Life on the Naughty List, or What the Elf!

28. Chapter 28

Chapter 28

B y miracle of miracles, we got my sisters back to the hotel before I had to leave for the theater. To say that I had opening night jitters was an understatement of magnanimous proportions. Part of me was like, it’s just another opening. You’ve got this . Another part of me was like, it’s the most critical opening of your career. Don’t elf it up! I got to the theater two hours early to give myself a respite from all the craziness. It also gave me an excuse to turn off my cell phone and let the chips fall where they would fall when it came to my family. They’re adults. I had to trust they’d somehow get to the theater on time.

At six-thirty, there was a knock on my dressing room door. I got up and walked over and found the delivery woman with my dress. I thanked and tipped her before hanging it behind the door. To make sure everything was in there, I took a quick peek inside the garment bag. My dress was as amazing as it had been when I’d picked it out.

I threw down my yoga mat in my dressing room and ran through a quick sequence to get my body limbered up and to help center myself for the rest of the evening. I finished my last pose when there was another knock on my door.

“Come in,” I said as I stood up.

Gladys walked into the room. “Just letting you know I’m here. Need anything?”

“Not now. Give me about twenty minutes, and I’ll be ready to put my costume on. I need to apply makeup first.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be back in twenty. When I see Carlos, I’ll let him know.”

“Thanks.”

After taking a quick shower, I applied my stage makeup. I’d finished the last touches when Gladys knocked on the door and entered with Carlos. They helped me get into my costume.

“The house is open,” Serafina’s voice said over the speaker system in my dressing room. “That’s thirty minutes to the top of Act One.”

Carlos helped me fix the microphone on the top of my head before placing the wig and ensuring it was secure.

“Fifteen minutes. This is your fifteen-minute call,” Serafina said over the intercom.

“You’ve got this,” Gladys said. “Break a leg.”

Internally, I grimaced at the thought of breaking a leg on opening night…again. I had to remind myself that it was a theater trope, and she didn’t want me to break a bone literally.

I did a quick touch-up of my makeup and made my way to stage right for the top of Act One. I was in the hallway when I heard Serafina call places, so I hurried and got to stage right as the auditorium lights flickered on and off, telling the audience to find their seats.

The auditorium lights dimmed, and San Nicolás walked onstage to thunderous applause. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to The Naughty List ,“ San Nicolás’ voice boomed throughout the auditorium. “We hope you enjoy our little production as much as we enjoy performing it.” San Nicolás then read the standard list of things not to do at the theater, including don’t record the show, don’t take flash photography, and “unwrap those infernal candy wrappers before the show or you will get an elfin piece of coal in your stocking.” As San Nicolás finished his curtain speech and walked off the stage, the lights dimmed one last time before the orchestra started the overture.

“For the love of Rudolph, let’s do this!” Peeter said behind me.

“And for Santa’s sake, don’t elf it up!” Katherine added.

“Holy fudge! We’ve got this,” I added right before it was time for us to enter stage right.

The show ran like clockwork. There were a few moments when the clapping at the ends of songs was longer than we were used to, but we got through Act One with zero problems. By the time we started the top of Act Two, the show was entirely in the swing of things, and I wasn’t worried about anything. Muscle memory took over, and we sailed through the show. I was both fully present and watched the musical unfold around me like a specter watching from a distance.

As we headed into the eleven o’clock number, I was ready to go. When the music started, I took my place, and I sang like I’d never sung before. I put every ounce of anxiety, fear, depression, hope, excitement, and joy into those three minutes and thirty-three seconds of the song. When I hit that last high note, it was as effortless in my throat as breathing. When the downbeat hit, I watched the audience as my chest heaved up and down. I was surprised when one pocket of audience members jumped to their feet, followed by the other pockets. Before I knew it, the entire theater was standing and applauding. We’d had a great crowd all night long, but this was a first. I stood there smiling, doing my best to stay in character so we could move on to the next scene.

When the audience finally sat down, I exited stage left for my last quick-change into the wedding scene.

“That was amazing,” Katherine said in the wings. “You’re always good, but that was at a completely different level.”

“I don’t enjoy tooting my own horn, but I transcended there for a moment. At that moment, I was not Erika. I wasn’t Tinsel Hollicane. I was love. I was Christmas. I was every hope and desire people have during the holiday season.”

“Save it for your first press interview,” Katherine joked. She looked at me seriously and added, “You were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.”

I didn’t have time to respond because it was already time to head back on stage for the finale. The song went off without a hitch, and by the time we took our bows. I knew…I just sensed we honestly had a hit on our hands.

After the applause, the creative team and Rebekka Eldridge came on stage and said a few words. Then we sang the last refrain from “Christmas Wedding” one last time, the curtain closed, and we all broke out in hoots and hollers on stage. We’d opened a new Broadway musical.

“Okay, people,” Eldridge said. “I know we’ve had our trials and tribulations getting this show put up. But I want all of you to know how proud I am of this company. I think my late husband is sitting in heaven smiling tonight as his dream has been fulfilled. I look forward to seeing everyone at the opening night party at Sardi’s.”

With that, we were summarily dismissed. I rushed back to my dressing room and found Gladys and Carlos ready to help me out of my costume, wig and microphone. Once they finished, I ran through the shower. Carlos promised to be back in to help me with my hair and makeup. True to his word, he was there in thirty minutes.

“What are you wearing?” he asked. “I want to make sure your makeup matches.”

I unzipped the garment bag. The rainforest night green dress was made of crushed velvet with a twisted ruched high slit and matching full-length gloves. I had six-inch red stilettos dyed to match the ruby necklace and earrings I would wear.

“Wow,” he said. “That’s absolutely gorgeous. I will paint you to match the accessories without being overkill.”

I sat down in the chair, and he went to work. I closed my eyes and let myself take a respite while he performed his magic.

“You can open your eyes now,” Carlos whispered.

I did as told and was utterly shocked by the image staring back at me in the mirror. Now, I know I’m an attractive woman. You don’t get to star in several Broadway musicals if you’re not beautiful. But I was absolutely shocked by the beauty that stared back at me through the mirror. I teared up. I couldn’t help myself. I had never looked more amazing in my entire life.

“No,” Carlos demanded. “You will not cry. You are perfection. I am not doing your makeup again. So, put on a stiff upper lip and be gorgeous.”

I centered myself and said, “Yes, sir.”

I slipped on the heels, then put on the dress. Carlos helped me zip it up in the back. I hadn’t brought a coat to wear over it because I would not be spending much time outside. I would go from the theater to the car waiting for me. And after the party, a car would take me home.

I walked toward the back door where the cars were supposed to be waiting for us. I ran into Vladislav Nicolai in the hall. “Just the woman I was looking for,” he said as I approached. I still was weary around the man, but I threw on my best smile. “We had your car taken around to the front entrance.”

“Why?” I said with a bit of hesitation.

He threw a dismissive hand and said, “It was too crowded in the back, so we split it up at the last minute. I’ve been catching people and redirecting them.”

“Thanks for letting me know.” I headed to the lobby to take the escalator down to the first floor. The house staff were finishing the post-show cleaning. A few of them congratulated me as I walked through the lobby. I got to the top of the escalator and rode it down.

I looked down at the bottom of the escalator. The most gorgeous man I’d ever seen wear a black tux. He stood there holding a bouquet of white roses.

“Whoa, you look absolutely amazing,” Kirk said as I took the step off the escalator.

“You clean up pretty nicely yourself there, Mr. Brewster.”

He stood there for a moment, gawking at me. I guess the dress is doing the trick . He finally snapped out of it and handed me the roses. “These are for you.”

“Thank you.” I held them up to my nose and inhaled deeply. “I love the aroma of freshly cut roses.”

“That’s what Johnny told me,” Kirk admitted with a smile.

I threw my arms around Kirk’s neck and leaned in. I craved to feel his lips against mine. Kirk’s arm slipped behind my lower back and pulled me closer until our lips touched. The kiss was tender and passionate. My right foot tried to pop, but my dress was too tight to fully pop. It didn’t matter. In my heart of hearts, I was having what everyone longs for…the first kiss with their true love. I don’t know how I knew Kirk was my soulmate, but in the deepest crevasse of my soul, I knew he was the man for me. There was a taste of peppermint on his breath. We stood like that for an eternity. The theater melted away and it was just the two of us. I opened my eyes for just a second. Kirk was leaning into me. And I swear his right leg was kicked back, putting his weight on his toe. So, one of us had a foot-popping experience.

I broke away from Kirk. “Whoa,” he said, still a little breathless. “That was amazing.” He leaned for another kiss, but a voice clearing beside us forced us to break away faster this time. I turned my head and was surprised to see Carlos and Vladislav Nicolai standing there.

“I’m here because a little birdie told me you may need a makeup touch-up,” Carlos said, glancing at Nicolai.

“And I’m here because your car is waiting,” Nicolai said with no emotion. I guess he’s a big softy after all .

Carlos swooped in and retouched my makeup. I reached up and rubbed a lipstick smudge from Kirk’s lips. When I was presentable by Carlos’ standards, Nicolai opened the front door of the building and ushered Kirk and me out into the waiting town car.

“I’ll be there soon,” Carlos said. “Please, no hanky-panky in the car. I will not be there to fix your makeup when you exit the vehicle.”

“Yes, Dad,” I yelled to Carlos as Nicolai shut the car door behind us. When we were finally alone in the car, I looked down to find that we were holding hands. I hadn’t realized what we’d done until we entered the car. It was different and yet so normal.

“Did Carissra come?” I asked. “In the shock of seeing you in your tux, I forgot to ask about her.”

“She apologizes for not being here now, but she was beat. Johnny promised to see her back to our apartment before he and Amani join us at Sardi’s.”

I nestled in beside Kirk and let out a contented sigh. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to realize how much I liked you,” I told Kirk, looking into his brown eyes.

“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to kiss you, Erika Saunders,” Kirk admitted. “I was attracted to you the minute I met you.”

“Really?” I said, gasping. “Why didn’t you make a move?” I asked with a playful shove.

“I kind of thought you were out of my league. You’re a big hotshot star. I’m a normal, average Joe schoolteacher.”

“Kirk, I don’t know if you stared at yourself in the mirror after putting on that tux, but you are anything but average. In fact, you will probably be the hottest guy at the party tonight, so don’t even think about going home with someone else.” Even with the streetlights that filled the car as we drove, I could see Kirk blush.

“Are you ready for this?” I asked.

“For what?”

“The spotlight.”

“What do you mean?”

I took a second to gather my thoughts and gave him a brief rundown of what it would be like when we stepped out of the car at Sardi’s. “There will be reporters. There will be lots of cameras and flashes. Just plaster on a smile.”

“Oh geez,” Kirk said. “I guess I hadn’t thought about that part.”

“No worries,” I said, squeezing his hand. “I’m going to be right there by your side.”