AJ slipped out of her armor and into Juliet like a silk robe.
“Ay me.”
Then they were gone, replaced by the world’s most timeless lovers. The parts moved through the players line by line, as they always had and always would. And when every word was spoken and every feeling felt, they tucked themselves back into the gutter of a book.
For a moment, AJ and Noah stood golden in the afternoon light, echoes passing between them.
O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
Noah’s gaze was searching. They were both breathing hard.
In the hall, the grandfather clock chimed four.
“Well, well,” said Eudora.
Her voice recalled AJ to herself. She blinked rapidly and took a step back. She felt lightheaded, disoriented. When AJ glanced back at Noah, his face had closed.
His eyes were on his aunt. “Well?” he demanded. AJ watched the muscle in his jaw tense.
“I’ll do it,” said Eudora. “If you agree to work with me. Both of you.”
Noah’s face had lost all expression, his eyes boring into Eudora’s.
AJ felt elated. They’d done it! Glimmette was doing the panel.
Then it hit her.
“Wait, you don’t mean—” She held up the play.
Eudora nodded. “I’m getting older. It’s time for me to pass on what I know. What Ezell knew.”
Suddenly AJ couldn’t breathe. Whatever had just happened had been an accident, an aberration. She had all but disappeared.
The vast room was bearing down on her now. As AJ took in her richsurroundings, she realized just how far she had wandered from everything she knew.
She wasn’t Juliet. She was AJ Graves, who lived in a split-level down the hill. Her parents’ only claim to fame was that they had both been runners-up for prom royalty.
AJ didn’t belonghere.
“I just remembered,” she said, adjusting her cast. “I need to get back to town.”
“I’ll drive you,” said Noah.
“No,” said AJ, not meeting his eyes. “I’ll walk.”
“Think about it,” said Eudora.
AJ brushed passed Noah as she left the room, barely aware of the puppies at her ankles. As she burst into the splendid afternoon, her only aim was to get as far away from Drew House as possible.
Mercifully, AJ was notscheduled to work the next day. Over breakfast, she stared at her plate, stupefied with relief that she wouldn’t have to face Noah after walking out of Drew House.
Whenever AJ closed her eyes, all she could see was the two Drews watching her panic.
Her toast was still untouched when her mother called her into the laundry room.
“Since you’re around, can you bring Emily to the park while I go shopping?”
