putterer, but I have a feeling you’re going to be able to light a fire under him. The restrooms are clearly marked, but I’ll send directions.”
“Good. That will help. How’s the show going, Boop? I just can’t believe this has all happened. I put it on Facebook. Did you see? I had sixty-seven of those like things, and also some hearts, and your uncle Gregory hit share on what I said, and now other people can see it who are friends with him.”
“Wow.”
“I was real happy you could share it. I really like that Facebook.”
“Social media is a wondrous thing. It’s going well, I think.”
“You think?”
Lauren sighed. “I second-guess everything I’m doing and sometimes feel like a total fraud working alongside true professionals, but I haven’t been fired yet, so I keep showing up.”
Her mother made a tsking noise. “You’re selling yourself short. You always do that, Ms. Type A. You’re talented, kind, gorgeous, and my daughter. I just can’t wait to see you shine. Uncle Frank is going to look down on this from Heaven with a smile.”
“Thanks, Mama,” Lauren said. “Knock my little brother in the head for me.”
“How about I just ruffle his hair a little next time he stops by for spaghetti and garlic bread? Did you know he’s up for junior partner at the firm?”
“I didn’t. I need to call him.”
“When you have a spare minute, you will. Right now, I’m just vibrating that the tiny being that lived in my tummy is going to perform in front of thousands. My Boop. Do you hear me? Vibrating. You can probably tell through the fancy phones they have now.”
“Mom!” she said with a laugh, though it was every bit as surreal to her, too. “We can vibrate together. I’ll see you soon, and don’t worry for a second about the tickets. I’ve taken care of everything.”
They said their good-byes, and Lauren clicked off the call and sighed. She felt a little better after speaking with her mother, but nerves were creeping in as opening night approached. There was a knock on her dressing room door, and a moment later, Carly peeked her head around.
“May I enter?”
“You may.”
“You were so on today,” Carly said, sitting on the arm of the couch.
“Do you really think so?” Lauren’s stomach tightened in that uncomfortable way it had been all week.
“I know so.” Carly wore jeans, a purple ribbed top with two buttons undone, and brown heeled boots. The beautiful color was not lost on Lauren who spent just as much time thinking about Carly these days as she did the play. She always looked forward to their quiet times alone. She’d grown so used to her presence. She tried to imagine her life before Carly. It felt so long ago.
“Here’s the thing,” Carly said. “You’re so precise. I can always count on you to be a reliable scene partner, but you always bring the emotion right along with it.” A small pause. “I’m flipping out a little bit.”
Lauren took in the compliment but moved right past it to Carly’s confession. “What do you have to flip out about? You’re a professional actress. This is what you live for.”
Carly’s eyes were wider than usual, and she chewed on the inside of her lip nervously. Her fists were balled, and Carly wasn’t someone who balled her fists. Ever. “No. Not at all. No. This isn’t what I do. I don’t have thousands of people watch me work. Film sets are filled with production crew, yeah, but they’re not there to see me perform. They didn’t pay money. This is wildly different.” She slid off the arm of the couch onto a cushion, in defeat.
It made sense. Carly wasn’t used to having eyeballs staring at her. “That part doesn’t matter. You’re just going to go out there and do the same show we just finished running today.” Lauren knelt in front of her and rested her hands on Carly’s knees. “You’re going to get angry with me, and then confide in me, and we’re going to laugh together, and kiss, and then get ripped dramatically apart so we can find our way back once again in a grocery store, of all places. It’ll be grand.”
“But the audience will be there,” Carly said, as if she was informing Lauren of something she didn’t seem to realize.
“That part is true. They might also be noisy. Gum wrappers, cell phones, and the occasional vocal participant are all things I’ve gotten used to, working here. The elderly