“The show and the party must go on.”
Joseph couldn’t help the lengthy stare he was giving her. There were so many questions he wanted to ask. Perched on the edge of his desk, he stretched out his entire six-foot-five inch frame, with his hands relaxed in his lap. He wanted her to see him as open and non-combative. She seemed calm enough. Maybe they could have a civil conversation.
The door opened with a lot less fanfare this time. The moment of silence that followed was akin to watching two lionesses size each other up.
“I’m guessing no one ever told you it was rude to stare.” Katharine had a smile on her face, but if you knew her, and Joseph did, she was being anything but friendly.
“We weren’t expecting anyone,” Robyn said, “so I’m a little surprised to see anyone in our office this early.”
“Oh, I didn’t know things had gotten so tight around here, Joseph. You’re sharing now?”
Robyn closed the door with as much force as she could reasonably get away with before it became a discussion she had to have with Joseph.
“Joey, did I miss a message saying our meeting was rescheduled?”
Katharine didn’t miss the nickname. She would deny it, but he was willing to bet that it was used intentionally. He hated the nickname that made him sound like a toddler. Plus, Robyn would knock on his closed office door unless she was one hundred percent sure he was alone. With the theater being open for office hours during the week, there was a great possibility that he wouldn’t be by himself.
“Did you go past Sean’s office?”
“No. I pulled up in the back and cut across the stage. Is he planning to meet with us, too?”
“I’m not sure. I’d like to introduce you to the star of our show, Ms. Katharine Dresden.”
Katharine never left her chair, but extended her hand, all the same. Robyn gave Joseph the side-eye, and then moved forward to shake the hand. Having only seen pictures, and now with her sitting, there was no way to tell how tall the woman truly was, but it was nice to be able to look down on her in that moment.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You are?”
“I’m Robyn Rose, production stage manager for the show. We’ll be spending a lot of time together, Ms. Dresden.”
“Then I suppose you better call me Katharine.”
“Certainly. Did you receive my e-mails with the current script changes, calendar, contact sheet, rehearsal reports to date?”
“Well, unless the Internet recently broke, I’m sure I did. Now, if the question is have I read anything you sent me, the answer is no. I would like to finish the conversation we were in the middle of, so if you can give us a few minutes—”
Roby’s hand had already begun to shake. Finishing a third bottle of wine and falling asleep naked with damp hair and skin was terrible. Waking up too queasy for the food that would absorb said alcohol didn’t help. She’d pulled it together, not wanting to give the big bear a reason smack her backside for being late, but she was in no mood for the diva’s dismissive tone. She turned to Joseph to see where he was with this little demand.
“Why don’t you go and check in with Sean? I think he and Jerry are working on the opening night party, so they might have info for you. The three of us will meet after that.”
She hoped she had masked her shock as well as she had her annoyance, but was pretty confident she failed at both.
“You want me to go and get party details?”
“Please.” Words and eyes matching, Joseph was imploring her to make a graceful exit.
Turning her back on Katharine completely, Roby snatched the tablet off of his messy desk, rolled her eyes at him, and left the room without another word or backwards glance.
Going over to close the door, Joseph took a breath before turning back to his prickly ex. “Kat, don’t. I know you. Do not dismiss my stage manager again.”
“Anything you say—Joey. So, is it safe to say that your relationship—”
“Is absolutely none of your business? Yes, that’s an extremely safe thing for you to say, and do not call me Joey again. Please go over all of the documents that Robyn sent you. You’re welcome to use the studio or the black box theatre to work until Bosch comes in for us to start working on the Act I blocking.”
“Retribution dismissal?”
“What?”
“I asked her to leave us alone for a moment, and she wasn’t happy that you went along with it. You want to be able to tell her you paid me back a little, huh?”
“Kat, I agreed to this. Your being here can’t uproot our process or our team. Can you please try to get along with everyone? Sean said you’d be on your best behavior.”
“You know how I feel about those sort of phrases, Joseph.”
Boy, did he ever. Things he thought of as endearing and caring, she found condescending.
“I know how you feel about a great many things, Kat, so why don’t you pour it all into your character. We’ll meet in the studio at two pm.”
She picked up her bag, closed the bottle of water that she only took a cursory sip from, and left it on his desk with a glare. As he was about to step out of her path so she could leave the room, she stepped directly into his space, pressing against him like she was scenting him.
“Joop. You are such a creature of habit. But I can’t say I’m mad about it,” she added caressing his cheek. “See you later, Joseph.”
It wasn’t until the door closed that he unclenched his hands. This would end up being the longest rehearsal process in the history of the stage. He left for Sean’s office. It was one thing to ruffle feathers and do a little verbal sparring with Kat, but settling whatever was brewing with him and Roby needed to be handled immediately. Katharine would only get worse. Roby needed motivation to get through this first day, and, clearly, words of affirmation wasn’t the way to go.
He heard them before he even put his hand up to knock on the door. Sean’s office was tucked away in the back of the main theater beneath the booth. It was a long wrap-around space that couldn’t be seen from the lobby, or accessed easily by anyone who didn’t know it was there. It would’ve been considered the worst office in the arts center, if Sean hadn’t picked it out himself when he took over running the space. The place was like a cave, and the man loved it. The voices he was hearing were anything but loving.
“Stop yelling, right now!”
“If I’m not yelling, I feel like you and Joseph aren’t listening!”
“I thought the two of you talked. I know I certainly talked a blue streak to the both of you, now enough, already. You’re not going anywhere, and neither is she. Conversation over. Come in,” Sean called out in reply to Joseph’s knuckle raps against his door.
“You mind if I steal my stage manager for a little while?”
Joseph and Sean shared a look that Roby was far too pissed to catch. She was consumed with her own scowl.
“Sounds like a great idea. I think her blood sugar might be low.”
Sean went to kiss her head as he was leaving. She refused to yield to him at all. Arms crossed and posture stiff, she didn’t even give him a cursory glance as he whispered for her to settle down and behave. Well, if she didn’t, she would only have herself to blame for a sore bottom for the next few hours.
He called from the hall as he headed out, “Use the office as long as you need.”
Chapter Eleven
Standing in front of the door, Joseph opened his arms. He didn’t want to say anything right now. What he did want was for her to want to be comforted by him. She did have a stubborn streak, though, and it was clear he might have to do more than stand there.
Arms crossed at her breast, Robyn looked far more committed to her righteous anger than she actually felt. The man was standing, arms open, and all she needed to do was take a step. Maybe it would be better for her to just demand that he move, and to let the stupid notion she had about him—building a career and moving forward the way she wanted—rem
ain an exercise in futility. It had been a few fun weeks, but she wasn’t sure she could take what he was offering. She lifted her head and scanned Sean’s office. She hated that being angry made her cry, because it was always misread, and they didn’t need more confusion between them.
“Maybe I need the hug,” he said.
“What?” She turned from the wedding picture Sean kept on his desk of him and Jerry.
“Maybe I’m standing here with my arms hanging open because I need a hug from you.”
“It didn’t even seem like you wanted me around. Surely you could find comfort somewhere else.”
“Sean would do a lot of things for me, but I have to say, even if he was willing, I’d find it a little weird to take a cuddle from him.”
Giggles escaped her clenched jaw. “Don’t make me laugh. I’m mad at you.”
“I know. Come here, anyway.”
Her brain screamed all sorts of alerts in her head, but her feet, apparently, were taking their signal from someplace else. It wasn’t a long journey by any stretch, but as she got closer she practically fell into his arms. He was so much bigger, and his arms so much longer, she was like a burrito wrapped in them.
“Hi. This is the way I would’ve preferred our day to have started,” he said.
She took in his scent and absorbed the reassurance she wished she didn’t need. “Me, too. I would’ve preferred that it ended and started like this.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, just kissed the top of her head. When he felt her physical surrender, he loosened his grip.
“You want to tell me what that was all about? I didn’t think you and Sean got into it like that.”
“It’s no big deal. I love him, and he loves me, but it doesn’t mean we always agree on everything.”
Joseph went to lean on the edge of Sean’s wrap around wooden monstrosity of a desk and pulled his little spitfire between his knees. “Talk to me. Talk, not yell.”
Trying to wiggle back from him to no avail, she stiffened a little bit. “I wasn’t the one who started the yelling before. He’s was dictating again, and I was letting him know that I could run my own life.”
“Where were you planning on running?”
“You’re trying to be funny, and this is anything but. That woman—”
“Is exactly what we both told you she would be from the first moment her name came up. I asked you to do one thing, and so did Sean. Don’t rise to the bait, because she’ll be throwing it around from the moment you meet until the curtain closes.”
“You do realize she was looking at you like she wanted to mount you on your desk,” Robyn said.
“I don’t think that’s true, and even if it was, I certainly wouldn’t be entertaining the idea. I’m a big boy, and an honest one, who has given you zero reason to not trust me, so stop letting her dictate your behavior. I don’t want to see what I saw back in that office happen again.”
Robyn dropped her eyes to the space between them. She knew he was talking about the deliberate eye rolling and pseudo door slam. That had been what Sean was really pissed over. He called her on her acting out instead of talking things over with Joseph. Threatening to quit was another failing moment. It was also one she knew she needed to tell Joseph about before Sean did. Placing her hands on his chest, she finally looked up into his eyes.
“I may have stormed in here demanding my final check and told Sean I wouldn’t finish the show. When he asked why, I started screaming about everything, and then you knocked. I know she hasn’t been here long enough to make me so crazy, but she’s had a part of you that you’re deliberately holding back from me. I know you told me how you feel, but when we aren’t together, I don’t feel connected to you.”
“You think sex would help that?”
“I don’t think it’ll hurt it,” she replied.
“We have so much to still learn about one another. I’m not willing to rush into bed and put the other things on hold. I’m also not willing to let you do it. I want the long term, Robyn Renée Rose, and I want it with you. These last six weeks have been unexpected and amazing, but we have a long way to go. You cannot take off and try to quit every time your feelings get hurt or you get angry.” He got eye contact, but no verbal response. “Nothing?”
“I do want to try. I love my work, and of course I don’t want to quit, but I get so angry. I will not be taken advantage of, ever again. I was an idiot who believed that my husband would always put me first and had my best interest –our best interest—at heart all the time. Look where that got me.”
“Shh. Did you hear that?”
“No. What did you hear?”
Joseph reached behind him to make sure the monitoring system to the stage was off, and then got up to check the door just in case.
“Joseph, what is it?”
“I’m just making sure we aren’t going to be interrupted.”
“Sean picked this office because of its seclusion. Look, I’m sorry. I hate saying that, but I mean it. If we had talked more last night, I wouldn’t have been wound so tight when I woke up, and I certainly wouldn’t have made that lousy first impression on the Katharine Dresden. The last thing she needs is ammunition. I got it.”
“You done?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, new rules. We talk. Period. You take off running or avoid communicating with me, then the very next conversation we have will be with you across my knee. I will not be in battle with you and her all through this process.”
“You’re just looking for a way to see my naked ass without sex.”
“I don’t think you really believe that. Either way, it doesn’t matter. We’ve been agreeing to rules all along for the last six weeks. Some were explicit, and others just came about, but I’m giving this voice and formality. You said you need to feel connected. Well, this is a way.”
“Doesn’t seem like much fun for me.” Roby was pouting on the outside, but the sensations surging through her body confirmed that what she was feeling was real, and she wanted to go with it.
“Sometimes what’s best for us isn’t always fun. It’s getting late. We will finish this tonight. For now, it seems I’m supposed to get food into you. I believe the kids call it hangry.”
“Since when are you up on the latest teenage slang?”
“I stay on top of everything. Remember that!”
Chapter Twelve
They were both experiencing intense feelings. For Roby, it was like having the stomach virus. There was a constant queasiness coupled with bouts of sharp stabbing pain. Joseph was having that rock/hard place feeling, which was not a good situation for him to be in. His decisiveness was the thing that made him brilliant as a director. He was solid in his choices, and that always came across on stage. He had no problem with an actor using all manner of internal dialogue to motivate himself, as long as the intention moved them where he wanted. It was a system that had yet to fail him, and he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of being ping-ponged between the two women presently occupying his psyche.
His first move, when they got back from lunch, was to split their joined table into two. He and Robyn would be near enough for communication, but not so close that their behavior would become a distraction. Roby didn’t comment on it, but her retreat became obvious. It surprised the hell out of him, but Kat seemed to really like working with Bosch, and their chemistry worked. The blocking in Act I had been adjusted, and the changes actually made the scene pop more. It was as though she was made for the part. He loved Michelle, and she would’ve been great in her own way, but damn, if Sean wasn’t right. It was like the role had been written for Katharine Dresden.
Roby and Kat managed to stay clear of one another through the first break. During the second one, Kat had to go and meet the costume designer, and Roby was her escort.
“No. I don’t wear pastels. Not in real life, and certainly not on stage.”
“Katharine, I understand what you’re saying, and you’ll be able to discuss i
t with Joseph and the designer later on. I was simply answering your question regarding what was already in the works. This is the design concept that was conceived long before you came on board.”
“Well, my character is a grown woman, and not a child, so I can’t imagine why she would conceptually think that anything pastel would be appropriate.”
Roby wanted to say it was because Michelle looked so much younger, but refrained, reckoning such a comment would be seen as antagonistic. When they got to the dressing rooms, Roby called out, but an unfamiliar voice responded.
“I’m sorry. I was expecting Elaine.” Roby directed her statement to the young man standing with the tape measure around his neck.
“Her daughter woke up with a stomach bug, and she called me in to collect the measurements. I’m Josh. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Hi, Josh. I’m Robyn, the stage manager, and this is Katharine Dresden. She’s—”
“She— Me— I’m your new star, darling, and if Elaine couldn’t be here to discuss modifications with me directly, then she should’ve rescheduled. No offense.”
How could I be anything but offended? Josh thought. “No, ma’am, of course not, and none taken. May I still take your measurements? Perhaps we can set up a phone conference after she’s received them.”
Katharine made zero effort at hiding her exasperation. “Yes, yes, and be sure you leave me her number. Let’s get this over with quickly. Is there a dressing screen, dear?” she asked Robyn.
“No, we haven’t needed one, but you can—”
Robyn was seriously getting annoyed at constantly being interrupted or altogether stopped.
“Well, clearly that was because the person taking the measurements was a woman, sweetie.”
“If you let me finish, I was going to say we could use the large bathroom with the shower, and you could change back there, or I can take the measurements, and Josh can just record them, or—”
“Or we can do this on another day, meaning we are doing this another day. Call her and reschedule.”
Taking the Stage Page 9
