Page 123 of Everything's Coming Up Rosie

I frown. “You did?”

“We kept waiting for you to talk to one of us about it,” she says. “But you always said you were fine. Things were good. No complaints.”

“Yeah, I was”—I feel the irony—“Acting.”

“You’re good at it,” she says, laughing. “But not with us.”

“I’m sorry, Marnie,” I tell her honestly. “I should’ve been straight with all of you.”

“Yeah, you should’ve.” She sighs. “But it’s okay. You had your reasons. And you’re telling me now.”

“Yeah. I am.”

“Nobody needs to go through the hard stuff alone.”

I sigh. “I know. And it’s been a lot of hard stuff.”

“It’s the hard stuff that makes the good stuff so much sweeter.”I look around, and I understand what Arthur meant.

“When we come see the show, you can catch us up on all of it,” she says. “The real story.”

“Okay, but let’s not tell Taylor and Maya about the”—I search for the right word—“Unique aspect of this show.”

“You mean don’t tell them it’s a bunch of old people?” she asks dryly.

“Yes,” I say. “I want them to be surprised. You guys are going to love my cast. Seriously, they’re amazing.”

“I can’t wait.”

“Thanks for this, Mar,” I say.

“Are you kidding?” she says. “That’s what friends are for.”

I bust into off-key singing, something we did all the time growing up.

“Keep smile-linn’, keep shine-ninn’...”

She laughs, and then I laugh, and then I wonder how I got so lucky to find such good friends and how I got so stupid that I thought I needed to keep myself from them.

***

Marnie:Producer LOVES the idea. She’s sending a reporter to Door County to interview you tomorrow!

Rosie:What?! For real? Marnie, you are the best! Thank you!

Marnie:I’m happy to help. But promise you’ll be better with the updates.

Rosie:Deal. I owe you!

Marnie sends a GIF of Dionne Warwick.

Rosie:You’re my favorite. Don’t tell the others.

***

Marnie:I got us all tickets to see Rosie’s musical on opening night.

Taylor:Can I have an aisle seat? This baby is Riverdancing on my bladder 24/7.

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