Page 32 of State of Grace

“Hey, I’m trying to help you feel at home here. What if this becomes something you enjoy? I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before now.” Nodding a few times, Isla looked down at her phone and smiled. “Oh, good. She’s going to be there today, and there’s a rehearsal tonight. Why don’t you go over there, talk to Bryce, and maybe watch a rehearsal? The worst that will happen is you’ll lose a few hours of your life, but at least you’ll get to see Alexis.”

Isla winked as Blake rolled her eyes. Maybe it was because she’d didn’t grow up with a mother, but Blake wondered if this was what it was like having one. Someone to annoy the shit out of you because they love you and want you to be happy. Blake had to admit that even before she’d found out Alexis was in the play, she was intrigued by the idea of helping if she could. Of course, she didn’t want her name on the programs or posters, but she could be there in the shadows if needed.

“Fine.” Blake sat up on the edge of the couch. “Send me Bryce’s contact info and the address to the theatre, and I’ll stop by there this afternoon.”

“Already sent both of those,” Isla held up her phone. “If you hate it or aren’t into it, there would be no hard feelings. Promise.”

“Well, that’s good.” Smirking, Blake shook her head. “This was a very mother-daughter thing we just did, wasn’t it?”

“It was indeed.” Isla laughed. “I’ve had years of practice on the kids to have perfected the art of convincing my offspring to do something they don’t know they want to do until I push them in that direction. And I can take you over to the theatre later if you want and introduce you to Bryce.”

“Um, yeah. That’d be great.”

“Ok.” Isla clapped her hands together. “It’s a plan.”

“Hey, Mom?”

“Hmm?”

“Can you maybe mention to Bryce that I don’t want it to be a big deal that I’m there?” Nervously, Blake popped her knuckles before wiping her hands on her thighs. Isla tilted her head toward her as Blake hurried to explain. “I love meeting your friends, and I’m fine with people knowing who I am, but I want to lay low right now. As far as I know, only Salem knows that I’m here, and I’d like to keep off the radar and not draw attention to my current location. I want the Cove to be my place away from everything. Does that make sense?”

“It does.” Nodding, Isla sent another message. “I’ll tell Bryce not to make a big deal about it to the cast and not to post anything about it on social media. Believe it or not,” she paused for a moment, waiting until Blake looked up at her to continue, “Bryce was a voice coach in Hollywood for a bit.”

“Really?”

“Yep, but the whole thing overwhelmed her, and she found her way back to the Cove.” Isla shrugged nonchalantly. “The Cove has a way of doing that.”

“Of doing what?”

“Of making people come back.” Isla headed down the stairs with another wink as Blake followed after her with a smile on her face. She loved the budding relationship with her mother, and the prospect of helping at a theatre company was more intriguing than Blake had anticipated. But it was the prospect of seeing Alexis that was the icing on the cake. Suddenly, Blake couldn’t wait to get to the theatre.

A few hours later, the two of them headed across town to the theatre. Although it was on the other side of town from the farm, the drive took less than ten minutes. Isla parked the Jeep near a side door, and they headed inside. The Moonflower Cove Theatrical Company practiced in the local university theatre, which was nothing extravagant. Orange upholstered chairs lined a few dozen rows, and elegant hand-built and hand-painted props lined the stage. Overhead, a cat-walk held dozens of spotlights that shone brightly onto the stage.

“Bryce?” Isla called out, and a rusting noise was heard somewhere backstage. They walked up the stairs on the side of the stage as Bryce appeared from behind the side curtain. Blake examined Bryce, who was excitedly waving at them. She was dressed in a pair of overalls held together more with paint than fabric. Blake liked her immediately; she gave off the genuine excitement of a very good kindergarten teacher.

“Hey, Isla.” The two embraced quickly as Bryce’s eyes shifted to Blake. “And you must be Blake. It’s so great to meet you.” Closing the space between them, Bryce hugged Blake without any hesitation. Blake reluctantly returned the hug quickly before pulling out of the embrace. “Let me say I was floored when Isla said you might be interested in helping me out.”

“Why’s that?” Her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Well, I mean,” Bryce waved her hands up and down as she gestured to Blake, “you’re Blake Calloway. I know you’re Isla’s daughter, but still. I thought this would be beneath you.”

“It’s not,” Blake responded quickly. She hated that people thought she was too good for helping out the local community theatre. Unlike some celebrities, Blake had worked hard not to let her minuscule fame get the best of her. Thankfully she didn’t have to worry about hoards of paparazzi everywhere she went, but still, Blake knew people would recognize her. “I mean, I don’t know how much help I could be, but I’m willing to help however I can.”

“That’s wonderful to hear.” A nervous smile formed on Bryce’s lips as she clasped her hands together. “Well, rehearsal starts in about an hour. If you want, I can run over some of my notes with you to give you an idea of what to be on the lookout for tonight.”

“That sounds great.” Nodding, Blake followed Bryce back down the stairs and into the second row of chairs, where Bryce had constructed a makeshift desk. She’d sat a small table over the first row of chairs, and Bryce had notes scribbled on various sizes of paper around the desk.

“I’m going to head back to the house.” Isla pointed toward the side door they’d entered through a moment before. “Give me a call when you want me to pick you up.”

“Will do.” Blake put two fingers up to her temple and mock saluted Isla. Once the doors were closed behind Isla, Blake settled into one of the chairs as Bryce did the same. She had no idea what to expect during the rehearsal, but the fact she would get to see Alexis in an hour made all the nervous anticipation worth it.

Chapter 12

For the fifth time in as many rehearsals, Alexis wondered what the hell she had been thinking when she’d auditioned for the Moonflower Cove annual summer musical. She had portrayed minor characters before, but she’d never taken the lead. Hell, she’d never even taken the co-lead, and yet for some reason, she decided to jump in with both feet and go out for the starring role.

Alexis knew every line of the musical by heart, thanks to the countless times she’d listened to the soundtrack. She had no doubt she could hit all the lines and notes in the songs. It was her acting that was shaky. Even in the empty theatre, Alexis was nervous at the thought of the crowd that would fill the theater in a few weeks. If her fear of performing in front of a crowd wasn’t as high as her fear of letting people down, she’d have already quit. But Alexis couldn’t do that to the rest of the cast or Bryce. They’d all worked so hard. The least she could do was stick it out for them.

“Ok, so,” Emily walked quickly over to Alexis, carrying a bundle of costumes she’d been working on, “I don’t want to freak you out…”

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