by Ward, Alice
“Kate, I don’t know why you don’t just tell your family the truth. You’re making good money now; you can afford two rooms at The Plaza for the night.” She argued.
“I know that, but my parents wouldn’t see it that way. They would hate the idea of me spending so much money on them.”
“Alright, your secret’s safe with me.”
Janette seemed incredibly happy and I got the feeling that there was something going on that I didn’t know about. “Did you and Paul have a good night or something?” I teased. “You’re awfully cheerful.”
A wide smile broke out across Janette’s face. “No, I’m just excited about starting the album. I met with our new Sony rep last night and we picked out the song list. I wrote all but two of the tracks myself.” She beamed.
“Janette, that’s fantastic news!” I exclaimed. “I’m so proud of you, we have to celebrate.”
“Thanks, Kate,” she smiled. “But that can wait. Tonight we’re celebrating you, remember?”
“I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble with the party.” I told her. “I know that you got stuck with the bill after Max disappeared.”
“Don’t worry about that.” She insisted. “You just concentrate on having a great show and let me worry about the rest. What time do you have to be at the theater?”
“Not until four,” I replied. “I stretched the truth on that with my family too. I just needed some time alone to focus on my performance. I may even take a nap; I got up really early to get to the airport. Could you check in around two-thirty and make sure that I’m up?”
“Sure,” she quickly agreed. “I’m not going anywhere until it’s time to pick up your family. I talked to Parker earlier; he and Mark are going to meet us at the theater. They’re so excited to see the show!”
“Is Bridget going to make it?” I asked hopefully. Out of all my new friends, Bridget was the one I was the least close to, but I’d still hoped that she’d be at the performance.
“I don’t think she’s coming.” Janette replied slowly.
I was silent for a moment before replying. “So… I take it she’s team Serena?”
“She and Serena have been friends since grade school.” She explained. “Don’t take it personally.”
“Serena is spreading lies that I got my role by sleeping with Dylan.” I reminded her. “It’s hard not to take that personally.”
“I know, but there’s nothing that you can do to stop Serena. She’s upset and she’s going to run her mouth until she feels better. Everyone who matters knows that she’s full of shit.” Janette argued.
“Max believed her.” I replied.
“You and I both know that you made that worse for yourself. If you hadn’t been kissing Dylan when Serena brought him to the bar, none of that would have ever happened.”
I sighed. “I know you’re right. And I shouldn’t be thinking about Serena right now, it will only make me more nervous than I already am. I just can’t help but wonder what she’s saying and who believes her.”
“I’m sure most people in the industry see her for what she is: a jealous, lying snake. And once you take the stage and impress everyone with your phenomenal talent, everyone will know that you won the role honestly.”
“God I hope so. If I’m going to wow anyone, I’ve got to get my head on straight… which means that I can’t keep thinking about Serena. I’m going to head to my place and relax. See you around two-thirty?”
Janette nodded. “I’ll come over armed with strong coffee and something for you to eat.”
“You’re the best, Janette. I’m so glad we ended up next door to each other.”
“Don’t mention it.” She smiled. “If you get your gown ready, I’ll take it when I stop by later so you don’t have to haul it to the theater.”
Janette had gotten a signing bonus with her record contract and had footed the bill for another Fifth Avenue shopping trip. She’d chosen a black Prada gown, while I’d opted for a crimson Valentino.
“It’s already in my dressing room.” I told her. “But thanks.”
“No problem. You’d better get going if you’re going to take a nap. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I thanked her again and made my way to my apartment. I thought that I’d have a hard time getting to sleep, but I drifted off as soon as my head hit the pillow.
***
“Well, you’re here early but this makeup isn’t going to wear off. Sit down and I’ll get started.” Mica said as I stepped into the makeup room.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I was going to run to the coffee stand. I just popped in to see if you’d like something.”
The makeup artist gave me a reluctant smile. “Actually, I’d love a vanilla latte. Hold on and I’ll get you some cash.” She said, moving for her purse.
“Don’t worry about it.” I insisted. “I’ll get it today and you can get it next time.”
“Thanks, Kate. I’ll get your colors set out and be ready when you get back.”
I nodded and made my way out of the theater. The air was brisk and everyone on the street seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere. I wondered if I’d ever get used to the pace of the city as I ambled to the corner coffee stand. I placed my order and continued people watching as I waited for the drinks. It dawned on me that if the night went well, I may not be able to move around so freely outside the theater. It was a problem that I looked forward to having.
The barista announced that my order was ready and the sound of his voice snapped me back to the present. I collected the cups and returned to the makeup room. As promised, Mica had my colors spread out on the counter.
“You’re a lifesaver Kate, I’ve been yawning all day.” She said as I stepped into the room. “No problem,” I told her. “I figured it would be in my best interest for you to be at the top of your game.”
Mica laughed. “Keep bringing me coffee and I’ll make sure that you look like a million bucks every night.”
I settled into the cushioned chair and Mica slathered my face in pancake foundation. “If you want, I’ll tone this down a little after the show.” Mica offered. “I know that you’re going to a big party tonight.”
I was surprised by the offer. Serena worked in another makeup room in Lincoln Theater and I’d been under the impression that she and Mica were friends. “That’s so sweet of you, but I’d hate for you to go to the trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all.” She assured me. “I have to stay until the final scene anyway to oversee touch ups. After the curtain call, change into whatever you’re wearing tonight and then meet me back here. You’ll probably get photographed a lot when you leave; you want to look your best.”
The thought of having my picture taken hadn’t even crossed my mind. “When you put it like that, how can I refuse?” I laughed. “Thank you so much, Mica. I know that I’m not your favorite person.”
She blushed brighter than the makeup she was brushing onto my cheeks. “I’m sorry that you picked up on that.” She said softly. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but for a while I believed the trash Serena was spreading. Now that I’ve spent some time with you, I know that she’s been lying. Not to mention that I’ve sat in on some of the rehearsals. You obviously deserve to be here. I’m sorry that I bought in to Serena’s story.”
“It’s alright,” I assured her. “She’s your friend; it’s only natural that you’d instinctively believe her.”
“She’s not really my friend, more like a coworker. It’s just easy to get caught up in all of the gossip that goes on around here. You have to admit, your story is a little unbelievable. You showed up out of nowhere, signed with the most selective agent in the business, and landed a lead role in a major Broadway play. It’s a little hard for people to believe that you got here on your own merits… until they see you on stage, that is.”
“I know that it’s unbelievable. I still have a hard time believing it myself, and I’m the one it’s happening to. I honestly feel like I’
ve been living in a fairytale since I arrived in the city.”
“And now you look like you stepped out of one.” Mica smiled as she spun my chair to face the mirror. She was right; I looked like a princess.
Mica moved on to my hair, rolling my long blonde locks around a large barreled curling iron. She separated my hair into sections and pinned it up in a classic fifties up do. When she finished, I hardly recognized myself.
“You do fantastic work, Mica.” I told her.
She casually waved off the compliment. “You’ve got the hard job. Are you ready for tonight?”
I nodded. “I haven’t focused on anything else for the last three days. I know everyone’s lines backwards and forwards and I could follow the stage directions in my sleep.”
“You’re not nervous at all?”
I shook my head. “Just excited… I’ve been waiting for this night for as long as I can remember.”
“Then all that’s left to do is get into your costume.” She smiled. “I’ll see you after the show.”
I thanked her again, stood, and stepped back into the hallway. I was halfway to my dressing room when a familiar and unwelcome voice called out from behind me.
“Getting ready for your first and last night on stage?” Serena called out in a sing song voice.
I turned and gave her a cold stare as she approached. “What are you doing here, Serena? Don’t you belong on the other side of the theater?”
“I had a break and I just couldn’t resist stopping by on your big night. I hope you haven’t moved much in to your dressing room. They’ll probably have Poppy’s name back on the door before the final act.” She sneered.
I knew that she was trying to upset me and distract me from my performance but I refused to give her the satisfaction. “Maybe they will,” I agreed happily. “But you know what? My name is on the door right now. I’m taking the stage tonight and living my dream. Even if they fire me tomorrow, no one can take tonight away from me.”
“It’s too bad that you have no one to share it with.” Serena quipped. “Have you even spoken to Max since Friday? Or have you been too caught up with your playboy costar? You know that Dylan isn’t the relationship type. I hope you realize that by being with him, you’re just going to make a fool of yourself.”
I was determined not to give in and argue with her but my patience was running thin. “Who I share or don’t share this night with is none of your business.” I reminded her. “If you’ll excuse me I need to get back to my dressing room. Have a good night, Serena.”
As I turned to walk away, she called after me. “You have a good night too, Kate. Enjoy it while you can, you’ll be kicked out on your ass tomorrow.”
I ignored her and made my way back to my dressing room to get into my first costume.
CHAPTER 2
Fifteen minutes before show time, I was startled by a knock on my dressing room door.
“Come in,” I called out. I sat at my vanity, admiring Mica’s work in the mirror. The door swung open and Dylan came in. He was in full makeup and his blonde hair was hidden by a dark wig. The thick makeup and dated clothing did nothing to mask his raw sex appeal.
“You look great.” I told him honestly as he took a seat on the couch.
“You look even better.” He smiled. “Where have you been all weekend? I tried calling you a couple of times. I thought that maybe we could talk about what happened at the bar.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” I told him. “I just needed some time to clear my head. I have to focus on the show, Dylan, I can’t even think about what happened at Joe’s.”
“That’s understandable,” he told me. “But I want you to know that you’re not off the hook, Kate. I know that you felt the same way that I did when we kissed. I’m sure that if we hadn’t been interrupted, the weekend would have been a lot different. We’re going to talk about it sooner rather than later.”
“Fine,” I told him. “But not before the show. I have to stay focused, Dylan.”
“I agree; we don’t have time now anyway. I just wanted to stop in and wish you good luck.” He rose from the couch, crossed the room, and lightly kissed the top of my head. “I know better than to mess up the hair or makeup.” He laughed. “But I promise you, by the end of the night I’m going to ruin Mica’s masterpiece.”
He left the room without giving me a chance to respond. I grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and made my way to the side of the stage. I didn’t go on until the second act, but I wanted to watch the other performances. As I settled into an out of the way spot, the other actresses started shooting me the hostile looks I’d expected. But just like I’d told Serena, it was my night and no one was going to ruin it for me.
I ignored everyone around me and kept my eyes focused on the stage. I was tempted to sneak a peek at the audience but I resisted the urge; I didn’t want to look like an amateur. The house lights flickered to signal that we were five minutes from show time and the actors in the opening scene took their places behind the curtain. The music started and I took a deep breath as adrenaline shot through my body. Knowing that I’d soon be on stage in front of thousands of people was a rush I’d never felt before.
The rush increased when I finally stepped out in front of the crowd. For the next hour and I half, I wasn’t Kate Harper. I was Loraine, deeply in love with Frankie Valli. The chemistry between Dylan and I was undeniable and when the curtain closed I knew that I would inevitably fall for him.
The curtains opened almost as quickly as they’d closed and we arranged ourselves on stage to take our bows. I stepped forward with the other actresses, bowed, and stepped back into place. Dylan took his turn last and the audience leapt to their feet. He rose, smiled, and quickly rushed to where I was standing. I blushed when I realized that he was pulling me to the front of the stage, but the audience cheered even louder. I bowed again; as I rose, I saw Dylan rushing back from the side stage with a bouquet of long stemmed red roses. I accepted them and the audience roared again. Dylan and I stepped back into line and the curtain closed for the final time.
The houselights came up and I was bombarded by my costars. They lavished me with complements and promised to see me at the party.
“You really did do a fantastic job.” Dylan said as he pulled me from the crowd.
“I’ve been on plenty of stages but I’ve never felt like this before.” I told him.
“I know,” he laughed. “Why do you think I keep coming back? Can I take you to the party?”
“I have to go with my family; they flew in for the show.” I told him. “I’m surprised you’re coming.”
“Are you kidding me? That friend of yours convinced Marion to send email invites to everyone at the theater. From what I hear, it’s going to be the party of the year. Are you going to introduce me to your family?” He asked.
“Are you sure that you want to meet them?” I asked.
“Why wouldn’t I?” He countered.
“My grandmother will get star struck and my parents might be hostile.” I warned him.
“Ah, let me guess. They didn’t appreciate that Times article and they think I’m a bad guy.”
“Pretty much,” I agreed. “Also, my mom Googled you and wasn’t impressed with some of the things she read.”
“But none of it bothered your grandmother?”
“She trusts me and she didn’t believe the article for a second. She’s also one of your biggest fans.”
“So that’s one down, two to go.” Dylan grinned. “I’m sure I can win your parents over with one drink.”
“One down, three to go.” I corrected him. “My brother Nathan is here too. But he shouldn’t be a problem; he didn’t take the article seriously either.”
“I can’t say that big brothers typically love me, but I’ll do my best. I’ll get changed and see you there.” He smiled. “You really did a great job, Kate. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I told him. “See you soon.” I disappeared into m
y dressing room. I let myself jump up and down and squeal with delight for a minute, then started stripping off my costume.
***
“Sweetheart, you were fantastic.” My mother said as I stepped out into the theater. She was wearing her best church dress and beaming with pride. “I couldn’t believe that that was my little girl on stage.”
“You were fantastic, darling.” My dad added as he wrapped me in a hug. We pulled apart and I turned to Mimi; she had tears in her eyes.
“Katie, I’m so proud of you. I always knew that you’d make it. I can’t wait to read the morning papers.”
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.” I told her through tears of my own. “There’s no way I can ever thank you enough for that.”
“You deserved it, sweetheart.” She smiled. “Now, I believe we have a party to get to.”
She took my dad by the arm and I turned to my brother. “Did you like the show?”
“I can’t get over it, Kate. You’re so grown up! You were amazing on stage and you look beautiful now.”
“You do look great.” Janette added as she peeked out from behind Nathan.
“So do you.” I smiled as I looped my arm through hers. “So, where is this party?”
“I told you, it’s a surprise.” Janette laughed. “But it’s close. Parker and Mark left after your final bow to make sure that everything is ready.”
“Yes, your friends are really charming,” Mom chimed in, “I can’t believe that they’re both single.”
Janette and I each stifled a laugh; Dad, Nathan, and Mimi let theirs out freely.
“What’s so funny?” Mom asked suspiciously.
“Caroline, those boys are a couple.” Mimi told her directly.
Mom was taken aback but she recovered nicely. “Oh, well that makes sense then. It was nice of them to go on ahead, I’m sure that everything will be perfect when we arrive.”
“How are we getting there?” I asked as we stepped out onto the street. “Do we still have the Trail Blazer?”