She hung up the phone as her heart ricocheted in her chest, and a feeling of impending doom pressed down on her like this morning’s fog that had rolled in from the gulf. But it would be okay, she promised herself. She looked nothing like she used to. No one would figure it out. She looked nothing like Victoria Duran anymore. Victoria had been replaced by Tori, a woman who could walk through the world unnoticed. Or at least she hoped she could.
She shuffled the papers on her desk, organizing them into neat piles. Tidy. Predictable. Routine. That’s how she wanted her life to be now. But if she wanted the theater to be successful, she’d need to get publicity, something she’d been avoiding. But this was one little interview. It would be okay. And there she was, assuring herself she’d be fine just like she was always assuring Gavin. And she didn’t think she believed herself any more than Gavin had believed her.
Tori chose her outfit with deliberate care Friday morning—a plain, simple outfit—assuring her reflection in the mirror that she looked nothing like her former self. She pulled her hair back with a hairband and barely touched her face with makeup. She would be fine…
Gavin was busy at The Bike Shop this morning, so she drove herself over to the theater, checking her watch time and again. Dreading the interview and yet wanting it to happen so it would be over.
A young woman with dark brown hair and a quick smile walked through the open door and into the lobby. “Miss Duran? Hi, I’m Felicity Moore.”
“Hi, call me Tori.”It was safer.She reached out and shook the woman’s hand.
“Tori, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. When I heard you were renovating the theater and reopening it, I was thrilled. I used to come here to the productions when I was younger. Back before they closed it. It’s great that it’s opening up again.”
“How about I show you around?” Tori led her through the lobby and into the main theater. She showed her the stage and the backstage area, and all the while, Felicity peppered her with questions. They ended up back in her office, and Felicity took a seat across from her.
“You’ve done a great job. It looks just like it used to, only…” Felicity laughed. “A bit more spruced up. It was really showing its age and needed work by the time it closed.”
“I am proud of how it turned out.”
“So, what made you decide to purchase the theater?”
She searched for an answer to give, something that kept her far away from her former life on stage. “Just like you, I used to come to the theater. It was with my grandmother when I was a young girl. We’d come to Magnolia Key each summer, and coming to the theater productions was the highlight of each trip.”
“Ah, I see. And are you staying here, or are you just here for the renovations and opening?”
Good question. Was she going to stay here? She wanted to, but still hadn’t decided. She still felt like an outsider. “I’m not certain.” Might as well tell the truth.
She looked up at the sound of Gavin at the door. “Gavin, come in. Meet Felicity Moore from Southwest Florida Life magazine.” She turned to Felicity. “Gavin is helping with the restoration.”
Felicity turned to him, smiling warmly. “Oh, could I interview you too?”
“No,” he said abruptly, his face hardening into an icy stare.
Felicity’s eyes widened, startled, but she nodded. “Okay, then. I’ll just talk to Miss Duran—I mean, Tori.”
Tori stood up. “Can you give me a minute?” She headed to the doorway, pushing Gavin out into the hallway. “Why are you being so rude? Would it hurt you to talk to her?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, you’ll talk to her?”
“No, I will not talk to her.”
“Gavin, why are you being so… strange?” The icy look on his features remained unthawed.
“I can’t believe you’d have the media come here.” His words came out clipped and angry.
“We need the publicity.”
“Not all publicity is good publicity.” He growled the words.
Well, she knew that better than most. But she was putting her fears aside to help the theater.
“You shouldn’t have called them. Do you really need to parade around and get all this recognition for renovating the theater? I thought you were doing it because youcaredabout the theater.” His eyes flashed.
“I do care about it,” she shot back at him.
“You should stop the interview and ask her to leave.”
