Page 91 of Positively, Penelope

“Well, I hope we bring excellent patrons with all this hard work we’re doing.” She stood, her body humming with excitement. “I’m going to get back to work right away. Dani and Mark have promised to help me this afternoon with the placement of some items, but I’ve sworn them to secrecy.”

“They’re the good sort.” He tapped his temple. “Good thinking.”

And with that she rushed through the door, nearly mowing down Alec. He steadied her with his hands to her shoulders.

“What’s your hurry, princess?”

That endearment had certainly lost its shine. “So much to do! It’s all very exciting, just busy.” She gestured toward the door. “Your grandfather is inside if you’re here to see him.”

“So you’re finished with your meeting?” He waved back toward the room.

“Oh yes.” She tugged the photographs against her chest and leaned closer to him, wiggling her brows. “More and more surprises, Mr.Gray. Beautiful surprises.”

“Is there something I can do to help?”

“I know the set designers could use an extra hand on some last-minute repairs, but I’ve got all the help I need.”

“For your secret project?” He waved in the direction of the museum doors.

“More for thePeter Panset than my secret project.” Her grin grew and she lowered her voice to conspiratorial tones. “But you’re going to love the secret project. It’s something to make our communityand your family proud, Alec.” She nodded. “And you should be so proud. This theater, your history. It’s worth celebrating and saving. For so many.”

His gaze searched her face, and then his expression turned sad. “I can’t wait to see your surprises, Penelope. I hope they do all the things you think they will.”

Chapter18

Text from Penelope to Izzy and Luke:GK is Gwynn! Gwynn Gray! Matt told me today that she’s been the one messaging me on the Skymar group all along! Using HIS former account.

Penelope:AND they both think that someone else has gotten into the account and read about my ideas!

Penelope:At first I thought Matt was saying HE was GK and I was confused because he didn’t seem the type to have a shoe fetish, but then he explained. It seems she’s known who I was for a few weeks but never revealed herself. I feel a little tricked.

Izzy:After pretending not to know about LOTR for... a decade? I think you can show Gwynn some grace. What do you think?

Luke:Do either of you know what time it is? It’s five in the morning. I’m not supposed to get up this early unless I’m leaving for vacation or have recently become a father.

Izzy:Then don’t sleep with your phone near you, smarty-pants.

Luke:I’m a whole lot smarter than y’all. Five in the morning.

Penelope:It’s not five o’clock for me. I’ve been at work for a few hours now. That’s when Matthias told me. This morning when we had scones together. I made strawberry scones and they were DELICIOUS!

Izzy:Oh, Penelope! If there is an Antoinette’s near you, you MUST try their scones. They were the best scones I’ve ever had.

Luke:Oh look! It’s still 5:00 a.m. It’s amazing how both of you can still drive me crazy when you’re not even in my house!

Penelope:It’s a gift.

***

Matt loved this theater, but at the moment, it had taken away too much free time.

And byfree time, he meant time to spend with Penelope. Between the rehearsals, repairs, and now dance lessons, an entire week had gone by with only a few conversations at work, lunch together after church, and two days of bicycling to work together. The meeting with the team about this possible “mole” in the theater brought no answers, except to increase everyone’s caution about sharing information. He’d discovered the other log-in address but didn’t recognize it, so he’d need to do a little more investigating. But whatever the theater ended up putting out for the whole world to see became fair game, for the most part.

However, not even the annoyance of Emblem’s “cheating,” as Penelope called it, had dampened the continued growth of The Darling House’s business. Sales were up. Donations were up. And they’d had the most auditions for parts inPeter Panthan they’d had in more than ten years. Grandfather had taken over his old responsibilities, leaving Matt to keep the books, assist with repairs, and... dance?

He greeted Jamie Carson’s da, Mark, with a handshake and a gesture toward the opposite chair in The Braw Bean. Matt had always liked Mark, but recognizing the man’s passion for theater, and particularly The Darling House, only secured Matt’s desire to teach his son to dance even more. It was strange how just agreeing to do this fueled Matt’s yearning to dance again.

They’d just ordered coffee and a breakfast buttery when amovement outside the window drew his attention. Bright teal. Ginger hair.

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