Or three clown cars, to be precise. The number of people grabbing bags and gear from the two town cars and the SUV is a little overwhelming.
A lanky guy with a freshly shaven bald head and a long beard slings a black bag on his shoulder. He’s chatting with a shorter man sporting an undercut and a goatee. They’re giving artsy movie vibes. Betting one’s the director of photography and the other’s an AD—assistant director. More guys lug boom mics while some women grab what I think are light diffusers from the big SUV.
“Did they multiply?” I ask Haven once I finally let go of my baby sister.
“Yes. Right before my eyes on the plane. It was like mitosis in biology class,” she says.
I swat her. “You nerd.”
She juts out her hip, like she’s owning the moment. “Once a nerd, always a nerd.”
I drape an arm around her again. “And you’re my nerd,” I say, breathing in happiness and contentment. It’s so good to see her again, even in spite of that totally awkward conversation with Banks moments ago. Banks, who’s chatting with someone who just arrived. Come to think of it, I should probably freshen up postO. Change the panties and all. Might as well erase the evidence, just like we’re forgetting that tryst in the truck ever happened.
“I’ll be?—”
But before I can sayright back, a woman with sleek black hair hidden under a fabulous pink sun hat strides over to us across the emerald-green lawn.
“Cute hat,” I say to her, and it seems to be doing the trick at keeping the sun far, far away from her.
“Thanks. It doubles as an umbrella,” she says, then sticks out a hand. “I’m Tabitha Zhao. Juniper has told me so much about you.”
“And I’m sure it’s all fabulous,” Haven puts in, squeezing my shoulder. It’s cute how she’s protective of me. I’m the same with her.
Tabitha smiles at Haven. “Yes, all fabulous.” Then to me, she says, “And we appreciate you opening your home to the crew. I’m seriously grateful. Everything happened so quickly with the film and the financing. But your flexibility is not going unnoted by my bosses.”
It takes me a second to process the double negative, but I nod, and say, “Anything for Haven.”
Maybe I should make it seem like I’m doing all this for Ruby Horizons, but what’s the point? All this—the invasion of the crew—is for my sister. And I’m thrilled I can do it for her.
Bonus that this interaction with Tabitha is taking my mind and focus off the awkward end to that side-of-the-road session.
Tabitha looks from Haven to me and back, then shakes her head in a familiar kind of amazement. She’s processing the matching blond hair, the identical straight nose, the exact same spray of freckles. “It’s uncanny.” She holds up a hand in apology. “Sorry, I’m sure you get that all the time.”
“We do,” Haven and I say in unison.
“Which is why we used to play tricks on our parents and grandparents,” Haven adds.
“Could they tell you apart?” Tabitha asks with the kind of curiosity that’s pretty natural when you meet identical twins.
Haven grabs my right arm, showing off the sparrows that fly across my skin. Then, the one bird she has on her shoulder. “We didn’t have these then. So it was seriously hard for them.”
Tabitha taps her temple under her hat. “I’ll be looking for Ripley’s sparrows then.” To Haven, she adds, “And yours is being covered up by makeup. I’ve told the makeup artist—she’s local—to bring tattoo cover-up.”
“I know, Tabby,” Haven says.
“And don’t forget your call time,” Tabitha says. But Haven’s eyes sparkle like she just saw something exciting, and in a second, she’s off, rushing over to tackle-hug Hudson, who’s racing up the hill with Cyrus, who must have taken my pup for a walk.
I take the moment to say to Tabitha, “When is her call time?”
Tabitha taps her tablet, then tells me it’s 7:00 a.m. the day after tomorrow. “She needs to be in makeup then.”
I lean in close and whisper, “Why don’t you just tell her she has a six thirty call time? It’ll be easier to get what you want that way, if you know what I mean. Especially since she needs to come over from the inn.” Haven’s staying at The BookHouse, Bridget’s inn. She and New Chris are deliberately not staying at the same hotel. When we last chatted, my sister said it made more sense as they’re trying to defuse the rumors.
Tabitha gives a grateful nod. “I do. And thanks for the tip.”
Peering beyond her, I take in the sheer number of people dotting my lawn, which seems more than I’d expected. My chest tightens, and my heart beats a little faster, my thoughts racing.
This is a lot. For bee’s sake, what have I signed up for?I feel like I did when Haven first told me about the flick.
