Mom would have been in that seat.She would have stood outside the auditorium’s double doors until they opened for the event, just so she could claim the best seat.Dead center in the front row, so I could see her.
I missed her so damn much.
The newcomer was dressed up for the night as well.My private school focused on fine arts, and each event was treated like an evening at the freaking Met.She had on a dark evening gown that hugged her slender frame.Her jewelry was minimal yet exquisite.A thin platinum watch on her left wrist.A huge rock on her left ring finger, and a simple teardrop-style necklace around her neck.
Simple and beautiful in a way that didn’t demand attention, yet anyone around her was helpless not to notice.Elegant.
As the music ended and the spotlight faded, casting the stage into darkness once again, I kept my focus on the beautiful woman in the front row.The lights were too dim for me to make out much of her features.For the strangest reason, focusing on her calmed me.It brought me the kind of solace I’d only ever known when my mom smiled at me.
Rose Russell had been an incredible woman, a freaking angel.She worked three jobs to provide for me, and she still made it to every school event and recital.Every happy memory I possessed was centered around my mom, and now, she was gone.I would never get another happy moment with her.
Maya made her exit from the opposite side of the stage to deafening applause, while one of the crew rushed to set up my chair.
Sucking in a few deep breaths, I blew the last one out fully and lifted my head.Maya had stolen my song, but that didn’t mean she’d ruined my performance.If she wanted Bach so much, she could have him.I would give the audience and the judges a performance they would never forget.
Mason
Tugging at my collar,I shifted my large frame in the chair that was definitely not made for men of my size.Briefly, I imagined my retired NFL defenseman brother-in-law trying to fit into one of the narrow chairs and snorted.Luca would have likely ripped off the arms of the chair and the one beside it to make room for himself and give him plenty of room to hold Violet on his lap.
My amusement caught the attention of the woman seated beside me.She lifted her gaze from the stage, where a student was performing.Ballet to Bach.Having been to more than my fair share of dance recitals for my cousin Mia, I could honestly say the dancer was skilled.Everyone in the audience was enraptured, yet I was struggling not to fall asleep.
“She’s amazing, isn’t she?”my neighbor whispered.“Maya is my daughter.She’s studied ballet since she was two.This summer, she’s going to Paris to…”
I zoned out after that, keeping a polite smile on my face and nodding where I predicted was appropriate.Maya’s mother had been introduced to me when I’d arrived with my own mom earlier.Jane.Jennifer.Janine?I couldn’t remember anything other than it started with a J.
Mom had made all the small talk before the talent competition began.It was for seniors at the same private academy both my sister and I had attended as teens.The film club recorded it and broadcast it live on their social media channels, treating it like a reality TV show.The grand prize was ten grand, which was basically a new handbag to the majority of the contestants.Primarily, it was bragging rights for their twenty-year reunion and something they could add to their portfolio.
My parents still contributed to the school, including donating funds and time whenever requested.Having Harper Stevenson at this event was a privilege.She interviewed the winners and dedicated a full edition of her magazine to them.Considering she was not only the editor in chief but also the co-owner of one of the top reputable entertainment magazines in the country, she could literally make or break someone with a few choice words.
Mom and Dad never said why they stayed so involved in the private school after I’d graduated more than a decade ago, but I was sure it was because they wanted to remain a fixture in the academy in case Vi settled down permanently in Santa Monica.
Maybe one day.
I could see the longing on my mom’s face each time Vi came back to the West Coast for the summer or holidays.Dad was always holding his breath when they left, as if that would stop the ache of missing his eldest and all five of his grandchildren.
Scratching the skin beneath the collar of my tux, I turned my head toward Mom, hoping to end whatever—I wanted to say Jessica?—was droning on about.Only to find the seat empty.
Damn it!
She’d ditched me.
Not that I blamed her.Jana—that sounded closer—and her husband Walter…Wade?They had been annoying as fuck from the moment Mom and I arrived.Cooing and gushing over their oh-so-talented daughter.At one point, they invited me to dinner after the event.Me, and only me.Not my mom.I didn’t miss the stars that filled both their eyes as the woman had put her hand on my arm and proceeded to tell me how beautiful, smart, and amazing her daughter was.
Mom had hidden a laugh behind a delicate cough.She didn’t rush to save me, didn’t make up an excuse to get me out of it.I was on my own with the annoying couple.Apparently they had no idea that they should have been working on impressing her and not me.Mom had been highly amused when we first arrived, which quickly turned into annoyance as the event progressed.
Mom had the patience of a saint, yet even saints had their limits.Vaguely, I remembered her excusing herself to the bathroom, but that had been three performances ago.Swallowing a groan, I glanced around the private box.A few of the board members, whom I knew, and the headmaster, whom I didn’t, were seated with us, as well as two of the four judges.The headmaster wasn’t the same man from Vi’s or my years.I’d never met this guy before, but he shook my hand like we were old friends when the introductions were made.
There was no sign of Mom or her bodyguard.
Squeezing the bridge of my nose, I could already hear the lecture I would get from Dad later.He was supposed to attend this event with her, and when he got stuck at the studio, he asked me to take his place.Asked might not have been the correct term.Commanded came closer.Despite Mom’s having her own security detail, Dad wouldn’t be at ease unless he knew I was with her when he couldn’t be.More like he didn’t want anyone flirting with his wife or thinking that her bodyguard was her husband.Which happened often enough that it caused Dad severe indigestion.
And now the woman had up and disappeared on me.Babysitting parents was a tough job, and my independent mother was more difficult to manage than my rock star father.
Before I could stand, movement down below caught my attention.There, in the first row, Mom was taking a seat direct center to the stage.My relief intensified when I spotted her guard standing at the end of the aisle, vigilantly observing the crowd.
Fishing my phone from my inside jacket pocket, I was ready to send her an annoyed text when I saw she’d already left me one.
Mom: Sorry, honey.I couldn’t take any more of Janise droning on and on about her daughter.She was giving me a headache.Forgive me for abandoning you.I promise to save you from her before the end of the night.For now, though, I’m going to enjoy the last bit of the competition from the empty seat in front.Kisses!
