Waiting in the Wings (5 page)

“We can always finish the last two scenes in my room and let these poor people go home for the night. I can make us some hot tea. Good for the pipes.”

I nodded. Hot tea sounded great. On the elevator ride up, I began to feel the effects of the day’s workout. I rolled my head back and forth between my shoulder blades to relax the muscles there. My left knee also hurt a bit as I flexed the joint back and forth.

“Oh, you’re in some pain, aren’t you?” Adrienne observed sympathetically. “I’ve been there. A heating pad does wonders, by the way. Do you have one with you?”

“No. I’m rethinking that packing decision now. I’m sure I can pick one up at the pharmacy down the street.”

“Don’t bother. You can borrow mine.” “Okay, great.” She was offering after all.

The first thing I noticed upon entering Adrienne’s hotel room was that it was a lot bigger than mine. Like, a lot-a-lot. There was a great deal to be said for the star slot, apparently. I decided to take notes.

“I’ll get started on the tea. Make yourself at home and go ahead and start with those lines. We can just yell back and forth.” She headed into the bathroom that looked to be the size of my entire room.

I began the scene. I have to admit, I felt a little self-conscious yelling my lines across the room, but she had suggested it. When Adrienne hollered back, I couldn’t help but laugh to myself at the ridiculousness of the situation. But I continued the madness. Eventually, she returned and looked at me quizzically.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, I don’t know, this whole thing, shouting back and forth, me hanging out with you in your gigantic room. Maybe I’m just exhausted.”

“Maybe so,” she answered, handing me a cup of hot tea. “Tell you what, let’s see if I can help. Turn around.” I raised my left eyebrow at her questioning. “Trust me. Prepare to be amazed.” She set her cup on the coffee table. I did as she said. Soft, strong hands landed on my shoulders and started a slow massage. The strain in my muscles and tendons began to drift away as Adrienne manipulated each precise pressure point with obvious skill. “Is this helping?” she asked quietly.

“Is it helping? You must be missing my contented sighs of encouragement about every three seconds. Of course it’s helping. Where did you learn how to do this?”

“Well, I needed a backup in case the whole acting thing didn’t pan out. I picked up a book.”

“You learned this from a book? You know, you’re a great actress and all, but maybe you missed your true calling.”

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the massage. Before long, the initial muscle aches began to drift away and I became very aware of Adrienne’s hands on my skin. I noticed them even more when they moved from my neck into my hair. She gently ran her fingers through it and lifted it away from my neck. I was suddenly grateful I’d decided to keep it long. Adrienne had done a great job of quieting my muscles, but she was now starting to awaken other parts of my body. Before she noticed what she was doing to me, I decided I better get out of there. I reached behind me and stilled her hands, holding them in mine for a moment before turning around on the couch to face her. “It’s getting late. I better get going.”

She nodded mutely, but I didn’t go. There was something about the way she was looking at me that made me want to stay right where I was. Was I crazy or was the desire I was experiencing mirrored in Adrienne’s eyes? Without my permission, my eyes dropped to her lips, which were parted. To my amazement, she leaned in slightly, and with our already close proximity, it brought her mouth within an inch of mine. My heart was racing, and as I summoned enough courage to close the small distance between us, her eyes widened and she leaned back on the couch, almost as if waking herself from a dream. “Good night, Jenna. Sleep well.”

We stared at each other for a moment longer before I got up and moved to door. I turned back and said simply, “Thank you for helping me tonight.” Adrienne nodded and smiled an unreadable smile.

I lay in bed that night unable to sleep and unable to stop my mind from heading in a million different directions. Adrienne and I had almost kissed that night, I was sure of it. And while I couldn’t get her out of my mind or the way it felt to be that close to her, her breath lightly tickling my face, I knew the situation was dicey. Chances were good she was involved with someone else. Plus, getting this show was an amazing opportunity for me and I didn’t want to screw it up. The worst thing in the world would be for me to get involved in any kind of drama that would lead to difficult working conditions.

❖

The rest of the week brought more of the same. Rehearsals all day and watching the show at night. It was four days until the put-in rehearsal for Lanie and me, a rehearsal where replacement actors were given the chance to run the show with the actual cast and crew, as if an audience were present. I felt fairly confident in rehearsals, but the idea of my first show brought the butterflies to my stomach.
Clean Slate
would play its last few performances in Detroit before heading to Chicago for a weeklong stay where I would take on the role of Alexis full-time. Between now and then it was my job to dance my ass off in rehearsals and get my voice in prime shape, especially for Alexis’s solo number where she reveals her dark side

to the audience for the first time.

It was pushing one a.m. at the Davenport and I was mid- slaughter in a game of darts with Lanie, having already taken Kyle down. I’d gotten to know the company members fairly well and most of them were present, spread out at various tables throughout the bar. The only people noticeably absent were Ben and Adrienne, who I’d successfully avoided since that night in her room. Lanie handed me the darts. “So in case you haven’t noticed, Kyle and Craig are an item.”

“Yeah, the fact they leave together each night kind of tipped me off. Damn it.” I missed a double bull’s-eye.

“I was hoping Ben would come out with us tonight. Probably spending a cozy evening alone with Ms. Kenyon.” She exhaled deeply and looked very much the petulant child. “With all the nights they spend together, maybe they’ll get sick of each other and break up. Then I can be there for Ben in his time of need, when he realizes I’m the girl he longs for.”

“I’m sure it’s only a matter of time, Lanie.”

By the time Saturday night rolled around, I couldn’t take it any longer. I decided I should make an attempt at some sort of exchange with Adrienne, as we would be working together within the week. I didn’t want there to be any awkward feelings. Since Saturday was a two-show day, with a matinee in the afternoon and evening show

to follow, Craig arranged for dinner to be brought in for the cast and crew. I knew after she’d eaten, Adrienne would probably spend some down time in her dressing room, resting for the performance that night. I didn’t want to bother her, but felt compelled. As I approached her door, I noticed it was open. I casually popped my head in. “Hey, you.”

She looked up from the crossword puzzle she was working on and smiled. “Hey yourself. Do you know a six-letter word for pillow lace?”

I thought for a moment. “Try bobbin.”

She glanced at the puzzle and shot her hand into the air in silent victory. “Are you a professional lace maker and I don’t know about it? How’d you know that?

“My grandmother. She was very much into arts and crafts. I picked up what I could.”

“Were you close?” she asked.

“Definitely. When I decided to pursue acting, she was my biggest champion. She came to see every show I ever did, even if she had to travel. She died after my freshman year at CCM. I miss her.”

said.

“If it helps, I have a feeling she still sees each show,” Adrienne

“Yeah, I kinda feel that way too. What about your family?” “Well, close isn’t a word I would use to describe our family,”

she said. “You’ve surely heard the horror stories of child actors and their stage parents who push them into the business and then squander away all the kid’s money? Well, that was me and those were my parents. I’m not sure either one of them could tell you what my first words were, but they could definitely quote you the amount of my first paycheck. They’re divorced now, but only because when I turned eighteen and got out of there, they had no common goal. I was the business venture that was holding them together. I haven’t heard from my father in years, and my mother, well, let’s not go down that road. She’s still around. Let’s leave it at that.”

“That sounds awful.” I’d witnessed those kinds of stage parents

firsthand at auditions in Boston.

“It
was
awful, but I try not to dwell, you know? Honestly speaking, I love to perform, and I wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for what I went through with them.”

I nodded. That was a mature way of looking at it. I would be bitter as hell if I were her. “Well, listen, I’ll let you get ready for the show,” I said as I headed for the door. “Are you coming out with us afterward?” She hesitated at the question as if she were mulling it over.

“Yeah, I think it’s a definite possibility.”

❖

The Davenport was extra crowded due to the weekend, but Kyle managed to snag us a few tables near the dance floor. I sat with my normal group of Craig, Kyle, Georgette, and Lanie. I hadn’t seen Adrienne after the show, and I had my doubts she would show up, but that didn’t stop me from glancing at the door every five minutes. Kyle noticed my preoccupation and followed my eyes to the door. “A watched pot never boils,” he said. “And just who are we waiting for, may I ask?”

“We are waiting for no one in particular,” I said nonchalantly. “Just watching for any stragglers who don’t see where we’re sitting.” Kyle and Craig eyed me suspiciously and looked around. “Sweetie, everyone’s here,” Craig said. “Well, almost everybody.” His eyebrows shot up. “Are you watching that door for Ben? Oh

God, not you too.”

“What? No, absolutely not. I know I’m not exactly a poster child, but I’m gay.”

”Well, that’s news,” Craig said.

“Not to me. I called that after twenty minutes,” Georgette added. “Me too,” Lanie said, draping her arm around me.

I looked at her as my mouth fell open in disbelief. “Oh, please, Lanie.” I shook my head. “Whatever.” Adrienne walked in and casually took a seat with Ben at the table next to ours. Lanie glanced over at them, following my gaze. I saw the realization take shape on her face as she looked back at me.

“Oh, you’re in so much trouble.” Her eyes widened with enjoyment at this new development.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I smiled, feigned innocence, and escaped immediately to the bar for another drink. I didn’t think the other three had picked up on what Lanie had, thank God.

At the bar, I waited patiently for the bartender’s attention, as he seemed to take everyone’s order but mine. I raised my hand to try to persuade him over my way and was pleasantly surprised when his eyebrows raised and he raced right over. Now that was progress
.
“What can I get for you beautiful ladies?”
Ladies?
I looked over my shoulder and found Adrienne standing on the other side of me with a twenty in her hand.

“Ah, a real live celebrity,” I said. “So that explains his sudden attention. And here I thought it was my good looks.”

“How do you know it wasn’t? Have you looked in the mirror lately?”

The comment left me momentarily speechless. Was this

flirting? And if it was, could we flirt some more?

“I’ll have a Tom Collins,” Adrienne told the bartender. “And for you?” she asked turning to me.

“A Coors Light would be great.” “Coming right up,” he said.

Adrienne handed him the twenty, as I held out my five. “Not so fast.” She pushed my bill aside. “Let me buy you a drink. It’s the least I can do after you swept in and saved my crossword puzzle.”

“That’s true. I did do that.” I picked up my beer and turned to her in all seriousness. “I’d like to dedicate this drink to lace makers and their bobbins all across the world. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

“Amen to that,” she said without missing a beat.

“Hey, wait a minute there, missy. If I’m not mistaken, you’re drinking. I thought that was on your to-don’t list.” I pointed at the glass in her hand. “What gives?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t relaxed and cut loose in a while. I thought I deserved a night to do that. But not too much. I’ve got

two more shows to do before we blow this town for Chicago. Hey, isn’t that where you make your worldwide debut as the no good boyfriend-stealing hussy?”

“Why, yes it is, and I couldn’t be more nervous if I tried, so can we maybe not talk about it?” I asked feebly.

“Your wish is my command. No more talking about the show. Come on; let’s go sit with those guys.” She took my hand and pulled me behind her back to my table.

To my surprise, Adrienne pulled up an extra chair and had a seat. The table wasn’t very big to begin with, and with the added chair it got even smaller. Try as I might to focus on the banter and joking that was taking place between Craig and Adrienne, I couldn’t quite get past the fact that her right thigh was resting against my left. “Hold everything!” Georgette practically shouted, bringing the conversation at the table to an abrupt halt. “If I’m not mistaken, I believe I hear Madonna’s “Crazy for You” circa 1985 playing, and that means I
must
now dance. Come on, Jenna, do me the honor.” She extended her hand to me and I realized there wasn’t a choice. This girl took her eighties ballads very seriously. As much as I wanted to stay sitting next to Adrienne, I wasn’t willing to upset

Georgette on such an important matter.

I placed my hand in Georgette’s and we quickly headed for the dance floor so as not to miss any more of the song. We joined the three other couples already moving to the music, and because she didn’t give me much option, I let Georgette lead the slow dance, even though I was a good three inches taller than her. Halfway into the second verse, I saw Ben and Adrienne join us, followed shortly by Kyle and Sienna. This was interesting. I wondered how this was going to play out. I certainly didn’t have to wait long to find out, as the next thing I knew, Ben tapped me on the shoulder.