Part 15 (1/2)
”Come here,” he said, holding out his arms. I went to him and he pulled me close, beginning to dance.
”Slow dancing in the living room?” I said, looking up at him as he slowly swayed me around the room. ”Who's dorky now?”
”Shut up, Annie,” he said, kissing me softly. ”Just shut up and dance with me.”
Chapter Twenty.
”Ginny,” I said into my phone. ”Are you guys here yet?”
”What's wrong?” she asked immediately.
”I think I'm having a panic attack,” I told her. ”Where are you guys?”
”I just walked into the lobby,” she said. ”Doesn't look like Jen's here yet.”
”Will you come back?” I asked her. ”Please, Gin. I really need to see you.”
”Just tell me where to go.”
I gave her instructions then sat at my dressing table, nervously twisting my hands and trying not to burst into tears. After four weeks of rushed rehearsals, opening night was finally upon me. I had been fine all day, excited even, but as soon as my dressing room partner Mary had finished getting ready and left the room, I felt like I might die.
There was a knock on my door and I looked up to see Ginny standing there. ”Oh, Ann,” she said. ”You look gorgeous.”
My costume was simple. As I was playing a college aged girl in modern times, I was dressed in wide- legged black pants and a white, baggy sweater. My hair had been straightened then re-curled in soft waves around my face.
”Seriously,” Ginny said, approaching my table. ”You look lovely.”
”I think I'm going to throw up,” I told her seriously.
”You're not,” Ginny soothed, patting my shoulder. ”Just relax.”
”Is it full out there?” I asked her. ”I mean, does it look like a lot of people?”
”It's pretty full,” she told me. I whimpered a little.
”Come on,” she said firmly. ”This is silly. You're Annie Duncan, for G.o.d's sake. You don't get worked up over a couple people in a theater. Remember that show you did at Wayne, the Shakespeare? That crowd was much bigger than this one. And I didn't hear you freaking out before that.”
”Yeah, but this is real,” I said. ”That was a student production. This is Jenner Collins' show. There are investors out there.”
”I understand that,” Ginny said patiently. ”But that shouldn't matter to your performance.”
I took a deep breath. ”You're right,” I said. ”You're right. This is going to be fine.”
”So, where's Nate sitting?” she asked, changing the subject. ”Did you put him by us?”
”Uh, no, actually,” I said, feeling my stomach clench for an entirely different reason. ”Nate isn't coming tonight.”
Ginny raised her eyebrow at me. ”Why?”
”I told him not to. I want a couple shows under our belt before he sees it.”
She didn't say anything and I knew she didn't really believe me. The truth was, Nate and I had had a bit of a fight over the subject of my opening night. He had wanted to be here and wasn't too happy when I told him I'd rather he wait.
”It will be a better show if you give it a week,” I told him.
”I don't care about that,” he said impatiently. ”Opening night is a big deal. And I want to be there for you.”
Yeah, that's exactly what I'm worried about. When I didn't say anything, he sighed. ”Are we back here again, Annie? More games?”
”No,” I said, feeling exasperated. ”Jesus, Nate. I just would rather you see it after we're a bit more comfortable. Besides, the girls are all coming on opening night. I'll have support then. If you come to a different show it'll be like spreading the support out, you know?”
He didn't say anything for a minute. I had a feeling he was trying to keep himself from flipping out on me. ”Fine,” he said at last. ”Whatever you want, Annie.”
Now that opening night was upon me, I was really regretting that decision. Why hadn't I just asked him to come? I hated to admit it, but it would make me feel a lot better to know that he was in the audience.
”I should probably get out there,” Ginny said, looking down at her watch. ”Jen should be here by now.”
I felt another rush of nerves, but pushed it down so I could give her a hug. ”Thanks for coming back and talking me down,” I told her.
”No problem, Ann,” she said, squeezing me tight. ”Break a leg.”
She looked me square in the face and I was surprised to see her eyes had grown wet. ”I'm so proud of you,” she whispered.
”You haven't even seen it yet,” I laughed. ”You might hate it.”
”Won't matter,” she said. ”I'll still be proud of you.”
After she left I stared at myself in the mirror for a few minutes. Curtain opened in fifteen minutes. I wasn't in the first scene, so I still had a little time. I touched up my lipstick and fiddled with my hair a little. Not much to do now but wait.
”Annie?” said a voice from the doorway. I turned and saw the a.s.sistant house manager holding a huge bouquet of red roses. ”These just came for you,” she said. ”And Jenner wants everyone gathered in the greenroom in five.”
”Thanks, Jane,” I told her, taking the flowers from her hands.
I was expecting the girls, so I got a little shock when I saw Nate's distinctive handwriting on the card.
*I know you wanted me to wait, but I came anyways. Hope you're not too mad. Just wanted to be here. Break a leg.'
I felt my throat well up a little. Nate. He was here. For some reason the thought made me exceedingly happy. I went over and set the flowers on my dressing table, then headed out to meet the cast in the greenroom. My nerves had faded to a low background hum. I felt better than I'd felt all night.
The show went about as well as I could have hoped for. There were a few slipups, mostly with cues, but the girls a.s.sured me that they hadn't even noticed.
”You were fantastic,” Jen said, wiping her eyes. ”Seriously, Ann. I loved it.”
”She cried the whole time,” Matt muttered, and Jen elbowed him in the ribs.