Love Lyrics by Mary Haskell Curtis

Author:Mary Haskell Curtis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media Romance
Published: 2014-05-31T00:51:20+00:00

Chapter Eight

Matt and Ashley stood in the side aisle of the Colonial, staring at the stage in stunned silence. Matt shook his head in despair. “It looks like an explosion in a junkyard.”

Although she knew Matt was caught in his own preopening angst, Ashley could find no cheering words to say. He’d put his finger right on it; that was exactly what it looked like. “Dear merciful heaven,” she moaned, “it looks hopeless. I think we’d better get out of here.”

“Yeah. Let’s go get drunk.”

“Oh, sure, that’ll help. All I need at this point is a hangover.”

Craig was standing at the edge of the stage, gesturing toward a backdrop that was hanging upside down at a precarious angle. When he spotted them, he jumped down off the stage and strode in their direction. “Hi there. Did you see Hans? He was looking for you.”

Matt nodded gloomily. “Yeah. We saw him.”

Craig grinned, enhancing his expression of sunny contentment. “Good. He’s very pleased with the orchestra. One thing about Boston, there’re some awfully good musicians here.” He waved toward the stage. “Everything’s coming along fine.”

Ashley and Matt followed the hand gesture with wide-eyed disbelief. “You’re kidding!” The retort was a perfectly timed duet.

Craig’s eyebrows went up. “No, I’m not. It’s all coming together.” He took a closer look at them and shook his head. “You two, you’re too much. Bad enough that Matt gets suicidal, but you, Ashley?”

She frowned, becoming a bit defensive. “I’m being perfectly rational. How can you possibly say it’s all coming together? Look at that mess! In case you hadn’t noticed, the drop is wrong side up, that ‘Cronin’s Market’ flat is listing to one side, the scenery’s lying all over the place — and just look at the lights!” She made a wide, encompassing sweep of her hand. “They’re hanging every which way! How can this place possibly be ready for rehearsal by tomorrow?”

Craig patted her on the arm. “Relax, my dear. Gregory and Joe have it all under control.” He looped one arm through Ashley’s and one through Matt’s, and led them to the foyer. “I suggest you both avoid this place today. It’s obvious that neither of you can stand much more stress.” His voice had the subdued tone of a doctor counseling a paranoid patient.

Matt nodded as he let himself be ushered from the scene. Just as they were going through the door, there was a loud crash, followed by an enraged bellow: “Damn it all to hell!”

Craig said firmly, “Don’t even turn around.” They both obeyed. Once they were safely cut off from the bedlam of the auditorium, Craig faced them squarely. “Now. Is something specific bothering either of you, or is this a simple case of preopening jitters?” He glanced from one to the other. “Or, rather, two cases of preopening jitters?”

Ashley and Matt looked at each other and shrugged, then looked at Craig and nodded.

“Well, today’s Monday. Maybe that’s part of the problem right there. Like Garfield, I don’t much believe in Mondays.

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