Page 7 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls (Ivy Falls #3)

‘Well, you’re certainly better than Ferris Johnson.

He may be a great handyman, but he was a disaster at being the co-director of last year’s production.

’ She rolled her big blue eyes. ‘That man could not carry a tune, even if you put it in his wheelbarrow and encouraged him to push it across stage.’

As the kids continued to chatter and eat, her stare narrowed on Dex. I didn’t like the quick look of concern.

‘Problem?’ I said.

‘Uh, remember what I said yesterday about the kids being a handful?’

‘Yes.’ I waited for her to go on.

‘Dex can be a bit of a wild one. His mom, Rachel, recently took a full-time job working for Maisey’s husband over at his law office on Silverlake Street. She signed him up for this, hoping it would keep him, well, occupied.’

I couldn’t help but think about him and his skateboard at the P&P.

‘Should I expect trouble?’

Her eyes pinched at the corners. ‘His parents’ divorce was final earlier this year. He’s been struggling with it.’

Dex stood a few feet away telling a story to all the kids.

Judging by their rapt attention, it was clear he was a natural performer.

I noticed more than Miss Cheri would understand.

The posturing. The commanding voice. The way he held himself up like he was confident.

It was all an act. A crippling need to belong.

Fear that if people could see inside his head all they’d notice was his worry and fierce desperation to fit in.

‘That’s good information to know. I’ll keep an eye on him.’

She gave a hesitant nod. ‘I’m gonna head back to the office. Let me know if you need anything.’

When she was gone, I gave the kids a five-minute warning.

They continued to chatter, and I went down the side stairs and took a seat in the front row. My attention went back to the script, writing notes in the margins about costume ideas and blocking.

My phone beeped in my back pocket. I pulled it out and let out a heavy sigh. Of course it was Beck checking on me. At least he kept it short.

Good luck today. Thinking about you!

I loved my brother but sometimes he was beyond smothering. Not that I could blame him. I’d given him a hell of a lot to worry about since our parents died twelve years ago.

That swell of panic filled my chest. This show was a big deal to the town.

It was always part of the Ivy Falls end-of-summer celebration.

Once the opening show was over, people filled the streets for a festival complete with cotton candy, hot dogs, fresh-squeezed lemonade and about a half-dozen bounce houses for the kids.

I could not screw this up.

The mantra I’d learned in treatment filled my head. Face. Forgive. Forward .

Face your issues.

Forgive the past.

Move forward into the present.

I’d chuckled when the therapist in rehab first spoke about it in a group session, but over time it’d become a touchstone for me. A reminder that I owed myself some grace. That the past did not define me as a person.

I repeated the mantra several times until my heart slowed. I opened my eyes and stared at the stage. In the corner, all of the kids were standing in a circle. Some were laughing. Others kept darting looks in my direction.

‘What’s going on?’ I said, climbing the steps to the stage.

The kids surged back in a wave and Dex was left in the center. A defiant look covered his face.

‘Care to tell me what you’re up to?’

He shrugged.

I scanned the group but no one was talking.

‘We can’t get back to rehearsal until someone tells me what you’re hiding.’

‘ We are not hiding a thing.’ Autumn jabbed her finger at Dex. ‘It’s that idiot.’

A few kids laughed.

‘First, we are not calling names. Second, Dex tell me what you did.’

His mouth went firm as he crossed his arms over his chest.

‘Please do not make me call your mother.’

His lips pinched thin but he stayed silent.

Autum groaned. ‘The moron thought he’d be funny for his friends so he shoved a gummy bear into his ear. Now,’ she gave him an irritated glare, ‘he can’t get it out.’

Blood pounded in my ears. My palms started to sweat. I’d only been with the kids forty minutes and there was already a crisis. What would their parents think? I had to handle this calmly, rationally, because this incident would tell the kids exactly what kind of director I’d be.

‘Dex, did you really do that?’ I asked with a gentle voice, taking a few steps toward him. Sure enough, I saw a hint of red poking out from his ear canal.

He gave another annoying shrug.

‘Have you tried getting it out? Shaking your head or something?’

‘I tried,’ he huffed. ‘But it only pushed it in farther.’

I rubbed a hand over my forehead. Shit. This was bad.

‘Please don’t call my mom.’ His voice had a panicked edge I didn’t like. ‘This is only her second month at the law office. She needs that job.’

A tight ball of anxiety crowded my chest as the kids watched me. If I lost my temper, they’d never trust or respect me. I had to show them I could be cool in a situation like this one. That they were in good hands.

I turned to Autumn. ‘Go to the office and ask Miss Cheri to come out here and go over the rest of your lines.’

‘Okay, but where are you going?’ she asked.

‘Dex and I are headed to the Ivy Falls Community Health Center.’