Chapter 11 First Tour Date
Greg stepped out of the doorway of the airplane onto the ramp, heading into the terminal.
He looked ahead, seeing that Aunt Janet was about twenty feet in front of him.
They made their way to the baggage claim, and waited for the conveyor to start up.
He moved to retrieve the bags as they came up onto the carousel, then he and Aunt Janet continued on to the airport lobby where the limo driver was waiting to take them to their hotel.
Greg made sure to help Aunt Janet into the limo as the driver loaded the bags.
The hotel trip was quick and quite comfortable after being stuck in a crowded airplane for the flight down to Houston.
Upon arrival at the Marriott, Greg checked them in as the driver brought in the bags.
After tipping the driver, he had a bellboy assist with the bags to their room on the eighth floor.
Once their bags were delivered into their suite, he tipped the bellboy handsomely.
“Here we are Aunt Janet, Houston!” he announced after closing the door behind the bell boy. “You have the bedroom on the right, and I’m on the left.”
“Thank you, my boy. I’m so grateful that you agreed to bring me with you. I’ve never had the opportunity to see her in concert before.” Aunt Janet smiled brightly. “I was so surprised when you called to ask me to come with you.”
“Well, it’s about time you got to see your daughter sing,” Greg confirmed. “She’s a powerful performer.” Greg moved over closer then gave her a soft hug. “Supper is in an hour, so you can rest if you want.”
“Thank you, Greg. I am most appreciative of everything.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m going to get settled in, then we can go down for supper.”
“Don’t forget, we’re dining with Veronica and the entire crew in the private dining room. I know that she’s going to be happy to see her mother there as a surprise.”
“Are you sure James was okay with this?” she asked, cautiously.
“Do you know how hard it was to keep this from getting to Veronica? James arranged everything, telling her that she would have a very special guest joining her for this meal.” Greg moved toward his room. “I’m going to settle in myself.”
“Tonight, I will finally be able to call her my daughter in public.” She smiled wide.
After settling into their rooms and taking a short time to freshen up from the flight, Greg and Aunt Janet made their way downstairs to the private dining area reserved for Veronica’s touring company.
The deeper they moved into the hotel, the more obvious it became that Veronica’s arrival had stirred excitement throughout the Marriott.
Security personnel stood near several hallways while hotel staff moved quickly through the corridors carrying trays, floral arrangements and equipment cases.
“She’s really become quite the celebrity, hasn’t she?” Janet quietly observed as they approached the private banquet wing.
Greg smiled lightly. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Just you wait until tomorrow night.” Greg showed his credentials and invitation to the security guard. “After what happened at Club Euchre, I’m a huge fan of increased security.”
“Do you think it’s all necessary?” Aunt Janet asked softly.
“Absolutely,” Greg replied with a smile. “I want them all safe.”
The Security guard gave Greg back his credentials and invitation, then gave him a wave to proceed.
They stepped forward through the screening area, moving toward the access door.
A hotel attendant opened the double doors leading into the private dining room.
The low hum of conversation and soft laughter immediately spilled out into the hallway.
Greg stepped aside, motioning for Aunt Janet to enter first.
Inside, the room was alive with activity.
Members of the band, dancers, production crew and support staff were gathered around several large tables, talking amongst themselves while waiters moved back and forth preparing for the meal service.
Carry stood near the far side of the room speaking with Billy and James, holding a tablet against her chest while discussing the evening schedule.
Greg immediately noticed the transformation in her.
Gone was the young woman who’d sat as his PA outside his office at Pimico.
Carry had become an imposing woman in her own right now, standing poised and confident, dressed in elegant royal-blue professional attire with a Veronique identification badge clipped near her shoulder.
She looked completely at home within the controlled chaos surrounding the tour.
And then Carry looked up. Their eyes met across the room.
For just a moment, neither one moved. They shared their glances, then she turned back to her meeting.
Greg’s eyes shifted further across the room, settling on Cassie, Wendy and Katie gathered together near one of the side tables off to the right.
The three young women appeared relaxed at first glance, casually talking amongst themselves while watching the room around them.
Wendy noticed him first, followed by both Cassie and Katie almost immediately afterward.
Greg saw the exact instant their expressions changed.
Wendy leaned toward the other two girls, whispering something quietly.
Cassie immediately looked his direction.
Katie followed a second later. All three girls turned their attention toward Carry.
And then they moved. Not hurriedly—deliberately—purposefully.
They crossed the room together and positioned themselves near Carry almost like an invisible wall forming between Greg and her.
Carry glanced up briefly as they approached, then looked back toward James and Billy as though nothing unusual had happened.
Greg had started toward Carry but slowed slightly.
Something about the movement unsettled him.
It reminded him too much of the wedding reception after David and Tessa’s ceremony — Alice watching from a distance while the girls slowly pulled Carry away from him piece by piece until he found himself standing alone.
Greg continued forward anyway, a soft determination starting to settle on his face.
Then suddenly, the laughter stopped, silence engulfing the room.
Next, there was some applause erupting behind him near the rear entrance.
The entire atmosphere inside the private dining room shifted.
“VERONICA!” Aarie called out.
Greg halted in place, the name freezing his movement.
He forced himself to turn, seeing Veronica entering through the rear access doors surrounded by security personnel and members of the touring staff.
The room seemed to brighten around her immediately as conversations stopped and attention shifted toward the star of the evening.
With the lower lighting near the entrance corridor, Veronica still hadn’t noticed Aunt Janet standing several feet away from Greg nearer the main entrance.
James saw that Veronica hadn’t yet seen Aunt Janet and moved past Carry and the girls toward Veronica, waving his hands high in the air.
“V!” James called. “We need you here for a moment.” He cast a quick look at Greg then back to Veronica.
“We have an issue with tomorrow’s shoot schedule.
” Greg realized that James was silently telling him to conceal Aunt Janet before Veronica noticed that she was there, spoiling their planned surprise.
Greg kept his expression calm despite the sudden tension running through him.
He gave James the slightest nod of acknowledgment, understanding immediately what the tour manager was trying to accomplish.
Then Greg casually shifted his position and slowly inched closer toward Aunt Janet as though merely making room for several crew members moving past them carrying equipment cases toward the rear of the dining room.
He made no sudden movements, but clearly stepped back and motioned for the crew to move through past him, ensuring he’d moved backwards toward Janet.
He turned back toward Veronica, careful to remain positioned where Janet could still hear him..
“Aunt Janet,” he said quietly without directly looking at her. “We need you to move a little further to the right. That little stand is your starting point for when James announces you to Veronica. This will give you a much better view before Veronica comes over.”
Janet immediately understood from his tone that something unexpected had disrupted the surprise.
She gave a soft nod and allowed Greg to guide her further along the outer edge of the room near one of the decorative divider walls lined with floral arrangements and low accent lighting.
From there, she would be visible the moment Veronica turned fully into the dining area.
He pointed out the little stand where she would position herself for the reveal, then began making his way back toward Veronica and James.
Across the room, James continued forward waving the production tablet in his hand.
“V, I’m serious,” James insisted loudly enough to keep her attention focused on him.
“The photographers want additional rehearsal shots tomorrow afternoon before soundcheck and I told them your schedule was already overloaded with the Veronique shoot before the concert.”
Veronica let out an exaggerated groan while several nearby dancers laughed softly. She changed direction and moved to her left toward him. “James, please don’t start tonight,” Veronica protested playfully. “You know I just got here.”
The distraction allowed Aunt Janet to settle into position, where she watched as Veronica gracefully strode toward James.
Greg straightened his jacket during his walk toward Veronica and James, watching the room carefully.
Across the dining area, Carry’s eyes found his once more and she didn’t turn away this time.