Raise the Curtain

by Kirby Hall

“West, you have to be careful.”

  “I know and I’m not going to fight with him. I’m going to talk to him. The way I should’ve before.” He reached around her and pressed play on the CD player. “But, that’s for tomorrow. Tonight, it’s prom night.” He held his hand out to her and when she placed her hand in his, they started to dance.

  The stage was lacking the DJ, lights, and fancy clothes of the real thing, but for West, being alone with Alexa was better. She felt warm and real in his arms and midway through the song when she leaned her head on his shoulder, he felt whole again for the first time in months.

  Chapter 34

  She traced the eye pencil over her eyelid in one careful stroke before setting it aside and reaching for the bright red lipstick. “This is it,” she whispered as she puckered and blotted. The usual butterflies were starting to stir inside her, restless for the lights to go down and the music to begin. And tonight, not only would Bekah be in the crowd, West would be, too.

  She studied her face in the mirror, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. One that hadn’t left her face since prom night. She’d only seen West once during the week at school, but it was okay. Since they’d talked, her outlook had changed. There was no longer a feeling of loss pulling at her like an invisible undercurrent she couldn’t fight. She had to believe everything would work out.

  The lights inside the dressing room blinked on and off an instant before one of the stagehands peered inside. “Ten minutes until show time.”

  Alexa stood, pushed one last hairpin into place and turned her head from side to side. The bun poised high and tight on her head was secure, her makeup thick, ready to take the full brunt of the stage lights. She smoothed her hands over her puffy skirt that made a slight shuffling sound when she walked, and despite the hot nature of the costume, she loved it. She glanced around at the other girls in the dressing room applying finishing touches to their makeup and adding an extra ounce of hairspray. By the looks of everyone, the scene would look like it was supposed to; early 1900s with flair. Alexa crossed the room and pulled the heavy door open in search of Josh. It was time for a little pre-show tradition.

  “Hey,” he said when she found him waiting by the back curtain. “You look good.”

  “You, too. Those suspenders are really working for you.”

  Josh tucked his thumbs behind the straps and stretched them out from his body a few times and then let them snap back against his chest. “They do, don’t they?”

  She looped an arm through his and led him around the back of the stage where large set pieces were waiting to be pushed into place. The smell of paint hung heavy in the air as they passed a few harried stagehands and the pianist for the show. Everyone was too busy rushing about to offer them more than a nervous wave or small nod.

  “Amateurs,” Josh whispered in a lame attempt to sound confident. Regardless of what he said, Alexa knew when the music swelled, Josh would be as nervous as the rest of them.

  When they reached the front curtain, they pressed their faces between the old gold fabric and the cinderblock wall to peer out at the audience. Josh was practically breathing in her ear.

  “Got enough room there, suspender boy? Or did you need to stand directly on top of me?”

  “Sorry.” He backed up a half-step. “There she is. Sixth row.”

  “I see her.” Alexa held the curtain back wide enough to wave at Bekah.

  After a minute, Bekah noticed them and waved back, first at Alexa and then with a smile that could give the spotlight a run for its money, at Josh. Alexa glanced to her left and smirked when she saw Josh’s pink cheeks and stupid grin and then turned her attention back to Bekah and the empty seat next to her. As if reading her mind, Bekah held her arms up in a shrug.

  “Don’t worry. He’ll be here.”

  “I know.” Alexa squeezed Josh’s arm. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was that West would be there. He would never let her down. He knew how important tonight was to her. “Come on. We’ve only got about five minutes.”

  “Then it’s time for total domination,” Josh said in some sort of deep character voice, one part robot, one part evil villain. “See you out there. Don’t screw up.”

  “Gee thanks.”

  He laughed and moved over to the group of guys wearing matching suspenders. She shook her head and turned to find Megan blocking her path. Alexa stopped and let her cold gaze do the communicating.

  “Break a leg out there.” Megan smiled a twisted smile that looked more like a grimace. “I’m sure you’ll be great.”

  The sarcasm wasn’t appreciated and snapped what was left of Alexa’s patience for pettiness. “Thanks, I’m sure I’ll be fine and considering all the time you’ve been spending under the bleachers, I’d say you’re more than ready to play the part of the town hussy.”

  Megan’s mouth twisted in silent fury and Alexa stepped around her and left her standing center stage, alone. She didn’t have time for one-ups and she wasn’t going to let Megan get in her head.

  A few minutes later, she stood alone in the center of the stage and took a deep steadying breath. The sets for the opening scene were in place and silence had been called backstage. Off to her right, Josh stood waiting in the wings with the other members of the first dance number. To her left, the stage manager offered her a thumbs-up and then returned her focus to the script laying open on the music stand in front of her, ready to feed someone lines in a pinch.

  Alexa took another breath as the interlude ended and the hushed crowd waited on the other side of the curtain. She could almost taste their anticipation. It was her turn to give everyone a good show. She glanced down at her feet and then closed her eyes. The exact spot she was standing was where West had danced with her for the first time. And, in that spot was the first time she’d been told I love you. She’d fallen in love with the stage itself and everything it represented, but she’d also fallen for West. And, she believed him when he said he loved her because she loved him, too.

  The overhead lights changed and the music started as the curtain floated up. Alexa raised her chin, smiled and let all other thoughts about Megan, her dad, and even West slip away. It was her time now.

  Chapter 35

  He raised his arm to knock and stopped, leaving his hand hovering over the red door. He hadn’t decided yet if what he was about to do was brilliant or insane. Probably the latter considering where he was, but he had to try. He closed his eyes, pounded on the door and waited.

  Heavy footsteps sounded and he swallowed. It was Saturday, which meant Maria wasn’t there to serve as a buffer. He was definitely leaning toward insane where this particular plan was concerned. Slipping his phone out of his pocket, he glanced at the time, swore, and replaced it as the doorknob started to turn.

  As he feared, the door opened to reveal Richard and as soon as their eyes met, Alexa’s dad scowled. “What’re you doing here, West? You know you aren’t welcome at this house.”

  “I know that, sir, but I need to talk to you, if you have a minute,” he added to sound more polite.

  Richard crossed his arms over his chest. “I have no idea what it is you could possibly have to say to me.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about the one person we both care about.” His words hung in the air like they were balancing on the edge of a scale, ready to tip in his favor or not at any moment.

  Richard moved to shut the door and West stuck his foot out, catching the door before it could close all the way. It looked like the scale was working against him after all.

  The muscle in the side of Richard’s jaw twitched. “Move your foot, and get off of this property before I have you arrested.” He was no longer attempting to be civil, his tone hard and unwavering. West figured it was most likely the same one he used in court.

  “Mr. Cross,” he pleaded as
he racked his brain for what to say that would make the man listen. “If you’ll hear me out, I promise I won’t come back here again.”

  “I don’t need your promises.” Richard said through clenched teeth.

  West fought back the first wave of temper starting to form inside him. “This is important. Will you at least listen to what I have to say?”

  Her father pinched the bridge of his nose and opened the door enough to allow him to enter the house. “I knew I shouldn’t have had the restraining order dropped,” he said under his breath. “You have three minutes.”

  Three minutes. Okay Howell, make it good.

  “Mr. Cross,” he shuffled his feet. This was going to be harder than he imagined, but at least her dad didn’t seem to be armed. “Alexa’s play is tonight.”

  “Yes, I know. If you’ve come here to discuss Alexa’s schedule, I’m afraid you’re wasting my time. Now that you’re out of the picture, she doesn’t feel the need to lie to me about where she’s going.”

  “I’m sorry about before. I never wanted Alexa to lie to you about us.”

  When Richard adjusted his weight from one foot to the other, at his use of the word us, West fought the urge to wince.

  “Look, I know you don’t approve of me, but I’m not the enemy here. I’m in love with your daughter.”

  “Love? Don’t talk to me about love.” Mr. Cross wasn’t cracking, instead he looked bored. “Two minutes.”

  West squared his shoulders and met Richard’s stare with a steely one of his own. He was trying to be nice, but he didn’t have all night. “I don’t know why you think so little of me. Maybe you feel no one is good enough for your daughter or maybe it’s because my family doesn’t have much money, but it says more about you than me if you have a problem with my status. My family isn’t like yours. My dad left when things got hard, but that doesn’t make me a bad guy. In fact, I run track, and I’m number two in our class. Whatever it is you think you know about me, you’re wrong.”

  “All of what you’re saying is fine and good, West, but you have a record. You put a kid in a coma. If he hadn’t woken up, you’d be in juvenile hall right now. Do you deny it?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Then, how can you expect me to think it’s okay for Alexa to be around you?” His tone was softer, but his arms were still crossed over his chest.

  “I’m not the same kid I was then.” West stuck his right hand out to the side, motioning to the framed picture of Alexa and her mother sitting on the entrance table. Richard’s eyes followed his hand and the briefest touch of sadness crossed his features, a small chink in his usual armor. “Just like Alexa isn’t the same as she was four years ago. People grow up. They change.”

  “In my line of work, I see a lot of the same people making the same mistakes again and again. It’s hard to believe you’re so different than you were. That you don’t have a temper that’s going to spiral out of control again like it did when you got into trouble before. What if you take it out on my daughter?”

  “I would never hurt her,” West said. “And honestly, sir, since I met her, I’m not as angry as I used to be. She brings out the best in me.”

  “So, it’s all about what’s best for you?”

  West flexed his fingers. He was blowing it. “That’s not what I’m saying at all.” He inhaled and decided it was time to get to the point. “I’m here because she’s miserable and it’s because of you.”

  Richard took a step forward and pointed a finger in West’s face. “How dare you come into my house and tell me about my daughter like you know her better than I do. I’m her father.”

  West held his position. “Are you so blind you can’t see it? She’s unhappy and everything she does lately is out of guilt.”

  Richard’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  “She’s blaming herself for your heart attack,” West said, his own heart beating fast.

  All the air rushed out of Richard leaving his shoulders to sag as he stood dumbstruck. “But, it wasn’t her fault. She knows that.”

  “Are you sure about that? She said the two of you were fighting when it happened. You think she just magically forgot that part?”

  “Well, I . . .” He rubbed a hand over his mouth.

  “And, since you know her better than anyone, did you know her dream is to go to a performing arts college and then have a career on Broadway?”

  “I know she has her little hobby and she enjoys the theater, but she’ll grow out of thinking of it as her future. As for my health, I’ll talk to her when she gets home.” He moved back to the door. “Time’s up, West. It’s time for you to go.”

  “Little hobby?” The muscle in West’s jaw twitched as he fought for control. “You have no idea how good she is, do you? You talk about me, but you’re the one who doesn’t care about her happiness. You can’t see past what you think her life should be to what it is she wants.”

  Richard threw his hands up in exasperation. “She’s a teenager. She doesn’t know what she wants.”

  “Don’t you think she should be the one to decide?” West’s voice rose, the sound echoing off the marble floors and around the open foyer. “She may make a mistake, but it’s her life. That’s what she’s supposed to do.”

  “I’m trying to help save her from future heartache. Do you know how many people fail at making it in New York?” He took a step toward West. “I don’t want her to suffer. I want her to be happy. I want her to be able to help herself.”

  “You can’t stop her by claiming to protect her. She needs to do this. Maybe she will fail, but maybe she won’t. By not letting her try, it’s like saying you don’t believe in her.” West shook his head. “The point is, you’ve got to let her try or one day she’s going to hate you for holding her back. The not knowing will eat her up.” He took a deep breath and tried reason one last time. “Go to the play tonight. Go and see what she can do before you dismiss her dream.”

  “She doesn’t want me there. This is her thing.”

  “You know, for being a smart guy, you’re kind of dumb. Of course, she wants you there. You and Graham matter to her more than anyone else. If you didn’t, she wouldn’t have pushed me away to make you happy.” West started for the door. “I’m afraid I have to go, Dick. I, for one, am not going to disappoint her.”

  Richard raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were staying away from her.”

  “We aren’t seeing each other because she doesn’t want you to be angry at her anymore, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to be there for her, even if it has to be from a distance.” West started down the steps and heard the door close behind him.

  “Of all the stubborn . . .” He pulled his phone half out of his pocket to check the time and broke out into a run. There was no way he was going to make it in time.

  With the wind working against him, he made his way out of Alexa’s neighborhood and onto the main road. Anger swirled around inside him like a hurricane, but more than the anger was the disappointment. He’d been so sure her dad would come around. Over and over again he asked himself how Richard could be so wrong about everything. If he was an example of a good father, West was kind of glad he’d gone without.

  He jogged past the fence where the cemetery waited to welcome its next inhabitant and it occurred to him he hadn’t been there in a while. He’d been so busy with school and track and . . . living, he thought. He’d been busy living his life.

  A car pulled up beside him and slowed. West turned his head to the side and nearly ran into a speed limit sign when he saw Richard looking at him out the rolled down passenger window of his sleek silver car.

  “Get in. We’re already late.”

  “Hey, West,” Graham called from the backseat.

  West looked left and then right to see if a pran
k camera crew was parked somewhere close by. There was no way this could be happening.

  “If you’d prefer to run . . .”

  West reached for the door handle and slid into the front seat beside Alexa’s dad. The car was pristine and smelled like money, and when Richard pressed the gas, the car seemed to glide.

  “West, don’t worry, if Alexa’s thing gets boring, I brought my iPad.”

  West turned around in his seat and smiled at Graham. The kid must not have picked up on how weird the whole situation was. They rode in silence until the school came into view.

  “What made you change your mind?”

  Her dad turned into the overflowing parking lot, pulled his car onto the grass and cut the engine before he answered. “You did.”

  “Really?”

  “You made a compelling argument, which in case you didn’t know, is kind of what I do. Now, let’s go.”

  The three of them ran up the stairs and burst into the auditorium in time to see the curtain rise, revealing Alexa. She looked beautiful and for a moment, he felt like the only one in the room. Graham stood on his tiptoes beside West and bumped his arm, jarring him back to reality.

  He scanned the rows of seats near the front where he and Bekah had agreed to meet. It didn’t take long to spot her spiky locks among the crowd. “Hey, Bekah’s up there,” he whispered. “Why don’t you go sit in the empty seat beside her?”

  Graham looked up at his dad, but Richard was too transfixed to notice. West nodded toward Bekah and Graham went, leaving him alone with Alexa’s dad near the back wall of the auditorium. Even when he’d imagined his plan working, he never imagined a scenario where they’d be standing side by side.

  Alexa’s voice filled the room and he heard her father’s sharp intake of breath as he turned to watch her. He’d done what he set out to do.