Chapter 42 The Premiere
THE PREMIERE
LOURDES
Leah dazzled in Dior, looking fabulous as ever.
The glittering tiara loaned from her aunt was a nice addition.
Everyone had been encouraged to dress in their most regal Victorian style.
She, of course, dialed it up to eleven. I let her choose a dress for me between three options the stylist pulled.
She chosen a vampy burgundy dress with a slit almost too my hip—a sharp contrast to Leah’s aubergine ballgown—but I admitted we’d look good together.
“Do I truly look finished?” Leah asked the crowd gathered in her living room.
It consisted of our three fathers, our stylists, our glam squad, her agent, her publicist, her cousin, and Matty, the co-screen writer and her cousin’s fiancée. It was a lot, but so was an Oscar-bait premiere.
“The tiara sells it. And Auntie will be overwhelmed in the best way,” her cousin, Win, chirped. Somehow, he had been the bag man to bring the thing across an ocean.
“I cannot believe she let you,” I admitted.
“It’s not the crown’s property. It was Mummy’s and before it, our great-great-great grandmother’s,” George explained. “This was Mummy’s wedding tiara and both Kiersten and Nat wore, too.”
“As did my mum,” Win said. “It’s a legacy piece but my aunt can loan it freely. And will. Leah and Charlotte are her only nieces.”
“Charlotte won’t wear one. We’ve tried,” George said, as if choosing to go without headgear was a moral failing. “Well, shall we go?”
“I suppose,” Leah agreed, taking my hand. “Uh… Jim, you good?”
“Fab,” Dad responded. “Ready when you all are!”
We departed to a waiting line of black SUVs. I boarded with Leah for the short ride to Lincoln Center. Leah and I held hands. She was in her element and ready to schmooze. I needed a bit of encouragement. I was about to do the Big Thing. Like me or hate me, I had to embrace it.
“It’s going to be okay,” Leah whispered as my father chatted with the driver and her parents argued. “I promise you’re going to feel this sense of utter relief. I know the timing is shit with the audition—”
“No. It’s honestly perfect. I never bet on a part before I land it. I hope I get it, of course, but this… this is a constant. Or, at least… I want it to be. You are here with me. The press didn’t out us before I was ready—by some miracle. Everything is okay.”
“You look beautiful. It’s one hell of a coming out party. It’s a bit unusual for you, my love.”
“I don’t like fanfare, you’re right, but I do really love my girlfriend who did something huge. I’m so proud of you, Leah. And I’m so lucky to do this with you.”
She beamed. “I’m proud of you, too. And honored you’re my date. My really, really hot date.”
“I am but arm candy,” I giggled. “Somehow, even when she’s in the supporting cast, Leah Roughy steals the show.”
“See, if I would have played Alexandra, you still would have loathed me.” Leah elbowed me playfully.
“You would have broken me,” I admitted. “Because you would have gotten top billing in New York as Victoria. That role was yours the minute you opened your mouth and sang the first note. Hell, I was yours in the same breath.”
A surprised expression lit up her face.
“You are so magnetic, Leah. And addictive. And everything. I have loved you since before I even knew I loved you. So, yeah. It’s pretty fitting that we’re here tonight and even at my coming out party, you are glad to be the star.”
“You are far from a groupie.”
“Yeah, but for you…” I said, “for you… I will always be happy to wait in the wings and watch you shine.”
The car stopped at the red carpet. Or, in this case, the regal purple carpet.
Flanked by security in all directions, we stepped onto the evening stage.
A deafening scream for Leah nearly knocked me down.
She immediately smiled and waved, soaking the energy up and putting it back into the world.
The way she glowed made me love her more. It strengthened me.
She leaned over and whispered. “Before we go and everything gets fucking wild, I wanted to respond to you. The next chapter of us is all you. Let me get through award season, take home some hardware, and enjoy a bit of a break. Why don’t you shine a bit? You’ve more than earned it.”
I smiled. “I literally couldn’t be prouder of my girlfriend if I tried. But I do hope I get to take you up on that offer.”
By now, Prince George led the charge down the carpet.
Leah took my hand and pulled me towards the step and repeat.
Maybe she wasn’t the movie’s star, but she was the center of attention and one to watch.
And really, if I’d been the younger actress who played Empress Sisi—the beautiful brunette ahead—I would have probably fainted and avoided posting up in a photo with someone like Leah.
How could one feel worthy? She took in the applause and owned it so graciously, that it was hard to compete. Leah was an entire mood.
“Okay, that’s Geneva,” Leah nodded toward a well-known writer for Variety. “She’s good. Do you want to do this? Can we do this?”
“If you trust she’s not about to write a hit piece.”
“She wouldn’t. She’s married to a woman.”
“Ah,” I agreed.
I had no idea about the backstories of reporters. I either loved or hated them. That was as far as it went.
We arrived with Leah and Geneva exchanging pleasantries and discussing Leah’s tiara which would, of course, be the talk of the evening.
“And what are you ladies wearing?”
“We’re both in Dior, natch,” Leah said. “This is Dior vintage couture. And Lourdes, my date, is in Dior couture.”
She said it so proudly I melted and my knees momentarily went weak. I squeezed her hand tighter.
“So, Dior for both of you. And how is the run in Victoria going? A revival with the original cast is unheard of. You and Lourdes have been costars a long time.”
“It’s so great,” Leah said. “I honestly couldn’t ask to do it with any better people, but Lou is my rock.”
“Costars. Best friends. Now, that is a cute story. So glad to see you supporting one another out here. It’s hard for women in the business.”
“Costars. Best friends. Girlfriends,” I corrected. “And you’re right, it is hard.”
The minute the words left my mouth, clouds faded. I looked over at my dad for a moment as he took in everything and then at Leah. Here was my world within a world. Here was my truth. And to my surprise, it ended well.
Geneva did a double take. “Really? Together? So… the rumors are true?”
“I guess it’s obvious,” Leah giggled. “A second-chance story to sell to your followers, but this time… the timing was right.”
“A showmance for the ages? My God!” Geneva said. “The hottest couple on the carpet is Leah Roughy and Lourdes Lennon.”
I blushed, but Leah owned it. “Sorry, not sorry.”
“Well, congrats on the production. I know the European reviews were astonishingly good. And for a screenwriting debut? You must be happy. People are talking Oscars.”
Leah blushed. “I never went into it with those intentions.”
“But it was ambitious.”
“I had an amazing writing partner and great material,” Leah admitted.
“And if anyone could make a debut into an Oscar win, it would be Leah,” I added. “She’s being modest, but… she can weave a story.”
“What’s next?” Geneva asked.
“Uh, wheeling my Dad’s home and then performing tomorrow. The entire cast is coming out tonight. I am sure there will be drinks and the old people like us will feel it tomorrow.”
“Yes, they cancelled in anticipation, right?”
“Oh, this was baked into our contracts,” Leah talked business like a boss.
Gone was the girl who didn’t have any idea she had a right to breaks or union rules years ago.
“But after that?”
“I have a project,” Leah said. “Something super-secret. But it’s for TV and… I think it will be really good.”
“So, is rounding out your EGOT in the cards.”
“Before forty, maybe? But again, I never go into it thinking about it.”
Leah could play humble, but she was hungry. It was a big fat lie, and my smile gave me away.
“Lourdes isn’t so sure!” Geneva snickered.
“No comment.” I laughed. “She will have my head.”
“Well, ladies, have a good evening!” Geneva declared.
We stepped back towards a line of photographers.
“That was… fucking mad,” I said.
“That video is going to get her mlilions of views. You did a good thing for her, Lou. She’ll never forget you.”
“Yes. And… I guess it was the best bit of press anyone ever engineered for three queer women. We just handed her my coming out arc. In a way, it’s sort of perfect.”
Leah stepped before the cameras, pulling me with her. Reluctantly, I waited for her publicist to straighten our dresses.
She murmured, “That was my intent. It was kismet. As you’ve said, all boats lift when the tide comes in.”
Without asking or thinking, I wrapped Leah up in a kiss for the ages in front of dozens of unsuspecting photographers who thought for certain I was just here for a photo op with the Woman of the Hour.
Now, though, they had a different story.
Leah kissed me back, before pulling away and acting like nothing happened.
A smile remained on both our faces—the ones that would run on every front page the next day.
But deep down, Leah didn’t make a big deal out of it.
Her star power spared me an awkward dance I didn’t long to do at forty. I was out. Everything was fine.
“You should go take some on your own,” I said.
“I should catch up with the younger ones, too,” Leah agreed. “Take pictures with your dad. He’s looking lonely.”
She nodded over in my dad’s direction. He did a little wave.
I motioned for him to join.
He stepped up affably, “Where do I look, Lulu?”
“Around,” I said. “The goal is pose, then look in a few directions. They’re all over but what they want is eye contact.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I would be the only one to buy these photos tomorrow, but Leah knew I’d be grateful to have them.
Someday, when he was gone, I’d have proof that he was there on this night—the night I became the whole, proud version of myself and joined Leah as not only her costar but the love of her life.
Maybe someday, too, we’d tell our kids about the moment, and they could share in that memory even if they never met my dad. Somehow, that brought me comfort.