Chapter Eighteen
Cooper and Cash strolled into the tiny one-screen movie theater. Built in the late twenties, the Bijou was a popular fixture in Snowy Ridge; but, Cooper hadn’t been in there since he was a kid. He just wasn’t the type to go out to see a movie, at least not alone. There were no tickets needed for that night’s premiere and Danny, in his trademark vest and bow tie, was handing out free small popcorns to everyone who entered. Danny ran the small theater: he sat in the glass booth at the front selling the tickets, he scooped the popcorn and sold the candy and drinks, and he dimmed the lights and started the shows. There wasn’t a resident in town who didn’t know and love Danny. Cooper accepted the popcorn from him and the two men headed into the theater to find seats.
The place looked just the same as how he remembered it twenty years ago when he and his brothers would go see movies with their parents. It had a French Renaissance décor with rich red velvet walls, bronze doors and trim, and a gorgeous dome ceiling. His mother had loved it so much. She liked the massive chandelier in the center of the theater and the faux balconies on either side of the room that couldn’t actually hold any real people. And she said the heavy red fabric curtains pulled up on either side of the movie screen and held securely with velvet ropes always made her feel like she was at a fancy play in the city rather than a two-dollar a ticket movie theater. Nothing at all had changed. Though, Cooper imagined the price of movie tickets had certainly inflated since then.
They quickly found a spot to sit and started in on their popcorns. Cooper felt a burst of salty butter in his mouth. He had forgotten how good movie theater popcorn was. Much better than the microwave kind he made at home. The last movie he saw in a theater was in Chicago before their move. He’d wanted to skip this one but Cash talked him into going with him. He was certain that the special guest for the premiere would be a hot single actress and that this was his chance of finding true love. Cooper thought it was an idiotic notion, but, entertaining, so he agreed to accompany him.
He casually scanned the theater and saw much of Snowy Ridge was already seated and chatting with one another. Anne, Linda, Ralph, and the rest of the Starlight Pub staff seemed to be in attendance. He guessed that they’d closed early just like most of the other businesses in town for this special feature. Harry and April from Moonbeans were seated in the middle of a row and he’d recognized Eileen Patterson from the bakery. The girl who worked there with her, Amber he thought her name was, was seated next to her. The whole town had been a buzz about the event ever since they’d all received the mailed invitations from the mayor.
He spotted Becca sitting with Wynn and Luci Foster and his heart skipped a beat. She looked so beautiful sitting there in a floaty white tank top and flower-covered skirt. Becca caught him looking at her and nodded. Cooper waved at her and then turned back to his popcorn like it was suddenly the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen.
“Whole town turned out, huh?” Cash asked. His right leg bounced up and down and he threw a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
“Looks like it,” Cooper replied.
“Hey, guys,” Jessie said, suddenly appearing in front of the brothers. “Cade’s not with you? I texted him but he hasn’t replied yet.”
“I called him right before we left to see if he wanted to come over with us but he said he was running late,” Cooper told her. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
“Okay, thanks. I guess I’ll get back to my seat. I’m sitting with my sisters over there.” Jessie nodded over her shoulder.
“Enjoy the show,” Cash said.
A few minutes passed and then the lights faded. Cooper settled into his seat and stared at the large screen ahead. He dug into his popcorn and the music for the film started. There was an image of a lake surrounded by trees and then the camera widened to a town. The lighting made it seem like early morning. The word, TODAY, appeared followed by a man tying his shoes, slipping on a sports coat, and gelling the top of his hair. They never see the man’s face though.
“There’s your celebrity,” Cooper said in a low voice, nudging Cash.
The words, IS THE DAY, displayed next across the screen.
A car drove through a town and came to a stop in front of a building. They see the man’s legs as he climbs out of the car and walks in.
“Sorta looks like Snowy Ridge,” Cash whispered back.
The words, HE TAKES THE NEXT STEP came across the screen followed by THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
The man walked through tables and chairs. He must be in a restaurant. He stopped when he reached a woman and the camera panned up so we could a better view of the couple, but not their faces.
“Are you sure about this?” the woman asked.
“I haven’t been more sure about anything ever in my entire life,” the man said.
Cooper and Cash turned quickly to look at each other, both of their eyes widened.
“Holy shit,” Cash said.
“That’s Cade,” Cooper replied.
“Why do you want to marry my daughter?” the woman who obviously had to be Diedre Foster asked.
The men turned to look at Jessie to see if she’d put it together yet. She sat staring up at the screen, one hand covering her mouth, her eyes glistening. She’d figured it out too.
Cooper turned back to the screen, not wanting to miss a moment.
Cade continued talking. “I love her and I love everything about her. She’s feisty and playful, compassionate and kind. She’s wickedly funny and makes me laugh every day. She has the biggest heart of any person I’ve ever known. And she’s so, so smart. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. She makes me a better person. My whole world changed the day she came into my life and I’ve never been happier.”
The camera panned up and they saw Diedre and Cade clearly now, standing at the corner of the bar in Starlight, talking.
Gasps and light murmuring went through the theater as everyone else put together what was happening in front of them.
On screen, Diedre replied, “I’ve never seen Jessie happier either. We all love you so much, Cade. You have my blessing. Go get her.” Diedre and Cade embraced and then Cade walked out of Starlight as the music switched to the song, Marry You, by Bruno Mars. A series of pictures flashed on the screen. It looked like shot after shot of Jessie and Cade’s various dates over the months. There was them on a sleigh ride, riding on a snowmobile, clinking wine glasses together, having dinners, and on picnics. More shots appeared of Jessie and Cade kissing, holding hands, and dancing in front of rows of twinkle lights. There were silly selfies, Cade sleeping with Jessie giving him bunny ears, and Jessie cracking up as she tried to give Cade a piggy back ride.
Cooper glanced at Jessie again and her and her sisters and her mom were all full-on crying at this point. This whole thing was spectacular. Cooper was so proud of his little brother and couldn’t believe he’d put it all together. And without any of them knowing.
On screen, they all watched as Cade tucked a small box into his pocket and walked down Main Street. He stopped in front of the Bijou and looked up. The marque said under What’s playing, “Jessie Foster, will you marry me?”
Cooper and Cashed glanced at each other. Had that been up there the entire time? How did they not notice?
Then they saw the front ticket booth where Danny sat smiling from behind the glass on screen. Cade handed him some money and Danny handed him a ticket and gave him a thumbs up. They watched as Cooper walked into the lobby and then stopped briefly at the glass counter full of candy. He reached behind and grabbed a box of M&Ms and mouthed to the camera, “Jessie’s favorite,” before tucking them into his coat pocket. He continued down the hall to the swinging doors of the theater and pulled it open, crossing his fingers to the camera before he went inside.
The whole theater watched as Cade walked down the aisle on the screen and then the film abruptly cut and Cade was now standing, in-person, in front of Jessie.