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"Can you please show them to the big table for twenty in the back?" one hostess asked another.
"Did she say table for twenty?" I asked, mumbling behind her back as we followed her.
Caroline glanced at me with a nod, and I smiled at her like it didn't intimidate me at all, which was false. I was nervous. I wished Owen was with me so I could follow his lead. I smiled and pretended I was fine.
Goodness. It was indeed a table for twenty. It was in the back of the restaurant, set apart from the other tables. It looked like everyone was there.
I could see Warren Manning sitting on my right. I first heard him a few years ago when his songs started coming on the radio. My mom loved country music. It was surreal heading toward a table with him sitting there. I had seen him on music videos and awards shows.
All of the others made me feel starstruck, too. I loved their movie, and I never expected to love the play so much last week. I had newfound respect for them all.
I felt overwhelmed, and I thought about what Owen said about the rain. I imagined myself in the rain, and I took a deep breath, picturing myself getting soaked. I thought about letting the tension and nervousness go away. I concentrated on accepting my surroundings and relaxing into the moment. I had never experienced the rain, but the whole idea served as a nice distraction.
It was all just worry, anyway, because they were all so nice. Everyone was smiling at me from the moment I walked up to the table.
"What's up, Caroline… Corey?" Shep said, standing and welcoming us to the table. He was the closest one to us when we approached, and he took the liberty of greeting us. He hugged Caroline first and then me. "Does everyone know Corey, Owen's lady-friend?" he asked when he pulled back.
I scanned the table and several of them nodded and spoke up at the same time saying that we had met. I went ahead and sat down since Caroline was doing the same thing.
"I'm not sure who all you've met, so it's probably a good idea to go around the table. I assume you know Caroline," Shep said, gesturing at Owen's sister who had just sat beside me. He was being funny, and everyone at the table laughed. "The rest of us can just go around the table and tell Corey who we are. Ryan, you start, you've got it from here."
Ryan put his hand to his chest. "My name is Ryan Fairchild. I'm married to Bailey who was Sandy in this show."
I smiled and made a little clapping motion for her because she had been so impressive. She waved at me.
"And these are my parents, and my best friend, Zack."
"I know Zack," I said.
"Yeah, I'm doing PT with Shep for my shoulder."
"That's cool you guys have met," Ryan said. "I thought you were one of the ones who wouldn't know Corey yet. I don't think you've met my parents," he added. "Daniel and Emily Fairchild."
"They own the theater where we performed," Shep said.
"I remember the name," I said with a little bow in their direction. "It's so nice to meet you. Your theater blew me away. I loved the whole experience. It was a wonderful night."
"I'm August," said the next guy, waving at me. He was sitting next to Mrs. Fairchild. "We met. My wife, Gina… or Rizzo."
I laughed. "I'm a Rizzo girl," I said, smiling at Gina. "And how funny that you're really expecting."
"I know," she laughed. "That was one of the Easter eggs of the show."
"I'm Abe. I directed the show. This is my friend Elizabeth."
I looked at the girl next to him, and she smiled and waved at me. I did the same to her.
Abe continued talking, pointing down the line. "Tori is my assistant director and that's her boyfriend, Jason."
I waved at all of them.
"I'm Kennedy," the next girl said, waving. "I played Patty Simcox."
"I'm Anne Marie, we met the other night. I was Jan in the play."
I nodded. "I loved it. Both of you were great." I said.
"I'm Sasha and this is Warren," the next person said. I leaned over waved at her and then him.
