Page 77 of Back for More
“Yes, my dear girl. I hope I’m calling at a good time.”
“Mrs. Naylor, it’s so good to hear from you. Hi!” My eyes are tearing up. Mrs. Naylor was my greatest supporter at Saint Mary’s, and I had thought about calling her eventually, but I didn’t want to tell her that I wasn’t acting anymore.
“Hello, angel. I heard the good news that you’re back in town.”
“I was going to call you—I’ve only been back a short while.”
“No need to apologize. Your vocal instrument still sounds very clear and well-developed. Good for you.”
“I always hear you in my head, reminding me to stand up straight and project my voice.” My mind is racing, trying to figure out who would have told her that I was in town—Alecia?
“Listen, darling. I’m calling because I have a job for you if you’re interested. Not a big-money job, mind you. It’s theater—you know how it is. I need an assistant director for my summer theater program production, and as soon as I heard you were in town, I knew you were the only one who would do. Because you can also serve as understudy—so you must say yes. You already know the play—A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s all-ages, and I’ve already cast it. Our first meeting is tomorrow night at the school theater. Our budget will allow me to pay you a modest weekly stipend. If you still have the same email address, I will send you everything you need to know. Do you still have the text?”
“Um. Yes, I have it.” I can’t believe she’s justgivingme a job, but part of me still wonders if it’s only because my grandmother had donated money for the theater.
“Wonderful—so I’ll see you tomorrow night at six forty-five, then? The little ones will only be joining us for rehearsals during the day, and I assume you’ll only be available in the evenings and weekends. Wally will be assisting me on weekdays.”
“Wally still works with you?”
“Oh yes. He sends his love and can’t wait to see you.”
“Well, I…I’m so happy that you…”
“Excellent, I’ll see you tomorrow at six forty-five sharp, then.”
“Yes, Mrs. Naylor.”
“Good night, dear.”
I hang up and walk back into Charlotte’s bedroom in a daze. Wes is wearing the long blonde wig on his head and grinning at me.
“That was my high school drama teacher.”
“Yeah.”
“Offering me an assistant director job.”
“Yeah?”
“How did she know I was in town?”
He shrugs and turns to face Charlotte when she growls and slaps her hands on the sides of his head. “Her husband is a client. I called her this morning.”
“Mrs. Naylor’s husband invests in commercial real estate?”
“Oh yeah. Big-time.”
“Andyoucalled her to tell her that I was in town? This morning?”
He points at me without looking over. “Now you’re getting it.”
I shake my head, disbelieving. Spencer hops over, looks up at me, and tells me he needs a banana. “Yeah. Let’s go get you a banana before bed.” I take his little hand and look back at Wes before leading Spencer out of the room. Wes is still wearing the wig, smiling and staring at Charlotte while she pats him on the head with the hairbrush. He looks terrible as a blonde, but by golly, I still don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve him.
When Alecia and Neal come home, Wes, Spencer, and I are all piled onto Charlotte’s bed, and Wes is readingDragons Love Tacosaloud, and it’s official—my ovaries have gone nuclear. That “I hate Wes Carver” muscle that I used to exercise daily just turned into “I have heart eyes for Wes Carver” fat overnight. It’s true. It’s science.
I had lost track of time—we may have kept the kids up past bedtime, no clue. But now that their parents are home, I think Wes and I are both trying really hard not to sprint out the front door so we can get each other naked.
“Matron. Of. Honor!” Alecia whispers into my ear as we hug good-bye. She texts me the picture that she surreptitiously snapped of Wes and me on the bed with her kids. We’re so fucking cute I could cry, but I won’t because I’ve already discharged too much body fluid today.
