eyebrows flew toward her hairline. âI know itâs a lot to ask. Iâll understand if youâre busy.â âI want to helpââPeyton spread her armsââbut I donât know anything about producing a play.â âYou did a great job cochairing the fund-raising committee for the Guiding Light Community Center last winter.â Peyton dropped her arms. âFund-raising is a lot different from the theater. I can throw a party. But you need someone who knows whatâs involved in producing a performance.â Once again, Benita invaded Vaughnâs mind. In high school, theyâd 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. Sheâd made him realize that two days ago. âIâll try it alone first. Maybe I can handle it.â Vaughn began walking in the direction of Peytonâs office near the end of the hallway. âIsnât there someone in Trinity Falls whoâs been involved with plays?â âWe donât have a community theater.â 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. âI donât think itâs a good idea for you to produce this play on your own.â Peyton sounded worried. âWhy donât you make a list of the things that need to be done, then give us assignments so we can help you?â The âusâ Peyton referred to were their mutual friends, most of whom had known each other since childhood. They were each otherâs Constant Cavalry. If ever one of them was in a bind, all he or she had to do was call. âIf I get overwhelmed, Iâll consider that.â Peyton stopped, prompting Vaughn to halt beside her. âThereâs no âifâ about it. Youâre going to need help. It took a lot of courage to get to this point. I donât want you to become discouraged and give up on your dream. Youâve worked too hard.â Peyton spoke with the passion of someone who knew what it was like to gather oneâs courage for a leap of faith. Sheâd taken a similar leap when sheâd left her familiar life in New York City to start over in Trinity Falls, Ohio. Vaughn smiled. âI promise that, if I need help, Iâll ask.â âAll right.â Peyton gave him a dubious look. âBut Iâm going to stay on you about this.â âFair enough.â But Peyton wouldnât need to. This musical wasnât his only goal. Vaughn was hitting the Play button on his life and putting himself back on the market. If Benita wasnât going to be part of his future, heâd find someone who was interested.
CHAPTER 2 âAre you going to spend your entire visit moping around my home?â Ms. Helen spoke with her back to Benita Monday afternoon. Benita frowned from the threshold of her great-auntâs kitchen. She wasnât 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. âIâm going to mope around Harmony Cabins tomorrow.â Benita lowered herself onto a seat at the kitchen table. âI want to check on Audra. Iâll probably shift my moping to Books and Bakery Wednesday.â âAt least you have a plan.â Ms. Helen fired up the