Page 60 of Before Forever

“Your dad is right. And if you forget a line, just keep going and play it off the best you can, like nothing happened. The audience won’t even be able to tell. It’s not like they’ve read the script. They’re just there to see a show. So give them one.”

“Yeah!” she shot back enthusiastically. “Give them a show!”

When we pulled up to the school and got out of the car, Derek walked around and grabbed my hand. He kept holding it as we headed to the front double doors. This was it. This was really happening. If there was any doubt about Derek and me being an item, they’d all know for sure now. And they’d know I was involved with Em too, at least in some small way. I knew at least Mrs. Gardner would be happy about it, right?

Derek pushed open the double doors to the school gymnasium and ushered us to our seats while Em ran off to meet up with her teachers and classmates backstage. Just before slipping behind the curtain, she turned to us and flashed a big smile with two enthusiastic thumbs up. I was quick to mirror the gesture right back.

As we settled into the front row next to Keith, I turned to Derek and said, “I’ve only known Em a few days, and I think I feel more invested in how she does tonight than I’ve felt about my own job in weeks.”

He laughed. “Em has that effect on people. But also, maybe that means you need a new job.”

I smiled and squeezed his hand, thinking how funny it was that I was starting to come around to the exact same idea.A new job.Maybe a whole new life.The feeling of my hand in his as I considered it only made it more enticing.

While we waited, I looked around for a few moments before turning to Keith. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Good to see you too,” he grinned, winking at Derek.

Those two had definitely talked about me. I couldn’t know what was said, but judging by the look on their faces, I had good reason to believe it was in my favor.

A few minutes later, the chatter of the crowd simmered down as the lights darkened and the curtains flew open. The children hurried across the stage, some more coordinated than others, in their bulky but adorable children’s book character costumes. Em had transformed into Bo Peep during her time backstage, complete with three little kids dressed as sheep by her side and a staff to guide them.

I felt giddy and proud, watching her recite all of her lines, and sing and dance with the others. But an even bigger tug to my heartstrings came from the look on Derek’s face as he watched her. He was a proud father through and through, and while the elementary school play may not have been a big deal to some, I would have sworn he might tear up if he wasn’t in a room full of people he knew.

When the final song and dance concluded, all the kids lined up for applause and a standing ovation. All the parents stood and mingled among the lines of chairs, congratulating each other on what a good job their kids did. I was surprised that as people patted Derek on the shoulder and sang Em’s praises, they offered the same to me as if I was already accepted as part of their family somehow.

Mrs. Gardner came out to talk to the parents as well, and she was quick to remind us about the cast party the next night. “We still need someone to bring another dessert,” she said to Derek. “Think you can bake some cookies?” Her eyes drifted over to me. “Or maybe you could, Melody?”

“I’d love to help Derek bake some cookies for the cast party,” I smiled in disbelief over the words coming out of my mouth.

The funny thing was I meant it, even though I would never have seen that coming. Again, the only motherly version of myself I had ever pictured was still working a demanding career as a top PR agent in New York. I wouldn’t have had time to bake cookies. I’d have to buy them from the bakery or ask the nanny to do it. I wondered, in that life, would I have even had time to make it to the play or school parties at all? It was hard to say, but for the first time, I knew I wanted to be the kind of mother who did.

Once the kids were finished cleaning up, they all came out to receive praise from their parents and neighbors firsthand.

Em came running out exclaiming, “Did you see me!? Did you see me!? I did it!”

She shot straight into Derek’s arms, who picked her up and swung her around. “We all saw it. You’re a star in the making, I tell you. We can’t wait for your next performance.”

Keith gave her a bouquet of flowers, then she turned to me and whispered, “You were right. I forgot a line, but I just kept going, and no one noticed!”

“Thatta girl!” I beamed.

We lingered for a while, letting Em chat with the other kids from the play. I scanned the crowd of proud, smiling parents and their happy little children. Everyone was so nice and friendly, coming together and supporting the town’s school production. They did that a lot, I realized. In all the time I had been in Silver Point, I had seen the whole community gather for one occasion right after another.

In New York, I was no stranger to cocktail or dinner parties. But they almost always revolved around some kind of work obligation. Schmooze this client or get this person’s business card. It always felt like more of a chore than anything. All the people at those things were the same as me, just forcing a smile to get what they came for so they could rush off back to work, or to get to bed for a new day of work, or to guzzle down a line of drinks to forget about work for a little while. It was exhausting, and the more I reflected back on it, it was pretty miserable. At least for me, it was.

But here, there was nothing to rush off to do, and everyone seemed genuinely happy to be in each other’s company. I didn’t want to leave that behind.

Finally, it was time to say our goodbyes. Keith, Derek, Em, and I headed out to the parking lot to discuss our plans for the evening.

“It’s such a nice night,” I said, taking in a deep breath of the cool evening air. “I think I’d like to walk home.”

Derek’s eyes were glued to me as Keith’s gaze darted back and forth between us. “Hey, why don’t I take Em home and get her started on dinner and bedtime?” he offered.

“Sure. I can walk you home,” Derek told me.

We were both relieved to be able to steal away a little time alone. But as we turned to walk towards the edge of the parking lot, I was startled by something in the bushes.

“Did you see that?” I asked Derek.

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