“We’re right here with you.”
Deep breaths, Chloe. You can do this.
The opera house was less than ten minutes away from her apartment, yet it felt like the longest ten minutes of her life.
There was quite a crowd when Chloe pulled into the main parking lot. She immediately spotted John and Danny talking near the front doors, along with the choreographer and some of the dancers. Others were getting out of their vehicles or milling around the parking lot. Finding a place to park, she got out of her car and looked around warily. There were plenty of familiar faces from the orchestra, stagehands, set people, Tom from wardrobe – the only person she didn’t see was Lattie.
Gripping the shoulder strap of her bag hard, she made her way to the building. Erik walked that way as well, for all the world looking like he didn’t see her, but Chloe noticed how he modulated his stride so he wouldn’t outpace her. Keeping her eyes straight ahead, she spoke low, somehow knowing he’d have no problem hearing her despite the distance between them. “Jayla’s not coming?”
“She’ll keep an eye on things out here while we’re in the meeting. We’re on comms. She’ll let me know if Savoy shows up.”
The center doors of the opera house opened just then, framing Lattie. As usual, he was dressed impeccably, sporting his trademarksilk ascot, but his usually rosy cheeks were wan, and his bright smile was missing.
Projecting his voice, he called out, “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. Please, take a seat in the audience section. Once everyone is here, we’ll begin.”
The murmuring rose to a dull roar, and John called out, “What’s this about, Lattie?”
Lattie made a quieting gesture with his hands, though it did little good. “I’ll address any questions after the meeting.”
Chloe filed in with everyone else and found a seat. Glancing around, she saw Erik had chosen a seat two rows behind her and at an angle. She would have rather he’d sat next to her, but a moment later, John and Danny were there, taking seats on either side of her.
As soon as everyone was seated, Lattie took the stage, and a hush fell.
“In light of yesterday’s devastating accident,” Lattie began, while Chloe couldn’t help thinking:Had it really been only yesterday? It felt like so much longer.“I’ve decided that the show will temporarily be shut down.”
The house seats exploded with noise, John jumping to his feet to shout, “No!”
Lattie tried to calm everyone, bring order back, but was failing until someone let out a piercing whistle. She wasn’t sure who’d done it, but considering the direction it had come from, she bet itwas Erik. Whoever it was, Lattie looked to them with a small smile of gratitude and nodded before getting back to his speech.
“This was not a decision I made lightly. Nor on a whim. While it pains me greatly to disappoint you all, the safety of the people who work in this establishment must come first.”
Lattie continued speaking, but Chloe heard none of it. The show had been cancelled because of her. These people were out of a job because of her. Their safety had been put at risk because of her.
“Hey. Are you all right?”
Chloe blinked the haze from her eyes to bring things back into focus and looked at Danny, who’d posed that question. She shot him a sad smile. “Just disappointed.”
Danny nodded as one of the dancers called out to Lattie, asking, “How’s Thad? I tried to get in to see him, but it’s immediate family only.”
Lattie’s face looked stricken. “Thad’s injuries were… grievous.”
Chloe’s stomach pitched. Grievous. Because of her. Her mouth spiked with saliva. She was going to be sick. Clumsily, she lurched to her feet. She needed to get out of here. She needed air.
Danny tried to grab her arm as she squeezed past his legs, but she yanked away from him, gasping, “I need to go.”
Racing up the aisle, she burst out of the auditorium doors and ran for the exit. That first touch of cool air on her skin was a welcome relief, and she just stood there, her eyes closed as she breathedin deep, greedy gulps. Sweat beaded on her brow and upper lip, gathered under her arms, and trickled down her back and between her breasts, but she was no longer in danger of throwing up.
When the door opened behind her, she expected it to be Erik. She wanted it to be Erik. Instead, it was Danny who wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said, “Hey, it’s going to be all right. It’s just a temporary shutdown. Lattie said he’d let us know as soon as all the inspections are done and things can resume.”
Chloe tried to smile, but her stiff lips wouldn’t cooperate.
He gave her shoulders a little squeeze. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your car.”
“What about the rest of the meeting?” No one else was coming out, so it couldn’t be over yet.
“Lattie’s just answering questions, I’m pretty sure it’s going to wrap up any minute now.”
With a nod, Chloe let him lead her to the parking lot. She hadn’t wanted to go back in there anyway. The air had been thick with everyone’s disappointment.
