Page 50 of As They Are (Strawberry Springs #2)

WREN

RWL Superfan Discussion Central

Jamie McCullough : Any predictions for how much longer it’ll take before Wren and Jude are back together? I’m getting bored.

Comments:

Neve Bullock : I’d bet on it being the finale. They’ll drag it out as long as possible to keep us watching.

Alicia Parrish : I don’t know, maybe Wrenry is an actual thing? I could see it.

Kerry Winsor : Wrenry?

Alicia Parrish : It’s a couple name. Their names combined. Everyone knows that.

Kerry Winsor : Well I hate to break it to you, but “Wrenry” is absolutely an actual thing. Far better than “Wrude” which is exactly how Jude has been since he came here. He doesn’t talk to any of us!

Jamie McCullough : You take that back! We are so not here for the Jude slander.

“Are you really making a pregnant woman cover her eyes and walk?”

“I’m making sure you don’t fall,” I replied with a roll of my eyes. “And don’t play the pregnancy card. You know you wanna see it before anyone else.”

She huffed out a sigh. “I do. Curse you.”

“All right,” I said, placing her right in the middle of the library. She was the first to see it mostly finished. A few of the books were around, though more were on the way. “Ready?”

“So fucking ready,” she said. “Move that bus!”

“We definitely don’t say that. Pretty sure it’s copyrighted.”

“I can say whatever I want. I’m not on camera.”

I laughed and gently pulled her hands away from her eyes. They went wide as she took in everything. The bottom level was full of color since the kids’ area was here. The tiles were different shades of every color, and the white walls were covered with murals.

“Holy shit ,” she said. “This is ... It feels exactly like it did when I was a kid.”

“I wanted it to be magical. I didn’t change much, other than brightening it up.”

“How did you even do all of this?” she whispered as she walked.

“You saw most of it. A lot of long hours.” I looked around. “Hopefully it was worth it.”

“It absolutely was,” she said with a smile.

Mollie walked toward the tables set up for the kids to either read or play on. The puppet area that Henry and I had found was placed on a tiny stage, ready for anyone who wanted to put on a show.

She gasped. “Eric is gonna love this. And so will this one. We’ll be here all the time.”

I looked out at the space. Instead of seeing ghosts of the past, I saw what could be. Mollie would be hanging out with Eric while helping her daughter read. All of the faces I’d grown to know would filter through as they visited the new and improved heart of the town.

When I’d been working here, I only saw the work. Now I saw it all.

Pride filled my chest. I’d done this. I’d made it happen.

“You haven’t even seen the upstairs yet.”

“I bet it’s even better,” she said, linking her arm through mine. “There’s a second staircase back here, right? We can take that.”

“Let’s take the main one.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“There’s just something I wanna save for the end that you’ll see if we go any farther.”

“Wait, what is it?”

“If I tell you, it ruins it.”

She groaned. “But now I’m curious! Is this the special surprise from months ago?”

“Yes.”

“Aw, come on. You know I’m terrible with surprises. Especially after the gender reveal.” She paused and then she raised a single eyebrow. “What if I ran?”

“Do you really think you can outrun me?”

“I did back in gym class.”

“You’re several months pregnant.”

“Wanna try me?”

“Mollie, don’t ruin it for yourself.”

She let out another loud groan and stalked to the main stairs. Her mood quickly changed when she saw all of the new working stations as well as the massive bookshelves.

“Wait a second, is that an erotica section?”

“Yep. Tammy requested it.”

“Tammy?” Mollie’s jaw hung open. “I mean, good for her, but that’s not what I expected.”

“I wonder who’ll use it. You know Marjorie is gonna keep track.”

“I’ll have to keep you posted.”

There was a pang in my heart. I loved it here, and I wanted to see how it looked when it opened. Hell, I wanted to read books from here, just like everyone else would.

But what Henry and I had discussed was fresh on my mind.

“You might not have to do that for long.”

Mollie turned to me. “You’re coming back after your project, aren’t you?”

“I think I am. I really like it here and I wanna stay.”

“Yes!” She pulled me into a tight hug. “I was so hoping for this! So, will you find work out here?”

“I’m not sure,” I replied. “I don’t know what all there is to do. I might be traveling a lot, but I’ll make it work.”

“If anyone can find something in a small town, it’s you.” Mollie continued to hug me tightly. “I’m so glad you like it here.”

“Me too.” I wrapped my arms around her. When she pulled away, her eyes were misty, but she went through the other sections as she sniffled.

“I wish I could be here for opening day, but I have that big scan. Why did I schedule it for that day?”

“You didn’t know,” I said. “Neither did I. It was all up in the air until now.”

“They’re gonna love it. They’ll call you a hero.”

I laughed. “I don’t know if I’m that.”

“You went to bat for this library, and we all know it. It’s incredible.”

“I was happy to. This was the first project in a while that I genuinely loved.”

“Now, what was this last thing you wanted to show me? I’m trying to be patient, but it’s killing me.”

“All right, all right,” I said. “Let’s go see the final thing.”

We walked down the back stairs, and Mollie bounced on the balls of her feet as I opened the door that led to the first floor.

I gestured for her to turn around to look at the mural. We’d cleaned it up and hired someone local to come and restore it. Most of it was the same, though I’d had the artist update a few of the buildings.

“Oh my God,” she said, hands flying to her mouth. “I remember this!”

“It’s perfect for the center of town.”

She walked close, her hands tracing the details. “I thought it would have been painted over. Or vandalized. This was the surprise the whole time?”

“It was. We got lucky with how good of shape it was in. It was just here, waiting for us to come and find it.”

“The farm’s on here!” She walked closer. “It has my name!”

“It’s supposed to reflect the town residents as they are now.”

Mollie stared at it for a long time. When she finally turned to me, her eyes were wet. “It’s amazing.” She hugged me once more. “I didn’t know you were doing all of this.”

“When I saw it, I knew it had to be done. I’m glad you like it.”

“Like it? I love it.” Her arms tightened. “You’re the best friend ever.”

“Like you’re not too.”

“What’s happening here?” a voice called. We both turned to see Madison.

“I’m showing my best friend the library,” I said. “I’ll be back to work in a few.”

Mollie blew out a breath. “You’re just taking a break.”

“If you’re showing someone the library, we should get it on camera.” Madison crossed her arms. “We could use it in the finale.”

“I don’t wanna be on camera,” Mollie said.

“But she’s your best friend.”

“You do know that no means no, right?” Mollie’s voice was cold. “Or do you need a lesson on consent?”

“I don’t think I like your attitude.”

“And I don’t like how you make Wren feel, so we’re on the same page.”

Madison’s jaw dropped for one second before her glare turned bad. She’d been steadily getting more and more frustrated with me. And I’d done the same with her. “Wren wanted this.”

“ Wren is right here,” I said. “And I wanted some of it, not to be forced to be with Jude after it looked like he cheated on me.”

Madison shook her head. “Then you don’t have what it takes to be on TV.”

“You’re right,” I replied. “I don’t think I do.”

The implication was heavy. If I didn’t have what it took, then it meant the show was over. Madison had always talked like we’d be doing this forever. This was my first hint to her that I was done.

“You’ll get there,” Madison said. “Especially once we’re back in Nashville.”

“I don’t wanna be back in Nashville.”

“And neither do the people,” Mollie added. “You know the ratings. People are talking .”

“Yes, they are. But it’s about the storyline I created. That little video did nothing. They want you with Jude.”

“I’m sure if another one got posted, people would see why she’s choosing Henry.”

“Another won’t pop up.”

Mollie raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? I had fun posting the first one.”

Madison’s nostrils flared, and what Mollie had said hit me at the same time it did her.

I blinked. “Wait, the video. You posted that? Were you at the library?”

She snickered. “I wanted to take some inspiration from my best friend and see the inside before it was all done. And then I saw who Wren has the most chemistry with.”

“I don’t take advice from nobodies,” Madison hissed. “I know what’s best.”

“Sure. Sure. We’ll see about that.”

“It’s my show.”

“I have a say too,” I said.

Madison’s jaw tightened and she shook her head, beginning to stomp away.

“Really?” Mollie called after her. “You’re giving up that easily?”

“You won’t listen anyway. Besides”—she turned with a smile that looked anything but kind on her face—“I have a finale to prepare for.”