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She nodded. “Silver leaves for the Montagues and golden flames or sunbursts for the Capulets. What do you think?”

TJ nudged her. “I think they’re fire.”

“Seriously, Teej?”

“Crap. Sorry.” He winced and patted her shoulder. “Too soon. I know.”

But Lauryn’s eyes lit up, and I couldn’t help but smirk at the two of them.

Ms. Sparrow hurried over. “Thank you so much for being here.” She shook TJ’s hand. “What’s the latest with the lighting?”

“Everything should be here in a couple of days,” I said. “I had to rush order so we’d have enough time to get it all hooked up. We could really use someone to move that follow spot, though, since it won’t be able to be hooked up to this kind of board.”

Ms. Sparrow nodded. “I’ve got someone in mind. Now that we’re working with fewer mics, you can train Hazel.”

I forced a smile.

Train someone?

When would I have time for that?

Mom suddenly appeared next to us with carryout trays filled with coffee, her big sunglasses propped on her brown-and-silver pixie-cut hair. “Thought you guys might need some fuel.” She handed one to Ms. Sparrow, who thanked her before scurrying away toward Mr. Newcomb and other volunteers behind the stage.

“Reed was discharged last night.” Mom flicked something off my shoulder. “Mrs. Fulton called me this morning and said he was doing fine but was still a little sore. He’s waiting for the doctor’s okay to play in the championship.”

“But isn’t that game in a couple days?” I asked. “How will he be okay by then?”

Mom handed me a coffee. “Your father had the game moved out two weeks. But that puts it on the same night as your opening night. I’m sorry.”

Hold up. “Dad moved the game?”

“He did.”

My heart filled with warmth, and my head spun with a thousand questions. “He moved it so Reed could pitch?”

“He said a championship team deserved to have their ace on the mound.” She steered me away from the group, stopping near a pile of lumber and a big tractor. “So can you tell me about him now? Reed, that is?”

“Um…” I picked at the lid of my cup. Damp, tall weeds rubbed against my ankles. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Why’s that?” She leaned against one of the wheels and put her free hand in the pocket of her beige jumper.

“Because it’s over between us.” I took a long sip of the hot coffee and moved next to her. “We just didn’t time it right.”

“Timing is an easy excuse.” Mom brushed a piece of a leaf off my shoulder. “You make it work when you really want it to.”

I huffed. “So what, now you’re okay with the Fultons?”

Maybe I hit my head during the fire and didn’t remember doing it?

“I’ll be the first to admit that I may have misjudged them.” She drummed her fingers on her cup. “But I saw how Reed stood tall at Angelo’s about the reservations, and how he worked with your cousin after the food fight that he didn’t start on the Fourth…” She laughed lightly. “But do you know what really stood out to me?”

I shook my head and blinked back the tears I could feel coming.

“It was the way he looked at you at our Founder’s Day Tea. He was a fish out of water, but when he looked at you, his entire face changed. Like you kept him centered. And you looked at him the same way, sweetie.” She lifted my chin a little.

“You make it sound so easy.” My throat squeezed. “But how could we have made it work, Mom, when we both want to win? In the end, one of us will lose.”

“I never said it would be easy. The best things never are.” She searched my eyes. “Do you care about him?”