Page 30 of Faultlines
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TREMOR
Ethan
I should be reviewing the construction documents on my desk, but instead I’m being held hostage by my family’s group text. I decide to turn on ‘Do Not Disturb’ before another video, meme, or unnecessary commentary from Sloane appears. Just as I tap the settings icon, an email pops up.
From: Brooke Whitmore
To: Ethan Bennett
Subject: URGENT—Monarchy Structural Failure
Hi Ethan,
A question from the costume committee: Does the Queen of Hearts’ armor count as a structural issue requiring an architect’s consultation if it falls apart during Act Two? Asking for a friend .
Supreme Overlord of Theatrical Chaos,
Brooke Whitmore
Official Queen of Hearts Handler
Professional Solver of Costume Emergencies
I can’t help but laugh. An email about collapsing costume armor feels refreshing.
Reid stops in my doorway, eyebrows arched. “What’s funny?”
I set the phone down. “Nothing.”
He narrows his eyes. “That was a suspiciously fast response.”
“Just an email from the school.”
“That’s somehow more suspicious. I don’t remember emails from my school to my parents being funny.”
“It’s from Ellie’s drama teacher.”
“Ah,” he replies, then pauses.
“So, this drama teacher… what’s she like?”
“You’re forty-seven.” I throw a pen at him, and he catches it with ease.
“It’s about the costumes for the play. Rehearsals start this week.”
“And what do you have to do with costumes? You’re an architect, or do they have you sewing now?”
“Funny. I’m on set construction. We’ve just been messaging about the play. She keeps assigning me tasks—I’m basically her assistant director at this point.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You imply plenty.”
The messages continue over the next few days, a steady stream of drama-club madness. Each one takes less than thirty seconds to answer, a harmless distraction. That’s the excuse I use, anyway, as I check my phone more often.
Brooke: This is an official communication from the Office of the Minister of Drama. We are currently experiencing a severe shortage of giant playing cards.
