Chapter 14
"Come on, Josie. We're almost home. Just humor me and open it."
My sister had been curious about that envelope ever since I walked out of Alex's trailer with it.
Luna slept as we were driving, and Audrey had mentioned it more than once.
I had refused to open it because I had no idea what was inside.
I hadn't expected money so soon. I didn't expect money at all.
If anything, I felt like I owed him money for the experience.
Memories kept playing in my mind. I thought about the dances and the interaction we had in the trailer. I could clearly remember how he looked at me, how he treated me, how he cared for me. Knowing that and having those memories in my heart made me feel protective of whatever was in that envelope.
"It could be a receipt from being in the show," I said to her, trying to think of the most boring option.
"We already signed that consent form," she said.
"I know, but it might be a receipt or whatever."
"A receipt? Really, Josie?"
"What? It might be."
"It's not a receipt. If anything, it's money. Or even better, a love letter from the director."
I laughed. "I can assure you it's not that," I said with true conviction. This night had already been overwhelming as it was. The notion of there being a love letter in the envelope seemed far-fetched.
"Open it, then," she said. "If you're so convinced it's nothing private, just open it. We're in our neighborhood, Jo. I'm curious about it, and if we wait till we get home, you'll forget about it and never tell me." I didn't say anything for a second or two, and she added, "Please."
I sighed as I turned around in my seat. I had put the envelope in my bag, which I put into the back seat.
I didn't want to show it to my sister. Not only did I want to look at it alone for my own sake, but I was thinking about her as well.
She was still hurt, and she still mentioned things about hating being alone.
I was ecstatic that I had been close to Alex tonight, and I didn't want to share that with her for fear that my happiness would sting.
We were in downtown Missoula, seconds away from her driveway, and she was driving slowly, creeping along to give me time to open it. I aimed the open end of the envelope away from her as I reluctantly opened it. There was a piece of paper folded up.
"It doesn't look like any money," I said, pulling it out a little, and gazing in the end of it.
"What is it?" She reached over to grab it from me, and I snatched it away from her. I had always been the meeker of us two. Normally, I would have forfeited whatever I was holding and never have made such a bold move.
She glared at me when I pulled it away. She asked me what it was, using a phrase with the F-word interjected, and I glanced back to make sure Luna was still sleeping, which she was.
"I'm sorry, but you're freaking me out," Audrey said. "What's in the envelope? Is there something I need to be concerned about?"
"What? What do you mean?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. You're just freaking me out. You never act like this."
"That's because I'm never in this situation. I've never been in a movie before."
"I don't think that envelope has to do with a movie," she said, smiling and gesturing to it.
"All the more reason for me to…" I trailed off because I didn't know what I was saying.
"Hide it from me?" she said, finishing my sentence.
"No. I'm not hiding it, I'm just looking at it first when I'm by myself, that's all.
I don't know what it is. Besides, we're here.
" I put the envelope into my bag and turned in my seat to wake my niece.
I had seen enough to know that there was a handwritten note on that piece of paper, and I was happy I had put an end to her questions, even if she was slightly offended.
I had no idea what was in there, and I didn't want to share it.
I helped her inside with Luna. She was zonked, so Audrey and I collectively decided that she could just get into a t-shirt for bed and go without a bath.
I left them while Audrey was still getting Luna settled in her room.
I had been programmed to take care of her during every waking moment, but I knew it was time to let Audrey get back to it.
Plus, I wanted to get to my room so that I could open that envelope.
I didn't have a bathroom connected to my room, so I stopped in the hall bathroom for a moment first. I took a shower in record time so that I could be out of the bathroom when Audrey finished putting Luna to bed.
I got soap on my body, and then I washed it off.
No wasted movements. I was finished in there and in my room in no time.
I made it in there while my sister was still preoccupied with Lu.
I locked the door, which I never did. I did it quietly, but I wanted to relax, so I locked it. I sat on the edge of the bed and took the envelope out of my bag. It was just a normal, white, business envelope, and I took the paper out of it again. This time, I set it on my lap and opened it.
There were two loose things inside the paper.
One was a check and the other was a picture from an instant camera.
It was the shot of Alex and me at the carousel, and I smiled at the sight of it.
It was a nice picture of us with lights and color all around us.
I held it up, staring at it and remembering the moment we took it.
I studied it for several long seconds before looking at the check.
It was a personal check that was written to me for the amount of two hundred dollars.
I only took that in for a second before getting to the letter.
There was a lot written, and it was in small, neat print in the middle of the page. I started reading at the top.
Josie,
You'll get a check from the production company for the amount Cameron discussed with you.
That will hardly be enough for you to pay for travel expenses, so I'm including gas money in this envelope.
I also borrowed Cameron's printer and made you a copy of the picture from the carousel.
As I write this, I'm preparing for the evening's work.
You should be here shortly, and hopefully I'll get to dance with you.
Maybe even twice. If you're reading this letter, that means I also got to see you in my trailer, and that's good news.
I like you, Josie. I need you to know that.
I did not expect to grow fond of a woman while I was in Montana, but it seems the heart does what it wants.
Please say I can see you tomorrow morning.
Maybe we've already made plans by the time you read this.
If not, please think about meeting me in the morning. I'll call you at midnight tonight.
One last thing, I was thinking we probably should consider getting married.
You can take that as a joke if you want.
Talk to you soon,
Alexander Jude Stockton
I heard a jiggle of my door handle followed immediately by a loud knock on my door. I was so startled that I gasped and jumped off the bed, clutching the note guiltily.
"Josie, why's your door locked?"
"Oh, it is? Hang on," I said, trying to sound calm even though I was now sprinting around my room.
I flung the letter, along with the check, photograph, and envelope, under my pillow.
I stood back to make sure it wasn't showing, and I went to my drawer and took one of the hundred-dollar bills I had in my stash of cash.
I quickly slipped it into my back pocket. I was so shocked and in a hurry that it took me no more than a few seconds to do all of that. I smiled on my way to the door, thinking about how good it felt to give her a hundred dollars and tell the truth… at least the partial truth.
"Hey, I looked at that envelope," I said, digging in my back pocket with too much movement. "It had money." I came up with the hundred and flashed it to her. "He gave us two of these." I loved telling the truth about the amount.
"What? Cameron said it was a hundred each, even Luna. She specifically told me that."
"Oh, no, this was… it wasn't part of what they agreed to pay us. That'll still come. Alex was just giving us… gas money."
Her head snapped back. "Is this guy in love with you?"
"No," I said easily. "If anything, he feels bad for me." I cringed inwardly because I had no idea why I said that.
"Why would he feel bad for you?" She seemed offended on my behalf.
I shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't mean that. But he doesn't like me," I lied. It seemed to roll off my tongue easily.
"Well, whatever," she said, taking the hundred-dollar bill from me. "He has no reason to feel bad for you. I was coming to tell you goodnight."
"Oh, night."
"Kai's parents really want to see Luna, so they're picking her up in the morning.
She'll stay the night with them. Can you pack her things and be here in the morning when they come?
We were talking about meeting at the restaurant, but I was going to let Lu sleep in since we were out so late tonight. "
"Yeah, no, uh, what time are they coming?" I asked.
"Uh, nine or so? Ten?" She said, looking at me awkwardly. "Why, do you have plans?"
"No, nine's good."
Nine was not good. Ten was especially not good. Part of me knew I was going to try to see Alex in the morning. But I couldn’t tell my sister the truth about it. Especially not right after I told her he didn't like me.
"Thanks, Josie, you're the best," she said. "Well, it's late, and I've got an early one in the morning. I'm going to bed."
"Okay, night."
"I'll text you if Dan and Katherine change plans, otherwise they'll be here between nine and ten to pick her up."
I nodded. "Sounds good."
"Go ahead and pack her for two days just in case she stays."
"I'll be leaving by then, and I want to see her," I said.
"Oh, yeah, that's right. Whatever you think."
I hugged my sister and told her goodnight, but I felt frustrated. I was mad at myself that I couldn’t tell her I had plans.
I got a call from Alex at midnight.
"Hello?" I said, picking up the phone.
"Hey," he said.
His voice. I had said one small word, and I loved it so much.
"I finally have my trailer to myself."
"I'm amazed at how hard you work. I can't believe that whole process."
"Did you like it?"
"I loved it. I'm stunned at how big it was. I didn't know you built that big dancehall building on the ranch. That was perfect."
"It just got built. The Sutters did that. Henry's dad felt bad about our setback last year, and he used the extra time to build it for us."
"That’s so nice," I said.
"I know. He said he would use it in the future, but still."
"You must have secured your budget. It seems like everything was really well done. The equipment and everything is so nice. Your trailers, too."
"Thank you. Wait till you see the wagons. I'm very thankful. I made some pretty daring moves on the stock market that worked out, and I also got a really good investor."
"Who is it?"
"It's my grandfather, but he thinks I don't know. He swore he wouldn't do it so soon, but he saw my returns on some things, and he… he's doing it under someone else his name to make it seem like it's not him."
"Are you serious?" I asked.
"Yes, I am. I couldn't make that up," he said, laughing.
"Do you know for sure it's him?"
"Yes, and he jumped through hoops to make sure I didn't find out. He has no idea I know."
"Why did he do it like that?"
"I don't know. I tried to figure out his motives, but it's not really worth it.
I'm sure he'll break down and tell me the truth once I get a deal with a streaming company.
He gave me access to more than I asked for.
Plus, Henry's dad with the building. And I made my own money.
We're in a lot better place than we were last year at this time. "
"That's amazing," I said.
"We got a really good shot of us tonight on that second dance."
"Oh, yeah?"
"The whole thing came out really good, but right at the beginning, we got that shot with your dress and the camera on the floor. That color purple is so perfect."
"That's all you. You knew just what to do."
"Well, sometimes it happens like that. You get what you envision. And sometimes it doesn't. No guts, no glory. It did work out this time. The whole thing was perfect. Everyone did a good job. I was really happy with what we got tonight."
"Yay," I said.
"Hey, I'm sorry to get to the point, but time is scarce out here.
I have to get up before dawn for some sunrise scenes coming up next week.
I have to scout some things out for that.
I wanted to see you tomorrow, though, if I can.
I have a window between nine and noon. It's not enough time for me to make it to Missoula, but I would love to see you.
Could you possibly come out here during that time? "
"I have Luna until nine or ten, so that will put me getting there as late as eleven."
"I wish you could still come," he said. "We could hang out for an hour and then you could stay as long as you want while we're filming."