Page 48 of Off the Beaten Path

I roll down my window as the officer nears, hoping I’m wrong.

“Evening, sir,” the officer says. “A tractor trailer carrying oil overturned up ahead. It blocked off the lanes on both sides of the highway and spilled oil everywhere, so it’s probably going to be a while before anyone can get moving. Do you have plenty of gas? It’s a cold one tonight.”

I nod numbly, my mind already racing.

“Thank you, sir,” Mom murmurs from beside me, but I barely hear her.

The window hums as it rolls up, and I think through my options. June is on the other side of town, blocked off from me, Mom, and Finley.

“Grey,” I say aloud, reaching for my phone. “He’s on the other side of town, at Misty Grove. I need to call Grey.”

Ialwaysgetjitterythe day of an event, and this one is no exception. So far, everything has gone according to plan, which is practically unheard of when it comes to event planning. All my volunteers, Jodi excluded, arrived on time, the caterers have been cooking in the event barn’s kitchen, and Finley dropped off the floral arrangements a few hours ago. The barn looks like a magical dream. Twinkle lights hang from the rafters and look like stars peppering the night sky. Tiny candles float in votives, giving the room a warm, golden glow, and the columns are draped in swaths of tulle.

In less than twenty minutes, the bachelors will come out for the meet and greet with the auction attendees. The first of the guests have arrived, filling the barn with the cadence of voices over the soft music the band is playing in the background.

In short, it’s perfect.

That is, until I see Grey. The look on his face tells me something is very, very wrong. My first thought goes to June and Holden, and dread sinks like a weight in my stomach, buckling my knees.

“What’s wrong?” I ask the second he’s near enough, trying to keep my voice down so I don’t alarm the attendees filtering in through the barn doors.

“Holden just called me,” he says.

I’m shocked at how calm and steady his voice sounds when my heart is pounding in my chest.

Worry creases the lines beside his eyes, but he keeps his composure as he explains. “There’s an accident blocking the highway, and Holden, Jodi, and Finley can’t get to June’s school for the musical. He was calling to see if I could go.”

The words settle on me, and now that I know everyone is safe, I can clearly think through all my options. Grey’s face is plastered on a poster on the other side of the room and in the event programs, along with the rest of the bachelors. I’ve already heard talk around town of him being a hot commodity. He’s sure to bring in a lot of money for the fundraiser. But on the other hand, June can’t be left alone. I can still clearly picture the tears in her eyes at the dinner table last week, the way my heart shattered in my chest at the sight of it.

“I’ll go.” The words spring out of me before I’ve even fully come to the conclusion in my head. “You have to stay here for the auction, but my volunteers can take over.” I meet his eyes, my voice more steady now. “I’ll go.”

Grey watches me for a long moment, and I get the feeling I’ve just passed a test I didn’t even know I was taking. His expression softens. “Yeah, you should go. I’ll tell Holden.”

I’m nodding, thinking through everything I need to get done before he’s even finished speaking. I need to find Stevie. She can take over, and the rest of the volunteers have been doing this for years. They know what they’re doing.

When I turn around, Stevie is already there. “You need me to take over?”

“Please,” I answer. “I wouldn’t go, but it’s…”

A soft smile touches her lips. “I know. I can handle it.”

With that, I head for the doors, checking the clock on my phone. I only have fifteen minutes to get to the school and find a seat before the show starts. I should probably call Holden, let him know I’ve got it under control, but I don’t have time. I’m not going to let June perform for one second without someone in that audience rooting for her.

I make my way to the school in record time, and although parking is a mess, I manage to find a spot at the drugstore across the street. Then I rush inside before the curtains draw. The lights are just going down as I slide into a seat near the back. I hope June won’t search for Holden at the front and notice he’s missing.

My phone buzzes in my lap. It’s a message from Holden on the app, because for some reason, neither of us has wanted to use each other’s numbers.

user6872:Wren, I can’t thank you enough.

My eyes fasten on the front as June and the other background performers take the stage. Her smile is wide, and I see no one managed to tame her hair. It’s a wild mess of blond curls. It makes me smile, because even in costume, she looks exactly like herself.

I snap a picture and send it to Holden.

LikeStrawberryWine:Glad to be here!

Swiping out of the app, I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and open the camera, knowing Holden won’t want to miss a thing. My heart is still racing, adrenaline pumping through my veins, but something inside me relaxes as I watch June on the stage, the happy smile never leaving her face. She’s something special. Holden didn’t have to thank me for coming, because I feel lucky to be here.

By the end of the show, my cheeks hurt from smiling at June’s antics on the stage. She may have just been a background performer, but she stole the show. I wish more than anything that Holden could have been here to see it.

---