize anyone he heard talking smack.”

“Willow Creek seems to have a lot of recent happily ever afters.”

Emma must have a sarcasm detector, because she’s the one that laughs. “I didn’t believe in them either. But Willow Creek has a way of making lemonade out of the lemons in your life.”

“I have a lot of lemons, and I think Mike Callihan might be one of them,” I say as I tip back my glass of wine.

Taren leans forward, her chin in her hand. “Maybe he’s a lemon meringue – those are a lot easier to accept.”

“Once upon a time I thought he was.”

Now Farrah leans forward. “So you two have a history?”

I gulp the rest of the wine and push my hair behind my ears. “Ancient history.”

“Okay, now you have to tell us the whole story,” Emma demands.

Sarah gives me a troubled look and I think she senses how uneasy I am with the direction of the conversation. “Maybe it’s not something she wants to talk about.”

I toss her a grateful smile. “Sarah’s right. I’m not ready to talk about him yet. I didn’t even know he stayed in Willow Creek.”

Taren sighs dreamily. “I’m a sucker for a second chance romance.”

“They hardly ever work,” mutters Sarah.

“You and Zane just got lucky,” Farrah says.

Taren raises a brow. “Why are all of you such skeptics?”

“They’re not skeptics. It’s usually true. Most of the time whatever heartache caused the breakup is too defining to sweep under the rug.”

Taren tilts her head and studies me. “So you had a defining heartache with Mike Callihan?”

“Not really, but I think I may have been his.”

“Oof,” Emma exhales. “Guys usually hold grudges longer than women. I don’t think there are going to be any make out sessions behind the curtains.”

Farrah snorts. “I wouldn’t be so sure. You should see the way he stares at her when her back is turned. Like a hungry puppy.”

A hungry puppy? I don’t know why the thought of him pining turns my bones to mush. And I can’t use wine to brush it aside because my glass is empty.

I reluctantly rise to my feet. “I think I should call it a night. I have errands to run in the morning.” Tomorrow is Mom’s last bout of treatment for the week.

Farrah, Emma and Sarah all rise as well.

Taren jumps up and gives each of us a hug. Even me.

“Let’s do this again soon. Maybe after bookclub this month?”

“Bookclub?” I was in one with a bunch of my fellow actors in the city and I miss the discussion and the camaraderie.

“Yeah, bookclub. You have to come to the next meeting.” Taren insists.

“What do you guys read?”

“I never thought I’d be a fan of historical romance, but it’s my jam now.” Emma chimes in. “We’re working our way through Julie Anne Long’s Palace of Rogue series right now.”

“Do I have to read them in order?” I don’t know of I’ll have the time to catch up to wherever they are.

Sarah shakes her head. “Nope. We’re reading the third one right now, I’m Only Wicked With You . The hero, Hugh, is a lumbersnack. You’ll love it.”

“Is there an audio version available?” That way I can listen while I do farm and house chores.

“That’s how I usually finish the books. The librarian, Ms. Bromwell, always makes sure the audiobook is available in the catalog.”

“Since the audio is available, I’ll try to make time to join you.” I thread my arms through the sleeves of my jacket and wind my scarf around my neck.

“There’s something I want to talk to you about. Can you meet me for coffee in the morning at Cupcake on Main? Around nine?”

“Can we make it ten thirty? I have to take Mom to her appointment at eight.”

Her eyes fill with sympathy. “Of course. I’ll see you then.”

I’m sitting at one of the outdoor tables, nursing the cinnamon roll iced latte Emma suggested, when Farrah takes the seat across from me.

“Good morning,” I say. It is a good morning for the most part. The air is crisp since it’s mid -November, but I can still feel the sun on my face. And Mom’s treatment went well this morning. I left her bundled on the couch and asked Mike’s mom to check on her around noon.

“Good morning.”

“You’re very chirpy for a Monday morning.”

She laughs and it’s like a sprinkle of powdered sugar. “I don’t mind Mondays because I love my job.”

“Is your job the reason for this coffee date? Mike told me you and the mayor have grand schemes.”

She sets her coffee on a napkin and rests her chin in her hands. Her gaze is filled with excitement. “I don’t know how long you’re staying, or if you’d be interested, but they finally settled the estate for the old Majestic Theatre.”

I wrinkle my brow. “Why do we need to discuss that?”

“Well, the town might be buying it to create a cultural arts hub. The mayor and I were talking yesterday about making it the home of community theatre productions.”

“We had our sixth-grade talent show there. I remember the acoustics are fabulous. It was shabby even then. It’s been closed for so long, I bet it’s pretty dilapidated.”

“If we can convince the town council it’s a solid investment, we could really use someone with your experience and connections to lead it.”

I laugh self-consciously. “I’m used to the spotlight, not the behind-the-scenes stuff. I’d probably make a hash of it.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Farrah admonished. “I think you’d be great. And sometimes it’s good to have someone at the helm with a fresh perspective. Can I give your contact info to the realtor, Cindy Davis? I think you know her. She went to Willow Creek with you and Mike. She was the head cheerleader.”

So his prom date never left Willow Creek. I wonder if they had a fling after I left. “Sure. Why do you need me to speak with her?”

“Before we pitch this idea in front of the council, we need a realistic idea of how much work would need to be done to restore it. Since you’ve been in theatre your whole life, we thought your insight would really help.”

“I can help with that, but I don’t know much about building integrity or stuff like that.”

She grabs my hand across the table. “Thank you so much! I know the more stuff like this we do, the greater the appeal for families with young children to move here. If we build a rich, interactive cultural arts scene, it’ll help lure them away from the city. And we’re going to have Mike inspect the building for structural issues.”