Defiant Diva by Irene Vartanoff

Author:Irene Vartanoff [Vartanoff, Irene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The next morning my doubts had vanished. As I vocalized and prepared to go to rehearsals, I received a call from the doctor’s office. I must come in for an immediate consult. The doctor had time for me today at two p.m.

“Why not tell me the lab results now?” I asked.

The medical assistant refused. “Please come see the doctor. She wants to discuss them with you in person.”

I refused. One doctor visit was enough for a decade in my opinion. Anyway, I was too busy.

An hour later, I arrived at the public entrance to the Potomac Arts Center. I could have entered through the staff door, but tried to vary my routine as the self-defense coach suggested. I was walking in the direction of the rehearsal room when I heard my name called. I turned at Dex’s familiar voice and had to fight to keep a big smile off my face. I was that happy to see him again so soon.

Dex appeared equally happy to see me. He didn’t bother to hide the warmth in his eyes. “Here’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Dex said. “My friend, Jackie Adams. You remember she hosted the juvenile retinoschisis charity ball at her home.”

Jackie was a pale, striking blonde who casually wore what had to be a designer day dress. Instead of the cliché red, it was an unusual grey hue, and with it she’d paired an arty necklace of hand-wrought metals, the kind that easily cost thousands from celebrity designers. Despite her appearance, her big, open smile begged me to respond kindly.

Jackie explained that Dex had encouraged her to consider supporting the opera as a high-level social volunteer. “I’ve been trying to make a difference, you know, and the older socialites in DC have many roles locked up. We have that big house, but we don’t have the millions to buy my way into being on the board here and there.”

She made a shooing motion. “Dex, go away. I’ll meet you later. I want to talk to Ms. Fedora alone.”

He took his dismissal in good part, saying he’d catch up with us later.

Before I could fabricate an excuse to get away, Jackie dragged me over to a quiet corner of the bustling building with its atrium surrounded by performance halls and, on another floor, practice rooms. We sat at the tables set out for intermissions.

She said, “Dex told me some man you know came to our ball and harassed you. If you give me his name, I’ll take him off my list. I can also circulate his name among my friends who do these sorts of charity events. We could make sure he doesn’t get an invitation to an event you might be attending with Dex.”

I didn’t know what to say. “That is kind of you, but you need not make the effort. I can deal with him if he shows up.”

She eyed me shrewdly. “Carmen says the same thing in the last act, but Don José gets the better of her.

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