Chapter 47 - Johnny - Finally, I Found You
“There you are.” A handsome man approaches me, hand out for a shake.
“Patrick?” I ask.
“Yes, sir. And that would make you, Johnny, yes?”
“Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for allowing me to do this.”
He turns to lead me past the bar. I’m meeting him at his club to get ready for tonight. He has a big show, and he plans to introduce Becca as his daughter for the first time. He’s being kind and allowing me to surprise her here.
He walks into a door tucked away behind the bar which leads to the backstage area. As we walk, he introduces me to the various performers already getting into costume for the show.
“You’re familiar with a revue style show?”
“I think so?” I’ve been backstage more times than I can count, but I’ve never been backstage at a drag show.
“Okay, well, here’s the general structure. I’m Dara Mia, so I’m kind of the main act slash emcee. We have a bunch of other acts. There’s comedy, of course, and musical performances, and some sketches, that sort of thing. I will introduce everyone and also perform several times. Near the end of the show, I will bring Becca up to introduce her, and then I will introduce you.”
“Sure, okay. That sounds great.”
“So. Now that we have that out of the way,” Patrick says, crossing his arms over his chest and looking me up and down. “Tell me your intentions for my daughter.”
I chuckle nervously. This is really it.
* * *
Patrick gave me the dressing room next to his, normally reserved for a second headliner who’s away on vacation. I’m thankful for the chance to get myself together before I go out there. I haven’t gotten stage fright in years, but that’s suspiciously what this feels like. Becca makes me nervous.
She called me a few times today, and it took everything I had in me to not answer the phone. Alex told me they spoke, and she told Becca everything. About the misunderstanding, about her mother, and about her scars. I couldn’t be sure that I wouldn’t burst into tears or ruin the surprise, so I forced myself to turn off my phone. After all the work that her dad put in to help me do this, I couldn’t not follow through.
There’s a knock on the door.
A queen named Regina Rhymes pokes her head in. “Hey, there, hun. Dara told me to tell you that you’re up in ten.”
“Thanks, Regina.” I dab at my sweaty forehead with a paper towel. I’m sitting here in a three-piece suit, dressed up more than I’ve been since my baptism, and I’m sweating my balls off. The stage lights are going to kill me at this rate.
“You doing alright, sweetie?” Regina asks. “You nervous? Is this your first time on stage?”
I laugh. I’ve played in front of sold out stadiums and here I am, nervous to play for one person. The most important person I’ve ever met.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Well, take off that jacket for a few minutes and cool yourself off. You don’t want to faint on stage in front of your lady.”
“Thanks, Regina,” I say as she turns and closes the door.
My phone buzzes with an incoming text. It’s Alex.
Alex -Good luck. Take a video and send it to us later. Sending our love. Alex and Connor know what I’m doing here tonight, but no one else does. Except for Patrick, of course. And maybe his husband, Silas.
I take a deep breath and stand up, grabbing my guitar in the process. I’ve written a little acoustic number that I’m performing for Becca tonight. I just hope she likes it.
Double-checking that I have my phone, I leave my dressing room to see if I can find someone to film for me. Luckily, Regina didn’t make it too far.
“Regina,” I whisper. “Can you do me a favour?”
“Sure, honey.”
