Page 90 of Penalty Shot

She’s not a tall woman to begin with. However, her presence is larger than life. She takes up a lot of space with her energy and charm.

I love that about her.

But right now, she looks as small as her five-foot-something and size-petite is. I cherish this rare side of her, too. I want to protect her from anything that makes her feel small and vulnerable.

“Can you do me another favor? Will you, um, will you just hold me?” she asks softly.

In my mind’s eye, I watch myself reach into my chest, rip out my heart, and hand it to her.

“Yeah, I’ll hold you.” I speak solemnly because it isn’t a favor, it’s a promise. “I’ll hold you for as long as you’ll let me.”

The next two weeks pass with more turmoil than all of my last decade in professional theater.Blood Will Have Bloodsparked a debate that went far beyond the confines of Cleveland, Ohio.

The good news: the rest of the run sold out. The cast and crew got great press, since no one could possibly deny how splendid they are. The reviews never questioned the acting, only the play’s legitimacy and quality. At least the negatives didn’t affect the production crew that did so much to make the script shine as best they could.

The bad news: I’ll never work with Imagination Ohio again. Antonio made that clear behind closed doors. He let me make an official statement about “adapting Shakespeare for our time” but canceled any interviews that could potentially piss off the crusty old board of directors.

The patronage of their royal court has established a decree:You, Elise Chen, are banished from our hallowed halls to vanquish in artistic oblivion. Exit the palace gates anon.

Well, not in so many words, but the picture is clear. I’m done in Cleveland.

Unfortunately, since I put all my eggs in this basket, I don’t have anything else lined up for the summer. All the seasonal productions within two hundred miles have been staffed and my department chair at the community college is still annoyed that I passed my class over to Amber.

Like I said, all eggs in one broken basket equals no eggs for me.

“Write another play,” Lily says while she’s trying to feedNaomi green paste. The baby opens her mouth obediently but then spits half of the mushed peas out. She looks insulted.

“When can she eat bacon?”

Lily snorts at my silly question. “Stop changing the subject. You’ve got notebook after notebook of ideas and dialogue. Put something together while your name is hot.”

“Too hot. It’s possible no one will want to touch this kind of work. Also, it took me years to finishBlood.”

“Then you better start now.”

“Randall asked me to go to Vancouver with him. I’m thinking about it.”

“What is there to think about? Your boyfriend wants you to meet his family and you’ve got nothing better to do except write another culture-clash inducing play. Go charm the shit out of the rest of the Haughland clan.”

“But this is the only time he ever sees his family. I’m worried about imposing myself.”

“Is he close to them?” Lily asks while pretending the baby spoon is a plane about to land.

“He’s vague on the details, but I don’t sense there’s much affection between them.”

I’m ready to wipe Naomi’s chin when only a third of the mush gets past her lips. Who knew it took two adults to ensure food wentintothe baby instead of all around her.

“That sucks. Makes you wonder how the guy turned out so nice.”

“He was close to his mother. She died before he reached the pros.”

My heart tugs at the memory of him admitting how much he would have wanted to do something special for his mother. Could he be any more loveable?

“You guys are so good together,” Lily says. “Have you talked about moving in? You’re always at his place.”

“He keeps emptying closets and hinting that I should bring more of my stuff over.”

“Oh my god, that man is smitten!”