Page 88 of Wish You Were Her

“Shit,” whispered Skye.

“Damn,” another volunteer added, as Jonah got to his feet, a little uneasily. He followed his employer from the tent, only because he had a few things of his own to say. He threw a dark look back to Simon, who appeared to be dazed.

“Jonah! Jonah, I—”

Whatever Simon wanted to say, it was cut off as Jonah left the room. Jonah had a thumping headache and a few scratches, but Simon would have the majority of the bruises.

The festival site was made up of five tents: the main theater, the smaller venue, the green room, the staff tent and the pop-up bookshop. The box office was a converted food truck. There were picnic tables and bunting. It was always thus, the whole town came together to make a good showing, even if they resented their population tripling for a month.

George was leading Jonah to Brooks Books. There were customers milling about, as Mary manned the register. She bestowed both George and Jonah with a look of bemusement as they went into the back office.

The room was disorganized and cluttered, always had been, so when George told Jonah to sit, he wasn’t exactly sure whereor how to do so. When he removed a delivery box of books that Simon had promised to return to the wholesaler, he discovered a spare office seat.

They faced each other in tense silence for a few moments, letting the sound of a busy, bustling town fill the small room.

“Once the festival is over, I think we should call it a day.”

Jonah blinked, stupefied. “Sorry?”

He studied his mentor’s face. Eyes that had once danced with kindness were now tired and testy. His once jovial tone was now waspish and short.

“I think it’s time you moved on from Brooks Books, Jonah.”

“Let’s just be clear,” Jonah said, adopting a cantankerous tone of his own. “You’re firing me? Don’t use euphemisms, just say it.”

“Fine. I’m letting you go.”

“Firing me, George. You’re firing me.”

“Yes.”

“But you want me to see out the rest of the festival.”

“I would appreciate it. Allegra is already a big loss to the team.”

There was real heaviness and regret in George’s words, enough for Jonah to question him. “That’s what this is actually about, right?”

George cleared his throat. “No. This is a necessary career decision, for both our sakes. And you were physically fighting in the staff tent. That will be the official reason, as it’s completely unacceptable.”

“So, Simon’s going, too?”

“No, Simon will remain.”

“That’s bullshit!”

“I won’t be spoken to like that, Jonah. I really will not be.”

“George, I’m sorry Allegra and I got seen like that. No oneregrets it more than me. The photographer, that is, not… not what he was photographing—I don’t regret that part at all. I’m sorry. I know it’s the reason she’s gone back to the city. But you can’t punish me because I l—”

“It’s not about Allegra. I can’t have you starting fights.”

“How do you know I started it?”

George fixed him with a stern look. “Jonah.”

“I’d say Simon started it by handing the press all of our names! Didn’t you specifically order us not to do that, when Roxanne and Allegra first came here?”

He knew that he had spoiled his shot by saying Roxanne’s name. There was always an unspoken understanding about that, she was not to be mentioned to George. Jonah’s mother had warned him about it, before his first shift at the shop.