Leo: Stage Fright Read online

  Although it hardly mattered to Lydia, Evita was finally staged at DYT, with Jill playing the role that Lydia had once wanted so badly for herself. By all reports, Jill had done a credible, if far from spectacular, job, although Lydia hadn't bothered to see the production. It cheered her when Eric reported overhearing audience members telling Bill Glover how much they missed seeing Lydia starring in a DYT show. And she smiled when Eric said that Keenan's voice had cracked during an important solo. She wasn't being mean-spirited; she was just putting DYT and that chapter of her life behind her.

  Yes, she was definitely looking towards the future, even though the thought of leaving her home and family – and Eric – and going off by herself to New York frightened her on occasion. Still, she couldn't pass up the chance to pursue her dream of a life in the professional theatre, and New York City was definitely the place to be.

  For his part, Eric had been accepted into the University of Texas in Austin, but he planned to save his money and work hard at school and hopefully transfer his sophomore year to either New York University or the Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn, so he and Lydia could be together.

  This particular afternoon, Lydia was alone in the house. Jake was off shooting hoops and her mother was at work, but that was OK, Lydia was using the time alone to start the mammoth job of packing for her trip to New York. It was early afternoon, and she was expecting Eric to pick her up in half an hour to go to the pool for their daily swim.

  Ding-dong.

  "That's funny." Lydia glanced at the clock. "Eric's usually not this early."

  Lydia was stunned to find A.J. and Robin standing on her porch when she opened the door.

  Her first impulse was to slam the door in their faces, but they both looked so shamefaced that she waited to hear what they wanted.

  "Lydia," A.J. began, "we know you must hate us, but we have something to show you."

  "I don't hate you." Lydia pushed open the screen door and joined them on the porch.

  "Do you want to tell her?" Robin asked A.J., "or should I?"

  "Tell me what?" Lydia asked. "What's wrong?" she added, suddenly alarmed.

  A.J. sighed deeply. "Oh, Lydia..."

  "What?" Lydia demanded. "What?"

  Without another word, Robin thrust a newspaper clipping into Lydia's hand.

  The clipping showed a photograph of a girl with a different hairstyle but most definitely Page. Lydia read the accompanying article.

  SUSPECT SOUGHT FOR ARSON MURDER

  Police in Lawrence, Kansas, are seeking information about the whereabouts of the suspect wanted in connection with a fatal fire at a local theatre. The fire, which occurred during a rehearsal of Oklahoma, resulted in the death of a firefighter who arrived in response to the three-alarm call. The blaze, one of the worst in city history, was investigated by fire department officials, who concluded it was arson.

  The suspect, reportedly a seventeen-year-old actress new to the theatre, is Sally Mae Jones, although police report this is an alias. Police have been unwilling to release details, but say the young woman has a history of mental problems, and warned the public to consider her dangerous.

  "We called the Lawrence police," Robin said, his voice quaking. "We told them about Page – or whatever her name really is. We told them about what happened to you."

  "The police said they're very close to arresting her," A.J. added. "They need to piece together one or two final pieces of evidence first."

  "But she won't get away?" Lydia asked.

  "The police have her under round-the-clock surveillance. She won't get away," A J. assured her.

  "This is so horrible!" Robin kicked at the bits of gravel on Lydia's porch. "I can't believe how awfully we treated you."

  "Can you ever forgive us?" A.J. asked sincerely.

  For an instant, the hurt pride in Lydia wanted to say "No." But she could see how genuinely upset and sorry her friends were. "Of course I forgive you," Lydia said, sadly. "Let's just put it behind us."

  "You mean we're friends again?" A.J. asked, fighting back tears.

  "We never stopped being friends," Lydia said, opening her arms to Robin and A.J.

  The three friends, who had shared so much in their young lives, who were about to experience even more as they went their separate ways in life, embraced one another.

  Eric had parked his van in the drive and was just coming up the walk when he saw them hugging.

  "Now that's just what I like to see," he said to Lydia, who smiled at him over A.J.'s shoulder. "A happy ending."