Chapter 42: Henderson
She belongs here.
Actually, she belongs on a stage singing to millions, but she's at home in this theatre. She is so Tabitha here.
For once, she's hanging out with the cast in the dorms. Mandy and Angie are with her. You wouldn't know that the three of them were once megastars. Right now, they're just like every single person here at The Edison.
Riding the high of a performance.
I hover in the background, in and out of my room. I want to be with everyone else, just so I can be around her. Walking away has been the biggest mistake I've ever made.
Even bigger than getting involved in the first place.
"I don't ever want to leave here!" I hear Tabitha say.
"You wouldn't be saying that if you were up here during the winter." Mandy laughs.
Angie chimes in, "You should see what she wore in February in New York. I'm surprised she has toes left."
Those ridiculous shoes spring to mind. God, if I'd only known what that evening had in store for me. Hell, I'd've handled so many things differently. I certainly buggered it all up.
And for the record, the drama didn't come from her; it came from me. Me being a dipstick.
Josh adds, "Okay, well then, we'll put southern climate on our list of needs in order for you to work with me on my show."
There's a gasp as the room collectively turns to look at both Tabitha and Josh.His show?Tabitha's going to do his show?
Tabitha laughs. "Nice try, Josh. I mean, I'm absolutely going to look at it some more, but don't quote me on anything yet." She takes a sip of her wine. "Wait, Carson Reuben's not here, is he? I mean, otherwise, he'll put out a press release inBackstage Magazinetomorrow, and it'll be set in stone."
"Worked out for you last time," Mandy adds.
Tabitha throws her head back, laughing. "I'd say it did, but it's not how I want to run my career. I'm impulsive, but that's going too far, even for me."
I drift out, thinking about what she said. Tabitha is a risk taker. However, her underlying instincts make them good risks with excellent payoffs.
An idea rattles through my brain like a boomerang. It's a risk though.
I hear Tabitha's laughter float out into the hall.
I flip through the pages of Josh's notes and music. Not that I had any doubt, but he's onto something here.
And then I see it. The song called "Purple Dawn."
You can't create purple unless you mix your blue and red.
I'm ready to make a mess.
I rush back to the office where I send out a frenzied email to Grayson. Despite the fact that I'm bloody knackered, I don't feel it as I outline my plan.
Once I hit the send button, my brain finally catches up with my heart, and the fear begins to seep in.
What if this is a stupid thought? What if it doesn't work? What if I lose everything?
It doesn't matter, as long as Tabitha is happy.
And maybe, just maybe, I can win her back along the way.
Chapter 43: Tabitha
