Chapter 22
Tori pushed open the door to Coastal Coffee at lunchtime, the bell jingling overhead as she stepped inside. The now familiar hum of conversation and clinking of mugs went silent as she stepped inside.
A hush fell over the room. Every single person in the cafe turned to stare at her, and the heat of a blush swept across her cheeks. It seemed that news traveled quickly in a small town.
She took a deep breath. Okay, so it was apparent everyone in town had heard the news. That much was clear. She squared her shoulders and threaded her way back to the counter, ignoring the stares, and sat on a stool. Beverly stood behind the counter, silently watching her.
“So, you heard. Everyone heard.” Tori didn’t have to ask. She knew the answer.
Beverly pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded in silent agreement.
“I just wanted to be Tori Duran. Someone who used to come to the island. Who loved the island. I wanted to give back to Magnolia Key.”
Beverly’s eyes softened slightly. “Why didn’t you just tell us who you were? Tell me? Tell Gavin?”
She sighed and ran her fingers along the smooth edge of the counter. “I wanted to leave that life behind me. Find peace here.”
Doubt continued to linger in Beverly’s eyes. “Is that really want you want?”
“Yes, really.” Besides, she could never go back to Broadway after what happened. Never. And she really had no desire to now. But she did have to keep Chloe safe. Keep her from being blacklisted in the theater world. And it did happen. Often. You crossed the wrong people and your career was over.
The door popped open, and a man walked in with a camera hung around his neck. “Victoria. Victoria,” he called out excitedly as he started into the cafe. “There you are. Can I have a few words from you?”
Panic started to swell up in her, and she looked helplessly at Beverly.
“I’ve got this.” Beverly stepped out from behind the counter and intercepted the man. “You should leave.”
Ignoring Beverly, the man turned and called back to Tori. “Victoria, do you plan to come back to the stage? What’s your next play going to be? Your last one broke records for ticket sales.”
Nash Carlisle rose from his table and walked over to the reporter. “The lady asked you nicely to leave.” His tone left no room for argument.
The reporter looked from Beverly to Nash and scowled. “Fine. I’ll catch her later.” He turned and left.
“Thanks, Nash,” Beverly said.
He nodded and sat back down at his table. Beverly returned to the counter.
“Thank you,” Tori said quietly as relief washed over her.
Beverly’s expression softened as she looked at Tori. “I don’t know why you wanted to keep who you are a secret. Or maybe you needed to. But I do think you at least owed Gavin the truth. It’s obvious that he cares about you.”
Cared about her. Maybe. Past tense. Because she wasn’t certain how he was going to feel about her now. “Maybe I should have told him. And I planned to after the opening. Things were going so well between us. I just wanted to let the opening go smoothly before I rocked the boat.”
“I get that. But Gavin doesn’t trust easily. He’s been hurt before. I’m not sure you can come back from this.”
“Maybe not.” What a mess she’d made of everything. And she still couldn’t tell Gavin the whole truth. She couldn’t risk her niece’s career.
If that meant things were over with her and Gavin, then that’s just the way things had to be. Because she didn’t think he would understand why she did what she did unless he knew the whole truth. And that was something she couldn’t tell him, even if she wanted to. She refused to put her wants over Chloe’s future.
Beverly reached out and took her hand. “You’re a good person, Tori,” she said gently. “You’ve been through a lot, but you’re still standing, aren’t you? That takes strength and courage.”
Tears threatened to spill at Beverly’s support and kind words.
Beverly squeezed her hand. “You’ll figure it out. I have faith in you.”
Back at the theater that afternoon, the lighting technician, a young man with a head of unruly curls, knocked tentatively on her door. “Miss Duran,” he began, his voice wavering slightly. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize who you were. I’m such a fan of your work. I’m so honored to be working with you.”
She just smiled at him and nodded. Then the lead in the play, a vibrant woman with a strong stage presence, came in gushing about working with her. Then numerous other actors in the play.
So the news was out, and everyone was treating her differently. She let out a sigh. She should head over to The Bike Shop and talk to Gavin. Get that over with. There was no use sitting here dreading their confrontation. And she was certain it would be more confrontation than conversation. She could almost picture the accusation in his eyes.
She pushed up from the desk and headed outside. As she walked along the sidewalk, people stared at her curiously. Or frowned at her. And she wasn’t sure which was worse. The sunlight and gentle breeze did nothing to lift her mood. Her footsteps grew slower and slower as she neared The Bike Shop.
She took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped inside, bracing herself for what lay ahead.
Jonny glanced up from behind the counter. “Miss Duran. Uh… hello.” His eyes were wide with recognition. He stared at her. He knew.
“I’m looking for Gavin.”
“Uh, ma’am. He’s not here now.” He fidgeted, ignoring her gaze.
“Do you know when he’ll be back?” She glanced around the shop, briefly wondering if he was here and hiding from her.
“I’m not certain.”
“Okay, thank you. Will you tell him I stopped by and I’m looking for him? I’d like to talk to him.”
“I’ll tell him, ma’am.”
She headed back outside, uncertain where to go or what to do. Her whole life was in an upheaval. How did this all happen when all she had wanted was to make sure the opening of the theater was a success?
She decided to head back to the sanctuary of her apartment. At least there would be no people there. She’d be away from the prying eyes, the stares.
Well, at least until some reporter discovered where she lived. It was a small town. Everyone knew she lived here. And she was certain, for a price, someone would leak the address.
She rounded the corner to her street and peered down it. Luckily, she saw no one hanging around the house. She hurried down the street and inside, climbing the stairs to safety.
Her phone rang as she got inside, locking the door securely behind her as if that would lock out her problems. She tapped the phone and answered. “Hello?”
“Aunt Victoria, I just saw an article about you. I didn’t know you’d bought a theater on Magnolia Key. Isn’t that where you used to go with your grandmother when you were a girl?”
“It is.” She sank onto a welcoming chair and slipped off her shoes, sinking back on the comforting cushions the held her in their embrace.
“All the news outlets have articles questioning if you’re coming back to Broadway.”
“No, I have no plans to.”
“So you’re going to live on the island?”
That had been her tentative plan. Move here permanently. Settle down. But now? With the look of distrust and unease in everyone’s eyes? She just didn’t know.
“I’m not really sure. But enough talk about me. Let’s talk about you.” She changed the subject. “I read the reviews on the play you’re in. You’re getting rave reviews.”
“I am pleased with how it’s going. This is a good stepping stone to even bigger plays.”
“I’m happy for you, Chloe.”
“Thanks, Aunt Victoria. I will say, I miss having you here. Going out for lunch with you at that little restaurant on the corner. Chatting about all the Broadway gossip.”
The last thing she wanted was to chat about any Broadway gossip. Though, she guessed she was the current topic of most of the gossip at the moment.
“I miss you too, honey. I’ll visit you.” She just didn’t know when, because she didn’t dare show her face in New York City right now.
But hopefully, the gossip would die down. It always did. They moved on to juicer topics. Someone would sleep with someone’s wife. Some couple would split. Some star would give a lackluster performance. There was always some gossip to be shared.
She sighed, knowing she had no desire to go back to that life. But what life would she have here?
She’d heard how the townspeople had stopped trusting Gavin after the media had twisted his words. What would they do to her now that they knew she had hidden her identity?
“Come visit soon, okay?”
“I’ll try. Maybe we could meet somewhere? Take a little trip?”
“I’m pretty tied up with the play right now.”
“Oh, I’m sure you are.” There wouldn’t be many breaks in Chloe’s future until the play ran its course.
“Dad said to say hi if I talked to you. He was pleased you bought the theater. He remembers you talking about it when you got home from your trips there. But honestly, we both wonder why you left Broadway. You didn’t even tell us that last play would be your very last one. We would have thrown a huge party. Something.”
“I… I didn’t want anyone to make a fuss.” That part was true, at least. She could admit that.
“Well, I have to run. I just wanted to check in with you. I hope you’re at least having a good time working on the theater.”
“I am.” She had been. Before all this. “I’ll talk to you soon, sweetie.”
“Bye, Aunt Victoria.”
The line went dead, and she was faced with a silent apartment. No hum and excitement like at the theater. A silence as deafening as the one when she walked into Coastal Coffee earlier.
She hoped she had something to make for dinner here because she had no plans to go out anywhere to eat. If she did, she’d just run into people and have to face the stares. She headed to the kitchen and rummaged through the cabinets. Not much here, but she’d make do with something.
She glanced at her watch. She still had to run over to the theater and lock up. She’d go after dark when hopefully no one would see her. She’d lock it up and come straight back home.
And maybe Gavin would come by once he heard she’d been looking for him. Or… maybe not. He might be too mad at her.
She dropped her head into her hands, wondering how all this had gotten so out of control.