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“Tonight will be amazing,” he tells me earnestly, his eyes shining with pride. “You’re amazing. And I’m here for whatever you need.”
He leans down for another quick kiss and leaves me be while I watch the rest of the dances. When the last group exits the stage, I go back to the dressing rooms where the parents and volunteers are helping to wrangle the kids.
“Okay, everyone,” I call out, and all eyes turn to me. “We’re just half an hour away from showtime. Doors will open in ten minutes, so if you need to go to the bathroom, now is the time!”
I look at Abigail with some significance, as she’s the parent who’s volunteered to help with the toddlers. Even though her son isn’t gifted and doesn’t come to the center, she signed up for that age because she didn’t want to make Daisy too nervous. It’s for everyone’s benefit, as a nervous Daisy would wreak havoc on all of us.
I plaster on a smile and walk through the maze of the backstage until I reach the doors leading to the lobby. Meredith is there, waiting for me. She stands with several important-looking people I don’t recognize, and I realize they must be donors. They have that quiet humility of people who spend more money on a single outfit than most people spend on a car. It’s a trait I’ve learned to spot from my father’s many years in the public eye.
“Here’s the woman of the hour,” Meredith says sweetly when she sees me. She pulls me into a quick hug and introduces me around the group. I shake a lot of hands, but don’t recall the names. There’s already too much going on in my head, I can’t possibly try to retain it all. “Melissa’s classes, in particular, have helped many of our kids with their confidence and temperament. We’ve found them to be a really valuable asset to our roster.”
I beam at her words. My job sounds really important when she puts it that way. Of course, they also add pressure to my already insurmountable stress. Here is a group of people that I have to impress in order to help the center. It’s the last thing I need right now.
“And here’s James Marrow.” Meredith smiles to a space behind me. I turn to see Bones approaching us and he winks at me. I instantly feel more grounded. “He built the sets with several of our boys, and used it as an opportunity to teach them life skills. They’re certainly a power couple, aren’t they?”
Meredith winks at us and Bones grabs my hand, squeezing gently. She leaves us alone as she walks the donors through the lobby to meet the other teachers who’ve come out. Everyone is here, as it’s the biggest event the center has put on. The kids’ artwork is on display in the lobby on auction to help raise more funds. Half the proceeds from the concession stand are going to the center. It’s a big night for Meredith, too.
I watch her and can’t help but be impressed by how calm and collected she is. Compared to me, she’s the picture of grace and tranquility. All I have to do is make sure the kids make it through the recital. She’s the one who has to make sure the donors are happy with what they see tonight.
“She’s amazing,” I whisper to Bones.
“I certainly think so,” says a man I vaguely recognize as he approaches us. “I’m not sure if we’ve met before, I’m Dr. Graves.”
The man holds his hand out and I take it, realizing he’s her husband, Graveyard.
“You don’t have to be so formal, man.” Bones laughs at him. “She’s with me. She knows all about us.”
“Unlike you, I know how to behave in social situations,” Graveyard responds with a sarcastic smirk. “But it is nice to finally meet the woman who performed a miracle with our Bones, here.”
I blush again and beam up at my man. We’re joined by Pocus and Hex, who’ve come to watch their daughters. Both of their wives are backstage, so they look a little out of place among the other parents. Now that I’m more familiar with the Ruthless Kings, I do find it funny to watch them all outside of their element. They draw a lot of attention to themselves, but they never seem to care. Tonight, they aren’t members of a motorcycle gang, they’re just fathers who’ve come to support their children.
The lights of the lobby dim and that’s my cue. The doors all open and the guests start to file into the auditorium. I hold on to Bones hand and we hang back as his friends go inside to find seats.
“Will you stay backstage with me?” I ask him, suddenly feeling panicked. “In case there are any set emergencies or something.”
He smiles a knowing smile at me and lets go of my hand, moving his to my waist.
“I’m not leaving your side for a second,” he says, pulling me closer to his body.
We head backstage and stand in the wings for the duration of the show. Despite my fears, it goes off without a hitch. Even when numbers aren’t perfect, the kids are clearly having so much fun, and the applause is always uproarious. I can’t believe how many people came out tonight. It’s encouraging to see that the kids are all surrounded by people who care about them so much. When I peek out into the crowd, I’m shocked to see that my own parents are there. They must have slipped in after I came backstage. My heart skips a beat when I see them, and I think I might cry again.
Instead, I focus on the show, feeling a little dizzy at how quickly it passes by. Too soon, the kids are doing their final bows and Meredith is on stage, calling me up to thank me for all my hard work. Charlie comes up to hand me another bouquet of flowers and the crowd screams loud for me. I look down to see my parents beaming, cheering louder than anyone else.
Confetti is shot off from canons and the curtain is brought down. Just like that, the night is over, and all the stress I’ve been carrying for weeks finally starts to dissolve. Bones comes over to kiss me sweetly, but we’re interrupted by the awkward cough of my father.
“Dad.” I laugh, feeling lightheaded. “Mom, I can’t believe you guys came!”
“Of course we did!” my mom gushes, looking at Bones with unabashed interest. It’s the first time they’ve met, and she’s not shy with her approval of him. She gives him a big hug, clearly surprising him. Dad, on the other hand, is much more reserved.
“James,” he says shortly, holding out his hand for a firm shake.
“Mayor Prudent,” Bones addresses him in the same clipped tone. They shake hands for just a moment too long and my mom has to break the tension.
“Well, darling, we’re sure you have plans tonight.” She looks at Bones with a sparkle in her eye. “We just wanted to tell you how proud we are of you. Right, Gerald?”
She nudges my dad, who finally stops eyeing Bones with mild horror and turns to me. He reaches into his lapel and produces a card, handing it to me and pulling me into a tight hug.
“We’re so proud, Missy,” he whispers in my ear. “We’ll see you at dinner on Sunday?”
