Page 109 of Just Trouble

Wookie appears on the stage far below. “The electrical is a nightmare,” he says, with a lot of extra words tucked around those ones.

I didn’t expect otherwise.

“It’s all got to go,” he says and stamps a foot hard. “The stage is solid, but the workings back here are ancient. I’d rip it all out and start over. No matter who uses this place, they’re going to need equipment they can count on, not something out of the basement of the Opera Garnier.”

“Phantom of the Opera,” Daph says, sliding into a seat at the end of a row.

“Eighteenth century, I’m thinking.” I raise my voice. “The acoustics are great, Wookie.”

“Yeah,” he cedes. “These old places have that going on, at least.” He nods, thinking. “Perimeter check,” he says. “Basement and roof.” Then he waves and heads out.

“It’s beautiful,” Daph says, but her tone isn’t dreamy.

I’d bet my last buck that she has some kind of idea.

It may cost me my last buck to fix this place up. The scope of the repairs, even with a glance, is beyond my expectations. Have I bitten off more than I can chew this time? It wouldn’t be thefirst time that enthusiasm steered me false, but this might take me further off course than ever.

I admit this to Daph and she smiles.

“Where does it say that you have to do it alone?” she asks. “I know you’re used to doing things alone and not counting on anyone to help, but maybe it’s time to mix that up.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You’d have to incorporate, but you could sell shares in the theatre. Voting shares or not, you set up the tiers and the numbers and people invest in the project. You diminish your own risk and liability in so doing.” Her eyes narrow as I stare at her, practically watching her mind work.

Bloody hell.

“Or you could take donations. I’ll have to check with my dad as to how that would be set up. I’ve never done it before, but essentially, people would pitch in to help with the cost of the renovations. For a ten thousand dollar donation, for example, your name is permanently on the wall of the lobby. For twenty-five, your name is bigger and listed somewhere else. Maybe it’s embroidered on the curtains. Maybe for fifty thousand, you get two tickets to every production mounted here.” She frowns, continuing to astonish me as she thinks out loud. “Or maybe that’s part of a different program. A yearly membership and maintenance subscription.”

I sit down hard beside her. “Would people do that?”

“Are you kidding me?” She turns to face me and I realize how little expectation I have of those in my hometown—and it’s not deserved. “Didn’t you notice that pretty much everyone in town came out for dinner at the café last night?” I’m thinking of exactly that. The place was packed. Merrie said she was booked out for the week, and word of mouth hasn’t even started. “People live here,” Daph says. “People care about their homes. Peoplelove being part of a solution, especially when all they have to do is write a cheque.”

I’m so blown away by this idea that I don’t know what to say.

“Bad idea?” she asks, looking confused.

“It’s brilliant, Daph. It’s absolutely bloody brilliant.” And in case she isn’t sure of my enthusiasm, I kiss her senseless.

Damn. What a team we are.

Then Wookie whistles from the stage. “You gotta see this roof, Luke. It’s holding together with a wing and a prayer.”

“Can we fix it?”

“We can replace it. The basement’s dry, though. If you’re doing this, I’ll need Steig and Blondie here to help, ideally Rasta and Solo, too.”

“We’re doing it!” I shout and Daph laughs beside me. “And oh, hey, Wookie, we have about eight weeks to get it done.”

That prompts him to loose a stream of expletives that turns the air blue. Daph and I grin at each other, and I can’t wait to begin.

It takesa particular kind of insanity to try to bring a reunion concert together in just eight weeks, tossing in the renovation of an old theatre and the reunion of a band that is missing one key member.

I guess I have it.

I remind myself that the first word in the band’s name has never been so apt, but I don’t have time to think about it. There’s just too much to do.

On the other hand, it feels as if the project has someone watching over it. I have to believe that Taylor is influencing results, giving things a nudge when they get knotty, pullingtogether elements with welcome ease. We avoid big crises. We have a couple of lucky breaks that are nearly miracles. Taylor’s younger brother, Jason, for example, plays as well as Taylor and knows our entire catalogue. He’s thrilled when we learn that and ask him to take Taylor’s place for the tribute.

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