The False Exit Read online

  “It’s none of your business,” she quipped.

  “Okay.” He was amused by her temperament. He’d never seen this side of her. He was surprised and even tickled that it existed. “You’re right. It is none of my business! So let’s warm up.”

  He started to run the scales. She didn’t follow. He stopped. Her eyes were locked in place. She was staring at the keys. He tried again, but she didn’t budge.

  “Liz do you have a la, la, la, or a hee, hee, hee, or a mum, mum, mum, or anything you can give me here?”

  She still didn’t respond. She was thinking of the first voice lesson she’d had with him. She was so taken by him that when they started the lesson, she could barely let out a sound.

  “Let’s try this one more time,” Mark said.

  He started to play again. Liz’s eyes shifted off of the keys and onto him. She remained silent. He stopped playing and looked at her. She stared hard into his eyes. It was a bold stare with no shield to protect her emotion.

  “Liz, are you—”

  She didn’t let him finish. She threw her lips onto his. Mark responded passionately. He kissed her back and aggressively took over. She tried to let go. He wouldn’t let her. She didn’t want to let go, but she tried again. This time he released her. She stared into his eyes with the same bold look she had given him. A smile came to his face like a slow sunrise. When it peaked, she leaped off of the piano bench.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “No,” Mark replied, “don’t be sorry.”

  Liz stared at him for a moment. She was uncomfortable and confused by her own impulse. He grinned again. This time his smile seemed to suggest to her that he thought he’d won something.

  She felt a desperate need to collect herself. “I have to go!” she said. She quickly turned and marched up the center aisle and straight out the door.

  When she pushed through the lobby doors, Gary was standing there.

  “Liz,” he started. “I was looking for you. Can we—”

  She pushed past him and rushed toward her office. She quickly shut the door behind her. She looked up. She hadn’t noticed that Mark was already there leaning against the wall.

  “Liz, what was that?”

  “Mark, you need to leave.”

  “You need to tell me what that was all about.”

  “You need to leave.”

  “You were the one who kissed me. All I did was kiss you back. Not that I wouldn’t gladly do it again.”

  Liz put her head down and closed her eyes. Mark allowed the silence. Someone tapped on the door.

  “Liz?” It was Gary. Liz’s head popped back up. She froze as Gary slowly pushed open the door behind her. She kept her back to him and locked her eyes on Mark’s.

  “Oh,” Gary paused, “Mark, hey.”

  “Hey,” Mark said. He was still looking at Liz.

  “I’ll come back,” Gary said.

  “No,” Mark said, “I was just leaving.” He brushed past Liz. Liz listened to him exit through the studio. She didn’t move.

  “I’m sorry if I interrupted,” Gary said. He took a cautious step toward Liz.

  “You did,” Liz said. She was surprised at her own voice. What was she saying? Why was she saying it? She didn’t recognize her own spirit. “Gary, I need a break. I have to figure out what I want. Something is different. I’m sorry.”

  “Really?” Gary said. “Really, a break? What exactly does that mean? A break? You need a break from me? A day, a week, a break up? Some stupid girl starts flirting with me and you want to break up with me. I don’t get it.” He waited for Liz to say something. He realized that she was still staring at the space that Mark had walked out of. “This isn’t about me; is it? This is about Mark; isn’t it?” Liz dropped her head again. “That is what I thought. You know what—go for it.”

  Gary started out of her office, but stepped right back in. “We have a meeting with Bill at three.” He left.

  Liz dropped into the chair behind her desk. She hardly recognized herself. How could she be so cold to Gary? How could she have reacted so passionately and instinctually with Mark? She didn’t know what she was doing. No, she knew what she was doing and she wanted to do more of it. She wanted Mark’s attention. What about Shayla? Liz felt like a bowling ball dropped into her gut. Shayla was not a girl she wanted to spar with!

  At three O’clock Liz walked into Bill’s office. Gary was gathered up against the wall in his usual spot. He didn’t look up when she walked in and Bill was busy shuffling mail.

  “Well, Diane’s back is broken,” Gary finally said. Both Gary and Liz kept their heads down. “We don’t expect her back for quite some time. The board has asked Anna Marie to temporarily replace her.” They both looked up. “Well that got your attention. The air is thick in here. Is everything okay?” Liz looked at Gary. He went back to staring at his shoes.

  “Is she coming back?” Liz asked.

  “I just got a text from her about an hour ago. She said she is going to give it a try.”

  “Oh wow! That is wonderful!” Liz squealed.

  “She should be at the rehearsal tonight.”

  Gary looked up again. “Tonight, already. That is great,” he said.

  “I wanted to update you both. I’d like see what we can do to pick up the pace again. Anna Marie might be a little shocked at how much has been dropped since she left. I hope that the two of you will be ready to step it up and get things back on track.”

  “I think her return will put a whole new energy into everything,” Liz said. “I’m so excited to have her back!”

  “I think we all are,” Bill said. He glanced at Gary. Gary nodded his head. It was obvious that his mind was elsewhere.

  “We also need to send Diane something. Liz, could you work with the hospitality budget and make sure we get something to her from the cast. The board has already sent her flowers, but let’s get the cast to sign a card or something,” Bill said.

  “I’m on it,” Liz said. She started to gather her things to leave. “Can I have permission to pick up some welcome back flowers for Anna Marie as well?”

  “That would be nice,” Bill said.

  “See you tonight,” Liz disappeared down the hall.

  Bill looked over at Gary. He was still holding his position. “Are you okay?”

  “Girls!” Gary said.

  “Tell me about it,” Bill replied.

  “I don’t know; I’d rather not,” Gary sulked.

  Bill drew his words carefully, “I wasn’t actually asking you to tell me anything. I was agreeing with you, Son.”

  “Oh,” Gary said, “you too?”

  “Yup, me too,” Bill said.

  45

  It was late afternoon and Mary was still in her night clothes. She leaned against the kitchen counter and savored the moment. The smell of Pine-Sol, fresh banana bread and meatloaf whirled around her. It had been a perfect day, exactly what she needed. She pulled out the last of several small loaves of bread and slid a second meatloaf into the oven. She set aside her low cholesterol versions in a carrier for Clifford. She dialed Liz on her phone and stretched the cord across the kitchen.

  “Gammy!” Liz answered. “Boy, have I been wanting to talk to you!”

  “Oh? Is everything okay?” she asked as she placed dishes in the sink.

  “Yes, it is. I mean, I think it is. It was an up—down day.” Liz had used the term ‘up—down day’ with her grandmother for as long as she could remember. It was how they described a day that was filled with both good and bad news.

  “Start with the ups,” her grandmother said.

  “Okay, Anna Marie is coming back! She’ll be at rehearsal tonight.”

  “Well, I know you are happy about that! How is Diane doing?”

  “They say Diane will be in recovery for a long time. I’m on my way to pick up a card for her from the cast. It’s going to be weird because the cast is going to be happy to be rid of her, but it feels bad because she is hur
t.”

  “Poor thing,” Mary said, “nobody wished that on her.”

  “No, they didn’t, but they’re so happy Anna Marie is coming back. It’s awkward and kind of sad.”

  “You shouldn’t worry too much about that, Liz. At least the woman is going to be okay. What else is going on, Sugar?”

  “Well, I’m so confused. I don’t know. I messed up with Mark and Gary. I don’t know what to do.”

  “I thought you were going to do nothing. Didn’t you decide to take a break?” Mary asked.

  “I tried. It lasted about ten seconds. I don’t even know what happened. It was all over as soon as I saw Mark this morning. I have a problem. I really like him!”

  “What about Gary,” Mary asked.

  “Gary is not as interesting to me anymore. Does that make me a bad person, Grandma?” Liz asked.

  “A bad person because you lost interest? You’re not a bad person, you’re a young lady who is dating. Dating is not the same as married, Liz. You have to allow yourself in and out if you want to learn anything from dating. I still think taking a break from them both would do you good, though.”

  “I know. I just didn’t expect—let’s just say I was surprised at how happy I was to see Mark today. Now, I really want to see him more. I did tell Gary that I needed a break though.”

  “How did that go?”

  “It didn’t go very well. It was terrible.”

  “It was a good choice, Liz. It’s best to be honest. You did the right thing. You never know. It may not be over with Gary. Sometimes, these things bring us back with an even deeper connection.”

  “Thanks Grandma, I needed to hear that. How is your break from Clifford?”

  “I had a wonderful day,” she said. “I made him some low cholesterol banana bread and meatloaf. I thought I’d stop by and take it to him while you are at rehearsal tonight. Do you mind swinging by and picking me up?”

  “Gammy, no I don’t mind, but that wasn’t much of a break!”

  “It was longer than your break,” she giggled. “I have you beat by several hours. I worry about him sitting there all day by himself. What if he isn’t feeling well enough to get his dinner?”

  “I’ll drop you off if I can have some of that meatloaf.”

  “Of course! I have one in the oven for you right now and I have a loaf of banana bread ready for you to take home. I made yours regular. I added chocolate chips too.”

  “Oh lord! What happened to clean food, Gammy?”

  “It has bananas! Do you know how good bananas are for you?”

  “I’ll be by in a bit,” Liz laughed.

  Mary hung up and called Clifford. “Hello! How are you feeling, Captain?”

  “Hello, Mary. I missed you today. How are you?”

  “I had a relaxing day at home. I cleaned my whole house and made you some meatloaf and banana bread. I’m sorry, but I had to leave all the good stuff out so that it would be good for you. I think you’ll like it though. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to come by this evening. I’ll sit with you while Liz is at rehearsal.”

  “If it’s okay? Are you kidding me? I’ll be thrilled. I didn’t think I was going to get to see your pretty face at all today.”

  “Stop, you’re making me blush!”

  “I wish I was looking at those rosy cheeks right now,” he said. “I could look at them all day; everyday!”

  “Oh goodness. We talked about this! You’re going to frighten me away.”

  “Why? I didn’t even use the ‘M’ word!”

  “No, but you’re so assuming!”

  “I don’t mean to be assuming, Mary. I’m just confident.”

  “Confident that you are so wonderful that I won’t be able to resist you?”

  “Mary?”

  “What?”

  “Tell me your middle name.”

  “Margaret, why?”

  “Margaret? Mary Margaret? Really?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Mary Margaret. I really like that,” he said.

  “Why did you ask me my middle name in the middle of a conversation that had nothing to do with my name?”

  “I need your middle name because I want to use your whole name to ask you what I am about to ask you.”

  Mary let her weight fall against the kitchen wall. She was terrified, “Clifford, I will hang up this phone! Don’t you dare—” It was too late the words were already formed.

  “Mary Margaret Casey, will you—”

  “Cliff,” Mary tried to interrupt.

  He continued, “—will you consider dropping by this evening and visiting me. I would simply enjoy your company. I have a pretty good idea that I would enjoy the baking you did today too. Mostly, I would just like to see you. That’s all. If we have a nice time and continue to enjoy each other, maybe you could come by on another day too. What do you say about today? I would be honored if you could simply give me today.”

  Mary let the tension fall out of her, “I say that sounds perfect, Mr. Clifford James Brown!”

  “How did you know the James part?”

  “I was there checking you into the hospital, remember?”

  “Oh yes, of course. I don’t suppose they told you that I was named after a guy named Bond, James Bond that is?”

  “No, they didn’t. I just assumed it was a family name,” she teased.

  “It is,” he said. “I’m related to an incredible crew of highly intellectual and sexy spies. It’s such a shame that my mother dropped me on my head. I didn’t turn out quite like the other guys!”

  “Oh Cliff,” she chuckled. “I have to get ready. I’ll see you shortly.”

  Liz was pulling out of her parking space when her phone chimed. It was Mark.

  Liz, we need to talk, he texted.

  She pulled back into her space to return his text, I’m on my way to pick up my grandmother.

  Will you meet me at the Blue Martini after rehearsal tonight?

  She smiled. The Blue Martini was the bar that he’d taken her to the first time they went out for a drink. It was off the beaten path—a solid gamble that they wouldn’t see anyone they knew. She heard her grandmother’s advice, ‘take a break and get some perspective’. How could she take a break from Mark to get perspective? It was the break from Mark that had agitated her confusion to begin with. She needed to see Mark in order to figure it all out. She stared at her phone, inhaled, released the air and punched out the text, See you there.

  The clock on her phone reminded her that she wouldn’t have a lot of time to get to her grandmother’s and back. She still needed to pick up a card for Diane and flowers for Anna Marie. She rolled her eyes at her own humiliating priority. First, she would have to stop home to throw some extra clothes in her bag. She would need something cute to wear to the Blue Martini even if it meant she was late.

  46

  It took three trips from her car to the theatre for Liz to get everything she needed into the dressing room for the run through. She had her hands full when she reached the entrance. Mark hustled in behind her and pulled the door open.

  “Thank you!” she said. “I’m really running late!”

  “Don’t worry. Everyone is,” he winked with a grin. She felt him watch her continue down the hall. She looked back. He was still smiling.

  She dropped Anna Marie’s flowers on the counter in the dressing room and began to circulate through the cast with Diane’s card. Once she had most of the cast signatures, she set up her costume pieces and dance shoes for the rehearsal. When it was time to gather on the stage, she reached for Anna Marie’s flowers. They were not on the counter where she’d left them.

  Bill walked in through the lobby and noticed a bouquet of flowers lying on the table. “Liz!” he said out loud with frustration as he picked them up. He headed backstage with the flowers.

  “How did you get those?” Liz said as soon as she saw Bill.

  “What were you thinking? Why would you leave these on the lobby table for
her? That’s where Kevin’s flowers used to go.”

  Kevin had sent Anna Marie flowers for every opening night during the twenty years that she’d worked there. They were traditionally placed on the small table in the lobby where they remained on display for the entire run of the show.

  “Liz, you have to help me out here. We want to make her feel comfortable again. I don’t think she’s going to go through that lobby anyhow, but leaving the flowers on that table was not a good idea.”

  “I didn’t put them there,” she said.

  “Well, who did?” Bill asked.

  “I don’t know, but I would never do that. I left them on the counter in the dressing room. I went to get them and they were gone.”

  “Well, someone placed them on the lobby table.”

  “That’s weird,” Liz said. “They ended up on Kevin’s table?” she asked. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?”

  Bill gave her a stern look. “Yes—if you’re thinking that one of the volunteers back there saw her name on them and thought they belonged out there on that table.”

  “Yes,” Liz cowered, “The ladies were back there while I was setting props and getting Diane’s card signed,” Liz said. “Don’t worry, I’ll personally hand them to her when she comes in. That was my original plan.”

  “Maybe just hold on to them until she gets here. If it wasn’t a volunteer’s mistake, and I find out someone is messing around, their insensitivity will be the end of their career here and anywhere else I can make their reputation follow them!”

  “I don’t think anyone on the staff would do anything like that on purpose,” Liz said. Bill responded by raising his eyes in an expression that suggest he didn’t agree.

  Gary gathered the cast to the center of the stage. Bill gave them an update on Diane’s medical situation and reminded them to sign the card that Liz had brought. “I suppose that you have all heard that Anna Marie will be joining us for the rest of the run.” The cast applauded. “She should be here at any moment and—” Bill looked up. “Perfect timing,” he said.

  Anna Marie entered through the back of the stage. The cast turned and burst into applause. She made her way down center. Liz presented her with the flowers. The stage crew drifted in from the shop. She turned around as they began to cheer from behind her. She was overwhelmed by the welcome. She caught Bill’s eye and he smiled with approval.