Debra, however, could wait for another day. He focused on Cass.
“You look happy,” he commented. “What’s going on? Don’t tell me Sue Ellen quit the play.”
“No,” Cass said, a note of disgust in her voice. “Even after forgetting almost every single one of her lines today, she doesn’t have sense enough to call it quits. The play’s going to be a disaster.”
“Is that what has you looking so cheerful?” he inquired worriedly. Gloating wasn’t an especially attractive trait. It certainly wasn’t one he intended to encourage.
“No. We had a speaker today, a real actress who’s been in commercials and TV shows and on Broadway. It was soooo awesome!”
There was little question in Ethan’s mind who that actress was, but he asked, anyway. “Anyone I’d have heard of?”
“Maybe. She’s from around here, or spent summers here or something like that. Samantha Castle. Her grandmother owns that restaurant across from the beach, Castle’s-by-the-Sea. She’s probably younger than you, so you probably never met her.”
“I know her,” Ethan said. “I’m the best man in her sister’s wedding on Saturday. She’s the maid of honor.”
Cass’s eyes widened. “Wow! How cool is that? Do you think you could introduce me to her?”
He regarded her with confusion. “You just met her.”
“That was at school. She met a lot of kids. She might not even remember me.”
“I doubt that,” Ethan said. Cass was not easily forgettable and not just because of her prosthesis. “Why do you want to spend more time with her?”
“Because she’s an honest-to-goodness working actress,” Cass said impatiently. “Maybe she’d give me tips or something.” Her expression filled with worry as she glanced at her arm. “Or maybe she’d be like Mrs. Gentry and tell me to forget trying to be an actress. I guess if she told me that, I’d have to believe her. She sees casting people all the time. She probably knows exactly what it takes to get chosen for a part, that it’s not always about the acting.”
Oh, boy, Ethan thought. There was a mine field Samantha would want no part of. She wasn’t the kind of woman who’d ever knowingly crush a kid’s dream, but she was honest. What if she happened to agree with Regina Gentry? Could Cass handle that?
The only way to protect Cass was to have a long conversation with Samantha before ever bringing them together. For now, he was making no promises.
“This week is real busy with wedding activities,” he told Cass. “I doubt she’ll have any time. I’m not sure when she’s planning to go back to New York, but if she does stick around, I’ll see what I can do,” he promised, hoping that was vague enough that Cass wouldn’t hold it against him if he failed to deliver.
Cass gave him a penetrating look. “You don’t want me to see her, do you? How come?”
Ethan hated that she’d read him so easily. “I never said that,” he replied.
“Is it because you think she’ll tell me I don’t stand a chance?” Cass persisted. “I swear I can take it if she does. I’m not some baby who can’t deal with bad news. I’ve already had to deal with more than my share, you know?”
“I know how strong you are, Cass. I honestly have no idea what Samantha would tell you,” Ethan replied. “I really don’t know her schedule. It’s as simple as that.”
“If you say so,” Cass said doubtfully.
“I say so.”
She stood up and started for the door, then turned back. “I pushed Trevor to school today in his wheelchair,” she said. “Not that I’m looking for brownie points or anything. He said it was embarrassing having his mom take him all the time. He might be just a kid, but he doesn’t need that aggravation.”
Ethan bit back a smile. “That was very thoughtful of you.”
She shrugged. “No big deal. I just thought you should know. I figure since we’re all about self-esteem around here, I’m doing my part to help with his.”
“I know Trevor appreciates that.”
“He’s not such a bad kid,” she admitted. “And he’s way too smart for the classes he’s taking. He’s going to help me with my math, if you can believe that. I think he may know more than the teacher, and he’s still in elementary school. He must be some kind of genius or something.”
“When it comes to math, I think he is. His mother told me they’re thinking of letting him take a class at the junior college next semester.”
Cass frowned at the news. “But he’ll be like this social misfit,” she said worriedly. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? He might get bummed out.”
“I don’t think you or I get to decide that, but maybe you could talk to him, see how he feels about it.”
Her expression brightened. “And if he’s scared or something, I could take him sometimes,” she offered. “Nobody would mess with him on my watch.”
Ethan smiled at her fierce protectiveness. “I like seeing this side of you, Cass.”
She looked confused by the compliment. “What side?”
“You’re thinking about other people’s feelings. That’s a really good thing.”
“Trevor’s okay,” she said with a shrug. “It’s no big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” Ethan corrected. “Don’t ever try to hide that big heart of yours.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. See ya, Doc.”
“See you,” he responded. Only after she’d gone did he allow a full-blown grin to spread across his face. She was going to be a success story, a kid who’d once again discovered that life had no limits.
At least as long as Samantha didn’t inadvertently slip up and take that away from her.
13
After dinner, Samantha retreated to her room, relieved that
