Page 23 of Small Town Prince Charming

“Sure.” She’d seen the practices and the girls looked good. “It’s all last-minute stuff? It should be almost ready.”

“It is, but this was supposed to be held a week before the musical, not opening on the same weekend. It’s too much,” Donnah said. She shook her head and rested her hands on her hips. “Our backdrop has to be taken down practically the moment the show ends.”

“Who did the scheduling?” She should pay more attention.

“Derek. The theatre board has been having issues, and he volunteered to schedule the events for the summer. He’s unqualified, but the board is in shambles.” She pointed to Tracey. “Why don’t you get the board back together and into shape?”

“I don’t know the first thing about running a theatre board.” She could learn, though. “But...I could be convinced after this weekend.”

Keelan ambled onto the stage. “Honestly, anyone would be better at running the board and scheduling than Derek. I’ll nominate you, if you want to run it.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Tracey nodded to Keelan. “I’ll help you tonight—as long as you don’t push me to helm the board.”

“Deal,” he said. “Donnah, I’ll be at the light board. Let me know when you’re ready. I’ve got the program, so just use the song titles, and I’ll know what to do.”

“Thanks,” Donnah said. “We will get through this.”

Tracey followed Keelan out to the audience to the sound board. “Who used to be on the board?”

“Donnah, me, Craig Needles, Jerusha Osborne, Derek and Ryan. Craig, Jerusha and Derek sort of took it over and pushed us out. Derek overran them, so he’s in charge alone.” Keelan settled at the board. “Here are my notes. Really, the recital is in good shape. The big changes will be who to spotlight, but I’ll know that when the girls get here. Ryan will be running the lights for this one.”

He should be watching Maisey with the other parents. “Why doesn’t Derek get help doing anything? He’s not knowledgeable. The theatre is a family. We all work together.”

“You know that, I know that, and so do most of the people in the various casts, but not him,” Keelan said.

The theatre, like Blakes Creek, was a family. Everyone might know what everyone else was doing, but they kept an eye on each other because of the mutual affection. There could be sneakiness and rumors, but the ultimate goal was to do whatever was best for the group at large.

When she looked up from her program, she spotted a woman at the bottom of stage and gesturing to Donnah and one of the girls.

“Who is that?” Tracey murmured. The woman looked familiar, but from behind, she could be anyone.

“That is Mrs. Katie Simec.” Keelan snorted. “She believes she knows just as much about dance as Donnah. She doesn’t, but you can’t convince her otherwise.”

“Wait. She’s the Mrs. Simec? She’s Erin’s mother.” She had no idea.

“Right. She’s also one of Ryan’s ex-girlfriends.” Keelan stared at her. “Yeah. I can’t tell you how serious it ever got, but she still comes around. He’s not enamored with her, but she hasn’t figured that out.”

“Oh.” She tensed. From behind, Katie Simec appeared to be a pretty woman. Pushy, but pretty.

“You should remember her. We went to school together,” Keelan said. “Katie Scott. She married Daniel Simec.”

“The lawyer?” she asked a bit too loud then lowered her voice. “He was my father’s age.”

“Correct.”

“I guess, if she loves him.” She paused. “When did they split? If she dated Ryan, then her marriage to him must’ve gone kerflooey.”

“Nope. He died. Heart attack.” Keelan twirled his pencil. “About four years ago. She got his money and property—including the house Ryan rents. He started living there before he knew her old man owned it, though.”

Tracey’s eyes widened. “Then she’s the Mrs. Simec that Maisey doesn’t like.”

“She’s pushy and likes to flash her money. That’s what she’s up there arguing with Donnah about. She thinks she should be in charge,” Keelan said. “And Erin should be at the front.”

Katie hopped onto the stage and pointed to the lights. She did a sort of soft-shoe dance before she stopped in the middle of the stage.

Seeing her in the spotlight jogged Tracey’s memory. She remembered Katie Scott. Katie had the best voice in her graduating class and always got the lead in the musicals. She’d said she’d be famous and a recording star. She’d wanted to sing, but it appeared she’d never left Blakes Creek. “Did she ever make it big?”

Keelan shook his head. “Nope. She married Daniel pretty much right out of high school. I think she was pregnant with Paige already by then. Nora was born second, then Erin. Katie went from being a big shot at school to bursting with money, then became a widow and everyone catered to her. Ryan didn’t, but I think he dated her because he was bored.”

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