13. Brooke
13
brOOKE
The Green Acres Hardware Store looks exactly as it is described in Serena’s books, with a big green awning and hand-painted gold-outlined lettering on the picture window that faces the street.
Brenda asked me to help her pick out some supplies for making scenery, and Lucas came with me because it’s on his way to the temporary office they’ve rented in some house off Main Street.
“At least the name is spelled right,” Lucas says, glancing up at the sign.
“I’ll have to talk to Serena about that. I’m sure she could have worked a pun in there somewhere. Something about getting hammered? I’ll work on it. Anyway, have fun hanging out with Weasel-nut Dickwad. You probably don’t have to waste too much time with him. I’m guessing you could show up and just leave right after. Right after punching his smug weird face.”
“Don't hold back, now.” Lucas smiles wryly. “What do you think of Jasper Whitfield’s COO?”
“Really bad vibes.” I shudder. “I don’t even have a specific reason for hating him so much, but I do. He gives me the ick. ”
“Vibes. Ick. Well, that’s scientific.” Lucas shrugs. “I don’t want to waste my time either, but if we’re supposed to play our parts and let this story unfold, I think I have to at least hang out for a few minutes and pretend to care.” He heaves a sigh. “We’re still in the ‘working towards our separate goals’ part of the book, right?”
“We are.” I frown, nodding in thought. “All right then. Here’s my suggestion. When you go see him today, tell him that you’re wondering how tearing down the businesses is going to affect the individual business owners. Don’t tell him any more than that. You can’t rush it, like you still can’t decide to ditch the whole plan, because it’s too early in the book, but your character should show some signs of growth at this point.”
“Makes as much sense as anything here does. Thanks, Girl Friday.”
“Girl Friday?” I elbow him gently. “We both know who the brains of this operation is.”
He holds his finger up to his lips. “Shhh. Don’t let word get out. All right, have fun on your playdate.” He pauses. “Because you’re buying equipment for a theater... plays, and...”
I shake my head, grinning at him. Lucas making a joke, even if it’s a really bad one? Maybe this universe’s influence on him isn’t all bad.
“Keep your day job,” I say, and head into the hardware store. I glance out the door as I see him walking away.
He’s pulling his phone from his pocket.
As he does, he glances back, almost as if he’s checking to see if anyone’s looking. When his eyes meet mine, he shoves his phone back in his pocket.
Okay, he is definitely hiding something from me.
I walk into the store and look around for Brenda. I don’t see her, but I do see Maxwell and Jessica, the couple from Serena’s book, pushing a baby stroller. Jessica’s got a baby bump. She’s expecting again !
“Oh, my gosh, Maxwell and Jessica.” I cry out before I can stop myself.
“Susie,” Jessica smiles at me. “Susie and I went to high school together,” she adds to her husband. “Her parents owned the theater here before...” she trails off. “I’m sorry,” she says to me.
“It's okay. been a while,” I say, although the pain in my smile isn’t faked. I am sad about my—I mean Susie’s—parents. And I’m getting sadder about them the longer I’m here.
I mean, Henry’s right. My parents would be so disappointed in me. I’ve got a plan, though, and I know Jasper will come around in the end, because underneath it all, he’s got a good heart. He always has.
I shake my head hard, to clear my thoughts.
I didn’t just think that. I’m fine, everything’s fine.
“I just love that you guys are together. I always knew it would happen,” I gush. I mean, Maxwell sure gave her the runaround, but I knew it would all work itself out in the end. She’s sweet and down to earth, he’s something of a grump-hole, and somehow, the two of them just work.
And the way he looks at her?
Swoon.
Jessica gives me a puzzled look. “Really? Maxwell only moved to town a couple of years ago. You never met him, did you?”
Uhhh . . .
“I like to keep up with what’s happening in my hometown. I pretty much internet-stalk everyone from Green Acres, so I pick up on a lot of the gossip.” I smile widely. Maybe a little too widely. Maxwell takes a step closer to his wife.
“Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how happy I am for you guys. I’m your biggest fan.”
Okay, that made even less sense. I’m a fan of Serena’s books, not the people standing in front of me who are now staring at me in complete bafflement.
“I need a fan,” I say desperately. “Uh, the air conditioner isn’t working. Fans. Where do you think they keep their biggest fans?”
Silently, Maxwell points. I spin on my heel and hurry away.
“That went well,” I mutter, blushing furiously.
“What went well?” Brenda’s standing in the paint aisle, holding up some paint swatches and squinting at them.
“Nothing at all. Oh, no, don’t pick glossy paint for a backdrop. Does this hardware store carry scenic paints, by any chance?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know what that is. And probably not. This is my first year with the theater. What is scenic paint?”
“Scenic paints have a matte finish that works much better under stage lights. It’s also generally got a single pigment color, which means that it doesn’t change color under the stage lights.”
She puts her paint swatches back. “That is so cool. I never knew you knew all that stuff,” she says. “I thought that you were strictly into acting.”
“Uh, well, of course acting didn’t work out that well for me, and my focus shifted.” I frown at the paints. “Most hardware stores aren’t going to have what you need. You can special order the scenic paints, but for now, just go with a good matte paint.”
“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver. Want to help me pick the colors? I’m mostly working on the costumes—you know how much I love sewing—but we were shorthanded, so I agreed I’d help work on the scenery too.”
We spend the next half hour browsing through the store and I help her pick out paint colors, muslin, foam board...
“You really should come by the theater some night for rehearsal,” Brenda says .
Shame washes over me. “I . . . I’ll try.”
Brenda’s face softens. “I’m sorry. Does it remind you too much of your parents?”
I nod, wincing. “Uh... yes, it does.” And it makes me think of a life that I left behind, and how I can’t straddle two worlds.
We start making our way towards the cash register, pushing two shopping carts.
“Not to change the subject, but what’s up with Officer Hernandez?” I blurt out.
Smooth, Brooke, real smooth.
“What about him?” Brenda looks at me in puzzlement.
“Uh, is he in the play?”
“No, I don’t think he’s ever shown any interest in the theater.”
“You know what he has shown in interest in, though?” I pause dramatically. “You.”
Okay, I’m about as subtle as a punch to the face. I plow ahead anyway. “He really likes you. I always see him sneaking glances at you. He’s very interested.”
“I don’t think he is. Like I said, he’s my older brother’s best friend. I used to tag around after them and drive them crazy.” She smiles in reminiscence.
“Because you had a crush on him!” I say triumphantly.
“Well, I don’t know about that.” Her cheeks flush. “Maybe a little. A childhood crush.”
Okay. There's hope. “He’s single, you’re single, you like each other. So... why not pursue it?”
“I don’t think that the way he sees me has ever changed. He still thinks I’m that annoying little ten-year-old with braids and freckles, dropping frogs down his shorts.”
“The way he stares at you when he thinks you’re not looking says otherwise. Hey, I know. The Theater Under the Stars thing is coming up in a couple of nights. They’re playing Oklahoma ; that’s an awesome movie. Why not invite him? ”
“Oh, I could never. I’d die of embarrassment. And what if he said no? I’d double-die.” She shakes her head in alarm. “I’m, I’m, uh, I’m going to go pay for this stuff now. See you around.” She hurries off. This conversation is clearly over.
Frustration swells up inside me.
I need to get home to my parents. I love Serena’s books, but I’m starting to resent the damn storyline because I’m feeling like a hostage.
I want to shout at her. Fall in love already, you idiot!
No, no, it’s got to come naturally. I’m sure they’ll both be there at the movie night, and I’ll find a way to get them talking.
But what if he doesn’t show up?
I leave the store and head towards the park, then spend the next half hour walking up and down Main Street until I finally spot Officer Hernandez’s patrol car. I hurry towards it, waving at him.
Officer Hernandez waves back and slows to a stop next to me. He rolls down his window.
“Hey, Officer Hernandez.”
“Hello, Susie,” he says politely, as his car idles. “How’s it going? Can I help you with anything? Getting any grief from the townspeople?”
“Nah, I think they’re mostly focused on Lucas. Jasper,” I correct myself quickly. “They’re focused on Jasper.”
His brow furrows the teeniest bit. “Well, let me know if anyone starts making threats or getting physical.”
I nod. “Listen, you know that Theater Under the Stars thing that’s coming up in a couple of days? Are you working that night?”
He flashes me a startled look. “Are you asking me on a date? I mean, no offense, you’re very attractive and all that. I’m just not really looking for anything right now...”
I shake my head vigorously, taking a step back from the car. “ No, no, good Lord. Not me. I’m not asking for me. I just happen to know that Brenda is going that night.”
“She is?” His brown eyes go soft and shiny, and his eyebrows lift. Ha. So he’s not looking for anything with anyone who’s not Brenda. This is promising.
“She is. And she’s been asking about you.” I glance around quickly, hoping lightning doesn’t strike me down—again. I mean, I’m not totally lying. She may not have verbalized it, but she’s definitely been thinking about him.
“Really?”
I nod vigorously. “Yes. Do you have just a minute? She’s been talking about you a lot.”
He turns the ignition off and steps out of the car.
I smile at him. “Let me tell you all about it.”