She should have respected my wishes.
If she wasn't so funny and amazing with her daughter and giving, I wouldn't be drawn to her the way I am.
This is all her fault.
For being irresistible to me.
Dammit.
"Henderson, we're starting the last run-through soon. Final costume check in five. We need you out here!" Morgan's voice bellows. Whoever gave her a megaphone didn't think that one all the way through.
It may have been me.
I finish stacking the piles of paper and put them back on the desk. I unplug my laptop and grab my water bottle, as well as my notebook to write down last minute things that we'll need to fix before tonight's opening performance.
Grayson is booked solid, doing interviews and social media. He's going to want Tabitha to do some of it with him. Carson Reuben will undoubtedly make a visit.
I don't know if I should hug him or hit him.
Tabitha walks out in her costume, a sparkling, white satin ball gown that almost glows on stage. I'm not sure if the effervescence is coming from the fabric or from her. With everyone else in rich jewel tones and saturated hues, she stands out. It's unlike anything I've ever seen her in, and my brain short circuits at the sight.
Hug Carson, definitely.
I've seen bits and pieces of the costumes here and there, but never everyone all together with full hair and makeup. Erica and her team nailed the design element.
"Hang on, I've got to get some pictures for social media!" I yell, pulling out my phone. It's an effort to make sure I get the whole cast, and not just pictures of Tabitha. She's radiant and keeps swishing her voluminous skirts back and forth.
Morgan has the large digital camera out, also snapping pictures for publicity. We have a whopping two hours to get these out into the world. The tickets have long since been sold out, but these are great images for The Edison.
I have to remind myself again that this is about the theatre and not about Tabitha. She's just here to help.
But I also know she's here for me.
That tightness in my chest is back.
We wave people stage left and stage right, upstage and downstage, getting group shots and solo poses. Grayson looks ready to command not only the stage, but also the lions and elephants, not that we really have those in the show.
"They look so good," a quiet voice next to me whispers. I glance down to see Gloria, Grayson's girlfriend, with her hands clasped tightly under her chin.
"They do." I agree.
"Erica did a great job with her vision. She's so talented."
"They all are. So many of them belong on Broadway. Grayson especially."
"You know he'll never leave here again." Gloria says softly.
I look at Gloria. "What about you?"
She smiles. "Wherever Grayson is, that's my home."
A simple answer for a person in love.
Maybe this is why nothing has ever seemed simple to me.
Morgan grabs my phone to shoot some video. "Tabitha, can you sing a few bars?"
As she begins the chorus, my heart clenches. Not only is her voice so perfect, but now, with the lighting, she's practically glowing. The final assault, though, is the words she's singing.
