*
Pastor Robinson agreed to go forward.
The traffic reports from the north of town were growing worse by the second. Things to the south weren’t much better, but the traffic was moving. Pastor Robinson’s phone lit up with calls from stranded cast members. Gracie and her dad were trying to figure out exactly which cast members were missing.
I was listening, but I was also thinking. Crazy-Sherlock thinking. Looking from the Civil War soldiers to the nativity costumes, from the arena to the stage.
Gracie watched me. “You’re doing it again, aren’t you? You’re doing your brain thing. Right now.”
I ignored her. “If the pageant is going to be short of players, and the Rebel Yell is, too, we could make a hybrid.”
Pastor Robinson frowned. “You mean like General Grant and General Lee and Santa should give the presents to the Christ child?”
I hadn’t meant that at all, but I stopped for a moment to picture it.
“No, Dad, the Wise Men costumes are here,” Gracie explained. “We could just get someone from the Rebel Yell to put them on.”
“That could work,” he said.
“And,” I was rolling now, “if both casts are down by half, maybe the audiences will be, too. We could combine the shows. And since your congregation can’t barrel race”—I looked to him for confirmation, and he shook his head—“then maybe we can get the Rebel Yell employees to volunteer for us.”
“I like that idea. I like it a lot. Let me feel them out.”
I didn’t mention that I was pretty sure I’d have to recruit waitresses to fill in for the missing angels. The baby angels. The waitresses would look more like prostitutes in their costumes.
At least we had shepherd’s hooks. If things got too scandalous, we could always pull them off the stage.
Gracie didn’t say I had to make a classy pageant happen. Just a pageant.
“Okay, what else?” She had a clipboard and a pencil. It was nice to see her taking my success so seriously, but the clipboard reminded me of a bigger problem.
“The playbook.” It still sat on the director’s stool, in complete disarray, pages sticking out everywhere. “We don’t know what order to put things in. The Rebel Yell people will need markers to know where to go.”
“I can help with that.”
The voice was deep, and it could only come from one person.
Shelby’s blond hair had grown out since his football season buzz cut, and it was sticking up everywhere. His face was unshaven, he had dark circles under his eyes, and his shirt wasn’t buttoned right. I’d never seen him look unkempt before.
“I’m sorry,” I said. In truth, I blurted it. I felt a little more kindly toward Shelby than usual.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry I made those birds crap on your car.” I’d never apologized, and it felt right to do it now. “It wasn’t cool, and I didn’t have a reason. Not a valid one anyway.”
Gracie dropped the clipboard and stepped in front of me. “I told him about your girlfriend.”
“Did you tell him about the Mini Cooper?” Shelby asked, urgently.
Gracie shook her head. “That’s your issue.”
“Dude.” Shelby stepped around her and grabbed me, looking intently into my eyes. “I only drive the Mini Cooper because I have to. My dad gets weird ideas about things”—he jerked his head toward the lassos and clown wigs that were hanging on a nearby Peg-Board—“and that car is one of them. He surprised me with it, and he was so happy … I just wish you’d set it on fire instead of the church.”
“Relax, big boy. I didn’t mean to set anything on fire.”
Gracie stepped in front of me again and knocked off Shelby’s giant, sweaty hands from my shoulders. “But you forgive him, right?”
Shelby’s body was large, but his brain was quick. He looked from me to Gracie. “Seriously? You two?”
“Can you help with the book or not?” Her hands were on her hips. “Because I’m not having this conversation right now, but I will remind you that you owe me.”
“Very true.” Shelby dropped his head. “Fine, hand it over. I know I can put those stage markings in the right place. They’ve always looked like football plays to me.”
Gracie gave it to him, and he sat on the stool, heavily, as if he were exhausted. It creaked under his weight. “I’ll let you know when I’m done,” he called out. “And Gracie? We’ll be having a talk later.”
She waved him off and pulled me to the side of the stage. “That was an impressive apology from you. Unexpected.”
We were right beside a corner. A small, dark corner. A corner that wasn’t in her father’s line of vision. And she was impressed with me.
“Was it reward worthy?” I asked, looking from her to the corner and back again.
“You are cheeky.”
“I acknowledge advantageous situations.”
“Cheeky. And smart, too.” She grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me into the darkness.
I was glad she hadn’t put her costume back on. It’s not like I had her pressed up against the wall or anything, but I was closer to her than I’d ever been. It exceeded expectations. Her hair smelled girly, like spring.
She still had my shirt wrapped around her fist.
“I know I’m trying to make better life choices,” I said, “but I’d commit a crime every day if it meant I got to do this.”
“That’s not logical.” She let go of my shirt. “If you committed daily crimes, the only time we’d have together would be an hour on Sundays.”
I wanted to make a conjugal visit joke, but I didn’t think we were there yet. “So you’re saying you want to spend time with me?”
She answered with a giggle. Gracie wasn’t a giggler.
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m … I’ve never … the only kiss I’ve ever had was with Milo Crutcher in sixth grade, and he stuck his whole tongue in my mouth. I understand his intentions now, but I didn’t then. So, I’ve just … sort of…” She gestured awkwardly with her hands. It was adorable. “I’ve avoided trying it again.”
She thought I was going to kiss her, and she wasn’t running away.
“That’s a shame.” I touched her face, ran my thumb along her cheekbone. “Although I’m glad he ruined it for you. I’ll be happy to be the one to set things right.”
“I b-bet you would.”
I removed my hand from her cheek. “Your teeth are chattering. I’m sorry—”
“Hey.” She grabbed my wrist. “I’m the one who made the move.”
“And I appreciate it.” I tipped up her chin with one finger. “But this probably isn’t the time or place for this, and maybe I want to buy you a steak first.”
“I’m a vegetarian,” she said, but she’d stopped shaking.
I smiled. “I’ll buy you a salad.”
Then I gave her a peck on the forehead and stepped into the light.