The play turned out to be... interesting? Don't get me wrong, my lack of glowing enthusiasm was not just because I knew what to expect going in. I had taken the time to chop up the entire script, all three acts, into training puzzles- remember? Not that Maggie had used them all. In my defense, I did tell you I wasn't much of a connoisseur of modern theater. I mean, exploring the relationship between four neighborhood women in a small town fighting over the same man- the proverbial
'one that got away'
? I was lucky to keep my eyes open the entire time.
Especially since, given recent events, the obvious solution would have just been for them all to share him. They all had fairly divergent views of who he had been, so as long as each of them had seen the side of him they cherished/coveted things would have been fine. Of course, I might have been more than a bit biased.
After the show, I found Maggie her still in her wardrobe and makeup waiting in the hall along with the rest of the performers. She had been talking to the other patrons as they had filed by, each softly granting their own sage anecdotes and expert advice. I smiled as I overheard one directly contradict comments from another who was likely still within ear shot. To her credit, she accepted both with an open and inviting smile and a perfectly sincere "Thank you so much!" She was an actress, after all. If you can't fake sincerity you can't make it in show business- or so they say.
Her eyes lit up when she saw me, her arms wrapping me in a tight hug that lasted considerably longer than appropriate for someone who may have been permanently downgraded to 'just a friend'. It could have been all the excitement and energy from the play, of course.
"So, what did you think?" She asked, finally releasing me.
"You were great!" I said honestly. Watching her had been the only thing that kept me from snoring.
"Perhaps I should have gotten more sleep last night,"
I thought, as memories of what I had done with Anna after she had finished her full round of training began filtering to the surface.
"I meant of the show, not just me," She said with a chiding smile that still warmed my heart. She may have let me out of the bear hug, but I was pleased to note that one hand was still anchored to my chest. Almost like she was afraid to let me go- as if I could vanish into a puff of smoke or something else equally irrational.
"I thought it did an excellent job of highlighting the challenges of navigating modern relationships in a world that is trying to move past the rigorous limitations previous generations have forced upon us," I said, quoting an online review of the play.
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, but the smile never left her face. "That sounds like a surprisingly adept interpretation, Benjamin. Where did you get it from?"
I tried to look hurt. "Maggie, I would never-"
She punched me, gently- and without disturbing the hand that still prevented me from apparating to... some other fictional location. "I could google it, you know. I bet one shiny silver dollar that I'd-"
I raised my arms in surrender. "Alright, alright. You got me," I admitted, and then lied with the next breath. "It was interesting though." When it was clear her interrogation was over I brought my hands down, resting one gently on top of her own. I spoke my next words as softly as I could manage while still being confident she could hear me over the din of conversation- no sense in scaring the rabbit away so early in the evening. "I'm not going anywhere, Maggie," I said, gently squeezing her hand. "Not if you don't want me to."
Her eyes flitted around the room almost randomly before finally finding my own a few moments later. "I... I know. Its just-" She abandoned the rest of her comment as something just over my shoulder captured her attention. "Come over here you!" She said, pulling her hand free of mine to wave whoever it was over to join us. The empty space beneath my hand seemed to still glow with her warmth.
"I don't want to interrupt anything," Rachel said. Feelings of déjà vu washed over me- my temper flaring just enough to keep my footing without giving away any of my sudden weakness.
I turned to watch Maggie wrapping her arms over Rachel's shoulders in an affectionate hug. I couldn't help but compare the length of which to my own recently received embrace. The similarity did very little to improve my quickly souring mood.
To her credit, Rachel's did nothing to avoid my gaze- the look on her face saying something to the effect of
'sorry'
or
'this wasn't my idea'
. I couldn't be sure. Whatever it was she meant to say, it was washed away and replaced with a look of praise and congratulations as Maggie released her and held her at arm's length.
"I'm glad you came," Maggie said almost as warmly as she had greeted me.
"How could I say no," Rachel said with a smile, pointedly avoiding my eyes as she continued. "You were great up there. He was a fool for leaving you."
Maggie dipped into the smallest of courtesies at the compliment. "Why thank you. I was the one with the most unrealized potential." Turning her head just a bit and raising her voice to project to her intended audience she continued. "As the youngest, I was the only one who could have tempted him back. Those other ladies were just hidebound hasbins."
Her comment earned her a few knowing and appropriately glaring looks from some of her fellow performers, seamlessly integrating the breaks into whatever conversation they were holding in their own little corner of the hall.
"Empty little home-wrecker," One shouted back, broadening Maggie's grin even more until her whole face seemed to be alive with mirth.
"That was Joyce," Maggie said to both Rachel and I, drawing us all closer together against the wall. Other patrons took the hint and began filtering past us to grant their wisdom to other, more available members of the play. "She was Dorothy, in the play."
"The one with two girls who were both
