“Ready for what?” Alison looked up, surprised.
“Why, to go to Mrs. Brady’s or the inn—or wherever we’re going. I think we ought to let the boys decide.” Peggy treated it as if it had been understood from the beginning. “Are you and Gus coming along, too?” she asked Rita.
“I’m sorry, we can’t, Peggy. We have to go over the prop list for You Can’t Take It with You. It’s a difficult show on the backstage end, and I want to help all I can.”
Peggy nodded. Next week was going to be a challenge for everyone. “Better hurry, Alison,” she said. “We can’t stay out too late. We have an early call tomorrow.”
It worked out just as Peggy had hoped. They went to the inn for sandwiches and Alison attached herself to Chris, leaving Peggy free to enjoy Randy’s company. Bill Slade had a marvelous time with all of them. Alison’s presence prevented Chris from kidding Randy, which, Peggy suspected, Chris would have loved to do. Just once in the evening, when Alison excused herself for a moment, Chris leaned across the table and said, “Say—how’d you like that last act, Randy? Think it was realistic?”
Randy looked from Chris to Peggy and back again. “Well,” he said with a slow smile, “it wasn’t exactly the way I would have played it, a little too theatrical for me. But then, Preston Mitchell was an actor! I’d be inclined to take that scene too seriously, I’m afraid.” He looked steadily at Peggy and she thought she understood. Randy was telling her that Chris’s interest in her was a professional mood—something she had guessed already. But more important, he was saying that his own feelings went deeper. Peggy felt comforted and secure. Whatever happened with their friendship, it would always be a lasting one. Peggy smiled at him understandingly.
“What’s your play next week, Peggy?” Randy asked.
“You Can’t Take It With You! And it’s going to be a job! We have to use a lot of townspeople because it’s such a large cast—”
“It’s a great show, though,” Chris added enthusiastically.
“And the most awful thing, Randy,” Peggy continued, “is that I won’t be able to see your act down at the Manor.”