Part 2 (1/2)
Kiki followed me back to the living room, kind of like a little puppy, and we both sat on the couch.
”So Jen told me you had an audition this week,” she said. ”That is, like, so cool. For Jenner Collins? Oh my G.o.d, I just love him so much. Daddy has done some work with him. He's totally into the revitalization of the city. It's so, so awesome.”
”Yup,” I agreed, putting my feet up on the coffee table. ”He's a pretty cool guy.”
”So was he there? At the audition, I mean. How did it go? I bet you were just great.”
Kiki always talked like this, a mile a minute. When I first met her I had thought she was the most ridiculous person in the world. But I soon came to find out that she was genuinely this nice, this interested in other people. There was nothing fake about her enthusiasm. She was a good person to have on your side.
”Jenner wasn't there, no” I told her. ”It was only the first audition. I wouldn't imagine he'd be around until the callback, if then. For all I know he won't even have much to do with this show; he might just be producing in name only.”
”Well, I bet you get the part. And I'm sure he'll be around for at least the performances. He'll probably be, like, so impressed with you.”
”Thanks, Kiki,” I said, smiling in spite of myself. ”So, what's this awesome news about the event?”
”I actually have two awesome pieces of news,” she said, bouncing on the couch a little. ”But I can only tell you one part right now. The rest will have to wait.”
”Um...okay?” I said, wis.h.i.+ng I could just go lay down in my quiet room. My headache was coming back with a vengeance.
”Jen,” Kiki called. ”Hurry up and get out here! I want to tell Annie the news!”
”I'm here,” Jen said, appearing in the hallway. ”Hey, Ann,” she said, shooting me an understanding smile. ”How are you feeling?”
”Pretty rough,” I admitted.
”What's wrong?” Kiki asked.
”Was just out late last night,” I explained. ”A little hung over.”
”Oh, you poor thing! And here I was talking your ear off when you probably only wanted some peace and quiet. I'm, like, so sorry. But I promise, this news will cheer you up!”
”Okay, Kiki,” I told her. ”Shoot.”
”So, I told Daddy about this event Jen and I are helping you with. And he was totally curious about your organization. He hasn't done too much work out in that neighborhood, you know?”
I nodded, trying to keep up. Kiki's dad, David Barker, was one of the most well-known and prestigious developers in the city. He had made a ridiculous amount of money revitalizing run-down buildings and neighborhoods in Detroit. He was now the owner of numerous restaurants, clubs and hotels in the city, but to my knowledge his business hadn't ventured much into the area where my theater was located.
”So, anyhow,” she said. ”I had Jen talk to him and tell him about what you guys do, and he was totally into it. He wants to give the theater some money! Like, not a crazy amount, but he wants to be a patron. And as he gets to know you guys more, who knows how far the relations.h.i.+p will go, you know? My dad is all about building relations.h.i.+ps.”
I stared at her blankly. What was she saying?
”He's going to become a donor, Annie,” Jen explained, smiling broadly at me. ”He wants to come out to the benefit next month and get set up as a patron.”
”Oh my G.o.d,” I said, looking between the two of them. ”Are you serious?”
Kiki just beamed at me. ”See? I told you it would cheer you up!”
”This is...wow, this is just incredible!” I tried to wrap my mind around what Kiki was saying. Springwells was a pretty small theater, even amongst non-profits. We were constantly struggling to come up with funding. If we actually got a patron, especially someone at the level of David Barker...it could totally change everything.
”He wants to meet with you next week,” she said, still smiling. ”Nothing formal, just a lunch.”
”Wow,” I said. ”Kiki this is...well, thanks. This is amazing.”
”I did nothing,” she said, holding up her hands. ”This isn't a favor. I just mentioned the event. He was genuinely impressed with what you guys do for the community.”
”Wow,” I said again, shaking my head.
”So, what's the other news?” Jen asked hopefully, but Kiki just laughed.
”Nope, I told you you'd have to wait.” Kiki said.
”You don't know, either?” I asked.
Jen shook her head. ”Kiki said we're waiting for everyone else.”
”Everyone else?” I asked. ”Like, who?”
Just then the front door banged open, revealing Ginny, Josh, and Danny.
”Yay!” Kiki squealed. ”I'm so glad you guys are here!”
”Hi,” Ginny said, plopping Danny's diaper bag on the floor. ”So what's this big news?”
”We're just waiting for Matty and Eric now,” Kiki said happily.
”How are you doing today, Ann?” Josh asked, smirking at me. ”You were pretty far gone last night.”
I rolled my eyes at him. ”I feel great,” I said. ”Just peachy, thanks.”
”She should,” Jen replied, walking over to grab Danny from Josh's arms. ”Kiki just told her Mr. Barker wants to donate to the theater.”
”Wow!” Ginny said, coming over to sit down. ”That's amazing! Marilyn is gonna totally be thrilled with you!”
”Hmm, I hadn't thought about that,” I said. ”But she probably will.” It was a comforting thought; my boss was a really cool lady, totally dedicated to the theater and our kids. I wished she would see through more of Grayson's kissing up, but I really liked the idea of impressing her myself. Maybe this would give me a shot at getting more of the creative a.s.signments.
There was a loud knock on the door. ”Come in!” I hollered. The door opened to reveal Matt and his brother-Kiki's husband, Eric. I rolled my eyes. ”Matt, you spend the night here four nights out of week. You don't have to knock on the door.”
”I'm trying to be respectful,” he said. ”For all I know the two of you regularly hang out in your nighties having pillow fights when I'm not around.”
Jen snorted. ”Like that ever happens.”
”Jennifer,” he replied, putting his hand over his heart. ”Please do not kill my dream.”
”Pig,” she muttered, but walked over to kiss him h.e.l.lo all the same.
”Okay, Kiki,” Matt said, his arm around Jen. ”You told me this was an emergency. What's going on?”
”Well, I have really, really awesome news!” she said. ”Daddy is working on this deal with a developer to add a hotel to the new casino.”
I wrinkled my nose a little bit. I was not really a fan of the Detroit casinos. They depressed the h.e.l.l out of me, to be honest. Any time I had been inside of one I was overwhelmed by the number of poor people sitting there throwing their money away in the hopes of changing their situation. Detroit had enough problems without adding inst.i.tutionalized gambling.