Free The Woman He Married by Julie Ford

mentioned as the costume designer.
    Straightening the large bow perched on top of the little actor’s ringlets, Josie said, “You look real fine.”
    The girl playing the lead was Lori Watson’s daughter—of course. She had one of those shi-shi southern names that sounded like three last names all running together like, Madison Mason Watson, or Maven Wilson Watson. Who knew?
    Unfortunately, one must be “connected” in order to participate in anything around here. Much to John’s dismay, Bobbie wanted to be an actor—among other things— when he grew up, so Josie had to volunteer just to get him a part.
    The music started to play. Josie shook off her uneasy feeling and sent Jessica out onto the stage. The curtains opened to the scene of a dining room, the carrots surrounding Jessica, who was staring at them with exaggerated disgust. The narrator’s voice started…
    “Jessica Smith didn’t like carrots. But the carrots liked her and thought it unfair.”
    Josie and Gina readied the okra, who were up next. One of the little actors was complaining that he didn’t want to play a slimy old pod—his mom obviously didn’t have the right connections. “Suck it up, short stuff,” Gina said, pulling the costume down over his head.
    Out on stage the carrots were saying, “Jessica Smith, you must like us. Eating your veggies will make you feel good.” They began dancing around Jessica, who shook her head. The carrots danced off the stage as the spinach plant came on.
    The narrator spoke. “The spinach plant was cunning and wise. He walked up to Jessie and stared in her eyes.”
    The spinach plant leaned towards the girl. “Eat up your veggies each day for a week, and we’ll arrange a special treat.”
    Jessica shook her head again. Off went the spinach plant.
    “I feel like we’re missing something. Did you…” Josie paused when she couldn’t come up with the thought teasing the edge of her brain.
    “Did I what?” Gina asked, herding the sprouts out onto the stage.
    “If Jessica could throw veggies out, the top of her list would be Brussels sprouts.”
    The sprouts began their dance around her, singing, “Eat up your veggies each day for a week, and we’ll arrange a special treat.”
    Jessica put a finger to her chin , thinking. The sprouts danced off the stage.
    “I don’t know,” Josie said as she pushed the cauliflower out.
    “Jessica, I’m a beautiful collie. To not eat me would be terrible folly. And if you eat your veggies all week, you’ll end up with a special treat.”
    Jessica nodded, and the stage filled with all the vegetables, all dancing.
    Gina gave her friend a thoughtful look. “What could we possibly be missing?”
    “Jessica ate her veggies each day, and showed her Mom she could put them away. And then there came the end of the week—she wondered about her special treat,” the narration continued.
    Out on stage, the finale loomed. The production seemed to be moving along smoothly. From the audience, Josie could hear the oohs and aahs of proud parents but she felt only slightly better.
    Josie swallowed down her anxiety and let herself hope that after the final curtain call, and everyone had been thoroughly wowed with her costume-designing abilities, John would be more relaxed and they would finally have a chance to talk. Then, after he dispelled all of her concerns over his late nights, the bracelet and whatnot, as simple misunderstandings, they would…
    “Still, I feel like I’ve forgotten something.” Josie tried again to identify the source of her unease, but somehow she couldn’t seem put her finger on it.
    “You have just had two insane days and a cheating…um, well—to deal with. No wonder you feel like you’re missing something.” Gina smiled uncomfortably as she checked the children to make sure they were in the correct order for the final scene.
    “All the week she’d done her best and Mom and Dad were most impressed . And then she jumped up to her feet when