Page 129 of One Time in Paris
PARIS, MAINE
The sweet scentof lilacs filled the air as Isla strolled through the McLaughlin Garden & Homestead with Kyle and Tomas. They were about a week too early for the lilac festival—Davy’s original plan for this episode—but it didn’t matter. Boyd had sat them down after they’d arrived on Thursday to shift the show's dynamic yet again.
“We’ve made some changes to the way we’re framing the show,”Boyd had said.“Tomas and Isla, you can keep it platonic and friendly from here on out. This is yet another incredibly small town, so we’re going to focus on the personal angles. The three of you in the distinct places the town is known for, just having fun.”
So that was what they’d done.
Somehow, it didn’t matter that there wasn’t a festival. They’d found plenty of locals to chat with about the lilacs and the founder of the gardens here. Yesterday, when they’d gone mining for gems in West Paris, Kyle had everyone there in stitches with his jokes.
Tomas had done a fantastic job of interviewing a theater troupe at a local barn theater—a reminder of the fact that Isla had gotten to know him as a classically trained theater actor. They’d met after having been cast together in Othello, and he’d even taken to the stage the day before to recite some of those lines with her.Almost like we were old friends.
And they’d even forgone a hotel this time. The whole cast and crew stayed instead in a campground twenty minutes outside of town. At least for the duration of filming.
Four episodes in, and it finally felt as though they’d hit their stride, learning to live and breathe in these towns more naturally, as they were rather than the way they might have hoped or intended them to be.
The only significant difference? No Aiden lurking in the shadows.
She felt the absence like a bruise. She still reached for her phone sometimes, half expecting a message. An apology. Something. But there’d been nothing. Maybe because she’d told him not to call. Maybe because he’d finally listened...and that hurt even more.
And this time, I haven’t had my best friend to turn to.
Davy had stayed in the background once again, barely meeting Isla’s eye. And Isla hadn’t worked up the courage to bridge that conversation.
Maybe once I leave here today.She just had one short take left, and this whole episode might be over.
Isla lowered a fragrant bough of lilacs toward her face and grinned at Kyle. “If there’s anything I’m going to suggest to people, it’s that they do Paris in the spring.” She inhaled a deep breath.
“Paris or Parises?” Kyle asked wryly.
“Definitely Parises. Though the smells here beat the fried catfish, got to be honest. Even if that was a brilliant trip,” Tomas interjected.
“Yeah, if by brilliant you mean when you decided to try to do something in the rodeo.” Kyle shook his head and laughed.
Isla rolled her eyes, then looked straight at the camera. She’d already fumbled these lines a couple of takes now, so hopefully, she’d get it right this time. “So, I hope you’ll join us as we leave the Parises of the USA behind and hop across the ocean to the city where it all began. See you next time, in Paris, France.”
“And cut,” Boyd said.
Isla grimaced. “Did I seriously say hop?” The line was supposed to be jet,dammit.
“I think it works,” Tomas said with a hopeful look at Boyd. “Hopping. Jetting. Practically the same thing.”
She gave him a playful smack. “That’s just because you and Kyle have run out of material to improv.”
“There’s only so many wonderful ways to wax poetic about lilacs,” Tomas said with a chuckle.
“All right, all right.” Boyd shook his head. “I think we have enough to wrap this episode and all go home. We’re going to devote part of this episode with some of the London footage anyway.”
Isla frowned and glanced toward Tomas. “I thought the romance wasn’t going to be as important in the show.”
Boyd nodded. “That’s right.” Then he gave her a curious look. “Didn’t you watch the premiere?”
Isla shook her head. “No. I usually avoid watching myself in anything if I can avoid it. Besides, where was I going to watch it? In my tent?”
Boyd shrugged. “Could be. That’s where I watched it.”
That didn’t surprise her. He’d overseen the whole project from start to finish and approved the final edits. Of course Boyd would watch it. He’d probably spend the whole time critiquing it, too.
“I didn’t watch it either,” Kyle said.
