Stealing the Show (PolyAm Fam #3)

Chapter 6

six

raine

Danielle pulled into a parking space on campus near the theater department’s office building. “I love that there’s actually parking here in the summertime.”

“I appreciate you coming with me to face the dean,” I said. “I honestly didn’t think we’d get an appointment with her so quickly. I thought I’d have to take off from my summer job.”

“See, it all worked out. I had today off anyway, and my doctor’s appointment is right after! Since Noah is in surgery and can’t come, I appreciate you stepping in to fill his shoes.”

“I’m sure you would have been fine going with just Aris.” I slung my purse over my shoulder and climbed out of the car.

“I’m sure too, but might as well get my new OB used to having a crowded exam room.” She laughed as she bounded up the steps to the building where the theater department offices were.

She seemed to be so much happier and have so much more energy than before. I didn’t know if it was because she was getting fucked by two gorgeous men or due to pregnancy hormones. Either way, the glow looked great on her, and I was a tad bit jealous since my life was not quite as peachy at the moment.

“Hopefully this will all be a silly misunderstanding,” she said as we tackled the stairs to the second floor. “You’ll get this off your record, and when you finish up your thesis, they can grant your degree, and then you can get a kick-ass job!”

I thought about that as we turned the corner and headed down the long hallway to Dean Chow’s office. If I got a kick-ass job, that would mean moving away from Bloomington. Leaving Danielle, Bonnie, and all my friends. Leaving Leo and Maggie, whom I’d just met but liked very much.

I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it , I reassured myself. You’re not gonna be going anywhere if you can’t come up with this jewelry or twelve grand!

The administrative assistant ushered us into the dean’s office, and we settled in chairs across from her desk as we waited for her to return from another meeting. Danielle scanned the office, looking at the framed playbills decorating the walls. “You think she did all these shows?”

I shrugged. “Probably. Why else would she have them on her office walls? I’m pretty sure she did Broadway when she was our age.”

“That’s amazing. I wish I could do that.” A wistful sigh floated out of my friend’s mouth. Right before she got pregnant, a broken leg and some throat issues had derailed her own thesis project. She was supposed to have surgery to correct a deviated septum, but now she was holding off until after the baby arrived. Would she ever make it to Broadway if she was a mom…and if she was still with Aris and Noah? They were pretty deeply rooted right here in Bloomington with their jobs.

Okay, so maybe she wasn’t quite walking on easy street. Her future was uncertain too.

Dean Chow hustled into the office, tossing apologies out as she got situated behind her desk. She flexed her fingers, then bent them, and all her knuckles cracked. “So what can I do for you?”

I liked that she was very straightforward and down-to-earth. Hopefully that would make this easier.

“I got an email from Dr. Wharton about a costume I checked out earlier in the year for my research project. Something about some missing jewelry that was part of the accessory kit?” I handed her the printout of the email I’d received.

When she bent over the paper, Dean Chow’s long, straight fifty-shades-of-gray hair fell over her cheek like a silver waterfall. Then her head popped up, and her narrow dark eyes met mine. “Why didn’t you take this up with Dr. Wharton?”

“I did. She insists the jewelry was with the dress, and that I am responsible for it. But I don’t understand why very valuable jewelry was being used for a costume. I was under the impression that the costume department only used, well, costume jewelry,” I explained.

Dean Chow huffed. “That particular costume was worn by the actress who played Velma Kelly in our last production of Chicago ,” she enlightened us. “The jewelry was lent by a local antiques dealer who is a patron of our program. I believe he’s been pressuring Dr. Wharton to return it.”

“But I didn’t even open the accessories bag,” I argued. “I was studying the design of the gown, trying to replicate it for one of the designs for my thesis. I was trying to use it to create a pattern. I have to actually sew one costume for the project, and it’s going to be a gown like that one. I returned the bag and accessories kit with the dress. I am sure the jewelry must not have been in there when I checked it out.”

“Costumes and accessories, all components of a lot, are checked in fastidiously upon return to the costume warehouse,” she reminded me. “You know Dr. Wharton is a stickler for policy and procedure. I can’t imagine that anyone would defy her by cutting corners.”

I wanted to retort, Oh, really? Well, we all hate her, so…

“So you’re saying I have no recourse?” My stomach twisted in knots as I thought about what I would do if I really was on the hook for this jewelry set.

“It was a rare antique set. I have photos of it from our run of Chicago if that’s helpful.” She made a few clicks on her computer and then angled the screen so I could see it. Sure enough, there were Velma Kelly and Roxy Hart, sporting their elegant sequined dresses, white fur stoles, white gloves and, in the next photo, a close-up, I saw the beautiful gold and pearl necklace around the actress’s neck.

I sighed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“I’m sorry you’re in this situation.” Dean Chow settled back in her chair and folded her hands in her lap. “I wish there was some way for me to help you, but the antiques store owner donates a lot of money to our program. We certainly don’t want to disappoint him. I fear that even if we pay him back the money the set cost him, he will not forgive our transgression. It was a one-of-a kind set. He’s not likely to be able to replace it—at any cost. And I know he won’t be loaning any more pieces to the department, not even costume jewelry. And that’s a shame because he has access to a wide selection of period-appropriate pieces.”

I buried my face in my palms, biting my cheek to keep the tears at bay. Danielle put her hand on my back and rubbed circles, trying to soothe me.

“So there’s really nothing else to be done?” she asked the dean. “How do you know another student didn’t steal it before Raine even checked out the piece?”

“We don’t know that for sure,” the dean agreed. “But we have no way of knowing. We have to go by the paperwork, which says Raine is responsible.”

I thanked the dean for her time and hurried down the hallway with Danielle trying hard to keep up. “I’m so sorry, sweetie,” she called after me as I took the stairs as fast as I could.

“Well, at least your appointment should go better than that one did.” I didn’t mean to slam the door after I climbed into her car, but I just couldn’t seem to help myself.

* * *

“Hey, Aris,” I greeted Danielle’s partner when we arrived in the parking lot of the obstetrician’s office.

“Hey, Raine.” He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me tight in a bear hug.

I pulled back and took in his happy face. He looked absolutely ecstatic. I was still worried about my own situation, but I was going to shove that aside so I could be happy for my friends who were embarking on a journey to parenthood.

We all walked inside, took the elevator to the third floor and stood a few feet back while Danielle checked in with the receptionist.

“How’ve you been?” Aris patted me on the back while Dani filled out paperwork.

“Oh, not too bad.” I rocked forward on my heels a bit as if to distract from my obvious lie.

“Great!” He rubbed his hands together. “Ready to be an aunt to the most kick-ass baby who’s ever lived?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his exuberance. “Yep, I’m pretty stoked.”

“Me too!” We both sat down, and Danielle joined us a few minutes later.

“My hand is cramped from signing so much shit!” She shook her hand dramatically as she plopped down next to Aris.

“I’ll rub it later, baby,” he promised, “and anything else you have that needs rubbing.”

Dani rolled her eyes but giggled. We were all laughing and chatting so loudly that we almost didn’t hear the nurse call Dani’s name.

She leapt up. “We’re coming!” She led her entourage through the doorway and into the hallway where all the exam rooms are.

The nurse took her blood pressure, heart rate, pulse ox, and temperature, then she promised she’d send the doctor right in. She didn’t even bat an eye at the fact Danielle had brought two people with her.

Dr. Cameron waltzed in a few minutes later. She was a short, squat, no-frills woman wearing a white lab coat, stretchy black leggings, and brightly colored Hoka sneakers. Hey, good for her, staying comfortable racing from patient to patient all day.

“Well, howdy, y’all! Which one of y’all are fixin’ to have a baby?” I was not expecting a deep southern-fried accent to come out of her mouth, but that was what we got.

Aris and I both pointed to Danielle, who was perched on the end of the exam table. The nurse came back in and handed the chart to Dr. Cameron, who perused it for a moment. “Well, we’re at about twelve weeks today, so we’re gonna do a quick scan and see what we can see. Make sure our dates are good.”

“Oh, an ultrasound today!” Danielle squealed. “Right now?”

“Yes, ma’am. We’re gonna have ya strip down and put on this gown. It’ll be a transvaginal ultrasound, so there’ll be a wand stuck up your hoo-ha. Do you have any objections to that? We can ask your entourage to leave if you’d like?”

“Oh, they can stay. I don’t care about that.” She grinned.

“Excellent, we’ll be back in a few. Catch ya on the flip side!”

She waltzed right back out the door.

“Wow, I’ve never met a doctor like her before,” I commented as Danielle stripped down to her bra and panties, then tucked herself inside the gown.

“Pretty sure you need to take those off too,” Aris said. “I’ll help!”

“She’s awesome, right? Noah’s partner recommended her. Said they don’t come any better than Dr. Cameron.” Dani allowed Aris to unhook her bra and slide her panties down. She kissed him on the forehead as she stepped out of the panties. “What would I do without you, love?”

“You’d probably get to wear panties a whole helluva lot more often!” He chuckled and helped her climb back up on the exam table.

Dr. Cameron, the nurse, and another woman came back in wheeling a cart with equipment. They got Danielle all set up while Aris and I watched from across the room. I locked eyes with my friends as the ultrasound tech inserted the probe and the screen began to flash in black and white as she moved it.

“I’m nervous,” Danielle mouthed.

“No need to be,” the doctor assured us. “Look—stop it right there, Carrie.” She pointed to the screen. “There’s your baby, looking just fine and dandy! Its little heart is beating away.”

“Oh my god!” Danielle cried. “It’s got little arms and legs!”

“Well, of course it’s got arms and legs.” Dr. Cameron chuckled. “You’re not growing a football in there!”

We all laughed. The ultrasound tech moved, took some screenshots and measurements, then moved again. We were all quiet while she finished, then Dr. Cameron pointed out a few things to us. “The embryo is measuring twelve weeks, two days. That’s right in line with the gestational age we calculated by your last period. The heart rate is 155 and looks nice and strong. And I’m only seeing one baby, right, Carrie?”

Carrie smiled. “Just one healthy baby!”

A tear trickled down my friend’s cheek as Aris stepped over and took her hand into his, bringing it to his mouth for a tender kiss. “I’m one of the dads,” he said proudly.

Dr. Cameron and her staff didn’t even bat an eye at that comment. I felt like a fifth wheel sitting over to the side, but the overwhelming emotion was sinking into me, filling me with my own sense of joy for Aris and Danielle—and Noah too, of course. I wished he could have been there instead of me, but I was so honored to share this moment with them.

I had never thought much about being a mother. I was adopted right when I was born, and my adoptive mother wasn’t the most nurturing soul. I’d never been close to her, and I always sort of assumed I wouldn’t have kids of my own.

But right now, I wondered what it might be like to be in Danielle’s shoes, lying up there on the exam table, seeing a tiny human I was growing for the very first time. The relief that everything seemed to be progressing normally. The anticipation of meeting the little one face to face. The worry that something might go wrong in the interim. The excitement of finding out if it was a boy or a girl and whose genes had won out.

It was hard to imagine the swirl of emotions Danielle must have been feeling, but it also was hard not to wonder if it was a swirl of emotions I might ever experience myself.

maggie

I’d received an email reply from the surrogate agency on my drive home from work, but I knew better than to try to read it before I got home. I wanted Leo there too, and since he was on days this week, we’d be able to discuss it together, in person, right away.

“Hey, baby, you’re finally home!” He swept me into his arms, pressing his lips against mine as I breathed in his manly, musky scent. “How was work?”

“It was fine, but I’m tired and glad to be home.” I hugged him back. “What do you want to do for dinner?”

“I’ve got baked ziti in the oven,” he said. “Not homemade. It’s one of the frozen dinners we picked up at the store, but it’s starting to smell good. Can you smell the garlic?”

I took a huge whiff, and I could still only smell his scent. I wasn’t complaining. “Hey, I got an email back from the surrogate agency. They were supposed to send me an appointment date and time.”

“Oh!” His face lit up. “When is it? I will make sure to schedule that day off.”

I pulled out a barstool and took a seat, and he joined me as I worked my way into my email. “Oh…”

“What? What is it?”

“They can’t get us in for six months?” My nose wrinkled up in frustration. “Six months? For fuck’s sake. Just for an appointment? Then we still have to go through the process of finding a surrogate and then a nine-month pregnancy!” I slammed my phone down and raked my hands through my hair.

He wrapped a strong arm around me and pulled me to his side. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’ve waited this long. We’re just going to have to be patient.”

“We’re not getting any younger,” I reminded him. “We’re going to be ancient by the time this kid goes to college.” I sighed. “The appointment is in November! That feels like a million years from now.”

“It’s almost June,” he reminded me. “It’s going to go fast. Forward me the email, and I’ll get it on my calendar at work right away.”

“Okay.” I was quiet as I contemplated whether or not there was anything we could do in the meantime. I couldn’t think of anything else. There were other surrogate agencies in Indiana, but this one had the highest rankings and best outcomes. And I’d done my research.

If there was one thing I could do, it was research.

“Let’s take our mind off all this tonight.” Leo grabbed my hand and kissed up my arm, all the way to my neck, sending chills up my spine. “We haven’t had a night in by ourselves in forever, you know?”

I turned toward him. “What do you want to do?”

“I want to feed you a hearty dinner, watch something on Netflix, give you a nice massage, and then make sweet love to you.”

“Only if we can be in bed by ten,” I challenged him. I was exhausted.

“Well, we better get a move on.” He stood up. “Go put your feet up. I’ll make a salad, and dinner should be ready in twenty minutes.”

How did I manage to marry the best man in the universe? Seriously. I was beyond blessed.

He was going to make such a great dad.