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Polite clapping ensued.
“So, don’t be shy with your appreciation tonight. Let’s give them lots of love, okay? They’ve earned it! And without further delay, here’s ‘The Grinch Who Stole Christmas’!”
A louder, more convincing applause erupted as the stage curtains opened and the show began. By the time intermission hit, Gia was consumed—not necessarily with the story of the show, but rather, the pageantry. The costumes. The talent. And how at home Roxi’d seemed on stage. Señor Delgado sat to her right and clapped louder than anyone else and whistled at such a volume Gia wondered if dogs in Orange County could hear him.
Standing in line for the ladies’ room, Gia listened as WASPy audience members chatted about the show, about their kids’ dreams of going to law school or med school or, gasp, into teaching. About divorces and dating. And about how they’d always wanted to go into the arts but hadn’t because of one reason or another. Maybe that was part of the magic of the theatre—it brought up past dreams and long-forgotten ambitions. It renewed hope.
She barely made it back to her seat in time for the second act, and as Gia slid into position, her own ambitions ran a marathon in her head. She wanted to start a climbing program for underserved kids. Wanted to buy a new car. Gia wanted to—finally—see where things could go with Roxi. Gia’s wants and needs had been developing as she’d discovered herself in recovery, as she’d learned to let go and give in to a power higher than herself. She’d begun thinking beyond the next buzz or head high, the next girl or next town.
One day at a time, she’d found her authentic self. And in less than one hour's time, she had plans to lay it all on the line for Roxi. Was she being selfish? Assumptive? Time would tell, and regardless of the outcome, Gia knew—she would be okay.
???
The curtains closed with the same swiftness as they’d opened, only to re-open moments later for the cast to take their bows. They’d gone from reality show contestants to working musical theatre actors. They were on their ways. The bow was more than well earned.
Roxi held the hands of two men as she bowed, and her skin glowed. Gia noticed little droplets of sweat on top of her stage makeup. Her cheeks flushed through the makeup, and her espresso-colored eyes twinkled under the spotlights.
The crowd was still clapping when the last actor left the stage and the curtains closed for good.
“Que fue brillante.”Señor Delgado wiped his eyes and resumed clapping.
Gia turned to him, unsure how to answer. A nod and a smile were appropriate, right? That’s how he’d communicated with her.
“I said,that was brilliant.”
“Oh! I thought—”
“I was just joshing you, Gia.” He remembered her name. That was something. “When I’m nervous or just don’t want to talk, I speak Spanish. It scares off the white folk every time.Lo siento. I was so nervous for my baby girl, but she was fine on her own. Worry for nothing. Story of my life.”
“I think that might be the story of everyone’s life.” Gia stretched out her hand, which he gripped with the strength of a vise. A man’s man, just as Roxi’d said. “We worry so much about things out of our control. I wish I could say I hadn’t done the same over and over in my life. It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“And you as well. Roxi’s told me a lot about heramiga, Gia. By the way, you can call me Rafael. My father is Señor Delgado.”
“Shall we try to go backstage, Rafael? I bet we can sneak past the bouncers if we try.”
Gia kicked herself immediately. Why’d she asked him to come backstage? She wanted to see Roxi alone. She’d planned and fantasized and envisioned seeing Roxi alone. But approval from her father wouldn’t be a bad thing, and they seemed to have rapport building. And he deserved to see his daughter in the afterglow of her big night.
So much for plans.
???
They didn’t have to sneak past a bouncer. Unless you count the high-school aged stagehand leaning against a stool flipping screens on his phone just outside the dressing rooms. Once they were past the disinterested kid, Gia scanned nametags in search of Roxi’s room. At the end of a long hallway, Roxi Delgado, Gena Sims, and Adrielle Sky shared a room. What a name Adrielle Sky was, Gia thought.
A rap on the door frame announced their presence, and Gia and Rafael found themselves amongst a trio of actors removing makeup and laughing like old friends.
“You came! Guys! This is my family!” Roxi all but yelled, struggling to bring the volume down from the stratosphere. She was dancing among the stars with her buddies. People whose shared experience made them instant family. And then, her other family walked in.
“Of course we came,mija.” Rafael took his daughter into a bear hug and kissed her cheek several times. “Te amo. Te amo. You were brilliant! You just wait. Wait until Broadway sees you.Eres una estrella, mija. Just wait.”
“Thanks,Papa. I was okay. I’m just glad I didn’t forget my lines—or throw up!” Roxi broke the embrace that lingered, and Gia wondered, was this how her family showed love and affection? Extended hugs and words of affirmation?
“You were more than okay.” Gia took her turn hugging Roxi. The raspberries hit her again, but this time, it was mixed with a whiff of cake makeup and sweat. “You really were brilliant. I have to agree with your dad—you’re a star.”
“See!” Rafael pointed to Gia, pride beaming out of every pore. “My daughter, the star. I wish your mama was here to see this. She would be over the moon. Her little Roxita, all grown up, commanding an audience. And your voice,mija.La voz de un angel.”
Seeing Rafael and Roxi interact was like looking in a generational mirror. They had similar mannerisms; the same tendency to switch between Spanish and English. She had his smile—innocent, with a couple of upper teeth a tad too crowded. As they talked, Gia noticed they both tilted their heads slightly, in opposite directions—a show of affection, perhaps?
Seeing their relationship on display reminded Gia she didn’t have one with her father, save for the times she needed help. What it must be like to know someone as well as they knew each other. To love someone unconditionally, through mistakes, mess-ups, recoveries, and moments of sheer elation. To see a person’s good and bad sides and be at peace with them, exactly as they were.
