Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
DANA
Dried brown leaves clung to the oak trees lining Main Street. The maple trees were already completely bare. The Boston ivy, its bright red leaves trailing up the brick wall of the shop in front of me, was the only autumnal touch of color remaining.
The crisp morning air sent a much-needed jolt through my central nervous system. Now all I needed was one of George’s expertly crafted double-shot cappuccinos and I’d be fully functional.
After spending all week on Red Tractor Farm, it was nice to escape both the farm and the film crew, who had continued to make too much noise and generally get in my way, although to be fair I hadn’t heard them at all this morning.
What was Emily doing right now? I bit my lip.
While I was looking forward to seeing her again tonight, after Jake’s visit yesterday the last thing I felt like was being surrounded by all things Christmas at the ice-skating rink.
A door slammed nearby. I winced as pain shot through my head.
I needed caffeine—fast. I’d have brunch at Novel Gossip, hopefully catch up with George and Hannah if they were working.
And then, once I was caffeinated and full of delicious food, I might feel more like calling Mom and letting her know I wouldn’t be coming home for Thanksgiving yet again.
She would be disappointed, but surely she’d understand?
Oak leaves crunched under my feet as I beelined toward Novel Gossip. I’d try to make it up to Mom by suggesting I visit another time. Another time when Mom and Dad would be alone. We could meet in town again, far away from their house and all those memories. We were long overdue for a catch-up.
I swung open the door to Novel Gossip, the scent of rich coffee and baked goods sending my taste buds watering. George’s cappuccino couldn’t come fast enough.
I stopped just inside. Had George rearranged the furniture?
Olivia’s flower arrangements in the center of the round wooden tables were Christmas-themed—evergreen holly, red winterberries and Christmas ferns.
Surely it was a little early for that? Emily probably wouldn’t think so, but she definitely wasn’t objective when it came to Christmas-related topics.
A plastic Christmas tree, decorated in gold tinsel and ornaments, stood next to the door.
I held back a groan. Why did the start of the Christmas season seem to get earlier and earlier every year?
And why on earth had George used a plastic tree?
She’d heard Olivia and me complaining about how terrible fake trees were for the environment.
I stepped farther in and spotted Blake, Jenny, and Olivia sitting at one of the tables near the window.
Rory Goldsworthy was at the table next to them.
I blinked. Was he wearing a suit? I hadn’t seen him in one of those since his niece got married.
What the hell was going on? My head throbbed. I really needed a coffee.
As I took the next few steps into the café, someone cleared their throat.
I looked over, and my stomach plummeted.
Charles was standing behind two cameras on the other side of the café.
Goddamnit. I can’t get away from them.
The cameras were aimed at Emily and Austin, who sat at a round table. Emily met my gaze and broke into a wide smile. I lifted my hand in greeting, returning her smile.
“Are you going to make a habit of this?” Charles asked.
“I didn’t realize you were filming here.”
“You didn’t see the sign?” Charles raised his eyebrows.
“What sign?” I frowned, glancing back toward the door.
“The enormous sign on the door saying ‘Filming in progress. Do not enter.’”
“I haven’t had my coffee yet.”
My perfectly reasonable explanation didn’t appear to make any impression on Charles.
“Well, you can either take a seat as an extra or leave. I don’t care which one you pick, just do it fast. We’re on a schedule here.”
“Can I just grab a coffee and go?” I glanced over to the counter. Where was George?
“No, it’ll be too disruptive.” Charles’ expression softened slightly. Could he see how desperate I was? “But if you take a seat as an extra, George will be bringing over some coffee as part of the scene.”
I looked over at my friends. There was a spare seat next to Olivia. Jenny enthusiastically beckoned me over. There was no way I was buying coffee from Dippin’ Donuts, so did I really have a choice? I sighed. “Okay. Thanks.”
“Someone get Dana a release to sign!” Charles barked.
I took a seat next to Olivia, wearing a dress covered in pink peonies.
Thank god I’d put on a clean navy sweater and jeans today.
A man jogged over with a pen and paper. I squinted at the tiny print on the paper, my head throbbing even harder.
I scrawled my name at the bottom without reading it.
If it contained something really outrageous hopefully I’d be able to contest it on the grounds of caffeine withdrawal.
“Hey,” whispered Jenny, grinning. Jenny wasn’t usually even up yet at this time, but this morning she was bright-eyed, her long blond hair perfectly falling down her blue sweater.
“I’m so glad you could make it after all.
This is so much fun. We’re pretending to catch-up, moving our mouths like we’re talking while they’re filming. ”
Something in my brain clicked. Of course. This was the café scene we’d practiced on Thursday night. It was also the scene that George had invited me to be an extra in—something I fervently had not wanted to do. And yet, here I was.
“Yeah, Roz is really missing out,” Olivia added, rearranging the red winter berries in the middle of the table.
Blake pulled up the left sleeve of her black bomber jacket and glanced at her watch, and then ran her hand through her short brown hair. “Hopefully the filming will finish soon.”
Jenny shot her a look that was both affectionate and slightly despairing.
I held back a chuckle. Blake was clearly here under duress.
Over at the counter, George now stood behind the shiny red coffee machine, wearing a red apron over a blue button-down shirt.
The sound of steaming milk travelled across the café.
Oh thank god. Please let that be my coffee.
George placed two mugs of coffee on the counter and I sighed with relief.
Charles said something to George. She nodded and removed the coffee from the counter.
I tensed. Wait, what is she doing? Where is my coffee?
The cameras moved closer to the counter.
“Quiet, please,” Charles yelled. “And...action!”
The cameras slowly scanned the coffee machine and then the counter as George placed the coffees down again. They were filming the coffee? Please let this not be a multiple takes situation. I wanted my coffee steaming hot.
Jenny and Olivia started a silent conversation that they both seem very invested in. Were they lip reading each other or was the whole thing fake? I was too distracted by what was going on with my coffee to pay attention.
Hannah appeared on the other side of the counter in a matching red apron over wide-legged blue jeans and a gray sweater.
She picked up the coffees and began to walk toward us.
Wow, Hannah had agreed to be on camera? Despite being a best-selling author, she generally tried to avoid public appearances.
As she passed Emily and Austin, my gaze slipped to the actors. Under the table, Austin’s hand rested on Emily’s leg. I narrowed my eyes. Was that really necessary? While I could see under the table, surely the cameras couldn’t.
“Cut!” Charles yelled. “Dana, please don’t stare at the actors or glare directly at the camera. Just act like we’re not here.”
Oops. My face heated.
I forced my gaze back on my friends.
“And...action!”
A few moments later, a mug of coffee appeared in front of me. Finally.
“Thank you,” I mouthed to Hannah, remembering just in time I wasn’t actually allowed to speak.
Holy crap, it smelled good. It took all my willpower not to throw it back like a shot of tequila. In case the cameras were on us, I picked up my mug and sipped it, resisting the urge to moan out loud. Nothing beat George’s coffee.
My shoulders relaxed as I gulped down another mouthful. Caffeine spread through my veins, warm and energizing. The throbbing in my head began to subside, although the general feeling of unease that had been sitting heavy in my stomach since Jake’s visit yesterday remained.
Jake. He was having a baby. With Kelsey.
They had everything I wanted—our family farm, with its sprawling orchards and cattle, my parents, each other, and now a child too.
It was hard not to compare my life to theirs.
They were living my dream, while I’d been the one to lose everything.
I took another gulp of coffee. I was being dramatic.
I had great friends and I loved Red Tractor Farm and Sapphire Springs.
Until Jake showed up unannounced, I’d been quite satisfied with the life I’d built for myself here.
“Cut!” Charles rushed past, holding a wad of paper with notes scribbled on them. “Okay, where is our grumpy waitress? Is she feeling better now?”
The same man who’d given me the release form muttered something in Charles’ ear.
“Shit. Hopefully it’s not contagious. We’ve held off filming her lines as long as we can. We’ll need a new grumpy waitress.” He frowned at Hannah and George. “You two are too cheerful.” He gazed around the room until he reached our table. “Dana. You’d be perfect.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Me?”
I glanced at Emily, who looked like she was trying not to laugh. She’d better not tell him that I was actually well acquainted with the grumpy waitress role.
“Yes, you,” Charles said. “It’s the least you can do after ruining three shoots.”
“Three?” Olivia’s eyes widened.
“I’ll tell you later,” I muttered, before turning to Charles. “Surely there’s someone more qualified than me who can help.”