Sea Glass Island (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,38
with anyone, it’s probably a moot point.”
“Samantha, that’s his brain talking, not his heart. If his heart and his libido get involved, the man will fall like a ton of bricks no matter what his head is telling him.”
“I think we’re a long way from that happening,” Samantha said realistically. But, that said, she couldn’t help hoping just a little that Gabi was right and she was wrong.
* * *
“Samantha, is that you?”
Samantha heard the familiar voice as she waited for Gabi to come out of a dressing room in the boutique and whirled around. “Mrs. Gentry!” she exclaimed with genuine delight. She’d worked with Regina Gentry on two summer productions years ago right here in Sand Castle Bay. She’d learned a lot from her, more than she’d learned from the teachers at her own school. “How are you?”
“I’m just fine,” the drama teacher said. “And I don’t need to ask how you’re doing. I see you on TV all the time. You’ve done us proud.”
“Hardly,” Samantha replied. “But thanks for saying that.”
“You must be home for the wedding. It’s the talk of the entire town. Everyone here is so happy for Boone and Emily. Theirs has been quite a romance. It’s nice to see someone finally get their fairy-tale ending.”
“Finally being the operative word,” Samantha said. “It hasn’t been easy for either of them.”
“No. It was a tragedy what happened to Jenny Farmer, but at least she and Boone had their son before she died. I know that boy is the light of his dad’s life.”
Samantha smiled. “B.J.’s great.” Wanting to change the subject and thinking of what Ethan had told her about one of his teens, she asked, “How’s the high school drama department these days? Are you working on a production?”
“Indeed, we are.” Her eyes lit up. “In fact, why don’t you stop by rehearsal one afternoon and talk to the students? I know they’d love the chance to speak to someone who’s made a career of acting. Not that most of these young people will ever travel down that path, but I have a few who want to give it a try.”
“My time’s pretty booked up with wedding details,” Samantha told her, not sure if she wanted to try to put on an optimistic front when her career was currently in such turmoil.
“An hour,” Mrs. Gentry pressed. “Surely you can spare an hour to inspire some young people.”
“When you put it that way, how can I refuse?” Samantha conceded reluctantly. Maybe she’d get a chance to meet this young woman Ethan had told her about, too.
“Monday afternoon at three-thirty in the auditorium?”
“I’ll be there,” Samantha promised, giving her a wry look. “It’s nice to see you haven’t lost your powers of persuasion.”
“I certainly hope not. I’ll see you then.”
She scurried off, obviously fearful that Samantha might change her mind if given half a chance to reconsider.
Samantha watched her go. Maybe talking about her career—the struggles and the triumphs—would be good for her, too. It might help to put things in perspective, maybe even remind her why it had once mattered to her more than anything.
* * *
“Was that Mrs. Gentry who just took off?” Gabi asked when she stepped out of the dressing room, her arms loaded with the clothes she’d been trying on. “I thought I recognized her voice.”
“It was,” Samantha confirmed. “And she just convinced me to talk to the kids in her next production on Monday afternoon.”
“Next thing you know she’ll have you directing the play,” Gabi predicted. “I’ve heard all about how she doesn’t give up when she wants something.”
“Well, that’s one thing I can guarantee she won’t get,” Samantha said flatly. “I’ve never harbored a secret desire to direct.”
“I thought a lot of actors wanted to get behind the camera at some point in their career, tell other people how a scene should be done.”
“Some do,” Samantha said. “I’m not one of them.” She glanced at the assortment of skirts, blouses, slacks and dresses Gabi was holding. “Nothing fit?”
Gabi grinned. “It all did,” she said triumphantly. “So I couldn’t decide. I’m so excited to be back to my old size I’m buying all of it.”
Samantha laughed. “Good for you. I guess that ice cream sundae I’ve been craving isn’t in the cards when we leave here.”
“Who says? I deserve a celebration after fighting for months to lose that baby weight. And I have room to spare in these clothes, so one sundae isn’t going to ruin what I’ve achieved.”