Thankfully, there was one piece of good news. A humbled Margaret had come to her during the second rehearsal, asking if she could still play the role of the narrator. Tangie wasn’t sure what was behind Margaret’s change of heart, but had smiled and responded with, “Of course, honey.”
Looked like the Lord was up to something in the child’s life. Could it be the result of Tangie’s and Gregg’s prayers, perhaps? Surely faith really did move mountains.
She watched from the edge of the stage as Margaret delivered each line with rehearsed perfection. Then Tangie turned to Annabelle, listening carefully as the youngster sang her first solo. The precious little girl, though shy, proved to be a great lead character, in spite of her inexperience.
About halfway into the final scene, Gregg’s phone rang. “Sorry,” he called out. He sprinted to the far side of the stage. From where she stood, Tangie could see him talking to someone, with a look of concern in his eyes. Glancing at her watch, she took note of the time. Three fifteen. The parents would be arriving soon, and she needed to update them on costume requirements. Still, she couldn’t focus on that right now. No, she couldn’t see past Gregg’s wrinkled brow to think of anything else. Something had happened, but what?
When he ended the call, he took a few steps her way and whispered in her ear. “That was Josh. He’s taken Mom to the hospital in Trenton. She’s had a really bad reaction to her latest round of chemo.”
“Oh, no.”
Up on the stage, the kids began to recite lines on top of each other, most of them standing in the wrong places or facing the wrong way. Tangie would have to correct them later. Right now she needed to hear the rest of the story about Penny.
Gregg sighed. “She’s been having trouble keeping anything down since her last treatment. She’s a little dehydrated, is all. They’ve got her hooked up to IVs.”
“Do you need to go? I can handle the kids.”
“No, Josh said they’re just keeping her on fluids another hour or so and then releasing her. He, um. . .he asked if I would read his lines for him.” Gregg smiled. “Actually, he told me how much he missed being with the kids and how much he’s looking forward to being in the show.”
“Aw, I’m so glad. Maybe God is working on him.”
“No doubt. He’s also using this situation with Mom—and the play—to accomplish something pretty amazing.”
“Sounds like it.” Tangie turned her attention back to the kids, who were now scattered every which way across the stage. “Boys and girls, we need to run though that scene again,” she called out. “I noticed that some of you weren’t standing in the right places and a few of you need to work on your projection skills. Give it your best. Okay?”
They hollered out a resounding, “Okay!” and she began again. Still, as the rehearsal plowed forward, Tangie’s thoughts were a hundred miles away.
With a heavy heart, she did her best to focus on the kids.
***
After the children departed, Gregg and Tangie spent some time cleaning up the mess the kids had left behind in the sanctuary. Then she headed to the office to use the copier. Gregg retreated to the choir room, taking a seat at the piano. Before touching his fingers to the keys, he made another quick call to Josh, and was grateful to hear his mom was now on her way home from the hospital.
Gregg’s fingers pressed down on the ivory keys, and he felt instant relief. As the melody to one of his most recent compositions poured out of his fingertips, he reflected on the conversation he’d had with Dave about his mother less than a week ago. “Lord, I don’t understand.” He pounded out a few more notes. “Why don’t you just reach down and touch her? Heal her? Why does she have to go through all of this?”
A few more notes rose and fell from the keys and then he stopped. Gregg stared at his trembling hands, realizing just how worked up he was. He shook his head, feeling anger rise to the surface like the foam on top of his coffee.
“What is it, Gregg?”
He turned as he heard Tangie’s voice. She stood behind him, holding a stack of papers in her hand. When he shook his head again, she placed the papers on the top of the piano, then reached out and put her hands on his shoulders. He relaxed at her touch. Tangie offered a gentle massage as he returned to the keys once more. When he finally stopped playing, she whispered, “What has you so upset? The news about your mom, or something to do with the play?”
“Both.” He played a few more notes, finally pausing again.
“I’m ready to listen whenever you want to talk.”
This time, Gregg pulled his hands away from the keys. His thoughts shifted to the kids, then back to his mom.
“Might sound crazy,” he said at last, “but when I see Cody, I see myself at that age.” He turned to face Tangie, emotion welling inside of him.
“You were rowdy and unmanageable and sang in twelve keys at once?” The laugh lines around her eyes told him she didn’t quite believe his story. “I’m sorry, but after getting to know you, I’d have to say that’s a pretty tough sell. Not buying it.”
“No. Just the opposite. But I was the kid from the single family home with the mother who never seemed to fit in.” He paused a moment, then whispered, “Did you hear about his mom?”
“Brenna?” Tangie took a seat on the piano bench next to Gregg. “What about her?”
“You know about her wedding and all that.”
“Right.” Tangie smiled. “Your mom is doing the wedding cake.”
Gregg sighed. “Not anymore. Cody took me aside after the rehearsal and told me the wedding is off. Phillip took off to Minnesota without so much as a word of warning to either of them. He sent Brenna an e-mail after he arrived.”
“Oh, that poor woman.” Tangie rested her head against Gregg’s. “And Cody. I can’t even imagine how he must feel.”
“I can.” He drew in a deep, calculated breath as the memories flooded over him. “I grew up in the same situation basically, but back then, people in churches weren’t always as kind to single moms. I’m not sure you would believe me if I told you some of the stuff we went through.”
“Surely that didn’t happen here. . .in Harmony?”
“No, I grew up in a small town called Wallisville, not far from here. Just small enough for everyone to know everyone’s business, if you know what I mean.”
Tangie laughed. “Harmony feels like that to me, after living in Atlantic City, then the Big Apple.”
“Well, I’m talking about a group of people who weren’t as kind as the people from Harmony. Instead of befriending my mother, they judged her. They were pretty harsh, actually.”
“Whoa.” After pausing for a moment, she added, “I know what it feels like to be judged, trust me. Been through my share of that.”
A pang of guilt shot through him, and for good reason. Hadn’t he once made assumptions about her, based on her appearance?
“Here’s the thing. . .” He rested his palms against the edge of the piano bench and peered into her eyes. “My mom wasn’t married when she had me.”
“Right, I know. She told me all about that.” Tangie nodded. “But that’s not so uncommon these days, and it’s certainly not the fault of the child.”
“Oh, that’s not what I was getting at. It’s just that I was always looking for a father figure. Kind of like Cody.” Gregg leaned back in his seat to finish the story. “My mom got married when I was about three to a guy named Steve—not my dad, by the way. My dad never even stuck around to see me born. To my knowledge, he has no idea who I am or where I am.”
“I–I’m sorry, Gregg.”
He shrugged it off. “Anyway, when Mom married Steve, she was already pregnant with Josh. They had him a few months later, but the marriage ended before his first birthday, so it was a double slam-dunk. I finally had someone to play a fatherly role and he didn’t stick around. That’s why. . .” He groaned. “That’s why I empathize so much with Cody. It has nothing to do with his ability to sing, or the lack thereof. It’s just his situ
ation.”
“Well, let me ask you a question,” Tangie said, the tenderness in her voice expressing her concern. “Your mom told me a little of this, but she mentioned a couple of specific people who took an interest in you.”
What do you mean?”
“I mean, you eventually got your life on the right track. And you figured out you could sing. Who were those people who took the time to pour into your life? Who led you to the Lord? Who stirred up your gifts?”
“Oh, that’s easy. One of the men in our church always treated me kindly. Mr. Jackson. It was through his witness that I came to know Jesus as my Savior. And as for the music, I have my sixth grade choir teacher, Mrs. Anderson, to credit with that. She went to our church, too.” As he spoke her name, a rush of feelings swept over him. He hadn’t thought about her in years. “To this day, I still remember the joy in her eyes as she talked to me about music and the tenderness in her voice as she responded to my never-ending questions.”
Tangie looked at him with interest. “Okay. So, she saw a spark of something in you and fanned it into a flame.”
“Right. I remember the day she asked my mother to come to one of those parent-teacher meetings. She told my mom that I was born to sing, that I’d been given a gift.”
“Sounds like she and Mr. Jackson played a pretty big role in your life.”
“Actually. . . ,” Gregg felt tears well up in his eyes as he thought about it, “I used to credit them with saving my life. I was at a crossroads that year. I was going to go one way or the other. And they caught me just in time to point me down the right road. The right road for me, I mean.”
“Wow. That’s pretty amazing. God’s timing is perfect.”
“It is.” Thank You, Lord. How often I forget.
“Okay, well let’s go back to talking about Cody, then,” Tangie said, her eyes now glowing. “We just need to figure out what his real gift is, so we can begin to stir it.”
“Well, he’s not a singer, that’s for sure.” Gregg groaned. “Not even close.”
“He does have some minor acting ability.”
“Acting up, you mean.” Gregg grinned.
“Well, that, too. I could probably turn him into an actor if I could just keep him focused, but I haven’t been able to do that,” Tangie admitted. “Have you ever heard him talk about anything else?”
“I know he wanted to play baseball last year, but his mom couldn’t afford to sign him up. I heard all about it.”
“Really?” Tangie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Well, I’m not a huge sports fan—haven’t really had time to focus on any of them—but it might be fun to test the waters with Cody. When does the season start?”
“Oh. This coming week, I think. I saw a poster at the grocery store just last night.”
“Well, here’s an idea. If his mom can’t afford to sign him up, why don’t we raise the funds through the church’s benevolence ministry and do it ourselves?”
“Baseball?” Gregg groaned. “I’m terrible at baseball. Don’t even like to watch it. It’s so. . .slow.”
“I know. I feel the same way, but we’re probably biased. Besides, I’m not asking you to play baseball, just to watch Cody do it. Help him discover his dream. If it is his dream, I mean.” Tangie laughed. “It’s so hard for me, as an artist, to understand the love of sports. But I suppose some people are as passionate about baseball and basketball as I am about acting and singing.”
Gregg shook his head. “Crazy, right?”
“Very. But I definitely think this is something we can do. His mom is probably plenty distracted right now, and I know her finances are probably tapped out. We can do this for her. Don’t you think?”
Gregg didn’t have to think about it very long. “It’s the perfect idea. We should do it. And when we do. . .” He looked at her with a smile. “He’s going to need someone in the crowd, cheering him on. Want to come to a few practices with me?”
Tangie paused. “If. . .if I’m still here.”
Gregg’s heart hit the floor. “Are you still thinking of leaving?”
She released a sigh as she gazed at him with pain in her eyes. “I don’t know, Gregg. If you’d asked me a couple weeks ago, I would’ve said yes in a heartbeat. I have so many opportunities waiting for me in New York. But now. . .” She shrugged. “Now I’m not sure which way to turn. But I promise to pray about it.”
“Me, too.” In his heart, Gregg wanted to add, “I’ll pray that God keeps you here, in Harmony.” However, he knew better. Tangie needed to chase after her dreams, too.
Even if they didn’t include him.
EIGHTEEN
The week before the Easter performance, the kids met with Tangie and Gregg for their first dress rehearsal. Although Gramps had worked long and hard on building the set pieces, he hadn’t quite finished several of them. And though the kids had been told to have all of their costumes ready, many did not. Tangie ran around like a chicken with her head cut off—ironic, in light of the many chicken costumes—looking for feathers, rabbit ears, and so forth. She tried to keep her cool, but found it difficult.
In fact, she couldn’t think of one thing that had gone as planned and now that the performance date was approaching, Tangie had to wonder if she’d made a mistake in promising she could pull this off.
As she paused to pin a tiny microphone on a little girl, her thoughts gravitated to a call she’d received just this morning from Marti in New York, urging her to come back for auditions for A Woman in Love. Her heart twisted within her as she contemplated the possibilities.
“Vincent says he’s had his eye on you for two years,” Marti had said. “He thought you did a great job in Brigadoon and wants to see you audition for the role of Gina in his new play. You’re coming, right? This is the opportunity of a lifetime, Tangie. It’s what you’ve waited for—the lead in a Broadway show.”
“I don’t know.” Tangie’s response had been hesitant, at best.
It sounded wonderful, of course, especially in light of the chaos she was facing with the kids. But every time she thought about leaving Gregg. . .well, the lump that rose in her throat grew harder and harder to swallow. She’d fallen for him, from his schoolboy haircut to his geeky tennis shoes. She loved him, and there was no denying it.
Of course, they hadn’t really had time to develop their relationship. Who had time to date with a show underway? But if she stayed in Harmony after the production, there would be plenty of time to see where life—and love—might take them. Right?
Oh, Lord, show me what to do. I don’t want to miss You this time. If this opportunity on Broadway is what You have for me, then speak clearly, Lord. But if I’m supposed to stay here. . .
The road back to New York might not be a long one, but from where she stood, it seemed like a million miles.
“Miss Tangie!” Cody’s scream startled Tangie back to reality.
“W–what, honey?”
“I can’t go out there wearing this costume.” He pointed to his chicken suit, and a sour expression crossed his face.
Tangie tried to hide her smile as she responded. “Why not?”
“My friends will make fun of me.” He plopped down on his bottom on the stage. “Besides, I think I’m getting sick. I have the flu.” He sneezed, but she could tell it was forced.
“Well, I’ll tell you what,” she said, “if you will do this one show dressed as a chicken, I promise never to cast you in a part like this again.”
“I don’t want to be in any show again,” he muttered, pulling at his feathers. “When will people get that?”
Oh, she got it all right. And she had a wonderful surprise for him as soon as the rehearsal ended—a full scholarship to play baseball. She could hardly wait to tell him. And if he chose not to do another show, that would be fine by her, as long as he got to do the things he longed to do, develop the gifts he wanted to develop. But, for now, the boy was going to play a chicken, whether the idea settled well with him or not.
Minutes later, Tangie and Gregg prayed with the kids. Then it was time for the rehearsal to begin. Darla, who’d been looking a little pale today, sat at the piano, ready to play the intro music. The song sounded great. At the end of it, Tangie turned to Gregg and gave him a thumbs-up. He responded with a smile.
At this point, Margaret Sanderson moved to center stage, dressed as a baby chick, ready to deliver her opening lines. Her expression was clean, and her lines were flawless. However, a couple of the kids who followed bumbled theirs pretty badly. Tangie stopped the rehearsal to say something to the cast.
“Kids, I told you we would be lines off today.”
Cody raised his hand. “What does lines off mean?”
Tangie groaned. “It means you can’t use your scripts anymore. The lines are supposed to be memorized.”
A round of “Oooh’s” went up from the cast, and Tangie slapped herself in the head. She should’ve explained the term.
“How many of you know your lines?” she asked.
Annabelle and Margaret raised their hands.
“Anyone else?”
A couple of others half-raised theirs. Tangie sighed, then went back to directing the rehearsal. When it came time for Annabelle to sing her solo, Tangie breathed a sigh of relief. Surely this would redeem the day. Or not. Ironically, Annabelle sounded a little. . .strange.
“Everything okay, honey?” Tangie asked, trying not to overreact.
The child pointed to her throat. “I feel a little scratchy and it hurts when I swallow.”
“Oh no.” Tangie shook her head. “Well, have your mom talk with me after the rehearsal.” She would tell her to have Annabelle gargle with warm salt water and drink hot tea with lemon. Tricks of the trade for actors who’d overused their voices. In the meantime, they’d better get back to work. The show must go on, after all!
***
Gregg watched Tangie at work, his heart heavy. With just one week till the production, he had to face the inevitable. She would be leaving him soon, going back to New York. Every fiber of his being cried out for her to stay, but he would never suggest it. No, he of all people understood what it meant to respond to the call of God. If the Lord was calling Tangie to New York, she had to go.