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Inez hesitates, looking at me like I’ve lost my goddamn marbles.
Who knows? Maybe I have.
“Come on. Chop, chop, woman!” I hurry her up. “Hollywood waits for no one.”
With a chuckle, she gives me a two minute overview of what this historical fiction show is all about. Then she leans in and points out where I should start. I don’t know what half of it means, but I can tell she’s excited, so that’s enough for me.
I find my part, and I read aloud the first line of dialogue of the character she wants me to play. I butcher the whole thing, but she doesn’t balk at my shitty acting skills.
Inez responds by reciting the first line of her own character. She doesn’t even need to glance at the script. Damn, she’s good.
We share a smile, and my heart squeezes.
This woman is everything. She has absolutely stolen my heart. But it looks like there’s already an expiration limit on this thing between us.
Just my luck.
39
INEZ
It’s early in the morning. I’m wandering around the house, practicing my script off of my phone, when the smell of freshly-brewed coffee lures me into the kitchen. I find Nolan and Stella at the counter, chatting away and packing an oversized lunch.
“Hey, you two,” I say with a grin, heading for the brand new, duct-tape-less coffee pot.
“We’re going hiking at the waterfall today!” the little girl announces excitedly.
“Oh, the waterfall! It’s always really pretty this time of year. I love it there.” Obviously, everything is prettier in the spring, but I’d say the local waterfall belongs in a storybook when the flowers start blooming.
“Well, good thing you’re coming with us.”I turn around and Nolan winks at me over Stella’s head when he catches my eye.
My gaze moves to Stella and then back to Nolan. “I am?” I’m sort of asking them both.
“Yes!” Stella claps excitedly.
She’s always quick to invite me on their excursions, but I want to make sure Nolan’s really good with me crashing their sacred time, too.
“Yes! Please come, Inez. Daddy’s way more fun when you’re around!”
He laughs, but then he shrugs. “She might be right,” he admits.
My stomach flutters. “Well, okay then,” I reply with a quiet laugh. “Let me go brush my hair, so I don’t scare off any small animals.”
“You look cute. You and your crazy hair will fit right in with the small animals,” Nolan teases as he sneakily swats at my butt.
He’s been more careful about the butt-smacking these days and it always gives me a little thrill.
I get ready in record time while father and daughter finish putting together their picnic basket. Then we pile into Nolan’s ride and head out to the edge of town with the radio blasting cheesy, upbeat pop songs.
As we’re driving by Stella’s elementary school, we see a large crew of construction workers in Hartley Construction uniforms hard at work on repairing the building.
“Look, Inez! That’s my school!” Stella says excitedly, her nose pressed to the window.
I know the school has been closed for a while now and this whole thing is inconvenient to some—having their kids at home and having to figure out alternative childcare while the renovations go on—but I see the school closure as a good thing. Not only do I believe that the kids deserve a safe learning environment. But also, I’m very much enjoying Stella and Nolan in these moments we get to spend together. It’s selfish but I don’t care.
We notice some local parents dropping off snacks and baked goods for the construction workers. It may seem out of the ordinary, but that’s Starlight Falls for ya. The town’s residents may be nosy and lack boundaries, but they are kind, selfless people at heart.
“We should bring the construction guys some cold water or something on our way back,” Stella suggest. “And some chips! Everybody loves chips.”
