“Uh, yeah. Mom, this is Wren Vesper. Wren, this is my mother.”
“Veronica Meyers,” the woman said, extending a perfectly manicured hand, which I hurried forward to take. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You, too,” I said, feeling suddenly self-conscious about my bitten fingernails, not that Veronica seemed to take the slightest notice. She was smiling at me pleasantly, and I did my best to smile back.
“And how did you two meet?” Veronica asked, looking back and forth between Luca and me. “I hadn’t realized Luca had had any time off for socializing. His uncle’s got him working all kindsof hours.” She leaned toward me conspiratorially, like she was inviting me to share in some private joke. “I told him he should just enjoy his summer, but he’s determined to work himself to death.”
Luca squirmed uncomfortably. “I told you, Mom. I’m saving up for a car.”
“And I told you I would buy you one,” Veronica said, looking absolutely bewildered.
“I know, and I appreciate it, but that’s not what I want,” Luca replied. It was the first time I’d ever seen him look anything but utterly relaxed. His face was bright red, and he was staring at his feet, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. “I want to do it myself.”
Veronica rolled her eyes. “He’s got his heart set on this rusty old relic, and then he wants to spend months and thousands of dollars to restore it. Boys and their toys,” she added with an airy laugh.
Luca’s tight smile was his only response. I felt a pang of pity for him. It was obvious just from Veronica’s handbag that they were loaded. He probably could have had any car he wanted, brand new. He was probably used to having things handed to him. I had to admire that he wanted to work for something on his own, without his parents’ help.
“Sorry, we got off track. How did you two meet?” Veronica asked again.
“Wren is in charge of the Litha pageant,” Luca said.
“Actually, my friend Zale is directing it,” I said hurriedly. “I’m just helping out. Thank you again for letting us borrow the old costumes and props and stuff.”
Veronica waved my thanks away with a casual flick of her hand. “Heavens, no need to thank me, I’ve hardly ever set foot in that place. It’s my brother who keeps it running. I should be thanking you for putting some of that old junk togood use. I keep trying to convince my brother to clean those storage buildings out, but he’s such a packrat. Can’t bear to throw anything away, in case they might need it for a future production.”
“I think that’s like, a requirement for theater,” I said, laughing. “Every theater needs a lowkey hoarder in charge of inventory. At least, the amateur ones do.”
“Well, I can’t say I know anything about it,” Veronica said. “This is the first summer I’ve spent here since I was a little girl. Such a quaint little town. So… kitschy.” She reached out and picked up a candle shaped like a witch hat, and gave an amused if bewildered sort of sigh. I felt a sudden rush of defensiveness until I remembered that the Shadowkeep she was seeing wasn’t the real Shadowkeep. The kitschiness served an important purpose, and if she thought these silly souvenirs were all there was to our family’s shop, then they were doing their job.
“So, what is this festival all about, then? The town seems abuzz with it,” Veronica said.
“It’s for the summer solstice. There will be a sort of sidewalk festival, with food and shops setting up stalls outside. And then at night, they have the pageant, which sort of dramatizes an old story about the solstice. That’s the part I’ve been helping with,” I said.
“Fascinating,” Veronica said, with the air of someone listening to the mating habits of extraterrestrials, rather than the details of a town fair. It grated on me just a little, and I had to remind myself that I’d likely have thought it all rather strange only a few short weeks ago.
“Yeah, if only the script was fascinating,” I said, picking it up and brandishing it, “instead of cringy and badly written.”
“Oh, dear. Yes, I imagine these quaint small town productions leave something to be desired. If only we werehosting the playwrights’ festival this summer, you might be able to get some help with it.”
I sighed. “We’ll just have to deal with it, I guess. None of the adults seem to mind that it’s trite and corny. It’s a tradition, apparently,” I said. “It’s the first one I’ve ever been a part of that I can remember. I haven’t lived in Sedgwick Cove since I was a baby.”
“Well, you know, my grandmother came from Sedgwick Cove; but as far as I know, she never had anything much to do with all… this.” Again, she gestured around at all the merchandise with a dismissive flick of her hand. “Couldn’t wait to get out of this place, by all accounts. Small town girl desperate for big city life. She worked on Broadway, you know. Never a big star, but my grandfather made sure there was always a part for her somewhere. I don’t think she ever looked back.”
I just smiled, unsure of what to say.
“Still, I can see why the tourists like it, and thank goodness they do, or the playhouse wouldn’t still be thriving,” Veronica said, and then glanced at her Rolex. “Speaking of which, your uncle will be waiting for me, Luca. I’m sorry we can’t keep sightseeing. Can you bear to carry on without me?”
Luca rolled his eyes. “I think I’ll survive.”
Veronica threw him an air kiss and winked at him. “Don’t let her put a spell on you!” she said, and with a tinkling laugh, she swept from the store.
It took Luca a full five seconds to raise his eyes from the ground. “And there you have it. The Veronica Meyers experience. Sorry about that.”
“What are you apologizing for?” I asked. “She seemed… nice.”
“If by nice you mean overbearing and condescending, then sure, she’s nice,” Luca replied.
I suppose I must have looked surprised because Luca sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Wren. I shouldn’t be unloading my frustrations on you.”
