Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee (35 page)

Next Steve drove by the parking lot at Lance’s, equally as stunned by the amount of people he found there. He parked and got out of the car, then walked from booth to booth. The sights and sounds nearly overwhelmed him. Several of the locals handed out hot dogs, popcorn, kettle corn, sodas, and more to people Steve had never seen before. Other Camelot residents sold jewelry, paintings, and various trinkets with a Smoky Mountain feel. And the Camelot-themed art seemed to be a big hit, as was evidenced by the line forming outside of one tent.

After getting back in his car, Steve headed out to the new RV park. He drove up and down, counting all the RVs, Fifth Wheels, and campers. Forty-two. Who would have dreamed such a thing would be possible?

Oh yes. Amy. She’d envisioned this from the start. Well, envisioned putting on a show that would draw a crowd such as this.

After pulling away from the RV park, Steve picked up his cell phone and called her, just wanting to hear her voice one last time before curtain call. When her breathless voice came on the line, he realized he’d caught her in the middle of something.

“Don’t want to keep you,” he said. “Just needed to tell you something in case you didn’t figure it out last night.”

“What’s that?”

“I love you.”

A brief pause from the other end of the line caught him off guard for a moment…until he heard her giggle. “I love you, too, Steve. Who else would put up with me and these crazy ideas of mine?”

“Is that a rhetorical question?”

“Yes.” She chuckled. “Please don’t answer it.”

“Okay.” He glanced at the clock as he rounded the bend heading back into town. “By the way, where are you?”

“At the theater. Touching up some of the set pieces that fell last night and helping the ladies iron costumes. Natalie’s looking pretty worn out.”

“I’m headed there now.”

“Awesome. I think Darrell and a couple of the guys could use your help rehanging a couple of the trees from that center bar. You up for that?”

“Of course. Hanging trees is what I do.”

“Making me happy is what you do,” she said. “So come on over and see me, okay?”

“I’m on my way.”

Of course, the deed was easier said than done. Getting past the mob at the four-way stop in the center of town took some doing. And inching his way along the main road to the Civic Center was problematic. Folks kept stopping to take pictures of the hills and the amazing view near the bluff. Not that he blamed them. Oh no. There was plenty of beauty to draw people to Camelot.

Steve entered the theater at five fifteen. As he made his way up the center aisle, he glanced at the stage and watched with amazement for a moment as Annabelle practiced her dance moves. Crazy, how much she’d changed. Then again, they’d all changed, hadn’t they? Some—like the bubbly Sack ’n Save clerk—on the outside. Others on the inside. In a thousand ways, the town had been transformed.

As he made his way up the stairs onto the stage, Steve passed Jackson and Gwen.

“Hey, you two.” He stopped to smile.

“Hey yourself.” Jackson extended his hand, a broad grin on his face.

“How’s Sarge doing?”

“Coming home tomorrow. He’s ready to spit nails that he couldn’t come tonight, though. He’s wanting to make it back in time for next week’s performance.”

“Hope there
is
a next week’s performance,” Gwen said. “Guess we’ll have to see how tonight goes.”

“It’s going to be great.” Steve reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’ve never prayed harder about anything in my life. And it will be great if Sarge can come see the show as soon as he’s able.”

“We were just ironing out the details of his care,” Jackson said. “Gwen’s putting together a team of women from the church to bring meals to the house once he gets back home. She’s been such a big help through all of this.” He turned to give her a comfortable smile.

“Nice.” Steve nodded. “Glad things are progressing.”

“Oh, by the way, Amy’s looking for you,” Jackson said. “She’s backstage with Natalie and Caroline.”

“I’m on my way.” Steve headed back behind the curtains in search of Amy. He found her bent over an ironing board, pressing wrinkles out of her bridal gown.

She looked up with a look of contentment on her face. “Hey, you.”

“Hey, you.” He drew near and wrapped her in his arms—grateful she’d put the iron down. “Ready for tonight?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“It’s going to be great.”

“I’m going to photograph it in my mind,” she said. “So I won’t forget a thing.”

“Well, photograph this too.” He gave her a kiss. Then another. And another. He found himself swept away…until Eula Mae’s voice rang out.

“You two kiss entirely too much. Don’t you realize that kissing spreads germs?”

Steve step back and chuckled. “That would explain why you and Woody both had a sore throat this morning.”

Eula Mae rolled her eyes. “Very funny. Just wanted to tell you that tonight’s performance is officially sold out.”

“No way.” He and Amy spoke in unison.

“Yes. Heard from Pastor Crane. Every seat is taken. And tomorrow’s matinee is nearly sold out too.”

“If you build it, they will come.” Steve gave Amy a wink. “You had it right all along.”

“No one is more surprised than me,” she said.

He gave her another quick kiss on the nose then headed off to find Darrell. The next hour or so whizzed by at breakneck speed. With so much to do and so little time to do it, Steve felt a little overwhelmed. Only when he reached the men’s dressing area and slipped into his first costume did he pause to take a deep breath and whisper up a prayer that tonight’s show would go well. Then he walked back out to the wings and peeked around the edge to spy the incoming crowd.

The patrons were now arriving in steady succession, filling first the center section. Then the sides. Then the back. Whoa.

Eula Mae drew near and whistled. “You look mighty handsome, King Arthur.”

“Thank you very much.” He bowed.

“Wish you’d shave those whiskers off your face, though.” She gave him a scrutinizing look.

“I’ve been trying to grow them out so I’ll look more kingly.”

She snorted. “Whatever. Guess your mama didn’t raise you right. Good boys don’t wear hair on their face.”

“Take that up with the Lord,” he said. “He’s the one who put it there.”

“Hey, speaking of your mama, she called the office earlier today. Wants you to call her cell phone a half hour before showtime.”
“That’s right now.”

“Yep.” Eula Mae nodded. “Better get to it, then. Don’t want to keep your mama waiting.”

Steve reached into his pocket for his cell phone and punched in his mother’s number. She answered right away with an excited, “Hello,” but with all the noise in the background, he could barely make out her voice to understand the rest of her conversation.

“Mom, we’re about to go on.”

“I know.” She laughed. “Can’t wait.”

“Can’t wait?”

“Well, sure, son. We’re sitting in the third row. Center section. Stick your head out and give us a wave.”

“No way.” Steve peeked around the edge of the stage and searched the audience until he saw his mother and Bob sitting in the third row. “Hang on, Mom, I’m coming.” He ended the call then sprinted across the stage, costume and all, eventually bounding down the steps.

She met him at the edge of her row, face alight with joy. “Well, hello there.”

“I can’t believe you came.”

“We drove all day. Bob didn’t mind. He knows it’s for my boys.” Her mother gave him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek, and Bob offered up a wave from his seat.

“Well, you’ve made my day,” Steve said.

“I’m so glad about that. But I came for another reason too. The minute I got the news that Caroline had up and married Charlie, I had no choice. I still can’t believe she went behind my back and did that. What’s a best friend for, if not to tell your secrets to?”

“We were all shocked,” Steve said. “But I’m glad you’re here now. She needs you.” He gestured to the stage. “We need you. Does Darrell know you’re here?”

“I just sent him a text. He should be…” Her voice drifted away and she pointed to the stage. “Right there.”

Steve turned to find his brother standing stage right, a broad smile on his face. Moments later, he joined them. They entered into a lively conversation…until a loud gong went off, letting patrons know that the show would be starting soon.

Steve gave his mother another quick hug. “Sorry, Mom. Gotta run. The show must go on.”

“So they say.” She blew him a kiss.

As he headed back to the stage, Steve caught a glimpse of Fred Platt seated in the first row with his wife and children. Steve gave them a wave before heading backstage to join the others for what he knew would be one of the greatest nights of his life.

Amy scurried around backstage, making sure everything was in place. “Five minutes, everyone,” she said.

She glanced over at Woody, who sat in a chair while Lucy applied stage makeup to his face.

“I have the best makeup crew in the world,” Woody said. “Same folks who restored the Statue of Liberty.”

Lucy slapped him in the arm. The good arm. “Stop that, Woody. If you keep talking, how will I ever get enough makeup on you?”

“Oh, the eternal question.” He chuckled.

Annabelle approached, dressed in her lady-in-waiting attire. Amy couldn’t help but gasp when she saw her with the cinched waist and flared skirt. She had a true hourglass figure, one that apparently made Chuck’s eyes pop. He stood off in the distance with his eyes riveted on her.

“Annabelle, look at you.” Amy found herself almost speechless.

Annabelle turned in a circle, showing off her dress. “Don’t you love this shade of blue?”

“Yes, but even more than that, I love the way the dress is made. Really shows off your new figure. Just look at that waistline. And your new hair looks great.”

“Oh, that’s Blossom’s doing.” Annabelle giggled. “Can’t believe I let her talk me into it. I’ve never had my hair in an updo like this before.”

“It’s beautiful, and so are you.”

“Thanks, Amy.” Annabelle’s cheeks turned pink. “I do feel transformed. Guess that’s the right word.”

“Transformed is right,” Amy said. “You’re breathtaking.” She leaned in and whispered, “And a certain handsome knight has taken notice, hasn’t he?”

“You mean Chuck?” Annabelle grinned. “Definitely. He offered to drive me home last night after the fellas sang that awesome song.”

“On a white steed?”

“No.” Annabelle giggled. “And not on a stubborn mare, either. He drove me home in his car. We had the best talk ever. He’s such a great man, Amy. I really think…” She paused. “I really think he was worth the wait.”

“Perfect.”

The opening music to the Camelot theme resounded from the orchestra pit. Amy’s heart raced—in part because she realized that tonight’s performance was the fulfillment of a dream for her. This event could very well change the town of Camelot forever.

Lord, what if I hadn’t stepped out and followed my heart?

A joyous feeling rose up inside of her as the words “followed my heart” flitted through her mind. They reminded her of Steve.

Steve! Where are you?

She glanced across the stage, seeing him in the wings on the other side—exactly where he was supposed to be. Yes, that was her Steve. Always where he was supposed to be. Doing the thing he was called to do. Caring for the people he’d been called to care for.

The music swelled, and she watched as King Arthur took the stage, the forest scene magnificently framing his entrance. His first words filled the auditorium with his presence. Then again, a real king could always command an audience, couldn’t he?

Amy closed her eyes and breathed a prayer. Then, when the moment came, she entered the stage, taking on the role of Guinevere—the love of Arthur’s life. Could anything be sweeter?

The next hour was a blur. After all of the weeks of rehearsing, after all of the hours of agonizing, the first act of the play soared by at lightning speed. With the exception of a couple of dropped lines and one costume faux pas—Chuck entered the stage wearing his cowboy boots with his tights—the whole thing came off without a hitch. Amy could hardly believe it.

Only when the musical crescendo announced the beginning of the intermission did she feel the weight of the world lift from her shoulders. Well, for a minute, anyway.

Exiting the stage on the left, she was approached by Annabelle, whose eyes were wide. “Um, Amy?”

“Yes?” Amy pulled off her headpiece and ran her fingers through her hair.

“I thought you’d want to know that Natalie’s in labor.”

“What?” The headpiece slipped out of her hand and landed on the floor.

“Well, at least she thinks she is. Could be those…what do you call them? Bragging Higgs contractions?”

Amy rose and shook her head. “I don’t have a clue what they’re called. But if they’re contractions, shouldn’t someone be driving her to the hospital?”

“Well, that’s the problem. Pastor Crane has gone back to the sound booth to fix some sort of computer problem. Jackson has gone to get him.”