What Happens In Carolina: a retro romantic comedy by Karen Grey

Author:Karen Grey [Grey, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Home Cooked Books

TINA

George’s frown turns upside down when Ford introduces us to Violet, who ushers us inside the stately inn. But when she explains that she only has one room and it only has a queen size bed, that smile flips back over again.

“I’m so sorry, y’all, but this is the best we can do,” Violet apologizes. “I thought more guests would evacuate, but Beverly has been so unpredictable that people just decided to stay put.”

George clears his throat. “I’m sorry, but are you—are you an actress?”

Seeming as surprised by the non sequitur as I am, Violet shakes her head. “Not really. I studied it in college, but—”

“I swear I’ve seen you on TV,” George insists.

And then I recognize her. “Oh my god. You’re the stump grinder girl.”

Violet groans, saving me from myself. “Is that thing running already?”

“I think I’ve seen it twenty times since we got here,” George says.

“What is stump grinding?” I can’t help but ask.

Violet rolls her eyes. “That was a commercial I shot for my uncle’s tree service, like, ten years ago when I was in college. They trot it out every time there’s a hurricane because, well, when trees come down they need—”

“Everthang from trimmin’ to grindin’ y’all,” Ford says, pitching his voice high and leaning heavily into a southern accent as he mimes taking off a helmet and shaking his hair free just like Violet does in the commercial.

Violet swats at him. “Well, if the power goes out you won’t have to see me on TV again.”

It suddenly occurs to me that if the storm is worsening by the minute, Ford might be stuck here too. “Wait, where are you going to stay, Ford?”

A look passes between Violet and Ford before he shrugs. “Guess I’m bunking with Vi here.”

It’s not my business, but that rarely stops me from sticking my curious nose in. “So, you two”—I draw a line between our host and our rescuer—“are a couple?”

Violet barks out a laugh. “Nah, we’re just friends. We’ve shared beds since we were kids.”

“Weird,” George says. “That’s in the pilot of the show we’re working on.”

Ford scratches at the five o’clock shadow along his jaw. “That’s what happens when your older brother’s best friend hits it big in Hollywood. Anything and everything is ripe for the picking. But in real life”—he pokes at Violet, but she dodges away before he can connect—"she’s more like my sister than my real sister. And it’s not like we make a habit of sharing a bed.”

Hip-checking him, Violet adds, “Anymore.”

“Right. But when nature gives us little choice?” Ford shrugs as if that settles the matter.

“Speaking of Mother Nature, let’s get y’all settled before the lights go out,” Violet says, gesturing at the staircase.

George’s brow furrows. “I thought the hurricane already happened. What we just drove through was—”

“No sirree bob, she’s just getting started.” Ford blows out a whistle. “We can expect to get a lot more wind and rain. It’s just that in this part of town, we don’t have to worry about flooding.

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