The False Exit Read online

  “Can I call you call you that?” Anna Marie asked.

  “Pumpkin? I like it!” she grinned and disappeared with a spin into her room.

  Anna Marie looked at the torn up package on the table and gathered the mess to toss in the trash. She heard Annie’s voice trailing out of her room and paused to listen. She was happily humming a tune from the show. Anna Marie stood lost in the moment. She never thought that she would have a child in her life. She felt a rush of energy flow through her like a warm wave. She recognized the feeling. It was joy. She knew she would be happy again but she never expected that the child’s love could also be so healing.

  57

  Liz left the theatre early to take a nap before opening night. She woke up to the sound of her phone. It was Gary.

  “Liz?”

  She hesitated, not only because she was pulling herself out of a slumber, but beyond what was necessary for work, she hadn’t spoken to Gary since their argument.

  “Hey, Gary. What’s up?”

  “I just wanted to give you a call and let you know that I hate the awkwardness between us. I feel like we’ve left things unresolved.”

  “I appreciate that, Gary,” she said as she sat up on the edge of her bed.

  “I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

  “No, well yes. I mean I’m just getting up. But, I was awake.” There was an awkward pause. “I’m glad you called.”

  “I’m sorry it’s been awhile. I don’t like the silence between us.”

  “Niether do I,” Liz said.

  “I also want you to know that I’m going with Jenna now. I really hadn’t intended—”

  “Gary,” she cut him off, “you don’t have to say anything. I’m happy for you. I think you two make a great couple.”

  “Thanks,” he said, “I also wanted to tell you to break a leg tonight!”

  “Thanks, Gary,” she said. There was another uncomfortable pause.

  “Liz,” Gary finally said.

  “Yeah?”

  He took in a deep breath and let it out, “I think you should know that I wanted to make up with you after that weird fight we had.”

  “It was a weird fight,” she laughed. “It was my fault.”

  “No, I was wrong too. I still really wanted to see you after that. I wanted to apologize. I don’t want you to think that I didn’t care. I wanted to make things right.”

  “Why didn’t you?” she asked. He was quiet. She attempted to answer for him. “You knew that you liked Jenna better. It’s okay. Things like that happen.” He didn’t say anything. She rescued him again, “It really is okay, Gary.”

  “No, I didn’t like Jenna better; not at the time. I really wanted to make things right with you.”

  “Why didn’t you?” she asked again.

  “I tried,” he said.

  “You did? How? You stopped talking to me.”

  “I wanted to talk to you. I really did.”

  “But, you did. Why?”

  “It’s okay, Liz. You don’t really want to know. It just happened.”

  “No, I do. I really do want to know. I need to know.”

  “I didn’t call to tell you that. I only called to tell you that I don’t want things to be weird with us.”

  “I think you should tell me.” He remained silent. She tried again, “If you don’t want things to be weird, maybe you should tell me,” she said.

  “Ok. If you really want to know—” he paused. “I wanted to see you. I bought some flowers and I wrote a stupid poem on a card. I was going to throw a rock at your window as a joke and play music on my Bluetooth speaker outside your window. I had this whole plan to wake you up in the middle of the night and profess my love to you like an old 80’s movie. I was going to try to be funny in order to make a stupid fool of myself.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “I did. I actually did make a fool of myself. When I got there, Mark’s car was there.”

  Liz felt her limbs go weak, “Oh my God, Gary! I’m so sorry!”

  “It is okay, Liz. At least you know why I shut down. It wasn’t because I didn’t care.”

  “I’m glad you told me. I’m so sorry.”

  “Please don’t say that. I didn’t call you so you would feel bad and you certainly don’t have to apologize. You could have been a great catch, but you were not mine to catch. I just hope we can be friends.”

  “I hope so too,” Liz said. “I’m sorry. I was a lousy girlfriend. You were my first real try and I have a lot to learn! I’m sorry if I hurt you, Gary.”

  “Hey, it’s what we do in the game of love. We hurt each other. Sometimes a little hurt is exactly what we need to move on to where we are supposed go next. No hard feelings?”

  “No hard feelings,” she said. “I’m happy for you and Jenna!”

  “I’m happy for you and Mark!” he said.

  “No, I’m not with Mark,” she said.

  “Really?” he asked.

  “Yeah, that’s over. It has been for a while.”

  “Really, I didn’t know. It seems like he really likes you. I thought you were together. I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s okay.” It was quiet for a moment. “Hey, I’m glad you called. I’ll see you tonight.” she said.

  “Okay, see you later. Break a Leg!”

  58

  Elsie and Verde pulled up to Mary’s driveway. They were both flabbergasted that Mary wasn’t waiting on the porch.

  “I’ll go see what’s going on,” Elsie said as she pulled herself out of the passenger seat.

  “Mary!” she hollered as she pushed open the front door.

  “Mary!” she called again.

  “I’m up here!” Mary answered.

  Elsie climbed the stairs to find Mary sitting on the edge of her bed with her purse over her arm. She appeared to be ready.

  “What in Sam’s hill are you doing?” Elsie asked.

  “That is just it. I don’t know!” Mary said. “I don’t know what the heck I’m doing!” There was an envelope sitting on the bed next to her.

  “You’re sitting here making us late! That’s what you are doing!” Elsie said.

  “I’m frozen here,” Mary said. “I can’t go with this envelope and at the same time I can’t go without it.”

  Elsie reached for the envelope, “What is it?”

  “Don’t you touch that!” Mary snapped at her.

  “Well, are you coming or not! An entire audience full of people are expecting you to be playing the piano in the lobby when they come in through the door! We’re the pre-show music. It’s pretty important that we get there before the show, Mary.”

  “I just don’t know,” her voice quivered and she continued to stare at the envelope, “I want to bring it, but I’m just not positive. I’m a wreck!”

  “WHAT IS IT?” Elsie reached for the envelope again.

  Mary smacked at her hand, stood up, and grabbed the envelope. “Let’s go!” she said.

  Else shook her head and followed her down the stairs. “Mary, sometimes I just wonder about you,” she called after her.

  By the time they reached the theatre, there were already several cars in the lot.

  “Mary!” Elsie said, “look at this. We’re supposed to be the first ones here!”

  “Oh don’t get your panties in a wad! There didn’t used to be any lobby music before we volunteered. A few minutes without music isn’t going to kill anyone,” she said. She climbed out of the backseat and hustled ahead with her purse in one hand and the envelope in the other.

  “What the world is the matter with her?” Verde asked Elsie as she turned the rear-view mirror so she could touch up her lipstick. “She hardly said a word the whole way here. I was actually nervous that she wasn’t making me nervous with her backseat driving. What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know, she was sitting on her bed fretting about that envelope when I went upstairs. She was saying she couldn’t leave the house with it, and she couldn’t l
eave without it. She was stuck on the bed. Suddenly, she stood up, picked it up and marched out to the car.”

  “Well, what’s in it?”

  “I don’t know. I assume it’s something for Liz. Maybe something for her opening night?”

  Mary disappeared into the building. “I’ll bet it’s something sentimental from Liz’s mom,” Verde suggested. “It’s been so hard for those two!”

  “Oh, I bet you’re right,” Elsie said as they climbed out of the car. “Whatever it is; it’s got her all touchy! Look at her. She made us late and now she’s running in ahead of us like a wild banshee. She’s making us look bad.”

  “Well step it up! We can’t let that happen,” Verde said.

  Earlier in the season, Liz had suggested that Mary use her volunteer hours at the theatre to lead a light hearted sing-a-long in the lobby as a pre-show event for each of the productions. Mary had played the piano her entire life. She used her talent in various social circles but rarely played in public. When she was asked to play the lobby piano, she insisted that Elsie and Verde sign up as her back-up singers. They fell into their positions naturally. A great deal of attention and excitement was generated by the new lobby pre-show sing along.

  Mary carefully set the envelope on the piano. Elsie couldn’t bear the unknown. Mary caught her eyeing it up. She gave her daring stare as she opened the piano and began to play. Elsie and Verde obediently burst into song.

  “Let me know when you spot the Captain,” Mary whispered to Elsie as an audience began to gather around them.

  After several songs, Elsie leaned over Mary’s shoulder and whispered, “The Eagle has landed.”

  Mary felt her heart leap. She looked across the room. Clifford had on a new suit. He looked a movie star. Bond that is, James Bond, she thought with a grin. He started toward the piano. Mary stopped playing in the middle of a verse and the crowd groaned.

  “Hold on now, hold up. A very special man has just walked into the room! That handsome man headed toward the piano is none other than Captain Clifford James Brown,” Mary was in her best show form. She began to play music to underscore her narration. “This very special man has returned to us from the heavens. Tonight is his first big night out since he recovered from an attack on his heart.” The audience began to applaud. Clifford suddenly sparked up. He didn’t mind being the center of attention. The crowd opened up to him. “Look at him! He’s lost twenty pounds and looks ten years younger than the last time you saw him.” The crowd burst into laughter and applause as Clifford spun on his heel.

  “Dying will do that to a man,” he joked.

  “Don’t let him fool you,” Mary said. ”This man has been to heaven and back. He is literally an angel. He is my angel.” Verde and Elsie looked at each other. Mary continued to underscore her own narration. Clifford, this next song is dedicated to you.” She started to sing, “When an angel loves you, you are never blue—” the crowd joined her. She twisted her upper body as she continued to play so that she could sing to Clifford. He wasn’t singing. He was taking it all in. His eyes began to well.

  At the end of the song, Mary said. “I have a little envelope here on the piano for you, Cliff.” Elsie gave Verde another look. “It’s a little thank you card. You didn’t have to drop back in from heaven, but I am awfully glad you did. So, this here is a little message that I wrote to thank you for returning to us, Captain.” She continued to play music. Clifford looked at her for reassurance, “Go on,” she said, “open it.” She stopped playing the piano as he broke open the seal.

  He read the message and pulled it to his heart. He froze on Mary. The silence was more than Elsie could take, “What does it say? What’s happening?”

  Clifford didn’t say a word. He remained fixed on Mary. A tear rolled down his cheek. He left it there and produced an enormous grin.

  “What?” Elsie said. He handed her the envelope without saying anything or taking his eyes off Mary.

  “What does it say?” Verde asked.

  Elsie started to read it.

  “Read it out loud!” Verde squealed.

  She read, “Thank you for dropping back into my life. Will you marry me, my sweet Angel?”

  “Yes!” Clifford said as Mary stood up from behind the piano.

  “Oh my God!” Verde hollered, “Mary is getting married!” The crowd burst into applause.

  “A match made in heaven!” Elsie called over the noise.

  Word traveled quickly backstage. Liz made a choice to break the rules. She threw on a robe over her costume and ran to the lobby. She pushed through the crowd.

  “Gammy! Congratulations! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were going to do this.”

  “I wasn’t sure I was going to do it,” she whispered in her ear. “Of course, it’s still pending your approval!”

  “Yes, yes you have my approval! I’m so happy for you,” Liz said. “Congratulations!” She reached for Clifford and added, “Congratulations to you both!”

  “I’m truly blessed! Thank you, Liz. I promise you that I’m going to take good care of your grandmother!”

  “Oh my gosh! I have to go! I shouldn’t even be out here. I’m so excited! See you after the show!” Liz ran out of the lobby.

  When she returned backstage Anna Marie was waiting for her with little Annie. “I’m so sorry, I know it was unprofessional to go into the lobby. I put on a robe. I didn’t show my costume; I promise!” Liz said.

  “It’s okay! I didn’t come here to reprimand you! I would’ve done the same thing!” Anna Marie said.

  “We never go through the lobby,” Little Annie said looking at her with confusion.

  Anna Marie talked over her comment, “We’re all happy for them! I came back to see if you have time to braid Annie’s hair. If you don’t have time, don’t worry.”

  “I want it twisted with the fishy braid down the back, like you did that one day,” Annie said.

  “Ooops, you are forgetting something,” Anna Marie said.

  “Please?” Annie added.

  Anna Marie looked at Liz, “Only if you have time.”

  “I have plenty of time,” Liz said.

  “Can I have some lips too,” Annie asked. Liz Looked at Anna Marie for permission. Annie grinned, “I want red hot lips like Liz’s!”

  “Light pink only,” Anna Marie said. “Can I leave her with you for a moment? I need to go check on Bill. I know he is struggling with the new light board. I don’t know if it was such a good idea to change it out so close to opening.”

  “That old board was shorting so badly before you came back. I think it could have caused us to go dark.”

  “Was it that bad?” she asked.

  “It was bad! I think it is totally worth the gamble of using the new board.”

  “I’m just thrilled he was able to convince the board of directors to pay for it! I better go check on him.” Liz started braiding Annie’s hair. “Are you sure she is okay to stay with you?”

  “Of course!” Liz said.

  Anna Marie went the long way. She climbed through the catwalks and found Bill in the light booth.

  “Still can’t pass through the lobby, huh?”

  “No,” she said.

  “Somebody left something on the table for you.” He pointed to the corner. There was a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the table that he’d removed from the lobby.

  She picked up the card stick. “Break a Leg! Your friend, Bill.”

  “You can take those home with you. Enjoy them at your house.”

  She was still staring at the card. “Your friend, Bill?” she said under her breath.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  Her voice quivered. “Thank you! That was nice of you. They’re beautiful!”

  “I am sorry,” Bill said, “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I know Kevin had flowers for you for each opening. I wanted to start a new tradition,” he continued apologetically, “I didn’t mean to pull out any old skeletons. That’s why I
said you should take them home. You never took Kevin’s home.”

  “I’m not upset about any skeletons. It has nothing to do with skeletons or Kevin!”

  “It doesn’t?” he said.

  “No, this is about you,” she said.

  “Me?”

  “Us,” she said.

  Bill looked at the board. “Anna, this is terrible. I’m so, so, sorry. I can’t talk to you right now. I’m still struggling with this board! I accidentally wiped out the cues and I had to do a reset. I still need to check the cues before curtain.”

  “No, I understand. It's okay. We can talk later.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said again. The lights haven’t flickered once since we got the new board, but I’m afraid I’m not altogether ready to use it. If I go back to the old light board who knows what could happen. I imagine everyone will say that it’s Kevin trying to sabotage the show. That’s all we need! I’m so sorry. We can talk after, okay.”

  “Okay, Kevin—” She stopped. Her eyes got wide. She accidentally called him, Kevin. She tried to cover. “I mean, it’s going to be okay. Kevin isn’t going to sabotage the show.”

  Bill knew. “You just called me, Kevin; didn’t you?”

  “COME ON, BILL!!”

  “You did. You called me, Kevin.”

  Anna Marie knew she couldn’t deny it. She could see the disgust in his eyes and she couldn’t bear it.

  “You called me Kevin,” he said again.

  “GIVE ME A BREAK! CAN YOU PLEASE JUST GIVE ME A BREAK?” Yes, I did. I called you, Kevin. So what? Kevin, Kevin, Kevin! I know you’re not Kevin. It was just one of those things. Like flipping on a light switch when the power is out! You know the power is out but you do it every time you enter the room. It’s just a mindless meaningless habit. It means nothing. I’m healing, Okay? I’m strong and I’m my own woman! I know who you are Bill and I don’t ever expect you to be Kevin! I expected you to be a WHOLE lot more for me than Kevin ever was! I guess I have to live with the fact that that’s never going to happen, my friend. So, I’m so sorry that I slipped and called you Kevin. I’m sorry, Okay. I am so, so very SORRY—BILL!”

  Bill was stunned. He didn’t say anything. She stormed past him and headed down the stairs. He watched her push open the lobby doors. He followed her, “Anna! It’s okay.”