Christmas All Around Us ; The Perfect Time for Love ; Playing for Keeps

by Carla Kincaid

  "I usually eat over there," Stacey said tilting her head toward the couch. "I don't really eat at home enough to buy a dinette table." Suddenly she felt self-conscious about her sparsely decorated apartment. She hurried over to the coffee table and cleared off the clutter making room for the paper plates she retrieved from the kitchen cabinet.

  "I'm afraid all I have is water," she explained as she watched Megan dividing the food onto the plates.

  "Water's fine," Megan said with a smile.

  Seated on the couch a little more than a foot apart, the two women began to eat. Stacey didn't want to appear uncouth but she was starving and the smell of the food was twisting her stomach in knots.

  "Mmmm. I just love gyros!" she said after biting into the Mediterranean delight."

  For a few minutes, the women ate in silence. Stacey was biting wedges of lamb off of her kabob when Megan made an announcement that stunned her.

  "I saw your show on Saturday," she said. Her eyes met Stacey's with a smile.

  "You did?" Stacey mumbled with a mouth full of food.

  She wanted to ask a million questions but she decided to chew, swallow and make sure she didn't have any lamb stuck between her teeth before she did.

  "How did you find out about the show?" Stacey asked after taking a sip of water.

  She watched as Megan used her fork to push wedges of meat, onions, and peppers off of the wooden skewer and onto her plate.

  "My sister and I were having lunch in Greenwich Village," she said as she began cutting up the deconstructed kabab into neat little pieces. "When I noticed a poster stapled to a lamp post outside the restaurant. I knew it looked familiar and then I remembered seeing the same poster in the bodega window around the corner."

  "Wow," Stacey said making a mental note to thank Mrs. Rodriguez for the free advertising space she offered to neighborhood artists. "Thanks for coming." Stacey paused before asking the next question. "So, what did you think?"

  Megan had just popped a piece of lamb into her mouth and Stacey had to wait for her to chew and swallow before she answered.

  "Well, I thought the story was a little strange." Megan's eyebrows furrowed and her lips twisted to the side. "But you were great," she said enthusiastically. "Your voice is incredible."

  Stacey couldn't fight the grin that spread across her face. "Thanks," she said exhaling. She suddenly realized she'd been holding her breath waiting for the critique of the woman sitting next to her.

  "I read your bio. An M.F.A. from Tisch. That's pretty impressive," Megan said with a smile. "How long have you been acting?"

  Stacey let out a laugh. "If you ask my mother she'll tell you I came out of the womb searching for a spotlight but I guess I got serious about performing when I was in high school. The head of our drama department had been in a few Broadway shows when she was younger and so she always pushed us to do more than just your average high school plays. It was a good training ground and really helped prepare me for undergrad and grad school."

  "I can't say I know a whole lot about theatre," Megan continued. "But I think the play would have been much better if you were playing Gale instead of being an understudy. But that would have meant you couldn't sing that song."

  Megan closed her eyes and smiled as if she was remembering a very pleasant moment.

  "It was so beautiful," she said in almost a whisper.

  Stacey just watched her without saying a word. It was obvious that Megan had enjoyed her solo and that realization touched Stacey deeply.

  "Oh, I'm sorry," Megan said as she opened her eyes. Her body stiffened and she turned back to her plate as if she'd said or done something embarrassing.

  As much as Stacey wanted to hear more of Megan's reflections on the show she didn't want her guest to be uncomfortable so she changed the subject.

  "What about you? How long have you been playing the piano?"

  Megan's body immediately relaxed again.

  "I started playing when I was about six," she said. "My grandmother was a music teacher and when she realized I was imitating the students she tutored after school she bought me the piano I have downstairs."

  "Oh, so I have her to thank," Stacey said jokingly.

  "Yeah. I guess so," Megan said with a laugh. "As I grew older, Nana always believed I was good enough to play professionally."

  A flash of sadness flickered across Megan's face and then disappeared.

  "That's why I'm here in New York," she continued. "I'm auditioning for the Sero Institute with the New York Philharmonic."

  Stacey didn't know much about the classical music scene but she'd heard of the prestigious orchestra. "I'm not familiar with the Sero Institute," she said. "But if it's tied to the Philharmonic I know it must be a great program."

  "It's one of the most competitive programs in the country," Megan explained. "They only hold auditions once every three years and only twelve students are admitted. Those accepted get to work with the professionals in the Philharmonic for a year. That's why it's been so important for me to practice."

  Stacey felt a twinge of guilt. "Look, when I'm in a show being able to sleep in on my only day off is really important. But now that the show is over if you need to practice on Monday mornings it's cool with me."

  "Thanks," Megan said with a smile. "But I've already adjusted my schedule to work around Monday mornings. This morning I was just..."

  "Getting back at me for last night?" Stacey said with a laugh.

  Megan looked down at her food but Stacey could see the guilty smile on her face.

  "So what do you do now that your show is over?" Megan asked.

  Stacey just groaned. "I go back to cater-waitering," she said in a sad dramatic tone.

  "Cater-waitering?"

  "Yeah. I work for a catering company that does all these fancy special events that need waiters to walk around serving crudités and stuff prosciutto-wrapped dates to snooty party guests." Stacey turned her nose in the air mockingly. "It pays better than unemployment though," she said with a shrug. "And I get to bring home a lot of free food that I'd never be able to afford otherwise."

  Stacey stabbed a falafel with her fork as she thought about the events she was scheduled to work this week. As bad as the last show was at least it was her chosen profession.

  "But enough about work," she said waving her fork in the air. "You've been here for more than two weeks, what's your favorite New York tourist spot so far?"

  Megan's eyes grew wide and her shoulders floated up to her ears. "To be honest I haven't really been out much since I got here."

  "Are you kidding?" Stacey said shaking her head. "Well, now that I don't have shows Tuesday through Sunday, I'm going to have to take you sightseeing."

  "That sounds great," Megan said with a hesitant smile. "But do you think we can wait until after my audition next week? I really have to stick to my practice schedule."

  "Sure," Stacey said. "I totally get it. But as soon as your audition is over, we're going to hit the town!"

  A big smile stretched across Megan's face. It was a smile the Stacey liked seeing -- especially up close. And she had to admit she was looking forward to seeing it again -- soon.

  Chapter 8

  Megan couldn't believe she'd said no to Stacey's invitation! It was hard. Really hard! But Megan was proud of herself for staying focused on her goals and sticking to her practice schedule. She wasn't going to make the same mistake that she'd made before. She wasn't going to give up a chance at a music career for a woman. That thought sent Megan's mind traveling back in time.

  "I got an audition at Berklee," Megan said quickly still a little shocked at the possibility of being accepted into the prestigious college of music. Berklee's alumni list was filled with Grammy winners and other music industry who's who.

  "Berklee? In Boston?" Renee said.

  Megan's heart sank when her girlfriend's eyes went dull instead of lighting up at the news.

  "That's great, Megan." Renee said feigning enthusiasm. "I k
now it's a really big deal to get an audition for a school like that."

  Megan just nodded, knowing Oklahoma State was the only school Renee had been admitted to -- or could afford.

  She and Renee had been dating for almost two years. They met the summer before their junior year in high school when Megan stopped by the CVS near her grandmother's house to pick up a prescription Nana needed.

  "Warning. Avoid exposure to the sun. Do not take if you're planning to drive or operate heavy machinery. Do not consume alcohol while taking medication. Well, I guess you won't be having any fun this summer at all," Renee joked as she rang up Megan's purchase.

  "Oh, it's not for me," Megan explained wondering who the attractive new cashier was. She came to this store regularly on errands for her grandmother and she'd never seen this girl before. She would have remembered her. Her sexy smile. Her flirtatious laugh. The curves accentuated by the tight t-shirt she wore under her customer service vest.

  "Well, I'm glad to hear it," Renee said flirtatiously. "Otherwise I was going to have to bring an umbrella and leave the beer at home when we go out for the first time."

  Megan was shocked. She'd never had anyone -- male or female -- flirt with her so boldly and she practically ran out of the store unsure what to say in response. But Renee wasn't deterred by Megan's embarrassed exodus. A month later when Megan walked into her homeroom class for the first day of her junior year, there was Renee, sitting in the back row wearing the same sexy, rebellious expression she'd worn that day in the store.

  Up until then, Megan had always been a front-row student. She wasn't very popular in school and she found the seats closest to the teacher safer than anywhere else in the room -- in spite of the spitballs she occasionally found stuck in her hair at the end of the day. But when Renee motioned to the desk next to her in the back of the classroom, Megan couldn't resist.

  After spending some time together, Megan realized that Renee's bad girl exterior was just a front. Sure she was tough. She had to be as an army brat always on the move. But the truth was, Renee was a lot more gentle than she let on and after a few months of getting to know each other, the two girls fell in love.

  "I don't have to go," Megan said as she watched her girlfriend's expression. "OSU has a decent music program. I guess I could go there instead."

  The smile that washed across Renee's face sealed it. Megan would still do the audition -- mostly because her grandmother already knew about it and was eagerly preparing for the trip to Boston. But even if she got accepted to Berklee she'd pass on that opportunity and stay at OSU with Renee. They were in love and Megan knew as long as they were together everything else would work out.

  Except it didn't. First semester, sophomore year, Megan came back to the dorm room she and Renee shared early from a weekend visit home and found Renee in bed with Tina Culpepper. She was devastated and after an explosive confrontation, she packed up all her stuff and moved in with her grandmother.

  For the rest of the school year, Megan traveled the hour-long commute between the OSU- Stillwater campus and her grandmother's house until she could officially transfer to the Tulsa satellite campus and finish her degree in elementary education.

  The memory was a sobering reminder for Megan to stay focused on her own goals. She wouldn't make the mistake of getting distracted by a woman again. This time no one -- not even a sexy upstairs neighbor with an incredible voice -- was going to detour Megan from her path.

  A few days after sharing her lunch with Stacey, Megan was standing at the mailbox retrieving the day's mail when she heard the front door to the building open above her.

  "Hey! Long-time no see!" she greeted.

  Her eyes locked on Stacey as she followed her neighbor's descent from the stoop, down the steps, to the street level patio. The trip gave Megan plenty of time to observe Stacey's attire. Black slacks -- the new dressy yoga kind that gave the appearance of professionalism along with glove fitting comfort for the wearer -- and a starched white shirt that was currently unbuttoned revealing a snug black spaghetti strap tank top underneath. The outfit was plain but Stacey still looked gorgeous.

  "Yeah. I've had cater-waiter gigs almost every night since the show closed," Stacey responded with a shrug. "Heaven forbid the fancy party-goers serve themselves from a buffet table."

  Stacey lifted her hand in the air as if she was holding a tray of hors d'oeuvres and bowed toward Megan.

  Megan giggled and played along. "Are you sure there's no shellfish, cheese or legumes in this. I'm terribly allergic," she said with a mockingly pretentious air.

  "You laugh," Stacey said rolling her eyes. "But this woman last night insisted that I bring out a hand-written note from the caterer swearing that there was no soy in the meatballs." Stacey smacked her forehead with her palm. "But until Broadway calls."

  She gave a deep bow and pretended to toss the imaginary serving tray over her shoulder and into the nearby trash can.

  "Hopefully that call will come sooner than later," Megan said cheerfully.

  Stacey nodded in agreement. "I've got an audition for an Off-Broadway show coming up," she said crossing her fingers on both hands. "But enough about me, how are things going with you?" she asked as she stepped closer to Megan to get to her mailbox.

  "Okay, I guess," Megan said. "I finally decided what pieces I'm going to play for my audition and I'm about to meet my sister to go shopping for a dress."

  "Blue," Stacey said looking Megan up and down. "I think you'd look great in blue."

  Megan's eyebrows raised in surprise. She wasn't exactly sure how to respond to the fashion advice. Had Stacey been checking her out? Considering what she'd look good in? The thought of Stacey paying attention to her body made Megan flush with excitement and then pail self-consciously knowing she wasn't exactly model thin.

  "It's a thing I do," Stacey continued probably in response to Megan's mouth hanging open. "A holdover from all the hours I've spent tagging along with Tony watching him design costumes. I guess some of his expertise rubbed off on me," she said with a laugh.

  At the mention of the permanent occupant of Megan's temporary home, she was reminded that her time as Stacey's neighbor was limited. Even if she did get into the Sero Institute she was going to have to find another place to live by the end of August. It was best not to get fixated on anything happening between her and Stacey. No matter how things turned out, in a few months they'd be going their separate ways and probably never see each other again.

  "Well, I'd better get going. These aren't going to pay themselves," Stacey said as she stuffed her mail into the leather satchel slung over her shoulder. "Good luck finding a dress for your audition. I'm sure whatever you choose will look great on you."

  "Thanks," Megan stuttered as she watched Stacey walk away. "Have fun at work. Don't eat too many desserts!"

  Megan smacked herself on the forehead as soon as those last words came out of her mouth. Sheesh, she thought. The woman gives you multiple compliments about your looks and you tell her to stay away from the sweets! Megan let out a sigh. Hopefully, Stacey hadn't taken her admonition in the wrong way. Even if she ate a platter full of desserts, Stacey would still look great.

  Megan was still watching her neighbor walk down the block when Stacey turned over her shoulder and looked back toward the apartment building. Busted! Megan thought as she lifted her hand in a wave. She got a big smile in return just before Stacey turned the corner and disappeared.

  ***

  "And then I told him if he didn't take a vacation soon I was going to max out all the credit cards on the Home Shopping Network out of sheer boredom."