“Only one more day,” Peggy said incredulously, “and then you’ll be off to New York and we’ll only have three more weeks here! Oh, the summer is going so fast!”
“I’ll miss all this,” Randy admitted, “the theater and the lake—and you!”
Randy decided to go back to New York on the night bus that left the Manor right after the last performance of You Can’t Take It with You. Peggy walked with him to the gates to say good-by, feeling that the nicest part of the summer was going with him.
“It’s been fun, Randy,” she said shyly. “I’m awfully glad you were here—”
“I am too,” he said seriously, taking her hand. “I think maybe I came along at the right time. Chris is an awfully nice guy, but—well—this is summer stock, Peggy. Funny things can happen when you act with people. If you’re really interested in him, I hope you’ll see him in a different environment—maybe back in New York.” He smiled and suddenly leaned down and kissed her. “In the meantime, don’t forget me!”
Randy started to get on the bus and then paused with another thought. “And don’t forget that you’re an awfully good actress,” he said. “I have a lot of faith in you. I’d like you to remember that for the next few weeks.”
The bus pulled away, leaving Peggy with a funny lump in her throat. She’d be seeing Randy again in a little while—why did she feel so strange, she wondered. She suddenly had an acute appreciation of the difference between Randy’s loyal and generous attitude and the impulsive, surface interest of Chris Hill. That was it, she realized. She was a little ashamed of herself for having been swept up in a current by a dashing leading man, nice as he was. She watched Randy’s bus turn the corner and disappear, knowing that nobody could quite take his place.
The annex seemed strangely quiet the morning of the day Love Rides the Rails was to open. Rita and Gus were down first as usual, having coffee and relaxing on the patio before rehearsals started. Peggy joined them, having hastily dressed in pedal pushers and a halter.
“It’s getting hotter and hotter,” she remarked, looking for a shady place to sit down and have her breakfast.
“But so peaceful after that hectic show,” Rita said lazily. “Really cozy! Will you ever forget Michael’s bomb?”