Arielle, dressed in a shimmery plum-colored dress, walked out on stage. In the audience, Mick and River had to fight back tears.
“Riv, your mother is the most beautiful woman on this earth. She looks radiant. Who would ever believe what she’s been through today?”
“Mom’s a champ. Look at Jess. She’s taking about a million photos.”
“Jess is going to give that camera quite a workout tonight. Your sister looks pretty darn beautiful, too.”
“How about my beauty, Dad?”
Mick looked at River and just laughed.
On stage, Arielle smiled as the audience vigorously applauded. Walking over to the podium, she laid her papers down, adjusted the microphone, and began to speak. “Ladies and gentlemen, hello, I’m Arielle Dalworth. I want to thank you all for being here on this very special night. I’m glad my friend Josh McBride is filming it. I’ve been worried that I might wake up tomorrow and find that it’s all been a dream.”
The audience laughed.
“I want to thank Eve Carrow and Jinxsy Patterson for entrusting me with this beautiful theater. Being project manager has been a challenging and rewarding task, and no doubt, being director of our new school will be every bit as wonderful.
“I do have a special announcement, but first, I want to thank Gabe Martelli, our brilliant vintage restoration specialist, and his team, Raphael Mendosa, Alejandro Jimenez, and George Sanchez, who have worked tirelessly for months. I also want to thank our many volunteers who have been working with us tonight. I want to thank Larsen Davis, my amazing assistant, who has saved my life in more ways than you’d ever believe. And now, if I may direct your attention to the stage, please say hello to our distinguished panel of judges and our very talented musicians who will be working their magic for us soon. Everyone’s name and bio are in the program; I really wish I could mention you all now, but we might not have time left for a competition.”
The audience laughed again, and Arielle took a sip of water before continuing her speech.
“We will have twenty-five contestants performing tonight. You can read all about our judging process, but I’ll just tell you that each contestant has two and a half minutes to perform. We will have a fifteen-minute intermission after the fifteenth contestant performs.
“Before we begin, I have an announcement to make that is so very dear to my heart. As many of you already know and have seen in the program, earlier tonight, before our doors opened to the public, we unveiled a plaque in the lobby dedicating this theater to a talented young man named Peter Winterstrom, the son of Mystekal’s Kathryn Winterstrom. Peter was a budding actor and singer when he died suddenly forty years ago. He was a performer with a passion for learning, honing, and practicing his craft. Peter was the embodiment of what every performing artist should strive to be. That is why, not only are we dedicating this theater to him, but our new school will be named The Peter Winterstrom School for the Performing Arts.”
Kathryn let out a loud gasp that was heard by everyone. She turned to Larsen. “You knew this? Oh my goodness! Did Arielle just say what I thought she said? The school is going to be named for Peter? Oh my! This is the most wonderful surprise. Dedicating the theater was such a joy in itself, now this. My Peter will live on. I am so overjoyed. This must be what he meant about being a desert star. He just didn’t know it.”
Larsen’s watched as Kathryn’s face radiated with joy. “I think Mrs. D and the audience want you to stand up.”
Kathryn seemed surprised to notice that all eyes were upon her. As Larsen helped her up, he saw Peter standing off to the side, behind two stagehands. He could see the anguish and joy on Peter’s face on seeing his mother again. He quickly disappeared from sight, but Larsen knew he was still there.
The audience stood up and turned to honor Kathryn, who was so overcome that she could barely stand without Larsen’s help. Choking out a thank you, she sat down again, and all eyes returned to Arielle.
Arielle wiped a tear from her eye. “I promised myself I wouldn’t let my mascara run.”
The audience laughed while Arielle took another sip of water before continuing.
“And now, I’d like to introduce our first contestant. She’s a sophomore at Mystekal High, a soprano who will be singing ‘Love, Look Away’ from Flower Drum Song. Please join me in welcoming Miss Heather York.”
`*`*`*`
“I’m spending every moment of intermission right here by Peter’s plaque.” Kathryn ran her fingers over her son’s name as Jinxsy, Eve, Madeleine, Larsen, Mick, River, and Jessie looked on.
Jessie looked around at the crowd mingling in the lobby. “Mom must be so happy! She’s been waiting for this day forever. I was hoping that the night would live up to her expectations, but I think it’s exceeding them. The contestants are all so talented, and the audience is loving every minute.”
Mick nodded enthusiastically. “Jess, it’s my dream come true to see your mother so happy. And I don’t think I’ve had a chance to tell you, but you look exquisitely beautiful. All of you ladies do.”
River playfully nudged Mick in the ribs with his elbow. “How about me, Dad?”
Everyone cracked up.
“Hey, River.”
River turned and was thrilled to see Avalon, dressed in a full-length vintage burgundy dress with lace, standing there. He gave her a big hug and walked her away from the group so that Kathryn wouldn’t hear him talking about what had happened.
“Hey, you. First I’ve got to say that you look so amazingly beautiful. Do you know that you saved my mom’s life today? I’m sure your dad told you that my mother’s degenerate ex was holding her hostage downstairs. He found a hiding place inside the walls of an old castle set. And the head from a dragon costume was sitting on the ledge of one of the walls. Wow, you were right on, Avalon. You saved my mom, my family, this theater, and this night. You’ve got a friend in me for life.”
Avalon blushed. “You’re too nice, River. If I’m gonna have this crazy gift, I’m sure glad that something good came from it.” Nervously, she began to finger the long strands of vintage beads she was wearing.
“Those are pretty necklaces. But you really are a standout beauty.”
Embarrassed, Avalon put the focus on her necklaces. “These are Austrian crystal. They belonged to my grandma. She’s still alive and all, but she wanted me to have them because I’m a bit nutso for this stuff.”
River smiled and looked at her. “Like I said, beautiful.”
Gina, who had been patiently waiting to reveal herself to River, was seething as she watched him pay such rapt attention to Avalon. Wearing a tight black-and-green dress that hugged every inch of her body, her hair in a sexy side-swept style, and her makeup applied to rival a movie star, she walked over to them.
Seeing her, Avalon gulped, said a quick hello, and hurried away before River could stop her. Pleased, Gina looked at River, waiting for him to hug her, followed by an explosion of compliments about her glamorous appearance.
Gina was astonished to see River’s face remain blank, and he only stared at her. “Oh jeez, Riv! At first I thought you looked angry or something, but I guess you’re kind of blown away seeing me like this.”
River said nothing as Gina stepped closer to him and whispered in his ear. “I have some very exciting news. I’ve been waiting to tell you that I’m ready. Baby, I am so ready!” Seeing that River’s expression still hadn’t changed, Gina pressed on. “You know, handsome hands, I’m ready for us to be together. In every way. I’m waiting to feel you throbbing inside me. I’m ready to do everything we’ve talked about. I wish we could go somewhere and do it right now. I just can’t wait—”
“Why didn’t you give Avalon my phone number?”
Gina looked across the lobby at Avalon, who was now standing with Erik and her sister, Isabella. “I can’t believe she came over here to tell you that. What a brat! Can’t she just get attention by being normal?”
River’s jaw tightened with rage. �
��My mom was kidnapped today by a delusional degenerate from her past. You know where he took her? He hid her downstairs where a lot of sets are stored. As I just told Avalon, he found a hiding place in the middle of an old castle set. You know, with a green dragon head and all that. My mother was missing for over three hours. Luckily, Gina’s dad, Gabe, left his business cell in his truck. But he thought he’d left it at home, so he called to see if my mom had tried to reach him. I mean, we were all fucking frantic, you know? So, when Gabe called home, that’s when Avalon realized that her message hadn’t been delivered. She’s so sweet and trusting, she just took the word of someone who promised to deliver it. Gabe handed me his private cell phone because Avalon was desperate to talk to me. After I spoke to her and she described her painting, Larsen knew immediately where my mom was. Four cops came out and got the guy before he could rape or kill her. He had a knife, rope, duct tape, rags, and who knows what else. Are you getting the picture? Avalon saved my mom’s life today. But my mom could’ve died because one particular person was too jealous to deliver a message to me or give out my phone number.”
Gina felt the blood drain from her face as the impact of River’s words hit her. “Oh, Riv, I’m so sorry. I just thought—”
“What? What did you think?”
“You know, that Avalon was making another desperate attempt for your attention.”
River stepped back from Gina, still eyeing her with rage. “I’m not quite understanding what you mean by ‘another desperate attempt.’ I don’t ever recall any desperate attempts. Are you talking about the time she wanted to tell me that she and Erik had seen Kenny Milano post Reinhardt’s notes on her locker, and she was worried her brother, a freakin’ mixed martial arts expert, might beat the shit out of him?”
“Uh, no, Riv. I mean … um …”
“What, the first day of school when kids were making nasty comments as they walked by her in the hall? That day, when I was the one who noticed what was happening and went over to introduce myself? Is that the desperate attempt you’re talking about?”
“No, Riv. But it just seems like she’s so needy, and you’re always right there for her. Even now, you’re taking her side.”
River’s mouth fell open. “Her side? Are you serious? My mother could have died today because of you, and this is what you’re worried about?”
“Riv—”
“You know, you’ve always been so worried that you were like your sister, and I always told you that you were nothing like her. You know what? I still mean that. Because you’re way worse, Gina. And we are so over!”
Gina put her hand to her mouth and rushed out the front doors as the lights began to flicker, indicating that intermission was ending.
Seeing what had happened, Mick walked over to Riv and put a comforting arm around him. “I’m sorry, son. I didn’t have to hear a word of that to know what just went down. I know how much it hurts.”
River could barely speak. “Thanks, Dad.”
Mick, his arm still around River, squeezed him tight. “Would it make you feel any better if I told you that you’re as beautiful as your mother and sister?”
River made a sound that was somewhere between laughing and moaning. “You’re too much, Dad.”
Mick smiled. “I learned my impeccable timing from my son. Hey, let’s go watch the rest of the competition.”
As she watched River and his father go through the lobby doors, Avalon couldn’t help but feel sad. She only wished that Gina had believed her from the very beginning.
Eve stood in the lobby saying hello to people she knew as they made their way to their seats. Just as she was about to head back to her own seat, she saw Jax Reinhardt slip into the men’s room. She hadn’t seen him since he was officially expelled, and she felt an anxious knot forming in her stomach.
`*`*`*`
Arielle stood at the podium and applauded as the next-to-last act took a bow.
“Thank you, Jeffrey Evers. Ladies and gentlemen, as you’ll see on your program, we have one final act. My assistant, Larsen Davis, will be reciting a monologue from Othello. However, the competition is officially over, as Larsen has chosen only to perform, not compete.”
Arielle waited for the crowd to quiet. “Even though I have nothing to do with the judging of this competition, Larsen felt that, as a member of my team, it would be wrong for him to compete tonight. That said, he wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to perform for such a fantastic audience. So, please, give it up for Larsen.”
Larsen walked out on stage, nervous but excited.
In her seat, Kathryn was clasping her hands together, whispering softly to herself, “Break a leg, Larsen. You can do it.”
As Larsen took a deep breath and prepared to speak, Jax came running down the right aisle of the theater. “We don’t want to hear a monologue. Come on, Larsen. Sing!”
Some of the crowd, thinking that Jax was a friend, not an enemy, and that Larsen was actually a singer with a case of nerves, began to join Jax as they cheered for Larsen to sing.
Feeling his entire body stiffen, Larsen fought the overwhelming panic until he felt Peter’s presence. He turned to his right and could see him standing in the wing. Peter looked entirely different than he had before. He seemed nearly normal like a flesh-and-blood human being, and he was no longer frightened. “Tell them to play ‘Tonight’ in D flat.”
Startled, Larsen shook his head no, as some of the crowd, along with Jax, continued to call out, “Sing! Sing!”
Peter was determined to get through to Larsen in the same way Larsen had been determined to get through to him. “Sing the song. You can do it. It will be fine. And if you sing the song, I will talk to my mother when it’s over. Go ahead. Tell them: D flat.”
As if he were in a dream, Larsen turned to the musicians behind him. “ ‘Tonight’ from West Side Story. In D flat, please.”
A hush came over the audience as the music began. Larsen’s friends all exchanged looks, then looked at him.
The musicians began to play. Larsen opened his mouth to sing, and to his utter amazement, out came the most beautiful baritone voice he had ever heard. The crowd gasped in unison, but nobody was anywhere near as stunned as Kathryn, who had just experienced a greater surprise than before. Putting her hands to her throat, she whispered to herself. “That’s my Peter’s voice. I’d know it anywhere. How can this possibly be? That’s my Peter’s voice!”
“Life is filled with miracles and surprises, Kathryn.”
Turning toward what she thought was Larsen’s empty seat, Kathryn could not trust what her eyes were seeing. “Martha Joy!”
“I know it feels like a dream, my dearest friend, but it is not. Peter has given Larsen his voice. Listen.”
Kathryn turned to watch Larsen as he sung proudly with Peter’s voice, turning every few seconds to confirm that her Martha Joy was still by her side. When she heard Larsen sing the line “And what was just a world is a star,” she thought she would faint, but the electrified crowd and the sound of her son’s voice took her back forty years to a time when her son’s singing was her greatest joy. “You are my star, Peter! And now you’ve given your gift to Larsen. I have two desert stars now!”
As the song ended, the audience rose to their feet, and thunderous applause and cheers filled the room, like fireworks exploding in the sky.
Jax, who had been standing in the aisle in disbelief, turned to leave and practically knocked down a woman racing toward the stage.
“That’s my boy! That’s my Larsen! That’s my son! I’m the proudest mom on the planet.”
Larsen looked at Peter, who stood offstage, smiling, then at his mother, looking beautiful and well groomed, unlike the woman she had become over the past several years. His eyes welled up as she stood there cheering, telling anyone who would listen that Larsen was her son.
`*`*`*`
“Riv, why did Larsen tell us all he couldn’t sing? Nobody with a voice like that could possibly think he had no voca
l abilities. I don’t get it.”
“I think I do get it, Dad. But I’m just going to do what I always do and keep my mouth shut.”
“I don’t suppose if I told you to unzip it, you’d tell me.”
River laughed. “Good one, Dad. But no. Just because I think I know what’s going on doesn’t mean I’m not flummoxed like everyone else.”
“Flummoxed?”
“Yeah, it means—”
“I know what it means, Riv. But you are only seventeen. Never mind.”
`*`*`*`
Up on stage, Arielle reentered and ran up to hug Larsen as she whispered in his ear, “What in the world, Lars? I thought you couldn’t sing!”
“I couldn’t. Peter gave me his voice.”
“Are you serious?” Arielle followed Larsen’s gaze and saw Peter, beaming proudly. “This has to be the most incredible day of my time on this earth.”
Arielle walked over to the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, I know you were all as amazed by that performance as I was. We ask you all to remain seated while the judges deliberate. I’ll have the results for you in just five minutes.”
`*`*`*`
The audience was bustling with excitement, making it easier for Kathryn to speak out loud to Martha Joy. “How is it possible that you are here and Peter has given Larsen his voice? I’ve died and gone to heaven, haven’t I?”
Kathryn raised her program to her face so nobody could see her talking. “What will people think if they hear your voice coming from an empty seat?”
“Only you can hear me. And, no, Kathryn. You’re very much alive. Peter and I are the ones who have not yet gone to heaven. When I died five years ago in that terrible accident, I was unable to leave this earth. It was too sudden, and I was in such shock. I lived in the Mystekal Sands, even through its renovation, just to be in a place where I had happy memories. Before he moved in with you, Larsen came to see a movie, to get away from his home situation. We talked in the dark theater, and he had no idea I was a lonely ghost. But he figured it out. The next time we spoke, I came to him in a dream because I heard him calling me. He needed my advice. He told me there was a young man named Peter Winterstrom who had been living at another theater, this one, for forty years. Larsen wanted to help him. He wanted Peter to see you again and to be set free.”
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