If for Any Reason (Nantucket Love Story #1) - Courtney Walsh Page 0,76

quit dairy after all. Even though he could’ve stood there for hours just waiting for another glimpse of Emily, he wasn’t about to break his promise to Jolie. “Let’s do it.”

They waited in line for longer than was humanly decent for a waffle cone, but the second Jolie took her first bite of homemade peppermint stick and he saw her eyes bug out of her head, he knew it was worth it.

Besides, she hadn’t stopped talking since they left the arts center. It was as if his daughter had finally come alive, and Hollis knew Emily was at least partially responsible.

If Emily hadn’t agreed to do this show, hadn’t pushed for it, his time with Jolie would be nearly over. Instead he had the rest of the summer to look forward to.

“What if I don’t make it into the show?” Jolie suddenly asked, panic-stricken.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Hollis said lightly. “Of course you’ll make it.”

But his stomach dropped. He hadn’t even considered that all the kids might not be cast.

“Why don’t we talk about something else?” Hollis said. “Tomorrow you’ll know your fate as an actress, but tonight, you’ve got peppermint stick and your old man.”

Jolie took another bite of ice cream. They were walking along the cobblestone streets toward the spot where Hollis had wedged his Wrangler in between two tightly packed cars.

“I don’t know what else to talk about,” Jolie said. “The show is all I’m thinking about. All the girls in my group said they wanted to be Alice.”

“Sure,” Hollis said. “Everyone wants to be the lead.”

“Not me,” she said. “I kind of think it’d be fun to be the Cheshire Cat. Or maybe the Caterpillar.”

The caterpillar who was strung out on acid? That sounded like a fun part for his twelve-year-old daughter to play. He laughed silently at his internal dialogue, wishing Emily were here to enjoy his wittiness.

“What’s so funny?”

“Huh?”

“You laughed,” Jolie said. “You think it’s dumb for me to want those parts?”

“What?” Hollis floundered. Hadn’t he laughed silently? “No, of course not. Honestly I was thinking about Emily.”

“Da-ad.” Jolie stopped walking.

“Relax,” Hollis said. “I thought of something that would’ve made her laugh, that’s all. I think it’s awesome you don’t want to be the lead.”

“Emily told me once that the other parts are sometimes more fun to play. More interesting.”

“Is that right?”

“That’s what she said. And that was a long time ago, before she even knew she was doing the show, so it wasn’t like she was trying to make sure I didn’t get my hopes up or anything.”

A long time ago. Hollis smiled.

“What?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Why are you smiling?”

“I just think you’re really cool.”

Her cheeks flushed pink, and even though her face was partially blocked by her ice cream cone, he could tell she was smiling.

In all, Emily and her team sat through eighty-five auditions. Eighty-five kids wanted to be a part of their show, and she was going to find a way to cast every single one of them.

Gladys had said the program had closed due to lack of interest. Again, Emily withheld a satisfied smile at the thought. Guess we showed you, Gladys.

Near the end of the last group, a girl about twelve years old had walked in and handed Emily her audition form. As Emily looked it over, her eyes fell to the parents’ names, Douglas and Shae Daniels.

Shae.

Not a common name. Was it possible this was the same Shae her mother had been going to see the night she died?

Emily listened as the girl sang a lively rendition of “You’re Welcome” from Moana, and she instantly thought she’d make a perfect Caterpillar. That role would sing an upbeat version of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” and she needed a kid with lots of energy. Shae Daniels’s daughter had that in spades.

“Great job, Alyssa,” Emily said when the girl finished singing.

“Thanks.” Alyssa grinned. “I’m super glad you’re doing this. My brothers play baseball, and I need something to do besides sit at the ballpark all summer.”

Emily laughed. “Is your mom here with you?”

Alyssa nodded. “She’s in the lobby.”

“Mind if I meet her quick?”

“Am I in trouble?” Alyssa’s eyes went wide.

“Oh no, nothing like that.” She stood and followed Alyssa past the last few auditioners and into the lobby, where a tall, dark-headed woman sat reading a novel.

“Mom, I’m done!” Alyssa called out as soon as they rounded the corner.

The woman looked up with a smile. “Great, honey. How’d it go?”

“She did very well,” Emily said.

Shae Daniels’s eyes landed on Emily. “So glad to hear