Page 49 of Save the Drama for your Mama
Without missing a beat, Cooper turned and sang, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile!”
I stood, approached him, and sang right back, “Who cares what they’re wearing on Main Street or Saville Row? It’s what you wear from ear to ear and not from head to toe that matters.”
We shared a laugh that faded to silence as the coincidence sunk in.
Cooper blinked. “That’s cool—we were both inAnnie.”
I nodded. “Yeah. What are the odds?”
We had something other than writing and Peachy Moos in common.
Was there anything else?
We just stood there staring at each other for a long moment, neither sure what to say. A nervous energy seemed to crackle in the air between us. I was suddenly very aware of how close we were standing.
My goodness . . .
We were having a moment.
It was surreal.
Cooper’s eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my cheeks flush.
He cleared his throat. “Anyway . . .”
I nodded a few too many times. “Yeah . . . okay then, back to work.” I turned, then spotted the vintage wood and metal steamer trunk with the leather straps that was underneath the table. Most likely it was from the late 1800s, and it was still in amazing shape. However, there was one thing about it that was quite odd.
“Cooper?” I said.
“Yeah . . .”
“Why do you think that trunk has a lock on it?” I asked.
He spun on his heels and followed my gaze. “That’s an excellent question. Maybe it’s something else my mom was trying to hide.” He walked over and slid the trunk out from underneath the table. “There’s no way I’ll be able to find the key to open this thing. Would you happen to have a hair pin on you?”
“No,” I said.
“Then I need to find something to break off the lock.”
I glanced around the attic, but then the strangest thing happened.
Romeo howled, then darted to the door.
“What spooked him?” Cooper walked over to open the door, but the knob came off in his hand. “What the heck?”
He attempted to pry the door open with his fingers, then rammed his shoulder against it. The door didn’t budge an inch. Cooper examined the hinges, gave the door a few sharp kicks. Still nothing.
It was like it had been sealed shut from the other side.
“That’s weird,” I said. “What do you think happened?”
“I have no idea,” Cooper said. “But I think we’re trapped up here.”
ChapterTwelve
COOPER
I stared at the broken doorknob in my hand, bewildered. The door remained firmly shut, impervious to my attempts to pry it open.
