Chapter 108
THE NEXT NIGHT our entire family went to the playhouse to see the opening performance of Juliana’s show, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. We all stopped and took photos in front of the sign in the lobby that listed Juliana Bennett as Mae.
Mary Catherine said, “I always got the impression that Mae was a little older than Juliana.”
I smiled and said, “Ease off, Ebert. I’m sure it’s not easy to put together a production like this on a limited budget.”
“What’s ‘Ebert’ mean?”
“Roger Ebert was a film critic in Chicago. I was just making a joke.” The look my wife gave me told me that would be the last joke I intentionally made at her expense tonight.
We were a little early and took up the first two rows.
I tried to strategically place the rowdier kids in between the calmer kids and adults.
Unfortunately, it was hard to categorize my grandfather.
Physically he was an adult, but he certainly acted as bad as or worse than the kids at times.
Tonight he looked quite nice, wearing a sleek winter jacket I’d given him several years ago over his simple dark shirt with a clerical collar.
I settled in with Shawna on one side of me and Bridget on the other. It was easy parental duty.
I relaxed in the seat. More people started to gather and the seats filled quickly.
The full house made me smile. I felt good.
Maybe “thankful” is a better term. I’d survived a very close call.
I was about to watch my talented daughter perform onstage.
My whole family was together. And Mary Catherine and I were expecting a baby. Life was good.
Eddie leaned in from behind me and said, “I’ve been doing some calculations.”
“Do tell.”
“By extrapolating the number of actors in the play and the number of seats I see in this theater, I’ve concluded that every person in this audience is likely either related to or a friend of one of the actors.”
Jane chimed in: “That’s what ‘amateur’ means, doofus.”
Juliana poked her head out from behind the curtain at the side of the stage. Then she slipped out and stepped over to us quietly.
She graciously accepted all our compliments. Even Ricky said, “I’m proud of you.” Then he added, “I hope you stay healthy.”
Juliana gave him an odd look and said, “What’s that mean?”
Ricky said, “I heard actors break their legs all the time.”
Mary Catherine and I laughed. Juliana told him, “People tell actors, ‘Break a leg.’ It’s a superstition. They’re afraid if they say something good, something bad will happen. So they say, ‘Break a leg.’”
Ricky looked unsure of this concept as Juliana’s eyes flicked up and down the rows. She looked at me, crestfallen. “I expected Rob.”
That hurt my heart, to see her sad on her big night.
Mary Catherine offered, “Maybe his return trip was delayed.”
Juliana nodded her head. “Probably. I know there was a lot going on in Montana with his family.”
Then she turned her head. I was looking right at her. Suddenly, her face lit up like a pinball machine. I followed her gaze and saw Rob Trilling ambling down the main aisle, holding a dozen roses.
Juliana ran to him. They kissed. Really kissed. Now I had no doubt about the status of their relationship.
I tried to fight it but had to smile.