Page 18 of Curtain Call
The Rent poster used to hang in Riley’s bedroom. His parents took them to New York City for his sixteenth birthday. They waited after the show by the backstage door leading to an alley to get some signatures from the cast. It meant a lot to Riley at the time, still does, and to see it hanging in the theater stings his eyes. Riley gifted it to Colin before he left for New York.
“Of course I do,” Colin walked over and put his arm around Riley’s shoulders. “It’s one of your favorite musicals, and you had the soundtrack on repeat for a year after we saw it.”
“Is that why we always took your car?”
Colin sings softly into Riley’s ear, “Take me baby or leave me.”
Colin squeezes Riley’s shoulder, kisses him on the temple, and settles in with their lunch.
Mac ties a knot in the bag containing their empty containers while Colin pops the lid on the Tupperware box from Mrs. Cooper. The smell of cinnamon rolls fills the lobby and Riley and Mac both hold their stomachs.
“Cinnamon rolls anyone?” Colin asks.
“How are you even hungry after that lunch,” Riley replies.
“Same,” Mac adds, “maybe after a bit.”
Mac drops the bag next to the door as a reminder to take it out when she leaves. It’s the least she could do since the guys bought lunch. Looking around the empty lobby she wasn’t sure if she should pry. But she does.
“Any chance of getting some decorations for the lobby to add to the festivities this year?”
Colin hasn’t been very festive since the accident. Usually, he will put up a tinsel tree with lights, and a few cling-on window decorations and call it a season. It’s not very festive, but it’s better than nothing.
“As a matter of fact, we have decorations in the car,” Colin offers up a little bow, “thank you very much.”
“Your idea?” She winks at Riley.
“Can you believe this one wanted to put up
a fake tree?” Riley crinkles his nose and sticks out his tongue while pointing at Colin with his thumb.
“Excuse the two of you,” Colin starts in on both of them. “I’m the one who has to water it and clean up all the fallen needles. Not the likes of you two.”
“Well, I’m here to help this year so thank you for my new tree,” he kisses Colin on the shoulder.
“You’re welcome. Besides, it was on the way.”
Riley made Colin pull into Wilson Farms in Lexington. It is such a quaint farm with a general store next to the main road. Outside the shop, a new garden center was erected for the holiday season filled with trees, wreaths, and decorations. Walking around, Colin found a seven-foot Douglas Fir for the lobby, which he was happy to pay for since it was going in his theater, and Riley picked out and paid for two wreaths. He was inspired by the museum earlier.
“Wait, you got a real tree?” Mac asks as Colin was already walking out the door.
“Yes, Mackenzie, a real one,” Colin rolled his eyes and grinned before the door shut behind him.
“Seriously?” Mac asks Riley
“A real one.”
“We haven’t had a real tree in here since his parents passed because it triggered too many emotions,” Mac whispered.
Colin pokes his head back in the door.
“Ya’ll wanna stop gossiping and help get this thing in before I change my mind?”
“Not really,” Mac says playfully while she and Riley scurry toward the door.
Riley mouths the word y’all toward Mac with his brows knitted together while Mac responds with shrugged shoulders and a smile.
“Coming cowboy?” Riley whispers to Mac as they both let out a laugh.
