“Wearecompatible. We have so much in common.”
“Oh, please. When is the last time you did something below the level of the symphony?”
“Anything you like, darling—” I began, but just then Birdie leaped up from her seat.
“We’re here!” she chirped, pulling her sweatpants up over that delectable pussy, and then with one swift move she was out of the car and I was left thinking desperately about what, ifanything, would get her to forgive me.
Chapter eleven
Forrest
Afew days later, Hieronymus and Paige trailed unhappily behind me as I opened the door right into a blast of noise, the rattle of pins, and the smell of greasy burgers.
“Family togetherness night,” I gritted out.
“Butwhy?” Hieronymus protested, squirting hand sanitizer in front of his face. “When we’re starting rehearsals tomorrow?”
“What happened with Birdie is all my fault. And when I get her to forgive me, she is going to feel goddamn welcomed in this family.”
I turned and glared at the two of them and they at least had the grace to look shamefaced.
“That’s my fault too. I haven’t done enough to teach you both that snobbery is bad.”
“But do we have to learn it here?” Paige wailed, looking around at the bowling alley. “This place is full of oily peasants.”
“Yes. We do. It’s family bonding time, and you two are going to tell me concrete steps you are taking to value Birdie.”
I paid and got bowling shoes for each of them.
“Also for us all to learn to be less snobby. We need to make ourselves into the kind of family Birdie wants to rejoin. And that’s my goddamn fault too. I didn’t care what anyone else thought of her because I loved her. Now? You will all be toeing that damn line and adoring her, do you understand me?”
“Allright,” they both mumbled, and I was under no delusions it was to keep access to my money but I didn’t care. They were going to be nice to Birdie or else.
“Motheris convinced you’re going to change your mind and call her to sing the role of Christine,” Hieronymus said as he adjusted his ascot.
“I won’t.”
“Well, shesaidyou probably would.”
I was pissed as hell at Phee and my kids, but this was also my own damn fault. I was the one who had gone on about her being the Voice of a Generation. And in front of Birdie, too. Because I didn’t think about Birdie’s own ambitions, just wanted to keep her to myself.
That was a fuck-up I was determined to fix.
“What is this?” Paige squealed as the server sat a tray in front of her.
“This is a burger and fries.”
Paige poked at her burger with one perfectly-manicured fingernail, raising the bun up suspiciously.
“Daddy, are these even organic tomatoes? I swear you’re determined to torture us. Wepromiseto be nice to Birdie.”
My phone buzzed and I glanced down at it. It was the publicist for a popular morning show, expressing some doubt that a musical album with a Bishop playing polka tunes on the accordion was the best fit for them.
I fired back an email, bluntly informing the show that if they ever wanted access to any of the actors and singers from any ofmy successful shows in the future, they would give this album the publicity I wanted.
Birdie thought I was going to fail and I was determined this album would be a success.
Then I grabbed a fry and laced up my bowling shoes.
