Opera night was no longer like the old days when it was an occasion for ostentation and the gathering of respected members of society. Anyone who could afford the cost of admission could enter the magical world that the theater offered; but just this once all the spectators would be ostentatious, respected members of society. Just this once.
That was what Leonard had seen to; that the debut in Deanna's hometown would be done the old-fashioned way. He had sent out invitations to those he felt had some social clout, to the fashionable characters, to the political authorities; all to see her sing. He was proud and wanted to share it with all those who had once whispered under their breath as they watched her.
That night they would stop to applaud her and congratulate her at the after party. Because he had planned with Marcus that, at the end of the season opener, the Ambassador would become a party. All for Deanna. All to help her settle in and shine.
The theater began to receive its first guests: elegant gentlemen and beautiful ladies in ball gowns. Naomi watched them excitedly, surprised, uneasy, as they waited for Charles and Susan. All, but all eyes were furtively passing over the figure of Daniel; who was standing next to his children with an immutable expression. But inside he was being eaten away by nerves.
Beverly made sure to get close enough to him, smiling and showing herself as his companion. It was bizarre, to say the least: the ex-husband with the children, the current, ex-father-in-law and ex-sister-in-law waiting to take their seats at the young ex-wife's introduction. Many thought it was a "very modern" attitude, the blended families, as they are called, supporting each other.
The staunchest fans of "good manners" kept gossiping and giving their opinion about the embarrassment Daniel Crusher was giving. Coming to see the young wife who left him for such an impudent man as Leonard Reed could only mean he had lost his mind. How could he expose himself in such a way? At least he was in the company of Beverly, who would surely be there accompanying him to lessen the grotesque sight he gave.... Or to make sure that his Daniel didn't run off with the young lady again....
Deanna was getting ready in her dressing room, wardrobe ready, hairstyle, make-up; the minutes before going on stage were usually spent alone, locked up and trying to calm her nerves. Because even though she had performed on stages all over the world, she was still as nervous as the first time. But this time she was nervous not only because she was going out to give her presentation, but also because when she finished it, she had decided to jump to look for what she felt was hers... if it was still hers.
Someone knocked on her door, one of Marcus' assistants.
- Deanna? -
- Yes...
- Deanna, Leonard asked me to let you know that "the jerk decided to show his face" -
She looked at him in surprise.
- The jerk? -
The boy made a gesture with his shoulders.
-Yes. He literally said to me, "Tell her that the asshole decided to show his face, he's with his kids and old man Crusher".
- Here in the theater? -
- Apparently yes... I must go... Good luck! -
Good heavens! Was he here? Did he come to see her? Daniel? It can't be! She looked at herself in the mirror and, if she could, she got even more nervous. My God! It was still about 30 minutes before it was her turn to go on stage, she had time to go take a look, it couldn't be... She went out and walked through the internal labyrinth of the theater, climbing side stairs hidden behind the walls. Old theaters like that maintained the intricate designs of yesteryear. . At the top of the last balconies overlooking the stage there was a small window, not very big, less than a square meter, but because of its position it allowed to see the whole place. A hidden loft from where the former employees could witness the plays. And from there Deanna looked for him among the spectators.
When she saw him her heart went wild, it was beating so hard she could feel it in her ribs. She could recognize him anywhere; whether he was sitting, standing, in profile, sitting or crouching. She knew him by heart. Next to him Naomi, Jonathan and Ethan and on the other side Beverly. Charles and Susan were one row ahead. She had never imagined she would go, not even when she sent them tickets for all of them, thinking it would be rude to only send them for the children.
Her plan had changed. She planned to finish with the play, stay for a while at the party and with the excuse that the children had to return early, take them home and see him. See him and talk to him, looking for a sign that he still loved her. And yet he had gone for her himself. Because Daniel Crusher wouldn't bother stepping foot in that theater if it wasn't for her, least of all with Leonard, with the rest of the people.
Deanna had prepared herself for something different, but... if he was already there why not do it on stage? Why not do it in front of everyone? She smiled sideways and shook her head: she couldn't hide the fact that she was Reed's daughter. That was his continuing influence! And she still had yet to settle things with her father.
She returned to her dressing room with another impetus, with another force, with another brazenness. On the way she passed the costume designer and asked her for a favor:
- I was thinking... for the party scene at the Count's Villa... maybe use the green dress instead of the purple one... I think the mask with the feathers is better What do you think? -
- Deanna, I've been telling you that since we started rehearsals! I have it here, I'll take it to your dressing room -
Although they had already been to the theater, they had not been there with everything ready for the show. The atmosphere was very different and the children kept examining everything.
- Dad... The sign at the entrance said "operetta", isn't it an opera? -
- It's similar, honey. An operetta is more cheerful and fun; besides having sung parts, it has many parts with dialogues. They usually deal with lighter and more trivial subjects... -
- Ah! But Deanna will still sing -
- Yes, she will -
- What does D-i-e Fle... maus mean? -
- It's German, it means: The bat -
Naomi was surprised. German?
- Deanna is going to sing in German... I didn't know she knew the language, I won't understand anything... -
- Don't worry, just follow the music and the performers, anyway, I'm not going to understand anything either... -
The girl smiled and took him by the hand. Next to her, Jonathan, was on the edge of his seat reaching for the parts he couldn't quite see. Beverly, on the other hand, remained rigid in her place without saying a word. She had to keep a low profile and pretend she wasn't there; maybe if she became invisible Daniel would forget his anger.
Suddenly from the side, next to the orchestra pit, the musicians began to file in and take their places. You could hear the sound of instruments being readied, of sheet music being arranged: the men in tuxedos and the ladies in ball gowns. The lights dimmed a little and when everyone was in place, the conductor made his entrance. The applause grew louder and louder and the ovation was standing. The director: Giovanni Uria. Leonard and Marcus had spared nothing.
Uria stood in front of the musicians, readied his baton and silence took over the entire venue. The performance was about to begin.