Chapter 9

4:15pm

Mandy peered into her tepid coffee, lost in the reflection's molten hue. At her side, John nibbled on his final rice cake while cautiously inquiring if Mrs. Keller had ever pondered why Shiloh hadn't pursued opportunities in grander theaters where her abilities would be more valued. Eyes alight with anticipation, Mandy awaited the elusive answer to a question they had danced around for the past hour.

Conversing with Mrs. Keller was akin to navigating a labyrinth; each query spun into an elaborate tribute to her daughter's extraordinary gifts and pulchritude, leading them nowhere. The encounter was exhausting, and Mandy's patience wore thin. Thankfully, John's composure was as enduring as a mountain; he seemed utterly unfazed by their marathon with the moonstruck matriarch who had yet to directly address their questions.

"Well..." Mrs. Keller commenced, her reluctance palpable when faced with uttering anything less than adulatory of her child. "She doesn't see it that way—or rather—she believes she doesn't," she remarked with loaded emphasis.

The spectacle before them left Mandy internally bemused; she was accustomed to the industry's self-promotion but had rarely encountered such unabashed salesmanship. Clearly, Mrs. Keller harbored dreams of her daughter transcending the confines of Magnolia Midlands for grander stages.

"But why? Is she unsure of her own talent?" John cut through the silence. With a jolt of surprise in her eyes but denying any such insecurity, Mrs. Keller affirmed, "No, far from it! My Shiloh is brimming with self-belief—it's just that..." Her voice waned.

Mandy scrutinized Mrs. Keller intently, detecting what seemed like a flicker of embarrassment.

"Yes...?" John coaxed softly.

"It's Daniel," Mrs. Keller began but paused abruptly, a sheen forming in her eyes as she leaned forward to clasp Mandy's hands earnestly. "I implore you—deliver her from this place! She's blind to what truly benefits her." The sudden appeal caught Mandy off-guard; however, she didn't recoil from the fervent plea.

"Might I inquire about this Mr. Daniel Warner?" Mandy pressed on unflappably.

Defeated and disheartened, Mrs. Keller released Mandy's hands and slumped back into her chair with a vacant stare. "Shiloh isn't inherently reckless," she started again, meandering through fragmented thoughts until John stepped in to intercept further musing before Mandy's temper could flare once more.

"Mrs. Keller," John assured with an empathetic tone that touched upon the sanctity of her daughter's ambition, "it is evident that your daughter is the farthest thing from foolish; may we discuss what concerns you so deeply?"

Perhaps it was his gentle demeanor or his reference to Shiloh that swayed her emotions; regardless, Mrs. Keller fixed her eyes on him and whispered a soft "You're too kind." A flicker of resolve seemed to take hold as she ventured tentatively, "Maybe I should begin at the start?"

Both medium and clergyman nodded affirmatively, offering silent encouragement for the tale awaiting them.

Shiloh had always harbored a dream to become an actress—a dream that blossomed into reality when she joined forces with Daniel, a playwright. For eight long years, they were the perfect artistic duo: she, the emerging starlet igniting his grand plays with life, and he, the constant playwright offering her the spotlight. Mrs. Keller's voice wavered as she recounted this bittersweet tale. "It was inevitable," she continued with a heavy sigh and a resolve to press on, "that Shiloh would fall head over heels for Daniel. To her, he was everything, encompassing both daylight and the shadow of night. At first, I saw this as a joyful development and supported her wholeheartedly, but I harbored fears of unrequited feelings. Shiloh swung between despair and elation—some days lamenting as just a friend in his eyes and others dancing with joy, certain of his mirrored affection."

"As time marched on," Mrs. Keller said, shaking her head at the memory of those emotional rollercoasters, "Shiloh only sharpened her acting skills, soon becoming Daniel's finest actress. They seemed joined at the hip; when Daniel began playing roles himself—often as Shiloh's love interest—their bond only seemed to deepen. My daughter lived for those moments on stage with him, putting in hours after sunset. She became so engrossed in her art and Daniel's world that I would see her for mere minutes unless I attended their performances."

Mrs. Keller paused; her eyes sparkled with recollection before snapping back to the presentation as Mandy made a noise by setting down her coffee cup too vigorously. "Oh yes," she smiled faintly before continuing, "happiness was in abundance then; rumors swirled about their off-stage romance due to their undeniable stage chemistry. Shiloh delighted in these whispers as if they were sonnets written just for her."

"It wasn't long before Daniel stepped out from mere whispers and wooed my daughter openly—dinners, flowers, endless adoration—an unfolding love story. It brought me unspeakable joy to see my Shiloh soaring across the stage, every line delivered with heartfelt intensity," Mrs. Keller fondly reflected.

"But then," she added with a hint of mystery in her voice, new rumors arose about Daniel procuring a ring; whispered speculations turned into thrillful anticipation of an engagement. The smile seemed eternally etched onto Shiloh's face as we dared to plan a wedding only in our daydreams." Mrs. Keller's storytelling reached its peak: "At the close of their play, amidst roaring applause—he got down on one knee." Overcome by emotion at this memory climax, tears welled up in Mrs. Keller's eyes while John awkwardly handed her a handkerchief—a small gesture amidst the dramatic unfolding of past events that still clung tightly to her heart.

"I apologize," she uttered softly. Both Mandy and John nodded sympathetically, "No worries, take your time..." However, their eager expressions betrayed their impatience to know what unfolded next. At last, Mrs. Keller regained her composure, yet her sorrow now gave way to a palpable resentment.

"So, as I was saying," she resumed, nervously twisting the handkerchief in her hands, "he knelt before me when suddenly the theater doors flew open. Enter Miss Rebecca Marlowe. With a flippant apology for interrupting what she presumed was a casual chat with Daniel, she completely disrupted the moment. That insufferable woman! Just at that instant, Daniel had to step away — the theater owner urgently needed him. Could it not have been postponed?" Her voice crescendoed in vexation before dwindling back to a mournful tone.

"My dear Shiloh tried to brush it aside, maintaining hope that his proposal might still occur soon after – possibly even the following evening? Yet Daniel's schedule was swamped; night after night he was engaged by Miss Marlowe for endless paperwork. And worse yet, as time slipped by, unsettling rumors began to circulate: The proposal might never transpire. These whispers terrified me and left Shiloh emotionally brittle. Their constant companionship waned to mere interactions during weekly rehearsals. And just like that, their potential engagement – their romance – crumbled away. Now six months gone by, my poor Shiloh seems nothing more than an actress in his eyes."

A heavy quietude descended upon them all. Downcast, Mrs. Keller focused intently on folding John's handkerchief in her lap. Mandy exchanged a glance with the priest; he furrowed his brow lightly before bestowing a compassionate gaze upon the distressed woman.

"We deeply apologize, Mrs. Keller..."

The woman's gaze suddenly lifted, her countenance alight with a radiant grin. "There's no need for apologies. Understandably, now the mystery of Shiloh's sorrow is clear – a heart bereft of mending. Yet, perhaps that's where your roles emerge? A fresh start, new faces, and the promising spotlight of a novel theater...it might just be the healing she longs for..." Her words lingered in the charged atmosphere, with Mandy and John reluctant to acknowledge them directly. Mrs. Keller maintained her warm smile, her eyes brimming with emotion as she searched theirs for a response.

Making up her mind, Mandy rose to her feet.

"It's been our pleasure meeting with you, Mrs. Keller. Your daughter clearly possesses remarkable talent. We eagerly anticipate her upcoming performances during our stay," declared the medium with a respectful nod of appreciation. Mirroring Mandy's gesture, John stood beside her and quietly expressed his thanks.

Mrs. Keller appeared content with their reaction and cheerfully escorted them to the exit.

"I should be thanking you—it's wonderful that you visited," she expressed earnestly, offering a meaningful wave goodbye.

After exchanging final farewells, Mandy and John left the house. Mandy hastened ahead, her mind awash with overlapping thoughts.

"Mandy?" John called out as he hastened to close the gap between them.

A moment of clarity seemed to strike her. "Now I comprehend... That explains Shiloh's fondness for Daniel and why she seemed so envious of his attention towards me—she's smitten with him," Mandy pondered aloud.

"His attention?" John queried with a hint of surprise.

With a wave of her hand and an air of nonchalance Mandy assured him, "It's something I can manage."

John seemed unconvinced but nodded anyway.

"We should report back; I'm certain Jasper will find our insights rather compelling," she proposed, directing their steps towards the theater. John picked up his pace to keep in sync with the determined medium.