In Between (35 page)

I wish I could say the same for Millie.

She’s been a bundle of nerves all day. I thought she would be excited over our progress and the way the theatre transformed this week. But she’s been zombielike since this morning, staring off into space and not saying much. Could be all the paint fumes she’s inhaled lately. But I know that’s not it.

“Where’s my daughter?” Maxine pops a bubble and shifts in her seat to look behind her.

“Probably checking her cell phone.” Millie’s been doing that constantly, checking for messages or missed calls. It’s a safe bet she’s expecting Amy to call. So far, nothing. As excited as I am for the play and for the town to see the Valiant, my stomach flutters when I think of Millie. What if Amy doesn’t show up? It will ruin everything for my foster mom.

Maxine holds up her new watch, something she dug out of a cereal box this morning. “She should be out here by now. Work is over. If it’s not fixed by now, it’s too late.”

It’s a little more than two hours until show time, and Bev has a few of the cast members on stage practicing scenes for the last time. I hope the actors are as ready as the theatre is. Stephanie’s death scenes have improved I think. Our Juliet may not be ready for the Oscars, but at least she’s not overcome with giggling fits every time she has to stab herself.

We’ve all been here the entire day. I’m exhausted, but also totally wired. After working like a dog, it’s hard to now sit still and just relax.

“Okay, now take it from Romeo’s entrance. I really want to nail this scene.” Bev’s voice is hoarse, and her words come out in squeaks.

Romeo, already in costume in a pair of really horrible purple tights, approaches Juliet’s bedroom window. (Tights? No wonder Stephanie couldn’t stop laughing.)

“But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief . . .”

If the moon is sick, it’s probably from having to look at Romeo’s buns squeezed into a pair of spandex pants.

Romeo continues the wooing of his lady, and I lay my head back on the chair and allow my eyes to close.

“See how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!”

I open an eye at the sound of someone entering the theatre doors. A guy wearing an “In Between Times” ball cap makes his way to the stage. He and Bev have a quiet conversation, then he gets out a camera and starts snapping photos. It’s just like Hollywood and the Red Carpet—the press is here for the premiere.

Stephanie, perched in a second story window with her chin on her hand, notices the flash and begins to pose, totally breaking character. I smile to myself. The girl’s waited a long time for this moment. Her photo op has finally arrived, and I imagine she feels a little like I did when I got the
B+
on my algebra test.
Ah, finally! What I’ve been working for!

The photographer stands in one of the theatre seats and snaps a few. “Romeo, could you turn your head this way just a bit. Perfect, perfect.”

I lean into Maxine. “Maybe I should tell him Maxine Simmons is in the house. Let him get some pictures of a real star.”

Maxine’s hand forms a rock ‘n’ roll sign. “Vegas forever, baby!”

“Okay, practice for another thirty minutes, then I want the entire cast in costume. Keep it going. We only have about an hour before you guys need to be ready.” Bev sneezes and sits back down.

Juliet flips her hair and smiles. “Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow.”

“Those Elizabethans sure worked fast,” Maxine whispers. “Juliet meets Romeo, then immediately expects the guy to cough up an engagement ring? Humph! Mr. Simmons waited a respectable week before asking for my hand.”

“You and Juliet were total hoochie mamas.”

“All my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay . . .”

As Stephanie delivers her lines, she gets closer and closer to the edge of the window. Like Rocky in the truck, she is practically hanging out. I know she’s sitting on a ladder back there, so that can’t be easy.

The photographer jumps off the chair and squats on the floor for a different angle. The rapid fire clicks of the camera have Stephanie posing like she’s a model on a runway.

“Juliet, could you just lean out a little more? You’re in the shadow, and I’m not getting a clear shot of you.”

Bev drops her tissue box and bolts out of her chair. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Stephanie, don’t lean out any farther. Stephanie, no. You need to—”

A shrill scream pierces the air, and suddenly Stephanie goes airborne.

It’s like a bad slow-mo scene from a movie. Everyone is on their feet, racing toward her, but she’s so far away.

I hear myself yelling, “Noooo!” And I propel my body onstage.

Too late.

“Oomph! Ohhh! Urghh!”

The star of the show hits the staircase with a thud, cartwheels halfway down, only to fall off the edge.

Crash!

From the stairs, Stephanie cannonballs into a first-story canopy roof. Her body plummets through the material, leaving a giant hole. Arms and legs flailing, she soars down, down toward the stage floor.

Splat!

Landing spread-eagle in a row of borrowed shrubs.

“Owwww.”

Everyone rushes the stage, circling the fair Juliet.

“Stephanie, can you hear me?”

“Stephanie, don’t move!”

“Can you wiggle your toes?”

“Call an ambulance!”

“Stephanie, do you see my Diet Coke back there?”

A panicked James and Millie explode out of the lobby doors and sprint downstage.

“What happened?” Millie’s raised voice ricochets through the theatre.

In two short moves James is next to our Juliet. “Are you okay? Everybody back up. Please.” James kneels beside her. “Stephanie, can you hear me?”

Stephanie lies motionless. Absolutely still.

Okay, Lord, if she’s dead, I take back every single thing I ever said about her. Even horrible actresses don’t deserve to fall through a two-story set. (Every last piece of it.)

Sam joins us on stage. “The ambulance is on the way.”

James leans down, putting his ear near Stephanie’s face. “She’s breathing.”

My own breath comes out in a
whoosh
, and I’m lightheaded with relief.

“Thank God.” Millie says. I totally agree.

James tries again. “Hon, can you hear me?”

Not even a flicker of an eyelid.

Maxine elbows me out of the way, shoves Romeo aside, and plants herself beside James. “Stephanie, the photographer says he’s ready for your close-up.”

Two blue eyes pop open. “Close-up?”

The crowd erupts into sighs and nervous laughter as Stephanie attempts to sit up, looking dazed and confused.

James’s arms hold her in place. “No, stay right where you’re at. We gotta get you checked out.”

“Oh, no.” Her glossy pink mouth turns up in a smile. “My leg really hurts.”

And Juliet Capulet promptly passes out.

The ambulance sirens cut through the mayhem, and everyone quiets as the EMTs file in.

Some paramedics consult with James, then hoist the limp Stephanie onto a stretcher. “We’ll handle it from here.”

Bev grabs her purse and shuffles behind them. “I’ll stay with her until her parents get to the hospital. I’ll be back soon.” She shouts out some final commands for her worried cast then exits through the lobby doors. Trailing behind her star actress.

The theatre gets awkwardly quiet. A few of us look around, not really sure what comes next.

“What are we going to do?” Millie’s hands cover her face.

“Millie—”

“What?” Millie takes a step back out of the group, gaining some distance. “Of course I hope she’s okay. But James, we have a play opening in two hours.” Tears well in my foster mother’s eyes, and she looks away.

The hum of the stage lights is the only sound for a full minute.

Maxine pops her gum, startling me out of my pathetic thoughts.

“You know what you have to do.” Her eyes bore into mine.

“Um . . . get a broom?”

Maxine’s hands latch onto my arms, and we’re nose to nose. A personal space violation if I ever saw one.

“We’re without a Juliet, Katie. And nobody knows this part but you.”

The wave of surprise ripples among the crew.

My eyes grow large, and I shake my head. “Oh, no . . . no way.”

Everyone gathers around me. They all begin talking over one another, bombarding me with encouragement, suggestions, and pleas.

No. Can’t do this. They’re crazy. What do I know about being in a play? My last theatrical experience was in elementary school. I’ll make a fool of myself. The audience will throw tomatoes at me. They’ll boo me and demand their money back.

“I can’t. There’s just no way.” I turn to Millie. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what the solution is, but it’s not me.”

“Katie, you’d be—”

“No, Millie.” I look into every face onstage. “I’m a disaster waiting to happen. I know this. I don’t want to screw one more thing up—especially something this important.”

“You are not a disaster, Katie Parker. You’re the girl who breezed through her math test.” Millie stands in front of me and grabs my hands. “You’re the girl who’s been working her tail off here and at school for over a month. We know you can do it.”

James puts his arm around me. “You know those lines better than Shakespeare. And we’ve all seen what a drama queen you are, so acting shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

Gee. Thanks.

Maxine sniffs with importance. “Well, I guess if you’re not gonna do it, we’re left with only one option.” She lays the back of her hand to her forehead. “I will be Juliet.”

The protests fly, and I can only stand there and smile.

“Which one of you is Romeo?” Maxine’s lips squeeze into a pucker.

A few people begin to snicker. But Millie’s face falls, and dropping my hands, she walks off stage.

Maybe I am an idiot. Or maybe I really don’t have a backbone when it comes to peer pressure. But standing here, watching my foster mom walk away, totally defeated, through with the fight and through with her dream, I know what I have to do.

It’s the last thing I want to do, but I guess that’s what makes it a sacrifice. “Okay.”

Millie stops.

“I’ll do it.”

She turns around in the aisle, a sad smile on her face. “It’s okay, Katie. You’re absolutely right. It’s not fair to throw you into this. This just isn’t meant to be.”

“Millie, the girl can either ‘wherefore art thou’ or
I
can. Take your pick, but this show
will
go on.” Maxine snaps her fingers at a lady on stage. “You! I’m ready for my costume fitting. And I’m not afraid to show a little cleavage.”

“Millie, I’m in.” And I am. I’ll probably throw up at some point tonight, but I’m going to do this. “A lot of people worked really hard to see this place open, and we can’t let them down.”

James pulls me into a hug, and then Millie is there, wrapping her shaking arms around us both. A fourth party moves in, squeezing the very breath out of me, and I know without looking it’s Maxine.

“
Annnd
break!” Maxine steps away, slapping each of us on the butt. “Now, little missy, let’s get you in costume. While you’re changing and doing makeup, I’ll go over your lines with you.”

I reach for James and Millie, but like a caveman, Maxine drags me behind the stage and into a dressing room.

“Okay, now you go behind that screen, and I’ll pass the costume over.”

A big, poufy yellow gown flies over the screen. I slip out of my clothes, forcing myself to think positive thoughts. The words from a famous literary classic come to mind, and I repeat them in my head:
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

“Um, Maxine?” I step out from behind the panel. Turning in a circle, I show Maxine that Stephanie’s dress fits me like a glove.

A glove that belongs to someone else and has no business being on my body.

“Oh . . . well.” Maxine stares at my chest.

“Quite a bit of space here.” I pat the material down.

“You could hide a small country in there.”

“The dress is a little short too.” I have a good five inches on Stephanie, and the same hem that covered her shoes grazes a few inches above my ankles.

“One problem at a time.” Maxine scurries out of the room. She returns just as quickly, holding up a package of tissues in each hand. “Boobs in a box!”

Her hands move as fast as bee’s wings, ripping out tissues and stuffing them into my bodice.

“Get your hands off my chest!” I snatch the tissues out of her grip and slap her hands away. “I am
not
that kind of girl.”

Maxine is helping me with lines when Frances walks in.

“Congratulations, Juliet! Wow, you’re a star.”

“I
so
could’ve had the part.” Maxine grabs me, plants a smacking kiss on my cheek, and struts out of the room.

“I can’t believe this.”

I laugh.
“You
can’t believe it? Try being in
my
shoes.” I attempt to wiggle my toes in Stephanie’s heels. “My too-tight shoes.”

“You’re gonna be great. Millie says you have the whole play memorized.”

Walking to the mirror, I begin to pin my matching headpiece on. “I don’t know, Frances. I’m scared to death. The whole town’s gonna be out there.”

“I know you can do this.”

My sigh fills the room.

“Katie, remember a few weeks ago at church, Pastor Mike spoke about Jeremiah?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you read the verse he mentioned in chapter 29?”

“Well, I was gonna read my Bible. I’m sure it’s a great book, but I decided I’d just wait for the movie.”

Frances grins, but presses on. “It says God has big plans for you. Plans to make you a success and not harm you.”

I check the clock in the reflection, panicked that I have so little time left. Don’t really have any extra minutes for a Bible study right now, you know?