“Father! Cease this detestable violence!” Percy insisted. “You have amply demonstrated your prowess over him.”
I repressed my insides turning to mush to see the muscles taut in Forrest’s forearm as he dragged Pierre upright, his silvery hair slick with sweat.
“Well, I for one am out of here!” Francois whimpered, turning tail and racing out of the theater.
“Who is behind this?” Paige cried. “This is my first really big production and someone is trying to destroy it!”
“This is all Phee’s doing, I guarantee it,” Lulabel said grimly as the security guard marched Pierre away. “It has her grubby little paws all over it. It’s just the sort of thing that bitch would do.”
“Mother wouldn’t dare!” Paige squealed. “She knows how important this production is to me.”
“Is that more important than how much she doesn’t like Birdie?” Lulabel retorted, and for the first time Paige looked uneasy. Like she was finally realizing what kind of person her mother was—and that she couldn’t count on her maternal love coming first.
“And now we don’t even have a Phantom!” Hieronymus wailed, sticking two separate vapes in his mouth. “You’ve throttled the lead and scared away the understudy with one week left! The show can’t go on!”
I turned to Forrest, curious what he would say.
Would he agree to cancel the show?
Chapter sixteen
Forrest
“Percival,” I said. “He knows the music, he can do it.”
My oldest son, who was busying himself with polishing his glasses, almost jumped out of his skin.
“Father, I cannot possibly,” Percival said stiffly. “I have my duties as the Bishop, you know.”
“Percy,” I said pleasantly. “This is only a limited run show. For one night only. You will make the time.”
“But—"
“I don’t care if you stay in my house and lecture me all day about my bad behavior. But this production has to be a success. I’m not sure if Birdie will forgive me otherwise.”
“If you’ve lost Birdie forever, it would only be what you deserve,” he said stiffly, but I could tell he was weakening.
“I’ll give a big donation. To any cause you want. Besides, you wouldn’t want Birdie up there by herself, would you?”
I couldn’t interpret the look on her face, but I knew. IknewPercy could do it.
“You have perfect recall,” I added persuasively. “That’s how you’ve always been able to recite those very informational sermons from memory.”
“Daddy, you must be joking!” Paige burst in. “Percy does not have the Phantom vibes! He isnotsexy!”
“Well, that was uncalled-for,” my eldest protested.“If, perhaps—some of the, er, sprinting scenes were taken out—I am not known for my agility—“
“Sorry, Percy, you arenotthe vibe. He’s supposed to be to singing opposite his almost-stepmother? It’s ridiculous!”
Her voice rose shrilly.
“Will you do it?” I asked Percy.
“Well. . . if it’s about supporting Birdie, yes. Yes, I will.”
“Good. Then everyone take your places and let’s get going.”
Paige huffed, but she obeyed, and they began to practice again, with costuming rushing up to find something to fit Percy.
