Page 37 of The Weight Of Falling
“What was that look?”
“It was a nothing look,” Tess replies.
“Tell her,” Sofia says at the exact same time.
“Tell me what?” I ask, my uneasiness climbing. “What’s going on?”
There’s a long, awkward pause.
“I spoke to Kate last night,” Tess says carefully. “All of Joel’s photo sessions for today were canceled.”
I don’t immediately grasp what she’s telling me. “I don’t understand. What does that have to do with me?” Then it hits and my stomach drops with horror. “Oh, no. Because of Saturday night?”
Tess’s expression is grim. “Uh-huh.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “People wouldn’t be that mean.”
“The townsfolk are protective of you, Kenz,” Sofia says. “This is their way of standing by you.”
“But this is affecting Joel’s livelihood,” I whisper, the words tight in my chest. I can’t believe it. My spectacular meltdown on our fake date is damaging his business. And in Brown Oaks, grudges aren’t just held; they’re passed down like heirlooms. This could ruin him.
Tess’s lips flatten. “Even Kate has had a shoot cancelled, simply because she works with Joel.” She waves her pen in the air. “You have to set the record straight.”
“I’vetried,” I tell her, guilt prickling my skin. “I’ve told anyone who’d listen that it was the movie, but no one believes me.”
“Some people are just professional busybodies,” Sofia huffs. “They’ve got nothing better to do than stick their noses in otherpeople’s business. Unfortunately, those people hold a lot of sway in Brown Oaks.”
I’m still reeling from the news when the bell above the studio door jingles, and in sweep Liz and Lucy, two of the town’s most relentless gossip couriers. They’re in matching floral sets, hair perfectly set, each carrying a glass casserole dish like it’s their passport to entry.
I straighten warily. “Liz, Lucy, what a...surprise.”
“Not,” Tess mutters under her breath.
“Hi, sweetie,” Liz sing-songs, heading straight for me, her brown eyes gleaming with nosiness barely disguised as sympathy. “We thought we’d pop in to check on you.”
“We were just soworried,” Lucy adds, clearing a space on my worktable and setting her dish down with the ceremony of someone presenting evidence.
“I’m fine,” I tell them, forcing a smile. “Really.”
“You don’t look fine,” Liz says. “You look pale.”
“I’m not surprised,” Lucy cuts in, nostrils flaring. “After what that man did. Black hair to match that black soul of his.”
A surge of protectiveness toward Joel flares in my belly. “Thank you for the casseroles,” I say, keeping my tone even. “I’ll be sure to return the dishes.”
Liz ignores the hint. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you all of yesterday,” she says, pulling out a tissue from her handbag. “You’ve always been such a lovely girl. So kind. So gentle.” She dabs at her eyes. “And there you were, crying your little heart out. You poor thing.”
I can see Tess swallowing down her impatience.
“Actually, I was crying because of the movie,” I tell her. “It was a sad movie.”
Liz knits her brows in disapproval. “Oh, sweetie, you don’t have to protect him.”
I bite back a groan. “I’m not.”
Lucy pats my hand like I’m made of tissue paper. “You know, you don’t have to pretend you’re fine here.”
Sofia lifts her head like a lioness disturbed from a nap. “Oh, she’s not pretending. She is fine.”
