Harriet owned the only movie theater in town, a three-screen ancient movie house that still sold the best popcorn in town. Sometimes Rosie and her friends went for that alone.
“It’s fun to know the creator of The Starbound Chronicles is such a nice guy, too. He’s talked to me several times in the past three days that I’ve been doing the cabinets throughout the house, asking if I have everything I need.”
“Did he?”
“I thought I would be nervous and a little starstruck around him, but he has a way of making you feel at ease, you know.”
Were they talking about the same person? Every single time she saw him, Andrew left her feeling unsettled.
“And his kids seem nice, too,” Kyle went on. “My youngest has been in drama camp with them. She and Zara have kind of become friends, which Lucy thinks is the coolest thing in the world, to know the daughter of one of her favorite authors.”
As if on cue, the door opened and Zara and Finn raced in, followed closely by their grandmother. They all stopped and looked around at the kitchen with expressions of delight.
“Is the kitchen all done?” Zara asked.
“Almost,” Kyle said. “Just have to put in the countertops and a few other details. It’s getting there.”
“Yay!” Finn exclaimed. “I can’t wait to have my own bedroom again.”
“Me, too,” Zara said.
“This looks great,” Nancy said. “Even better than the cabinets you did for me. Good to see you again, Kyle.”
“What have you guys been up to today,” the man asked.
“I just picked them up from drama camp,” Nancy said.
“We’re doing a play,” Zara said. “It’s calledThe Karate Princesses.”
“Wow. That sounds fun,” Rosie said. “Do you have a part?”
“We both do,” Finn said proudly. “I’m a karate guy.”
He kicked the air and moved his hands like he was fighting an unseen opponent.
“And I’m one of the princesses,” Zara said.
“It sounds lovely,” Rosie said.
“You should come,” Finn said. “You could bring Olive, too.”
“When is it?”
“Friday, down at the community center. At 6:00 p.m., I believe,” Kyle answered. “Lucy has been so excited about it. They’re putting the whole thing together in only a few days. She did the same camp last summer and loved every minute of it.”
“That sounds really fun. I can’t make any promises, because I’ll have to see what my Friday is like, but I’ll definitely try,” she answered.
She was charmed by these two cute children. Despite the pain of losing their mother and their home within only a few years, they seemed like great kids, curious and friendly.
The children told her all about their play while Kyle excused himself to take a phone call.
As he left, Andrew walked in. He looked rumpled and tired, his hair slightly messy as if he had been dragging his hands through it, and his shirt was wrinkled.
Despite that, Rosie had to catch her breath. Why did she always forget how gorgeous he was whenever she hadn’t seen him for a few days?
“We were coming to see you,” Finn said, launching himself at his father, who scooped him up in a tight hug.
Zara followed her brother, and Andrew reached out with his free hand to draw her close.