Page 101 of Just Trouble

The music is back.

Why shouldn’t the band be back?

My idea both terrifies and thrills me, still, even though I’ve purchased the theatre from Nate. Scheduling a performance and a comeback is like a chess game, and this one has high stakes. It’s the biggest project I’ve ever undertaken and that’s scary too. Wookie, our most reliable roadie, will arrive tomorrow to walkthe theatre and give me his assessment. I trust him completely and am determined to pull this off.

Because it cannot fail. I don’t want to disappoint Daph. I want to tell her everything and solicit her advice, but I want to do it when we’re alone.

For the moment, there is dessert.

Sylvia brings it to the table then and I see a hardness in her eyes that echoes my own. Did Patrick even recognize her? Or did he say some asshole thing to put her in her place? I don’t know and I can’t ask, but I recognize that we’re on the same side. I have an ally in Sylvia and I might need every one of those I can find.

There’s a bread pudding studded with fruit and covered with rum sauce, a mixed berry crumble studded with nuts and topped with homemade ice cream. There is the inevitable crème brulée, not looking inevitable at all with its drizzle of blueberry coulis and garnish of fresh fruit. Rafe has some chocolate confection that looks like sin in a dish.

“Maybe a walk around town after dinner,” he says, then digs in.

I have a much better idea of how to burn off these calories but Rafe doesn’t need to hear about it. Daph slants me a look, proving our thoughts are as one, and I smile slowly. I watch her smile without looking at me and can’t wait to get home again.

Home. When did her place become home? I don’t know, but I recognize truth when I hear it and I like that just fine.

25

DAPHNE

I’m surprised that there are journalists—other than Noah, of course, who has come for dinner with his parents and sister—but I shouldn’t be. I know there were press releases sent out. We finish dinner and Luke asks if I want to be part of the interviews. I shake my head and he excuses himself to take care of that business.

Word has circulated that the vintner is in the house, and Mackenzie is in demand, talking people through flights and tastings. I’m content to watch Luke and listen to Rafe grumble about cell phone service. He’s cropping his pictures and uploading them to his social media accounts, showing me his progress as he goes. I’m surprised by how many followers he has as FoodFiend7 and agree for him to add a selfie of us together so long as he leaves out my name.

I’m sure that everyone I know in Empire has come for dinner tonight. Willow and Jim have a table by the window, while Bruno and Marissa arrive later. Everyone is dressed up, too, and I like that Bruno and Marissa are having a date night, too. My dad arrives just before eight with several of his neighbours and stops to chat. I introduce him to Rafe, and he smiles indulgently when he glances toward Luke.

Luke is in his element, charming reporters, posing for photographs, joking with Merrie. He makes it look easy and I’m glad when Patrick and his party leave.

“Unusual choice for you,” Rafe says eventually, not looking up from his phone.

“Yes,” I agree, because it’s true.

He flicks me a glance. “I’m glad to see you taking a chance.”

“What does that mean?”

“That the two of you are so different it’s obvious it can never work out.”

“How can you know that?”

“It’s hot, right? The sex is great. You can’t resist each other. Honestly, it’s coming off the two of you in waves, and I’m happy for you, Daphne. Everyone should have at least one fling like that in their lifetime.”

“Even though it ends.”

“Of course, it ends. That doesn’t mean you don’t love the adventure of it. It doesn’t mean that you don’t learn something. It doesn’t mean you regret it. Just hang on and see where it goes.”

“I thought you were the one with the list.”

“I am, but sometimes you have to chuck the list and have some fun.” He gives me a stern look. “You were past due for that.”

“I have fun…”

“And historically you’ve only dated men who were ‘the marrying type’.” He makes the quotes with his fingers. “There’s nothing wrong with mixing it up a bit. You don’t have to marry every guy you take home. If you did, there’d be a lot more work for divorce lawyers.”

I smile at that.

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