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Nolan laughs heartily. “That sounds like an excellent idea. In fact, change of plans—let’s make a little detour right now.”
We pull into a gas station a few miles down and we all head into the convenience store. We stock up on an indecent amount of snacks. Nolan is laughing and chatting with Stella the whole time. He barely spares a glance at the cash register when the clerk announces his total. He just taps his debit card over the reader without batting an eye.
Gone is the old, penny-pinching Nolan Brighton who let prices determine whether or not he’d allow himself the small pleasures in life. This current version of Nolan prioritizes living in the moment and allowing the price tag to be a secondary concern.
When we return with the snacks, the construction workers are grateful for our offering. They shower us with praise and promise Stella that they’re doing their best to make sure that the school can reopen shortly.
Then we get in the car and drive on until we’re traveling on bumpy dirt roads that lead to the waterfall. We’re almost at our destination when Stella tugs on her dad’s sleeve. He turns down the radio so she can talk.
“Daddy, is it true that the waterfall makes people fall in love, and if you get wet, then you’ll be drenched in lov-v-v-v-e?”
His head whips around quickly. “What? Where did you hear that from?”
Stella giggles. “I heard Gaga talking to Miss Rainbow about it one day.”
It’s Starlight Falls’s oldest folktale. A silly nonsensical theory that no-one’s ever been able to prove. I mean, come on—a waterfall that makes people fall in love? Ridiculous.
But when Nolan and I make brief eye contact, my cheeks tingle and his neck grows red. Hello, tension.
“Well, you shouldn’t believe everything Miss Rainbow says,” he advises wryly as he cuts the engine. He hops out of the car without sparing me another glance.
Stella and I follow suit, climbing out of the vehicle. Then we divvy up the bags we’ll be carrying along our hike. Nolan insists on taking all the heavy stuff, like the drinks and the picnic basket. I get to carry the towels and blankets, and Stella takes her backpack with her change of clothes.
We make our way down toward the waterfall, trudging along the bushy path. Nolan’s in the lead, but he’s going painstakingly slow, pausing and turning around every few steps to make sure Stella and I don’t slip on the precarious trail. I’ve never known a more patient man. He doesn’t even bat an eye when Stella asks him to take it slower.
Then Nolan catches me completely off guard when he starts reciting lines from my audition script. He’s chosen one of the G-rated scenes at this given moment. I catch on quickly and recite my next line. We carry on for the rest of the walk, practicing my parts.
Ever since I told Nolan about the script that night in the alley, he’s been rehearsing with me every chance he gets. At the bar. In the kitchen at home. In the hall when we pass each other. Everywhere.
Every. Chance. He. Gets.
We’ve been going through it so often that Nolan’s now memorized his parts. Heck, even Stella is starting to learn mine. She chimes in on the fun and repeats my lines right along with me.
But even though he’s been nothing but supportive, I can’t help the questions floating around in my head. Is Nolan just being a good, selfless man by encouraging me? Or is this his way of nicely telling me good riddance after our fling has run its course?
Despite the mess in my head, I find myself desperately clinging to every fleeting moment that passes between us.
“Someone’s got a future in Hollywood,” I say with a laugh, noticing how much fun Stella is having as we practice together. I wink at her. “You might steal my role from me altogether.”
She grins at me then turns to her father. “Daddy, can I do acting classes?” She frowns to herself. “Well, after I’m done with my piano lessons…and my tap dance classes…and my CPR course.”
Nolan laughs, promising to look around for an acting class in town.
When we finally arrive at the waterfall, we take a moment to fully appreciate its beauty. It really is an enchanting sight. I’m not a girl who believes in magic, but every time I come here, I momentarily consider the possibility that it might be real.
This place looks like something straight out of the pages of Snow White. A part of me is waiting for the woodland creatures to all pop out and start singing and dancing around.
Nolan’s arms come around me from behind. Then I feel his breath on my neck. “I’m going to go find some wood, so we can get a little fire going. You girls want to get the picnic ready?”
Despite the innocence of his words, his touch makes me shiver and clench. All I can do is nod in response.
Nolan disappears into the forest, and I rummage through the gear. When I find the big blanket, Stella and I team up to lay it out for our picnic. Before we can finish up our task, she spots a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly—just like from the insect exhibit—and lets go of her corner of the blanket.She takes off, chasing after the butterfly.
“Be careful,” I call out, finishing up with the blanket on my own.
Then it all happens so fast.
When I turn around, my eyes pop out of my head, seeing how close she is to the riverbank.
