“Yes, and then we’ll bring the palace scene up and hang it in front.” After he had a hold on his side, they carried it down an aisle and onto the stage.
“If we’re going to keep doing these plays, we should get a theatre curtain.”
His laugh came out on impulse. “I doubt we’d ever get that approved by the board. They barely approved hanging the wire for these backdrops.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you ever get sick of the constant process of having everything approved?”
He chuckled. “It comes with the territory. Sometimes it irritates me, but I tell myself they’re only like that because they’re passionate about the church.”
“You’re a lot more patient and understanding than I am.”
“Only because I’ve dealt with it all my life.” He cringed. “Promise not to judge me?”
Her eyes sparkled. “I can’t promise that. It only seems fair I get a turn.”
“Hold up. You did judge me.” He flashed her a playful grin. “Doesstick in the mudring a bell?”
She burst into laughter. “All right, all right. We’ll call it even, and I won’t judge you.”
“Did I ever tell you Aiden also called me that?”
“No.” Her lips twitched. “I knew I liked that kid.”
“Funny. All right, here goes.” He drew a dramatic breath and let it out slowly for emphasis. “My parents are on the board of our church in South Carolina.”
“Ahh” She nodded and one corner of her mouth lifted. “It all makes sense now.”
“Hey, you promised not to judge.”
“I’m not.” She winked. “Let’s just say I understand you a little better.”
He looked at the stage. “Where did the ladder go?”
“You put it in the side room after we hung the wires.”
“Man, I must really be tired. I don’t remember that at all.” He laid the sheet down again. “I’ll get it set up in place. Do you have the hooks?”
“They’re on the pulpit. Want me to start looping them while you set up the ladder?”
“Go for it.” He went to get the ladder.
When he spread it opened, it wobbled more than it had earlier. He examined the welds and joints and found a loose one. Hopefully it would hold up the rest of the night since he didn’t have the tools here to fix it. He put it into position, then helped Trixie finish looping the hooks through the grommets they’d added to the sheet.
She took hold of her side. “I’ll hang it if you hand it to me.”
“I don’t want you on the ladder. It has a loose joint, and if someone’s going to fall, I’d rather it be me.”
Creases surfaced on her forehead. “Maybe we should wait until we get another ladder. Neither of us needs an injury.”
“It should be fine, but I’d rather keep you safe if it loosens more.”
A curious expression crossed her face, and she handed him the end of the sheet she’d held. “I’ll trust your judgment. This is the side that goes up first.”
He held the end and climbed the ladder’s rungs until he could reach the wire without standing on his tiptoes. Even being careful, the ladder wobbled.
Trixie put a hand on the side to steady it. “Why don’t you hang all the hooks here, and we can slide it over once you’re done. You were right about the ladder.”
“Good idea.” He continued securing the hooks to the wires.
