Elizabeth the First Wife (39 page)

I hadn't exactly won the Nobel Prize, but I felt fundamentally changed. Like a million fractured components that had constituted my life up to this point had come together to create one clear path. When I decided to go to Ashland, I vowed to say yes to opportunities
that in the past I might have blown off out of fear or sheer laziness. Now those yeses had paid off. I suppose my methods didn't impress with their lack of predetermination, but somehow I'd put myself in the right place at the right time, a professional and personal first.

The play, the book, and the potential of the foundation was the sort of career path I wouldn't have dreamed possible six months ago, and it was exactly right for me.

On top of that, I'd managed to handle the arrival of my entire family with what I'd like to call wit and grace while standing up to my mother and impressing my sisters. And my father and I had reached a new level of understanding.

And Rafa? Well, that was yet to be determined, but there was something there, I knew it. Maybe I just had to say, “Yes” one more time to find out.

But at that moment, I was sure enjoying that tuna sandwich.

The scene at Chozu Tea Gardens unfolded like one of those really long Steadicam shots in a Martin Scorsese movie, with characters from my past, present, and future interacting in unexpected ways in what appeared to be slow motion. The music, food, and white lights were all familiar, but everything else in the picture was new. From morning until night, the day had been a blur of activity, ending with an amazing performance of
Midsummer
that had captivated my skeptical family. Even they couldn't resist being swept up in the peace, love, and fairy dust. Now, at the after-party at FX's place, my family and the cast and crew mingled like longtime friends.

My parents stood shoulder to shoulder with Taz Buchanan, all three fully engaged in conversation about the effects of hallucinogens on lab rats. Agent Hank was exchanging cards with his new ally, Duff Miller, and his wife, Grace, now sans clarinet and won ton costume. Sarah was clearly giving free medical advice to Lulu and
several members of the cast who were revealing inappropriate body parts. Dependable Jane was dancing with Drunk Puck (the actor, not the dog), and Funseeker Mary Pat was flirting with Lysander and Demetrius, oblivious to the fact that the two men were gay, or maybe it didn't matter to her. Maddie and Dylan were taking pictures of themselves on their phones, clearly having learned nothing from the last few days.

In the middle of it all, of course, were Bumble and Congressman Ted. They were toasting,
toasting
with FX and his co-star, Sabrina, who couldn't have looked more intimidating in her body-hugging red dress and several blue glow-stick necklaces. The reporters who had been around for the short announcement about the foundation were long gone, so there were no unfriendly photographers to catch anyone off guard. The beer, wine, and tuna rolls were flowing. All around me, harmony was breaking out and spirits were high, another night of the
Midsummer
dream.

Watching my serious family come together in this spirit of fun and adventure was an added bonus to the already satisfying day. I felt like for once I wasn't the odd man out in the Lancaster clan, the bantamweight in the ring with heavyweights. Now I was in the center of the action. I was the glue.

The only one who didn't seem swept up in the moment was Rafa, who was tucked in a corner of the garden on his phone. Who was he calling on the Fourth of July? Was there some kind of Wonks Anonymous group he checked in with when he missed discussing the latest from Politico?

Taz didn't leave me much time for contemplation, as he bounded over with energy and purpose. He was leaving in the morning, his work in Ashland done. For its final performances, he'd leave the play in the hands of the stage manager, Lulu. Maddie had told me that he was going back to Sydney to start preproduction on his next film, a modern-day version of
The Odyssey
starring Chris Hemsworth, every girl's favorite Aussie and no stranger to skirt-and-sword epics. But at
this moment, Taz was carefree, beer in hand and sarong in place; no doubt he'd be in the soaking tub within minutes. My only hope was that Dependable Jane wouldn't be involved. “So, Lizzie, nice boots.”

Yes, I was wearing red cowboy boots and a white sundress, figuring I had one last shot with Rafa before he got back on that private jet to leave my time zone. I ignored Taz's remark completely, as he no longer intimidated me. “It looks like we'll be working together in perpetuity on this Shakespeare thing, Tazzie,” I said. “Shall we call a truce?”

“Oh, we're not enemies,” he said with an actual wink. “We're worthy adversaries. You played me to your advantage. I played you a bit. And look how it all worked out: I got a hit play; you got a foundation.
Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know
.”

“Measure for Measure
. A play about power, sex, political scandal, and false accusations. Very nice.” Then I took advantage of our intimacy and confessed. “As long as we're friends now, I should tell you, FX…is really a whole man.”

“Bah! You think I didn't know that? Okay, maybe I fell for it in the bar, but by the morning, I knew you'd had me. But I admired your spirit,” he said. “I was just testing him, seeing how far he would go. I was never going through with it.”

“Liar. You were testing him, which I knew. But you would have gone through with it, because why not? A naked FX Fahey? That's only good for box office,” I shot back, and by the look on his smug face, I knew I was right. “And I know you deliberately stirred the pot in the Maddie scandal. But I gotta give it to you. You sold a lot of tickets, got a lot of press, created a lot of buzz. Just remember:
Tis excellent to have a giant's strength. But it is tyrannous to use it like a giant
.”

“You got me!” he barked. “But guess what, milady? Sorry to offend your sensibilities, but our
Midsummer
may be going to
Lincoln Center.” I gasped. “Full production. Musical numbers! Dancers! Giant projection slide show! And lots and lots of nudity! You'll love it.”

“I'll hate it, but congratulations,” I said, giving him a hug and getting a tad too close to his sarong opening. “And I want two tickets to opening night.”

“Two? I thought you could be my date?” Taz held on to the hug.

“I don't think so. Not feeling that good about our relationship, Taz.” I backed way off. “I'll take Maddie to New York as her graduation gift.”

Just then Ming appeared with blowers and sparklers, announcing, “Ten minutes to the fireworks! Ten minutes! Best spot to watch is on the rooftop deck. One at a time, please!” The crowd started to move toward the narrow staircase with great enthusiasm, and I took that as my cue to leave.

“I have to head home and protect my dog,” I said by way of explanation, not really caring if the Bald One understood. I considered saying goodbye to my sisters and to Maddie, who was spending the night at the hotel with Bumble and Ted, but I didn't feel like getting waylaid in a sea of hugs and kisses. I'd only be gone for a bit anyway.

“Hurry back. I'm in the soaking tub later.” Taz did a little shuffle for my benefit. Yeah, definitely nothing under that sarong.

“Where are you going?” Rafa caught me on my way out the door, his hand catching my forearm and his gaze taking in my red cowboy boots for the first time.

“I don't want to leave Puck alone during the fireworks,” I explained, hoping I didn't sound like one of those me-and-my-dog-on-a-Christmas-card people that Bumble warned me about. “The
local paper ran all these articles about how dogs go nuts on the Fourth of July. I don't think I should leave him alone.”

“Want some company?”

I didn't hesitate. “Yes.”

Beatrice & Benedick FROM MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

HER:
Smart, good-looking gal who mocks marriage whenever she gets the chance. Never met a pun she didn't like and is always ready to engage in a battle of wits. Underneath that tough exterior is a vulnerable heart.

HIM:
Smart, good-looking guy who mocks marriage whenever he gets the chance. Never met a pun he didn't like and is always ready to engage in a battle of wits. Underneath that tough exterior is a vulnerable heart.

RELATIONSHIP HISTORY:
They had a moment in the past, perhaps even a one-night stand Elizabethan-style. But it appears that he led her on and then let her go. And she has not forgotten.

RELATIONSHIP HURDLES:
Both are subject to gossip, innuendo, eavesdropping, disguises, false accusations, and fear of commitment. Plus she's not crazy about his beard.

MEET CUTE:
He returns from war, triumphant and cocky. She re-engages in what observers call a “merry war” of wits. His first words? “What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?” And it is on.

HER SIGNATURE LINE:
“I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.”

HIS TRANSFORMATIVE LINE:
“I may chance have some odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me because I have railed so long against marriage. But doth not the appetite alter? A man loves the meat in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.”

WHY THEY WORK:
Both are unwilling to “settle” just to be married. And they engage in really sexy pillow talk.

SHAKESPEAREAN COUPLE MOST LIKELY TO:
Celebrate their golden anniversary.