While Maggie and Tom continued on, Maxine pulled Drew to the side for just a bit to say her own good-bye. A terrace lined the restaurant, and he just chuckled as Maxine navigated their way toward the doors.
“Wasn’t our first kiss on a balcony?” he whispered as they slipped outside.
“Sounds about right,” she said, and stood high upon her tiptoes, clinging to his lapels to brace herself, ignoring the skyline behind them…at least for the moment.
“Happy birthday again, little one…” As their lips joined, Maxine could sense the rising desperation between them. Any thought of intimacy had been placed on hold with her father around. Maxine actuallly adored that Drew upheld that respect for Tom, in spite of her own protests when he left her the night before.
“Drew, thank you again for everything,” she whispered. “I didn’t think things could get better after you collared me, and yet every second seems more precious than the last.”
His thumb traced over her bottom lip, then drifted down to the gemstones that circled her neck. How he wanted to give her the kisses she loved…but now just wasn’t the time. “One day, hopefully soon, you’ll realize how deserving you are.”
“So will you, my fine man,” she said.
“We should head back inside.”
“Listen…Drew…about tonight…”
Her wrinkled forehead left him panicked. He hated to see her filled with anything but joy—especially on her birthday. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh, I’m not upset…I…” Spit it out, Captain. “I was just thinking…that I’d like to spend some time with Daddy tonight—just the two of us.”
“And you’re worried about me?” he asked and took a step backward. “I’d be upset if you didn’t spend the rest of the night with him.”
“Do you know…” she clasped his hand to entwine their fingers “…that you are the best boyfriend ever in the history of boyfriends?”
“Keep stroking my ego, little one…keep stroking…”
“You have no idea what I’d really like to stroke right now, Kind Sir…”
“Oh, my imagination is running…wild…with the possibilities,” he tittered in her ear. “But you have guests to bid adieu.”
That slow, curious grin that he had grown to know so intimately curled upon her lips. “Drew, I…”
“Yes, little one?”
“Kisses?” she breathed.
The tender plunder of his lips brought a tingle to her entire body. “Better?”
“Ohhh…!” she moaned in frustration.
Touching the tip of his nose to hers, he winked. “Soon, Maxine…”
“This was quite a pleasant diversion,” she said.
“Come on, little one,” he took her hand. “Papa Kirk awaits.”
Drew’s little teases always managed to set her into a tailspin, but she gathered her composure quickly as she slipped back into the conversation between Tom and the McKenzies.
“So, Mom,” Drew began with a knowing look toward Maxine, “shall I have Lou take you and Dad home this evening? I’m about to call him right now. Or is Petey coming for you?” Petey was their personal driver, and Drew couldn’t remember a time when he wasn’t around. In fact, he sort of wondered if Nanny Fi might have had a little affair with him over the years. However, Drew would never dare to ask.
“You know, Adam has convinced us that we need to try this Uber thing. He says it’s a car service that you download on your phone or something…”
“Or something, Mom…”
“And darling, how will you and Ben get home?” Maggie asked, her voice full of concern. She always wanted to take care of everyone—just like her oldest son.
“I think Ben and Jeffrey are going out for a bit.” Maxine’s ears caught wind of talk that the Worthingtons might actually join their son and his new boyfriend for a drink. “And I think we’re going to spend a bit of time on the town ourselves, right, Daddy?”
“Whatever you say, Princess. This is your night.” Then Tom looked to Adam and Jillian, taking note of the gaping space between them. “And how about you two?”
Speaking over each other, Jillian and Adam answered at the same time.
“I’ll get a taxi…”
“I’ll take her home…”
“Sounds like you’ve got a problem there, little brother,” Drew observed.
“Shut it, Dr. Drew…”
“Really, I have to be up at five to take one of our clients to a local morning show,” Jillian said. “Thank you, though, for the dance—and for the offer, Adam. But I must bow out tonight.”
“Ouch!” Adam grabbed his chest as if Cupid had just shot an arrow straight through it.
“’Night, Birthday Girl.” Jillian kissed Maxine on the cheek as she wrapped her coat around herself. “See you at work. Mr. Kirk, it was so lovely meeting you. Please come back soon. Max and I will take you to the theater…”
“That’s a promise!” Tom said.
Jillian was just one girl that Adam couldn’t impress….and there wasn’t a single soul at that table that wasn’t filled with amusement, including Declan and Maggie.
“Hey, Max…” She could feel the fingers circling around her upper arm, and she turned slowly to see a hesitant smile on Mandy’s lips. “I just…well…Michael and I both want to just say thank you for calling this afternoon.”
“Our secret, okay?” Maxine winked, then leaned in closer to whisper. “Just give it a chance. Jeffrey’s a wonderful guy. He’s my boss. He’s Drew’s best friend. He has his own very successful business…”
“Hard sell, Max,” Mandy warned. “But…we’re going to give this a try.”
“Go have a drink with them. And just know that I did all of this today with love. Lots of it.”
“Max?”
“Yes?”
“We love you…and happy birthday.”
Once everyone had filed toward the elevator, Maxine offered her arm to her father.
“What’s going on in that little mind of yours, Princess?” he asked. “And where are we going?”
“You know, Daddy…I should take you to the library,” she said. “Ever see the lions sitting out front? Patience and Fortitude are their names. Sometimes we all need a little of both…”
Linking his arm through hers, he said, “You really do have your mother’s mouth. She’d be proud.”
As they stepped into the elevator, Maxine said, “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
However, in spite of her attempt to divert her dad’s attention, he caught on immediately. “Hey, wait—we’re going up?”
“Yup!” she said, nearly jumping in her spot. “Top of the Rock, Pops. We’ll see the city from above…” Drew had taught her well that the best views of the skyline were absorbed from the highest perches in Manhattan.
“Aw, Maxie…this is what you’ve been planning all night?”
In truth, she’d arranged this little excursion almost immediately after they’d all decided upon the Rainbow Room for the birthday dinner. Three floors of views, featuring both indoor and outdoor spaces, afforded them breathtaking glimpses of the city Maxine now called home, and Tom found himself lost rather suddenly in the splendor.
As they strolled out to the top deck, seventy flights above the grand plaza below, his grin widened. Manhattan looked like one giant Christmas tree, illuminated like Clark Griswold’s house for the holidays. There was indeed something so spectacular and alluring about this city, even if one preferred the quietude of a small town.
“She’s a beauty, Maxie,” he finally said.
“Are you in love yet?”
“Can’t say I’m in love,” he admitted, “but I see why you and Mom were so attracted to this place.” As they meandered over toward the outer rim of the deck, Tom wondered out loud, “How do you not get lost down there?”
“Most of the city is laid out on a grid,” she explained. “Look down…”
Tom was quite a brave man, and he dared to step
even a bit closer to inspect. “It’s fascinating, really. I’d never really paid attention before. I suppose I didn’t have to until now…”
“Not so bad, is it?” she pressed him.
“There’s one reason that I’m glad you did this,” he said and turned her to face him. “You have some really great people in your life right now. And I hope you continue to have just as much love around you in the future, Maxie. You deserve it.”
“You had fun tonight?” she asked.
“Yeah, and you were right. Drew’s family is terrific—even that Adam—and they seem to really have taken a liking to you,” he said. “And gotta love Jeffrey and Jillian. Did you put her up to dancing with me?”
“Well, I would certainly want to dance with you over Adam!” she chuckled. “But in all seriousness, Daddy…you’re alright with this now?”
“I know you’re safe. And I know you’ve made some terrific friends. That’s all your mother and I ever wanted for you” he said. “And if you ever run into trouble, I think Ben and Drew would be more than happy to clean it up for you. You’re gonna be just fine in this town.”
“You have no idea how much that means to me to hear you say those words. I want you to be okay with all this, too. This isn’t just about me. I love you, Daddy. And I want you to be proud of me, but I don’t want to worry you while I’m trying.”
“Well…I have to learn to trust others when it comes to matters of my little girl’s life now. And I’m slowly coming around…”
“How about we stop off again downstairs for a drink,” she suggested, “and then I’ll show you where they film the Today Show…and where they put up the tree…and…the ice rink…”
“Sounds like the evening is still very young!” he said. “You people love the nightlife up here, don’t you?”
“Only with the best of company, Daddy.”
“Well, then, I couldn’t ask for any better person to share my first trip to New York with than you, baby girl. Happy Birthday…”
Chapter Seventeen
Sadness claimed Maxine for a couple of days after her father returned home. Resuming her usual grind brought with it a flurry of activity, but the lingering emptiness of Tom’s departure remained with her and settled heavily upon her heart. She’d see him at Thanksgiving, and that was something to which she greatly looked forward. Drew had even managed to arrange to have the full holiday weekend off within his contract. Good things were just up the road.
Meanwhile, one crazy day just folded into the next. Maxine often worked late—preparing press briefings, drafting itineraries and writing media alerts. When she did have an evening to spare, she often stopped by the McKenzies’ place on her way home—they lived only a couple of blocks from the townhouse—to discuss with Maggie the upcoming projects on which she planned to volunteer for the foundation.
Drew had some brewing issues of his own. With final rehearsals about to wrap, his damn co-star continued to flub her lines. Terrified that woman might negate his own chance to win the Tony, he stuck it out for the sake of his role, missing Maxine with every second that passed late into every evening.
One week before previews, and the buzz in the theatrical press had brimmed with dismal hopes for the show with the current leading lady in place. In a hasty effort to salvage the production, she’d been fired, leaving Drew to scramble to find his character all over again with his new co-star, Celeste Parker.
He’d worked with Celeste previously in Pal Joey—another flop of a revival on his list of career disasters. While their previous effort on stage together had crashed and burned in the blink of an eye, Celeste and Drew were praised for their chemistry in the May-December relationship that played out on the boards. The producers could only hope that dynamic would work again with Sunset Boulevard.
The ugly truth that she hadn’t yet prepared herself to face was the fact that once his show began previews, they’d have even less time to spend together. Eight shows a week with Drew working nights would certainly test their relationship further.
On that particular Friday evening, though, Maxine found herself in a gay bar on Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen with Jeffrey and Ben—and a room full of men who were determined to get the Christmas season started early by commandeering the jukebox with every holiday tune ever sung by a diva. Madonna. Mariah. Annie Lennox. And, of course, George Michael.
Jeffrey insisted she tag along with him after work since Drew would be rehearsing late again. He promised Drew that he and Ben would keep her occupied and safe until he was ready for them to turn her over to his watch for the weekend.
Just as she’d agreed to raise a second pint with Ben and Jeffrey, Drew phoned her, hurriedly getting the details on her location so that Lou could pick her up quickly. Slinging her weekend bag over her shoulder, she kissed her two favorite gay boyfriends goodnight, then made her slow way toward the door. In a matter of three hours, she seemed to have met nearly everyone in the bar. And they all wanted to wish her a Merry Christmas before she headed off for the night.
Once buckled in, they didn’t travel the usual route uptown toward Drew’s building. Lou had his special instructions from the Master, Himself, once again.
Her previous punishment now long forgotten, Maxine leaned forward and rested her chin between the two front seats. “Another surprise in store?”
“I thought you and Mack had a conversation about badgering me for information?”
Scowling, she could only manage a mere, “Grrr…” in retaliation.
“I know Mack doesn’t tolerate talk like that.” In a way, Lou served as a conduit to her punishments, and she rather enjoyed pushing that proverbial envelope, as playfully as she could, with him.
“But you know it all, Louie,” she reached forward and patted him on the arm. “You can tell me. I won’t snitch…”
“Oh, but I will, Maxine…”
Resigned to pout, she flopped back against the seat and huffed and puffed. Damn them both with Mack’s surprises!
One neighborhood she knew almost as well as her own was the Theater District, and it took only one small detour before Maxine realized where they were headed. Drew had just moved into his new dressing room that afternoon at the Hirschfeld Theater. This moment was actually quite thrilling for Maxine since she’d never been behind the scenes of a real Broadway production. Having Drew show her around would be the icing on the cake.
“See Security at the stage door,” Lou said as he opened the back door. “Tell ‘em who yous are. They’ll tell ya what to do.”
“Everyone tells me what to do!” she muttered as she climbed out of the sedan, struggling with her bag.
“Got it…” Lou said, easing the shoulder strap away and wondering how one tiny little lady could need so much stuff for just two days. “Why don’t you just leave it in the car? I’ll be waiting…”
“Thank you, Lou,” she said. “Even though you tell on me for everything.”
“I try, Maxine,’ he said. “Keeps me employed…”
As her tiny hand gripped the door handle, she could feel her heart beating a little faster in her chest. She’d stood outside of many stage doors, seeking pictures and autographs. She could remember hovering there with Judy and watching every time the door swung open, never knowing who from the cast might step outside next.
A rather burly man sat on a stool just inside the tiny foyer, and he extended his hand to Maxine. “Miss Kirk?”
As Maxine reached out to return his rather curt shake, she found herself a bit taken aback. He knew who she was.
“Yes, I’m here to see—”
“I’m Trevor,” he introduced himself. “And Mr. McKenzie’s dressing room is right up these steps to the left.”
With a thoughtful nod, she said, “Thank you, Trevor,” then carefully made her way up the narrow staircase. At the top, she stopped and smiled before knocking. Freshly stenciled, Drew’s name on the door met her gaze.
Maxine, however, didn’t need to knock. As always, Drew
’s sixth sense recognized that she had arrived, and he opened the door, sporting a grin. “Welcome!”
Sharing in his excitement, she stumbled inside as her eyes swept around the room. It was much smaller than she’d anticipated—compact, but everything seemed to fit into its proper place. There was a generously sized vanity with a huge make-up mirror framed in lightbulbs, just as she’d seen in the movies. He’d displayed a framed photograph of the two of them wrapped in each other’s arms on her birthday in the corner of the granite counter. A small wardrobe along the opposite wall was stuffed full of his costumes, and a loveseat sat beneath two smallish windows.
“I finally have a real dressing room!” Drew exclaimed, blue eyes glimmering with the wonderment of it all. This was his first show with top billing on the marquis, and that honor afforded him a proper space to prepare and to seek respite before each performance.
“And no one,” she began as she pulled at his shirt collar and stood taller to kiss him on the lips, “could be happier for you than me.”
His hands circled her waist, and he held her close. “Oh, don’t think I’ve forgotten you as I moved into my home away from home,” Drew’s voice soothed. “Why don’t you look in that bottom drawer? The one with the lock on it.”
Awkwardly, she pulled away, minding him skeptically, and bent down to have a look for herself. However, as soon as she opened the drawer, she slammed it shut and turned to face him, her cheeks fanned with the heat of chagrin.
“Drew!” she hissed. “There are ball gags and nipple clamps and—”
He took her hands and helped her to stand. “And your problem with that is…?” he asked rhetorically. “You’ll be spending a lot of time here. And I already feel like we’ve lagged behind in your training. I may need to punish you…”
“Here?” she whispered as if someone might hear. The walls were actually sound-proofed to allow for vocal warm ups prior to shows, but Maxine didn’t’ know that. And Drew wasn’t so sure he wanted to tell her yet.
Drew leaned rather rigidly against the granite countertop. “Why not?”
WRAPPED: The Manhattan Bound Series, Book Two Page 31
