Page 50 of Wild Love

"My boss talked to the owner about the kids practicing here and putting on a performance."

I frowned. "Why would she do that? I haven't agreed to teach another class."

"Just take a look. Then we'll talk." I let her lead me inside; the door was already unlocked.

It smelled musty like it hadn't been used in a long time.

"We'll obviously clean it up and air it out."

"Obviously," I murmured as we walked through the small lobby and into the auditorium. This was a third the size of anything I'd performed in, but it would be perfect for kids. There was just enough room for their parents and a few other guests. There was even a small balcony. I'd forgotten about that.

I let go of Marigold's hand and walked onto the stage.

The back door opened, and light filtered in before it closed again.

Marigold frowned. "I'll go see who that is. Maybe the owner stopped by."

I didn't bother responding because I was intent on examining the stage. It was in great condition. Whoever owned this place took care of this at least. The wood was solid, the curtains in good shape but dusty.

I stood on the stage and imagined the town here to see their children perform a holiday production. My chest filled with joy at the idea. The proud looks on their parents' faces, the joy on the children's. It was perfect. But it was too bad I wouldn't be around to see Marigold's dream come to life.

Marigold walked down the aisle with Chance behind her.

I put my hands on my hips. "What are you doing here?"

He folded his arms over his chest. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Marigold is giving me the tour."

"My boss spoke to the new owner," Marigold said, "and they'd like to see it put to good use. I thought it would be perfect for children's productions."

"What do you think?" Chance asked hesitantly.

"It would be perfect. The stage is in good shape." I bounced on it, and it didn't give at all. "I don't know what condition the lights and sound equipment are in."

Marigold took notes on her phone. "The new owner said to give him a list of repairs, and he'd get on it."

"Who would want to reopen this theater? You wouldn't earn enough money to sustain it." I'd been in theater long enough to understand the financial struggle.

"The realtor said the owner is a lover of the arts and wants to support the community. This isn't about profit for him."

"I want to meet this unicorn," I said as my hand traveled over the velvet curtain. Just being here got my blood pumping. How would it feel to direct a play versus be in one?

As long as the actors were children, I could get behind it. I loved the idea of teaching children everything I knew. They seemed to look up to me. If only I planned to stay.

Marigold stood next to Chance. "I know you want to leave soon. But what about a short play? I have something prepared."

I sat on the edge of the stage as Marigold walked toward me, clutching papers in her hands. "You wrote something?"

I knew Marigold wrote things she never shared with anyone, and she wrote the plays we performed as kids. They were silly, so I wasn't sure how talented of a writer she was now.

She held them back from me. "Don't make fun of me."

"I'd never do that," I vowed before she handed the pages to me.

Marigold looked from me to Chance. "You don't have to read them now."

Sensing she didn't want me to with my brother hovering nearby, I put them in my bag. "Let's do lunch and talk about this idea of yours."

---