“I’d love to,” I answered immediately. “Just tell me the date and time, and I’ll be there.”
Her voice grew thick with emotion. “Thanks, Greg. It means a lot to me. You always encouraged me to be the best I could be. I was just too pigheaded to listen.” I heard her sob. “I’m so sorry.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “It’s okay, Becky. I love you. I’m so glad you called me.”
We talked for another hour, getting caught up on each other’s lives. I gave her my personal cell number and promised to call her in a couple of days. Afterward, I allowed myself to let go for the first time in a long time. When I had no more tears, I reached out to the only person I wanted to share this with.
My sister called me today after thirteen years.
Is that a good thing?
I laughed. That was such a Tony thing to ask.
Yes. It’s a fantastic thing. She’s about to graduate from nursing school in Delaware. She asked me to come to the graduation.
That’s great. When is it?
Sometime in May.
An idea came to me, and I typed it out before I could lose my nerve.
Would you like to come? I could use the company. Only if your schedule allows it, of course. I don’t know the exact date yet.
I’d love to come. I’ll make the time.
Thanks, Tony. I’m so glad you’re my friend.
Me too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
TONY
The last notes of the finale sounded through the theater, ending with a glissando from Greg on the piano. The audience rose to its feet as the cast members took their bows. Since the theater and stage were small, the musicians shared the stage with the actors, and it was easy to spot Greg when he stood to take his bow. Of course my brother and his teammates were loud as hell when they cheered for Greg, startling the poor man.
To be fair, I hadn’t told him we were coming because I wanted it to be a surprise. It was a little sad that he didn’t seem to expect anyone to be there for him. But there was no way his friends were going to let him down.
I glanced down the row at the ten other people who had come to support Greg and smiled. When Marco had suggested the idea, I ran with it. I even got Sean and Jeremy to come. Not that it was a hardship for them since they could stay overnight in Jeremy’s Central Park South apartment.
After a good five minutes, the applause finally died down, and the performers left the stage. We decided to wait for Greg in the back of the theater while the rest of the audience filed out. The man in question was talking with the musical director, who shook his hand at the end of their conversation.
Greg was grinning from ear to ear as he made his way up the aisle to where we were waiting. “I can’t believe you’re all here.”
I pulled him into a hug. “Of course we’re here. You’re our friend.”
Jeremy came over and also gave him a hug. “You did so well. I’m so proud of you.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” a man’s voice said from behind us. “Jeremy Fitzgerald.”
I turned to find David Miles, the musical director, standing behind us. Jeremy also turned and grinned broadly. “David, it’s good to see you again. It’s been a while.”
The other man shook Jeremy’s hand. “It sure has. More than five years by my reckoning. How are you doing? I saw your Gershwin concert at Carnegie Hall, but I didn’t get a chance to go backstage. You were fabulous as always. You’d never know you had an injury at all.”
“Thank you,” Jeremy replied with a smile. “It took a while and a lot of support.”
David tilted his head. “I gotta ask. Are you the reason Greg is so good?”
Jeremy shook his head. “Greg is an excellent musician. I only helped him refresh his skills.”
