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She waves at the ceiling. “It’s up there, but I didn’t unpack anything yet.”
As she says the words, Destiny’s indecipherable whine carries down the stairs, followed by a thud and a slam. “I think I’ve just been evicted.”
“She can’t take all the guest rooms, but I can see why you wouldn’t want to stay.” I grab her hand and squeeze her fingers. “I have plenty of space. Although, I vote we make John and the lawyer stay here.”
She nods. “Good plan. They can keep her from bamboozling Dad again.”
“You think he’d take her back?” When he caught Number Four with the gardener, she was out on her ear within hours, never to be seen again. He got lucky with her—if she’d known he was already cheating on her, she could have gotten a lot more money. As it was, he got rid of her at minimal cost.
“He seems kinda old and desperate now, don’t you think? I bet she could convince him to take her back.” She picks the phone up again. “Now that he’s sick, he’s more like a normal old guy—you saw him today! He can’t expect to get another hot young girlfriend, so he’s gonna hold on to the one he’s got, right?” She looks at the picture on her phone—the one of me and Matt at the campfire. “I can see why you don’t want to get with this guy. I mean, look at Destiny. She married a hot older guy, and now he’s an invalid.” She does a dramatic shudder. “We’re too young for that.”
My heart contracts and drops into my stomach. Am I like Destiny? Chasing after an older guy, only to dump him when he’s no longer handsome and capable? It’s the Hollywood way. Dad dropped my mom for a younger woman—I remember them fighting over his late nights out. And her weight gain. After she had me, she wasn’t the slim young actress he’d married. They stuck it out for six more years, but most of that time was miserable. Then he left her for a series of younger women before marrying Maddie’s mom.
Walking out on your partner because they no longer meet your physical standards is about as low as it gets. Matt doesn’t deserve that, but it’s normal among my family and peers. I don’t want to live that way, but it seems unrealistic to think I can be better. I’m too much like my father. It would be kinder to end whatever this is before it gets to that point.
Why does making the right decision feel so bad?
Chapter 27
MATT
Nica seems subdued when she arrives at rehearsal Monday evening. She pulls into the parking lot at the stroke of six, so I don’t have time to talk to her. I spent the whole day thinking about her—about our amazing kisses last night. How she said she wouldn’t let me start a relationship with anyone else. The words were flippant, thoughtless, a throw-away one-liner. But I can’t help feeling she meant it. That what’s growing between us is for real.
That’s definitely what I want.
She waves as she jogs toward the dressing room but doesn’t slow down. The show must go on. We’re finishing the run-through from Saturday, with full props and limited costumes—mainly the nuns’ habits, since managing those robes is difficult, and hats, for those of us who wear them in the show.
“I expect my actors to be here early!” Dame Edith announces, glaring at her leading lady as she runs by. “We’ll start with the party scene—that was a little rough on Saturday, so we’re re-running it. Places, everyone!”
“Sorry!” Nica calls from inside the curtained tent that serves as a dressing room.
Shaking her head and raising her hands dramatically, Edie moves to center stage. “We’ll begin—Maria will be ready for her entrance. Orchestra, start with the Favorite Things reprise.”
Andrew Washington, the high school music director, raises his baton, and the twenty kids who make up the orchestra lift their instruments. “Pick up at bar two-oh-six.” He sweeps his arm down, and the music begins.
The children assemble on stage. As they take their places, I amble around the end of the stage. Nica stands in the wings, her blonde wig slightly askew. She smiles when she sees me, then the expression fades from her face.
“Is everything okay?” I reach out, but she steps back. “What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head, the wig sliding a little more. She grabs it, turning a few degrees away from me. It’s a small movement, but it feels deliberate. Shutting me out.
“Stuff with my dad.” She glances at the stage, then back at me as her fingers resettle the hairpins. “I need to get in character—we can talk about it later.”
“Sure.” I watch her while she takes a couple of deep breaths. Then the music changes, and she moves past me to make her entrance.
I follow a few minutes later and we dance, but she won’t meet my eyes. I can’t tell if she’s avoiding my gaze or playing her part. Finally, she looks up. We stare—just like we’re supposed to, and something passes between us. My breath catches. She breaks away, her cheeks flushed, and delivers her line, then hurries off stage. It’s fantastic acting but feels too real.
I stare after her, not sure what just happened. Edie hisses at me, and I realize I’ve missed my cue. With a mental shake, I recite my bit and try to submerge myself in the scene.
We stop at intermission for a brief moment, and Dame Edith gives us a little pep-talk, reminding us of things to watch for in Act 2. I miss most of it, trying to catch Nica’s eye. She avoids me, focusing on the director, like a good actor should. I give myself a mental kick in the pants to get my head in the game. This play is important to the town—the SommerFest brings in a lot of tourist dollars, and many of the visitors come for the production. They deserve the best I can offer.
Finally, we get to the love song. Dame Edith chose to go with the original song from the stage production, An Ordinary Couple, rather than Something Good from the movie. I cross the stage to Nica and take her in my arms, but it’s like holding a stranger. She gazes through me, the lines rolling off her tongue. Everything feels different. I put my heart into it, trying to find the Nica from last night, but she’s not here. Even the kiss feels stiff and phony. We finish the song, deliver the remaining lines, then the lights go out, and the other cast members clap. Nica gives me a brief, chilly smile and walks off stage.
The wedding scene and the festival at the end run like clockwork. Nica’s voice is in perfect form, and she pulls a stellar performance from the children. I’m the only one who muffs line after line. After the finale, Edie calls us to gather “in the house for notes.” We stand on the cement pad where chairs will be set for the audience, and she reminds us of things to correct before tomorrow’s rehearsal. “We’re doing a full run-through every night from here on out. Final dress rehearsal is Thursday. Full costumes and makeup. Be ready.” She dismisses the cast and beckons me over.
“What’s going on with you, Georg?” She always uses our character names when speaking to us during rehearsals.
“Sorry, I’m just having a bad evening. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
