by Unknown
“The show has been canceled.”
“Why?” I ask, trying to keep my emotions in check as I press the phone closer to my ear.
“Money. The producer didn’t get the expected funding.”
“How could they let things get this far if they didn’t have the funding secured?”
“In this business, everything is done on promises and dreams. Some come true, and some fall through. That’s the way it is. I’m so sorry. If I hear of anything else, I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you for calling me and letting me know.”
“Before I hang up, I want to tell you that I’m going to mail you that red dress.”
“You don’t have to do that, Francine.”
“I know, but that dress is too beautiful to end up back at the Goodwill. I’ll get it in the mail tomorrow. You should have it in a couple of days. Take care of yourself, Mýa. You have a beautiful voice, so don’t let this stop you from doing something with it.”
“I won’t,” I say, hanging up the phone and feeling the weight of disappointment deep down in my gut.
How am I going to tell Jack?
“Hey kid, what’s going on? Did the funeral time change?” Jack asks.
“No, everything is still the same: two o’clock tomorrow. I’m sorry to call at this time of the night; I know you and Mary are usually already in bed.”
I hear the sounds of sheets rustling and a switch being flipped.
“What is it? You sound like you’ve been crying.”
“The musical was canceled,” I say while trying to choke back tears. “I got the call about twenty minutes ago.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, but don’t let this deter you from pursuing your singing. There are always going to be mountains along our path, Mýa. You just need to figure out how to either get over or around them.”
“When Francine first told me I got the part, my initial reaction was that maybe this was too much,” I say, wiping a tear away and sitting up straight in my chair. “But now I want this. I want to sing. Not because I believe the world deserves to hear my voice, but because I deserve to hear my voice.”
“It’s good to hear you say that. You can do it, kid. Just remember success is not about making it big with others; it’s about making it big with yourself.”
“You always know what to say, Jack. I don’t think I could do this without you.”
“Mýa, you have your own strength. True, Mary and I can be a support system, but the foundation of what keeps you pushing through tough times has to come from you. I may not always be around, you know. That’s how life goes.”
“I hate it when you talk like that.”
“Reality, kid. Just reality. Hold on. Mary wants to talk to you.”
I wait as he passes her the phone.
“I’m so sorry about the show being canceled, Mýa. You’ll find something else. Something even better.”
“I hope so,” I say, switching the phone to my other ear.
“Hope is how dreams become a reality, isn’t it? Hold on, here’s Jack again.”
“Hey, kid. Try and get some sleep, and we’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll pick you up about fifteen minutes after twelve.”
“Michael is glad that you guys are coming to the funeral.”
“I know. He called to thank us just after dinner today.”
“He did?”
“He did. He’s a good guy.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Glad to hear you say that, and out loud this time. Now, get some sleep, or at least let me get some. This old man needs his beauty rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
“You’re welcome, kid.”
Chapter Thirty-three
The funeral home is packed. As I look around and admire all the flowers that grace the room, I can’t help but feel good seeing that so many people loved Michelle and have come to show David their support.
I wish I had met her and the baby.
Michael is still having a hard time forgiving himself for not seeing Justin right after David and Michelle brought him home. I know only too well that no one can convince someone else to forgive himself or herself for something like that. Forgiving yourself is one of those things that takes time. Sometimes, it never happens. As Jack would say, that was reality.
I spot Michael talking to a beautiful woman who’s as tall as he is, and I try to fight off the sting of jealousy that creeps into my bones as I help Mary and Jack find seats toward the back. I relax some when Michael spots me and waves me over.
“Jenna, I would like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Mýa.” She extends her hand and I feel my foolish bout of jealousy fizzling out as we shake politely. “Jenna is Michelle’s older sister.”
“Half-sister, but like Michelle always said, family is family,” Jenna says to me.
“I agree. To Michelle, you were simply her sister from another mother,” Michael says.
We enjoy a brief moment of laughter, but I see the sorrow of losing a loved one hovering around the corners of Jenna’s eyes.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Mýa. Now, let me go find David and see if he’s ready to get started.”
When she’s out of earshot, Michael leans over and whispers in my ear, “I see you’re wearing that black dress I love.”
“I told you that you would see it again.”
“I needed something to make me smile today, and seeing you in that dress is doing it,” he says, moving closer to me. “I’ve missed you something fierce. I hope that doesn’t scare you.”
“Not at all. I felt the same way all week.”
“You just gave me a reason to smile today.”
I catch something in his eyes—agony, of course, is there, but there is something else, something I can’t put my finger on.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t call you last night, Mýa.”
“It’s okay. I understood, and I didn’t call you because I wanted to let you get ready for today. I knew how hard it would be.”
“Last night was probably the roughest, but I still want you to know I was thinking about you. Focusing my thoughts on you was the only way I could finally get my mind to rest.”
I reach out and wrap his hand in mine. “Did you get any sleep?”
“Not much. David didn’t get to sleep until around four this morning. Then he was up at eight, staring at Michelle’s pictures and holding a teddy bear that he had bought for the baby. I can’t tell you how long that image will be in my head.”
“A tough sight to see, no doubt. So, you’re going to stay at David’s place a while longer?”
“For another week, at least. I want to be there for him after the funeral. That’s when everyone else goes back to a normal routine, but for the person going through a storm like this, nothing is normal for a long time.”
It takes all I have not to kiss him as my tears fall. “I’m so glad he has you.”
“And I am glad to have you,” he says, wiping away my tears and making me love him even more. “No one should go through something like this alone. I know what that feels like, and I won’t allow it to happen to him.”
“Jack and Mary are here as well,” I say. He takes a quick look around. “They’re sitting in the back. It’s crowded in here, so you probably can’t see them, but we’ll come up after the funeral is over.”
“You’re going to sit with me, aren’t you?”
“Do you think that’s okay? I mean, I’m not family.”
There was that look again.
“I know David wouldn’t have it any other way. Neither would I, for that matter. I need you by my side.”
I reach up and touch his cheek. He grabs my hand and places a light kiss on my palm. “Okay, I’ll sit with you. Let me go tell Jack and Mary.”
&nbs
p; “Thank you. I think I’ll go and take a seat myself. We should be starting soon.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be right back.”
Just as I get back to where Jack and Mary are sitting, I see him.
He looks older, of course, but I’m sure it’s him: the younger police detective who questioned me that night, the one with the black mole on his cheek and the thick eyebrows. My knees are barely able to hold me upright. My heart begins pounding so loudly that I’m quite sure everyone around me can hear it.
“What’s wrong, Mýa?” Mary asks as Jack follows my gaze across the room.
“You see someone over there that you know?” Jack asks as he reaches out, grabs my trembling hands, and pulls me down into the seat next to him. “Who?”
“One of the detectives that questioned me when I was arrested. He’s the one with the black mole on his cheek and the gray suit,” I say, reaching down to physically stop my knees from trembling.
Jack finds who I’m talking about and looks him over. “Are you sure?”
I nod.
“What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know. He’s sitting in the back, so I can only assume that he’s not family, but he must know either David or Michelle.”
“Do you think he recognized you?” Jack asks while glancing at the officer again.
“He probably didn’t see her. And even if he did, think of how many people he’s probably questioned since that night,” Mary says in a low tone.
“Mary is right.”
“I hope so,” I say, trying to get myself together. “Anyway, I can’t worry about it now. Michael wants me to sit with him. Is that okay with you guys?”
“Sure, honey,” Mary quickly says. “It’s probably better that way, anyway.”
Jack nods in agreement and tries to give me a comforting smile, but I know he’s just as nervous about the situation as I am.
“It’ll be okay, Jack. If he recognizes me, he recognizes me. I’m here for Michael.”
“I agree. We’ll see you after the service is over.”
I make it to the front of the room and take my seat next to Michael just as David steps up to the podium. I try not to peek back to see if I can find the detective in the crowd, but I can’t help it. My nerves have gotten the better of me and now he’s all I can think about.
Michael glances at me and whispers, “You okay?”
I nod my head and force myself to focus on David as he speaks about the woman and child he loved more than any of us could imagine.
“Let me go and grab Jack and Mary so they can say hello before they head out.”
“Okay. It was a beautiful service, wasn’t it?” Michael asks with teary eyes.
I hug him. “It was.”
“Jack and Mary can come to the repast if they want.”
“I’ll let them know, but I’m sure they want to let just the family be with David.”
“They are family.”
I slide my arms around him as we stand there, locked in a moment of grief. Wishing there was more I could do to comfort him, I reluctantly let him go and say, “Let me go see what they want to do.”
A friend of David’s that Michael also knows walks over and I use this moment to slip away and cautiously head toward Jack and Mary. Scanning the crowd as I go, I look for the detective. I spot him by the back door, holding a woman’s hand.
The only way you’re going to know if he recognizes you is to just walk up to him and see if he tries to put you in handcuffs.
I know I’m being silly. I also know that he can’t arrest me, but I’m afraid he’ll do something worse, like tell someone here how he knows me.
With just a few steps between me and the detective, I glance over and see Jack and Mary watching me. The expressions on each of their faces tells me that I should abandon this foolish plan of mine, but it’s too late. The detective and I make eye contact when I find myself standing in front of him.
“Hi,” I say. “You look familiar. Have we met?” His girlfriend, I assume, looks me up and down as I hold out my hand.
“I get that a lot,” he says as he takes my hand and gives it a polite shake.
“Did you know Michelle?”
“I did,” his girlfriend chimes in. “Michelle and I went to school together when we both lived in Chicago. How do you know her?”
I turn and point to Michael. “That man right there is David’s best friend. He’s also my boyfriend.”
Her smile grows wider and more genuine. “I see. He’s handsome. I bet you two look good together.”
“I hope so.”
“Well,” she says, “my husband and I need to get going. We’ve got a flight back to Chicago to catch. We moved back there a couple of years ago.”
“One day, maybe Michael and I will get to visit Chicago. I hear it’s beautiful. I hope you two have a safe flight back.”
“Thanks.” They turn and make their way out the door as I take a moment to calm my nerves and catch my breath.
“That was bold of you,” Jack says from just off my left shoulder.
“I figured it was the only way to know for sure.”
“Did he recognize you?” Mary asks, anxiously.
“He didn’t seem to, which is good, but my poor nerves are still a mess.”
“I’m sure,” Jack says, staring at me. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“You’re going to tell Michael about your past, aren’t you?” Mary asks, not missing a beat.
“Today made me realize that I need to. There are five years of my life that he doesn’t know anything about.”
“I don’t think you should, but we can talk about it later,” Jack says.
I nod. “Michael wants you and Mary to come to the repast.”
“Isn’t that for family only?” Mary asks.
“Michael said you are family.”
“We would love to go, but I’m tired,” Jack says as Mary reaches for his hand. “It’s been a long day.”
“I understand. I am, too, but I have to go. Michael would be furious if I told him that I wasn’t coming.”
“We’ll tell him that we can’t make it,” Jack says as we begin making our way to where Michael, David, and Jenna are standing.
Jack is going to try to talk me out of telling Michael, but I can’t let him. Right?
Chapter Thirty-four
“My decision is final,” I say as I plop down on the sofa at Jack and Mary’s house, waiting for Michael to arrive for Sunday dinner.
“You don’t have to do this,” Jack says, taking a seat in his chair.
“I do. Look, Jack, since you and Mary were wonderful enough to give me the car, the least I can do is pay for the insurance up front, like we discussed.”
Mary sits on the sofa with me. “But why do you want to take money out of your savings when you can just pay it on a monthly basis like Jack suggested? You’ve been saving that money since you started working for us so you could buy yourself a house.”
“Mary is right, kid. You wouldn’t even take some of it out to buy a sofa to sit on, and now you want to pull out such a big amount.”
“I’ve decided to buy one of those as well.” They look at each other with concerned expressions, and I rush to reassure them before they can get carried away. “Don’t worry. I’m not going crazy. Yesterday just made me realize that while it’s great to save for the future, it’s also good to enjoy some of the present. I’m not saying that I should have a ‘just do whatever I want’ kind of mentality, but I do want to enjoy a few small tokens of my hard work now.” I can tell by their incredulous expressions that they’re getting ready to dig into me some more, and I’m thankful that the doorbell rings just in the nick of time. “I’ll go answer that.”
“We’re not done with this conversation,” Jack says as I jump up
to answer the door.
“Hi,” Michael says, looking handsome in dark jeans and a sport coat. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought David.”
I hug David. “Of course not. Jack and Mary will be thrilled.”
“Hey, why does he get a hug before me?” Michael complains as he and David step inside.
“Because when I hug you, it might take longer. And I’m hungry,” I say with a sly smile as I close the door.
“It smells delicious in here,” David says, pretending he didn’t hear my comment to Michael.
Mary’s face lights up when she sees him. “Welcome to our home, David. I love your black suit; it fits like it was tailored just for you.”
“Actually, it was. Thank you, and thanks for allowing me to crash your family dinner,” David says, shaking Jack’s hand. “And thank you again for all the prepared dishes.”
“Family is always welcome at our home,” Jack says as he gestures for everyone to head to the dining room table.
I give Michael a quick hug before we trail after the others.
“Finally,” he says. “I hope a kiss will follow that later.”
“After dinner, maybe.”
“Well then, let’s get that out of the way.”
“Michael, maybe you can help us settle something,” Jack says, just as we get ready to dig into dessert.
I give Jack a look that clearly says I don’t want him to bring this up now, but he ignores me.
“Sure. I’d be happy to help.”
“Mýa’s been saving up to buy a house, and now she wants to use some of that money to pay six months of insurance on the car that Mary and I gave her. Now, I realize that we’re not talking big money here—a thousand dollars or less—but Mary and I feel that she needs all of her savings for a good down payment on the house she wants. You’re a real estate guy; what’s your take on this?”
“I thought you were using the money from the musical to pay for the insurance?” Michael asks me as I glare at Jack for bringing up the insurance again, not to mention I hadn’t told Michael about the musical yet.