Mystic Park

Mystic Park Read Free

Book: Mystic Park Read Free
Author: Regina Hart
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eyebrows flew toward her hairline.
    â€œI know it’s a lot to ask. I’ll understand if you’re busy.”
    â€œI want to help”—Peyton spread her arms—“but I don’t know anything about producing a play.”
    â€œYou did a great job cochairing the fund-raising committee for the Guiding Light Community Center last winter.”
    Peyton dropped her arms. “Fund-raising is a lot different from the theater. I can throw a party. But you need someone who knows what’s involved in producing a performance.”
    Once again, Benita invaded Vaughn’s mind. In high school, they’d been members of their drama club. Now she worked in the entertainment industry. She had years of experience with performances: contracts, budgets, schedules, logistics. But he shut down that road before he traveled too many miles. He had to let go of Benita. She’d made him realize that two days ago.
    â€œI’ll try it alone first. Maybe I can handle it.” Vaughn began walking in the direction of Peyton’s office near the end of the hallway.
    â€œIsn’t there someone in Trinity Falls who’s been involved with plays?”
    â€œWe don’t have a community theater.”
    The building was just coming awake with other faculty members preparing for early morning classes. Vaughn gave a nod of greeting to housekeeping staff as he escorted Peyton down the hall. It was the last full week of March. Midterms were behind them. Spring break was around the corner. The air was brittle with tension as the school year rocketed toward finals week.
    â€œI don’t think it’s a good idea for you to produce this play on your own.” Peyton sounded worried. “Why don’t you make a list of the things that need to be done, then give us assignments so we can help you?”
    The “us” Peyton referred to were their mutual friends, most of whom had known each other since childhood. They were each other’s Constant Cavalry. If ever one of them was in a bind, all he or she had to do was call. “If I get overwhelmed, I’ll consider that.”
    Peyton stopped, prompting Vaughn to halt beside her. “There’s no ‘if’ about it. You’re going to need help. It took a lot of courage to get to this point. I don’t want you to become discouraged and give up on your dream. You’ve worked too hard.”
    Peyton spoke with the passion of someone who knew what it was like to gather one’s courage for a leap of faith. She’d taken a similar leap when she’d left her familiar life in New York City to start over in Trinity Falls, Ohio.
    Vaughn smiled. “I promise that, if I need help, I’ll ask.”
    â€œAll right.” Peyton gave him a dubious look. “But I’m going to stay on you about this.”
    â€œFair enough.”
    But Peyton wouldn’t need to. This musical wasn’t his only goal. Vaughn was hitting the Play button on his life and putting himself back on the market. If Benita wasn’t going to be part of his future, he’d find someone who was interested.

CHAPTER 2
    â€œAre you going to spend your entire visit moping around my home?” Ms. Helen spoke with her back to Benita Monday afternoon.
    Benita frowned from the threshold of her great-aunt’s kitchen. She wasn’t moping around. Am I?
    She took in the small, neat figure of the elderly woman standing in front of the kitchen sink. Her great-aunt Helen filled her kettle with water before moving on to her stove. She wore an oversized vivid floral-patterned blouse over sage green yoga pants. Pink ballet slippers protected her dainty feet.
    â€œI’m going to mope around Harmony Cabins tomorrow.” Benita lowered herself onto a seat at the kitchen table. “I want to check on Audra. I’ll probably shift my moping to Books and Bakery Wednesday.”
    â€œAt least you have a plan.” Ms. Helen fired up the

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