Gregg changed the direction of the conversation right away, realizing he and Josh were now talking about two completely different things. “I’m glad you’re back. Mom really needs us right now.”
“I know.” Josh nodded. “I might be a wanderer, but even I know when it’s time to head home for a while.”
“Good.” Gregg released a sigh, feeling some of his anxieties lift. “Well, I’m glad you’re home. He glanced at the clock on the wall, rising to his feet as he realized the time. “I hate to cut this short, but I’ve got a meeting at the church in twenty minutes.”
“Oh? Should I tag along?”
Gregg shrugged. “A couple of us are meeting in the choir room to talk about the Easter production. Pretty boring stuff, unless you’re involved.”
“Any beautiful females in the mix?”
Gregg hesitated to answer, knowing his brother’s penchant for pretty women. “Oh, you know. Just church ladies.” That was only a slight exaggeration. Tangie did go to the church after all, and she was a lady.
“Church ladies.” Josh laughed. “Sounds intriguing. Thanks for the invitation. I’d be happy to.”
TWELVE
Tangie looked up from her notes as Gregg and the handsome stranger entered the choir room.
Her heart began to flutter as she turned her attention to Gregg. Lord, help me through this. I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to look him in the eye again after what happened last night. If she closed her eyes, she could relive the moment over and over again. Why, oh why, hadn’t she pulled away when he leaned in to kiss her? Why had she lingered in his arms, enjoying the unexpected surprise of the moment?
Because she was a fickle girl who fell in love more often than she changed her hair color. And that was pretty often.
As Gregg made introductions, her gaze lingered on Josh. So, this was Gregg’s brother. They resembled each other in many ways, but there was something different about Josh. He was younger, sure. And trendier. He certainly wore the name-brand clothes with confidence. The look of assurance—or was that cockiness?—set him apart from Gregg in many ways.
“So, where do you hail from?” she asked Josh as he took the seat across from her.
“Manhattan.”
That certainly got Tangie’s attention. She turned to him, stunned. “You’re kidding. Where do you live in Manhattan?”
“East end. I love the city life. Always seems strange, coming back to Harmony.”
“Oh, I know. Tell me about it.”
Within seconds the two of them were engaged in a full-on conversation. Tangie could hardly believe it. Finally! Someone who shared her enthusiasm for big city life.
“What do you do for a living?” she asked.
“I’m a reporter. Did some work for the Times, but that’s a tough gig. A couple of the local papers bought my pieces, but the competition in the city is fierce. So, I’m back in Harmony.”
“As always.” Gregg walked over to the coffee maker and switched it on.
“Yeah.” Josh shrugged. “I usually come back home when things slow down. The editor at the Gazette always gives me my old job back.”
“Oh? They let you come and go like that?”
“He’s a great guy.” Josh sighed and leaned back against the seat. “Not that there’s ever much news in this town. But I can always write stories on Mr. Clark’s rheumatism and Mrs. Miller’s liver condition.” He laughed. “Not quite the same buzz as New York City, but it pays the light bill.”
“Oh, I understand. I love the city. And you’re right. . .it’s filled with stories.” Tangie dove into a passionate speech about her favorite places to go in Manhattan and before long, she and Josh were in a heated debate over their favorite—and least favorite—restaurants.
“What did you do in New York, anyway?” he asked.
“Tangie’s a Broadway star,” Gregg interjected.
That certainly caught Tangie’s attention. She’d never heard him describe her in such a way. Glancing at Gregg, she tried to figure out if his words were meant to be flattering or sarcastic. The expression on his face wasn’t clear.
“Really?” Josh looked at her with an admiring smile. “You’re an actress?”
“Well, technically, I only did a couple of bit parts on Broadway. Most of my work was in theaters a few blocks away. But I did have a few secondary roles that got written up in the paper.”
“Which paper?”
“The Times. It was a review of Happily Never After. I played the role of Nadine, the embittered ex-girlfriend.”
“Wait, I saw that show. It shut down after just a couple of weeks, right?”
Tangie felt her cheeks warm. She looked at Gregg, wondering what he would make of this news.
“Yes. But that’s okay. It wasn’t one of my favorites. We never found our audience.”
“Lost ’em, eh?” He laughed. “Happens to shows all the time. I just hate it for the sake of those involved. And I especially hated writing some of those reviews. It’s always tough to crush people.”
“Wait. . .” She paused, looking at him intently. “You said you wrote for the paper, but you didn’t mention you were a reviewer.”
“I’m not. . .technically.” He laughed. “But whenever the other reviewers were too busy, I’d fill in. I got stuck with a lot of off-off-Broadway shows and some of them were, well, pretty rank.”
“Mm-hmm.” A shiver ran down Tangie’s spine. Before long, he might start naming some of those not-so-great shows.
“How does a reviewer receive his training, anyway?” she asked. “On the stage or off?”
“Both.” Josh shrugged. “In my case, anyway.”
“Oh, he’s got a lot of experience.” Gregg approached the table with a cup of coffee in his hands. “Josh here is quite the actor. He’s been in plays since we were kids.”
“Really.” Tangie scrutinized him. “We need someone to play the role of the shepherd in our Easter production. Would you be interested in auditioning?”
Josh turned her way with a smile. “Now that’s a proposition I just might have to consider.”
***
Gregg could have kicked himself the minute he heard Tangie’s question. Putting on this Easter production was going to be tough enough. Factoring Josh into the equation would only complicate things further.
“Josh is too—” He was going to say busy, when his brother interrupted him.
“I’d love to.”
“It’s for the church,” Gregg explained. “And I’m not sure you’re the best person for the job.”
“Why not?” Josh gave him a pensive look. “You said you needed an actor. I’m here. What else is there to know?”
Gregg bit his tongue. Literally. Josh’s walk with the Lord wasn’t as strong as it once was. In fact, Gregg couldn’t be sure where his brother was in his spiritual journey. In order to play the lead—the character of the Good Shepherd—the actor should, at the very least, understand God’s heart toward His children. Right?
Gregg sighed, unsure of where to take this conversation. He’d have to get Tangie alone and explain all of this to her. However, from the enthusiastic look on her face, persuading her might not be as easy as he hoped.
Lord, show me what to do here. If You’re trying to nudge my brother back home—to You—I don’t want to get in the way.
“Okay, everyone.” Tangie’s words interrupted his thoughts. “Aren’t we here to cast a show? Let’s get to it.”
With a sigh, Gregg turned his attention to the matter at hand.
***
Tangie arrived home from the meeting, her thoughts going a hundred different directions. Gregg had finally agreed that Annabelle could play the lead, but he wasn’t happy about it. Tangie couldn’t help but think Gregg was put off by her ideas, across the board. Of course, he just seemed “off” today, anyway. That much was obvious when he knocked over her cup of tea, spilling it all over the table. She could also tell the stuff about his brother being in the pl
ay bothered him. . .but why? Sure, Josh was a schmoozer. She knew his type. But Gregg was acting almost. . .jealous. Surely he didn’t think Tangie would be interested in Josh.
No, guys like Josh were too familiar. They came and went through your life. Besides, she and Josh had far too much in common. What would be the fun in that?
As she entered the house, Tangie made her way into the kitchen to grab a soda and a snack. With all of the goodies from the bakery on hand, she felt sure she’d end up packing on the pounds before long. Especially if she couldn’t get her emotions under control. Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about Gregg. About that kiss. Was it keeping him preoccupied today, as well? She hadn’t been able to tell while they were together. Maybe he was a better actor than she thought. Or maybe. . . She sighed. Maybe he regretted what he’d done.
As Tangie left the kitchen, a soda in one hand and two peanut butter cookies in the other, she ran into Gran-Gran in the hallway.
“Well, there you are. That meeting went longer than you expected.” Her grandmother gave her an odd look. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “It took us awhile to figure out which child should play which part, and we didn’t all agree, even in the end. I guess you could say not everything is as harmonious in Harmony, New Jersey as it could be,” she admitted with a shrug. “Let’s just leave it at that.”
“Well, don’t get too carried away thinking about that,” Gran-Gran said. “While you were out on your date with Gregg last night—”
“Date?” Tangie gasped. Did Gran-Gran really think that? “We were having dinner after auditions to discuss casting the play. That’s all.”
“Okay, well while you were having dinner with Gregg—for two and a half hours—Pastor Dave called, looking for you. He wants you to sing a solo at the Valentine’s banquet next week. He said to pick out a love song and e-mail the title to him so Darla can find the piano music.”
“W–what? But he’s never even heard me sing. How does he know that I can. . .” Tangie pursed her lips and stared at her grandmother.
“What?” Gran-Gran played innocent. “So, I told him you could sing. So what? And I happened to mention that you’d done that great Gershwin review a few years ago off-Broadway. What can I say? The man likes his Gershwin.”
“Mm-hmm.” Tangie sighed. “So, what am I singing?”
“Oh, that’s up to you. Just something sweet and romantic. It is Valentine’s, you know.” Gran-Gran disappeared into the kitchen, chattering all the way about her favorite tunes from the forties and fifties.
Oh, Gran-Gran, you’re the queen at setting people up, aren’t you? You planned this whole thing.
Tangie sighed as she thought about Valentine’s Day. Last year Tony had taken her to La Mirata, one of her favorite Italian restaurants in the heart of the city. It had been a magical night. This year would be a far cry from that romantic evening.
Not that romance with Tony was ever genuine. No, ever the actor, he’d managed to convince her she was his leading lady. But, in reality. . .
Well, to say there were others waiting in the wings would be an understatement.
Tangie put the cookies and soda down and went to the piano. Once there, she pulled back the lid, exposing the keys. She let her fingers run across them, surprised to hear the piano was in tune.
“We had it tuned the day you said you were coming,” Gran-Gran hollered from the kitchen. “That way you wouldn’t have any excuses.”
Tangie shook her head and continued to play. Before long, she picked out the chords for one of her favorite Gershwin songs, “Someone to Watch over Me.” After a couple times of running through it, she felt a bit more confident.
The words held her in their grip, as always. A good song always did that—grabbed the listener and wouldn’t let go. Just like a good book. Or a great play. Yes, anything artistic in nature had the capability of grabbing the onlooker by the throat and holding him or her captive for just a few moments.
Isn’t that what the arts were all about? They lifted you from the everyday. . .the mundane. . .and took you to a place where you didn’t have to think. Or worry. All you had to do was to let your imagination kick in, and the everyday woes simply faded away.
***
Gregg fixed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, carried it to the small breakfast table, and took a seat. He went back over every minute of today’s meeting in his mind. Tangie had been awfully impressed with his brother, hadn’t she? For some reason, a twinge of jealousy shot through Gregg as he thought about that.
Josh came across as a suave, debonair kind of guy, no doubt. But his motives weren’t always pure, especially where women were concerned. And he seemed to have his eye on Tangie. Should Gregg say something to warn her?
No. Not yet, anyway. Right now, he just needed to finish up his sandwich and head over to Sweet Harmony. His mom needed him. And, unlike his brother, when Mom called. . .Gregg answered.
THIRTEEN
As the evening of the Valentine’s banquet approached, Tangie faced a mixture of emotions. She found herself torn between being drawn to Gregg and being frustrated with him. Clearly, they were different as two people could possibly be. And while he seemed attracted to her—at least on the surface—Gregg had never actually voiced anything to confirm that. Other than that one impulsive kiss. The one he never mentioned, even in passing.
Maybe he had multiple personality disorder. Maybe the man who kissed her wasn’t Gregg Burke. Maybe it was his romantic counterpart. Tangie laughed, thinking of what a funny stage play that would make. Slow down, girl. Not everything is a story. Some things are very real.
The fact that her heart was getting involved after only a few weeks scared Tangie a little. She didn’t want to make the same mistake she’d made so many times before. . .falling for a guy just because they were working on a show together. She’d had enough of that, thank you very much. Still, Gregg was different in every conceivable way from the other men she’d known. And his heart for the Lord was evident in everything he did.
Tangie smiled, thinking about the night they’d posted the cast list. The children—well, most of them, anyway—had been ecstatic. Margaret had sulked, naturally, but even she seemed content by the time Tangie explained her role as narrator. Excited, even. Of course, they hadn’t faced her mother yet. And then there was the issue of Josh. He’d shown more than a little interest in her, something which ruffled her feathers. She’d finally put him in his place, but would he behave himself during the rehearsals? Had she made a mistake by putting him in such a pivotal role?
With the casting of the show behind her, Tangie could focus on the Valentine’s banquet. On the evening of the event, she looked through her clothing items for something appropriate to wear. Thanks to her many theater parties in New York City, she had plenty of eveningwear. She settled on a beautiful red and black dress with a bit of an Asian influence. Tony—her one-time Mr. Right—had said she looked like a million bucks in it. But then, he was prone to flattery, wasn’t he?
At a quarter till seven, a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.” Tangie sat at the small vanity table, finishing up her makeup but paused to look up as Gran-Gran whistled.
“Tangie.” Her grandmother’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t believe it.”
“Believe what?” She slipped her earrings on and gave herself one last glance.
Gran-Gran drew close. “You look so much like your mother did at this age. And I just had the strangest flashback.”
“Oh?” Tangie looked at her with a smile. “What was it?”
Her grandmother’s eyes filled with tears. “This was her bedroom, you know. And I remember the day she got married, watching her put on her makeup and fix her hair in that very spot.” She pointed to the vanity table, then dabbed at her eyes. “Look at me. I’m a silly old woman.”
Tangie rose from her seat and moved in her grandmother’s direction. “There’s nothing silly about what you just sa
id. I think it’s sweet. And it’s fun to think that Mom used to get ready in this same room. I guess I never thought about it before.” She pointed at her dress. “What do you think? Do I look okay?”
“Oh, honey.” Gran-Gran brushed a loose hair from Tangie’s face, “I’ve never seen you look prettier. In fact, I want to get some pictures of you to send to your parents. They’re never going to believe you’re so dolled up.”
“Sure they will. Remember the bridesmaid’s dress I wore at Taffie’s wedding on the beach? And don’t you remember those dresses we wore at Candy’s wedding last year?”
“Yes.” Gran-Gran nodded. “But I think tonight surpasses them all.”
Gramps stuck his head in the door and whistled. “I’m gonna have the prettiest two women at the banquet. How lucky can one guy be?” After a chuckle, he headed off to start the car, hollering, “Don’t take too long, ladies. The roads are bad and we’ll need a little extra time.”
Tangie donned her heavy winter coat and reached for a scarf. After one last glance in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and followed along on her grandmother’s heels to the garage, where Gramps was waiting in the now-heated Ford.
“Are you ready for the program tonight?” Gran-Gran asked as they settled into the car.
“I guess so. I found the perfect song.”
“Oh?”
“Gershwin, of course. ‘Someone to Watch over Me.’ ”
“I heard you playing it. Of course, I’ve heard you play a great many things over the past few days. It’s good to have music in the house again. But I’m tickled you chose that particular song. It’s one of my favorites from when I was a girl.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes. I used to be quite the performer. I’d stand in front of that vanity—the same one you used to put on your makeup—and hold a hairbrush in my hand, pretending it was a microphone. Then I’d sing at the top of my lungs. And I was always putting on little shows and such in the neighborhood.”
Love at Center Stage: Three Theatrical Love Stories Page 9