Chapter 2

Megs sat on the edge of her bed, her mother's announcement echoing in her head like a boy band song from the nineties on repeat. The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm autumn glow over her room—a room that wouldn't be hers for much longer.

Megs fiddled with a loose thread on her comforter as her thoughts spiraled. You can’t afford an apartment right now. You’ve wasted years and a stupid amount of money trying to make acting work, and you’ve got nothing to show for it. You’re twenty-five, making sixteen dollars an hour—the same as a starting wage for a high schooler at Chipotle.

Megs groaned and flopped onto her back. She'd put all her eggs into one basket. To be fair, she had tried other baskets. She’d taken college courses, and that experiment had sucked out her soul through an aluminum straw. She'd started the process to get her real estate license until she realized passing the test would require more memorization than high school biology, which she'd barely passed with a D.

Becoming an aesthetician had crossed her mind for a hot minute until she'd shadowed her mom's friend Colleen at the hair salon and left with a headache, wax fused to her fingernails, and her nasal hairs singed beyond recognition.

Megs blew out a breath. It was her. She was the problem. She had no resiliency or self-discipline. Her mom had been passive-aggressively sending that message through the ether for years, and maybe it was time to admit she’d been right.

She'd hoped that signing with Lake Talent would be her turning point, but so far, her agent had only managed to get her a few commercials. It had been enough to pay her mother back gradually, but wasn't a consistent amount to support herself with.

So, she was finally about to be debt-free.

And homeless.

Fantastic.

Megs grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts, scrambling for a lifeline. Her mother hadn’t offered for her to move with her, and Sylvia DeBosse did nothing haphazardly. Megs got the message loud and clear. Her mother was ready to move on with her life, and she was done giving her oldest daughter a free ride.

Megs didn't blame her. She hadn't planned on living in her childhood bedroom in her mid-twenties. She hadn't even planned on returning to Sugar Creek, Vermont. Always throwing curveballs when we least expect it. Her heart stuttered at the thought of that guy in the shop this afternoon. Add that missed opportunity to the growing pile.

She sighed as her thumb hovered over Kiara's name in her contacts. One of her high school friends she'd actually remained close with. They'd talked about moving in together before, but when Kiara offered her a room in the spring, Megs had declined, wanting to save money over the summer.

Kiara lived in one of the most affordable complexes in Sugar Creek, which meant it rarely had openings. How had she been so shortsighted? Megs tapped on Kiara's contact info and hit the call button. Maybe they had another room open up? She tugged on the loose thread as the phone rang.

"Megs!" Kiara's smile was audible. "What's up?"

They exchanged pleasantries while Megs mustered enough courage to bring up the room. "So, funny story," she began, trying to sound lighthearted. "My mom's selling our house, and I need to find an apartment by the beginning of October."

"Wow, that's sudden," Kiara replied. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, better than okay, actually. My mom has a serious man-friend."

"What?! A sugar daddy? I like the sound of that."

Megs snorted at the low growl in her friend's throat. "You would."

Kiara sighed. "Dude, I wish I could help, but that room is taken. I can ask if anyone is planning to give up their contracts."

"That would be great, but no worries. I just thought I'd check in case anything had changed."

"I could kick Jeter out."

Megs barked a laugh. "Why, because you're starting to admit you have feelings for him?"

Kiara groaned. "No, because he refuses to take his laundry out of the dryer."

"I love that for you."

"Hey, can someone get the door?" Kiara called out, brushing her cheek against the microphone. "Sorry, Megs. I think the guy who's supposed to be fixing our router is here. I'll keep you posted."

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

"Ooh, and in the meantime, I want pics!"

"Of what?"

Kiara scoffed. "Of Sylvia's man!"

Megs laughed. "Of Frank?"

"That's his name? Wait, are you talking about Frank, as in Mr. McGinnis? Megs—"

"Bye, Kiara!" Megs pressed the red circle with Kiara's protestations still spewing from the speaker.

She shook her head and stared at her screen. Her mom and Frank had been fairly low-key for the past year, but once they moved in together? She couldn't wait for the comments from her friends who took Social Studies with Mr. McGinnis to come rolling in. How is Sylvia planning to earn extra credit?

Megs chuckled to herself, then chewed on her lower lip as she flipped through her mental Rolodex. Most of her close friends were scattered across the country, either finishing up post-secondary degrees or already working their dream jobs.

But what about Bobbi's friends?

She found Haley's contact and started to text. After writing and rewriting it three times, she gave up and pressed the call button.

"Megs?" Haley answered. "Don't tell me. You went out with Tall, Dark, and Studious from the coffee shop, and he turned out to be a murderer."

"How did you know? He left me in an abandoned warehouse with my phone barely within reach."

Haley laughed. "Aww, and I’m your first call?” Megs laughed. “But seriously, anything happen after I left?"

Megs groaned. "It should've, but no. I chickened out." She rolled onto her side and checked the clock. Five forty-two. No wonder her stomach was grumbling. "Hales, I know this is kind of out of the blue, but I've got a bit of a housing situation and was wondering if you knew anyone who might have a spare room or something?"

She hoped Haley would read between the lines. By someone, she meant her. Haley had an extra room in the new apartment she’d moved into in June. Megs knew this because she'd helped her carry boxes up the three obnoxiously long flights of stairs of her apartment complex when the elevator was broken.

"Well, normally I would, but my cousin is moving in with me in two weeks to work at St. Ambrose for the ski season."

"You have a cousin?"

"Everyone has cousins, Megs."

"Not cousins you let come live with you."

Haley scoffed. "I shouldn't let me live with myself. Maisie is neurotic enough, my place will probably be cleaner with her in it." She took a bite of something, and her next words came out muffled. "But hey, have you checked out the town newspaper? They sometimes have listings for roommates in the classifieds."

Megs wrinkled her nose. "You'd move in with a complete stranger?"

"Why not? Probably easier in some ways than rooming with someone you know."

Megs considered this. She had a point. "Unless they end up being a murderer."

"Well, exactly. But they could end up in your coffee shop in the middle of the afternoon."

"No guarantees."

There was a clatter of dishes, and Haley cursed under her breath. "Sorry, Megs. I just dropped a bowl."

"Just leave it and wait for two weeks 'til Maisie can clean it up."

Haley barked a laugh. "See you Friday."

"Goodnight, Hales." The call dropped, and Megs deflated like a balloon.

Was she really going to have to find an apartment in the classifieds? Who posted in the classifieds besides dental offices and eighty-year-old women giving away fabric they'd hoarded in a closet since the sixties?

Out of curiosity and desperation, Megs dragged herself off the bed and down the hall. Her mom always kept her copy of the Sugar Creek Star on the corner of her desk, and sure enough. Last Friday's issue was folded neatly right where she expected it.

She unfolded the paper, but before she could flip to the back page, the featured article caught her eye.

"Love in Audio: Local Romance Author Seeks Audiobook Narrator for New Series"

Megs' heart felt like it had been hit with jumper cables.

Sugar Creek, get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of love, as our beloved local romance author, Oscar Calloway, sets the stage for a captivating new adventure. With his pulse-pounding prose and heartwarming tales, Calloway is now on the hunt for the perfect voice to bring his latest series, aptly titled ‘Heartsong,’ to life through audiobooks. And what's more, there's a chance for one lucky resident to strike gold!

That's right, folks! Calloway, renowned for his swoony stories that never fail to make this author's heart flutter, is hosting a competition to find the next audiobook narrator for his upcoming series. With a grand prize of $5000 and the chance to continue narrating the rest of the series, this opportunity is sending airwaves of excitement throughout our cozy little town.

In true Calloway fashion, this competition promises to be as dreamy as the novels themselves. The competition guidelines are simple yet spellbinding: aspiring narrators are invited to submit their dulcet voices, accompanied by a short audio sample, to [email protected] before the stroke of midnight on the 16th of this month. Our very own Cupid of Words will carefully select the winning voice to embark on this romantic journey.

"Love knows no bounds, and its melody should be carried on the wings of a captivating voice," Calloway shared with a twinkle in his eye. "I'm thrilled to give someone from our close-knit community the chance to share their talents with the world and become the voice that brings my tales of love to life."

In an exclusive scoop, we've learned that the finalists for this coveted audiobook narrator role will be announced right here, in the pages of our very own Sugar Creek Star by yours truly. That's right, folks - the chosen few will see their names gracing these hallowed pages as their dreams inch closer to reality.

But wait, dear readers, the romance-filled tale doesn't end there! It seems that Calloway has planned a series of enchanting autumn events designed to immerse the finalists in the essence of the story and its captivating characters.

Picture a romantic train ride through colorful foliage and romance by the fire at the fall festival under the starry sky. Our small town will become the backdrop for these romantic escapades, ensuring that the chosen narrator truly captures the heart and soul of Calloway's literary creation.

For those who may be hesitant to step into the limelight, fear not! Our esteemed romance maestro, Oscar Calloway, will personally provide guidance and coaching to help the narrator perfect their craft. It's an opportunity to refine their talents and become a voice to be reckoned with in the world of romance literature.

So, if you have a voice that can paint a masterpiece of love, whisking listeners away on romantic waves of adventure, don't miss this chance to be part of a literary legacy. Submit your voice and let the magic of romance echo through our earbuds.

Sugar Creek eagerly awaits the unveiling of the voice that will bring Calloway's enchanting series to life. Might it be you?

Stay tuned, dear readers, and prepare to be swept off your feet.

Signing off with more than a touch of romance,

Julie Bee

Sugar Creek, Where Life is Always Sweeter

Megs' eyes darted back over the black and white type as her brain latched onto the idea of a quick five grand like a leech. What if she could do this? It wasn’t just the initial money, either. The article said Calloway was hiring for the rest of his series. Based on the number of women around Sugar Creek she’d seen carrying novels with his name on it, he was prolific, which meant this could be a steady gig.

No, Megs. That familiar feel of her heart racing in her chest—her eyes dilating to the size of saucers. This had preceded every single one of her terrible decisions to date. Excitement over an opportunity didn’t equal positive results. In fact, in her world, it was usually the opposite.

Megs had lost all trust in herself, and rightly so. That rush in her head. The bloom of energy in her chest. All of it led to one thing: failure. And the idea of adding one more of those to the pile made her want to throw up the bagel sandwich she'd eaten on her lunch break.

She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. Megs wouldn't win this competition. She'd never done any voice-over work before, mostly because she didn't have a home studio, and these days, everyone and their dog had a microphone set up in their closet. If Sugar Creek published this story, it was only a matter of time before other news outlets picked it up. Actors from here to Chicago would be emailing their audio samples, and—

Megs jumped when she heard the floorboards creak behind her. She folded the paper and placed it back neatly on the corner of the desk, then plastered a smile on her face as her mother entered the room. "Mom, I thought you had already left for auditions.”

"I was just on my way out.” Sylvia peered over the rim of her glasses.

Megs shot up from the chair and ran a hand through her curls. "You surprised me.”

The crow’s feet around her mother’s eyes deepened as she studied Megs’ face. There was that hawkish focus. Megs tried to breathe normally as her mom walked through the room and picked up her purse from the side table.

Megs flipped the paper over and walked toward the kitchen. She did not want to field comments and questions from her mother if she saw what she’d been reading. Acting isn’t a backup plan, Megs. It’s something you do after you have a steady income.

"Think you’ll find your Cinderella tonight?" Megs asked, following her mother into the kitchen. Sylvia sighed and pulled an iced coffee from the fridge. "The women won’t be the problem." She cracked open the lid and took a sip. "Why aren't there more men in Sugar Creek who do theater?"

"Why aren't there more men in Sugar Creek?" Megs waggled an eyebrow.

Her mother laughed and leaned against the counter. "Megs, I wanted to apologize for blindsiding you with the news about Frank. Our realtor is convinced now is the time to sell the house before everything slows down with the holidays."

"I get it, Mom." She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Sylvia crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you think you'll be able to find a place?"

Megs bristled even though she had no right to be frustrated. She'd lived here rent-free for three years. She hoped her mom felt she'd pulled her weight with chores and meal prep, but even as she thought it, she knew she hadn't. Especially in that first year after coming home from Chicago.

"I'll find something, Mom." Megs smiled and sat down on a stool at the counter. "With my paycheck Friday, I'll make that final loan payment."

Her mother beamed at her. "That's great. Good for you."

Megs waited for the next sentence, and for a second, her heart swelled with hope that it might not come.

It did.

"And you're planning to keep working at Green Mountain?"

Megs exhaled, her arms beginning to tingle. "It's a good job."

"But not one that can support you. Not with rent prices this high."

"I’m looking for a roommate." Megs groaned internally, realizing she’d been so distracted by the audiobook article she hadn’t even made it to the classifieds.

"Even then—" Sylvia registered the look on Megs' face and snapped her mouth closed. Her jaw worked, then she set her coffee down and slumped down to rest her elbows on the counter. "I don't want to keep having this fight."

Tears pricked the corner of Megs' eyes, and she blinked. Was this a fight? Or was it simply a six-week recurring one-sided conversation?

"I'm not going to keep having this fight." Sylvia pushed up and slapped her hands on the counter. "Megs, you know I love you. This is your life, and you can live it how you want."

Megs frowned. Was her mother washing her hands of her? That thought stung more than her constant badgering.

Sylvia turned and riffled in her purse, then pulled out her phone. Her thumbs began hammering out a message on the screen. "I told you Dr. Straight's office in town is hiring."

"Yes, Mom, but—"

"I know, I know, but they're looking for someone with medical coding experience. The pay is double what you currently make—"

"Not with tips, and—slightly important detail—I don't, in fact, have medical coding experience."

Sylvia's phone made a swooping noise as she set it on the counter. "Exactly. Which can be easily remedied."

Megs' phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and found a message from her mom on the screen.

"It's three hundred and fifty dollars total for the certification, and you'd only need three weekends of classes at Champlain Community. With that, you could get a job anywhere, even if you hate the idea of working in town. You could probably work virtually if you wanted."

Megs stared at the screen, the words swimming before her eyes like fish darting in the shallows. Medical coding certification. September fifteenth. "That's this Friday night."

"It’s last minute, but they still have spots. I checked."

A part of Megs wanted to recoil, to reject the notion of sitting in class and willingly learning long strings of insurance codes. But another part, the part that was tired of scraping by and disappointing her mother, yearned to want this. To be the good, practical daughter who said this is a rational, intelligent, simple decision, and of course I’ll do it!

"If you complete the certification, I'll pay your first month's rent and security deposit." Her mother spun on her heel and exited the room, leaving her glass of half-drunk iced coffee collecting condensation on the counter.