Danni opens the show programme to the cast list and shows her parents Livvie’s picture.
“Hey, be quiet,” a woman says behind us. I glare at her, then face back to the stage, waiting for my girl.
My foot taps uncontrollably, and I catch Dad looking at me out of the corner of my eye. I sink further into my seat, hiding behind Danni’s chest. This has to be the most awkward two hours of my life.
Finally, my girl graces the stage. Danni whispers to Bill, pointing out Livvie in her blue floaty dress and leggings, the same as the other backing dancers performing the chorus for Swan Lake. She didn’t get a main part due to joining the dance school halfway through the season. But she still steals the show in my eyes and her footwork is on point, as Priya would say.
Sitting only three rows back, she spots me and beams. Her eyes fix on me each time she pirouettes, and I wave and beam back at her, expanding my lungs till they're bursting with pride.
Now the show has finished, the lights flick on. Everyone stands and makes their way to the exit. Dad blocks the row and turns to me. “Callum, would you like to come back with us?”
“I have to collect Liv from the stage doors and take her home. Her mum’s expecting her back.”
“Another time then?” He dips his head.
Helen interrupts. “How about Sunday? Bring the girls too and your wife. We’ll have a barbecue. Danni will be there, won’t you, with Harper? So the girls have a familiar face.”
Danni nods. “Sure.”
I rub my eyebrow, pinching it where the piercing used to be. “I’ll think about it.”
Helen rummages in her bag, pulling out a pen, and writes her address on the back of the ticket. “This is us. You’re welcome anytime, day or night.”
I take the ticket and shove it in my back pocket. “I’ll see, yeah.”
Dad sulks away, rubbing his brow, looking frail compared to the last time I saw him.
Danni and I walk out the side door to wait for the girls to change backstage. She clutches her bag and chews on her lip.
I stuff my hands in my pocket and rock back on my heels. “I guess that get-togethers out of the window now, huh?”
She covers her face with her hands. Her shoulders rock, and I can’t tell if it’s a sob or a laugh. I was only trying to lighten the mood.
“Is that a laugh?”
She snorts. “Yes.” A giggle escaping her. “Can you imagine if we had actually got together? Like together, together.”
I huff. “Yeah, how weird would that have been?”
She snorts again, making me chuckle. “Imagine if I’d taken you home to meet the family. It would have been so awkward.”
I laugh along with her. “Yeah, probably just as awkward as tonight.”
She stops laughing and smiles. “Dad’s always talked about you. I think he’s always wanted to get in touch, but guilt and shame were always in his way.”
I rock back on my heels and nod. Not really sure what to say. He has a lot to feel guilty for and a lot to be ashamed about. He seems to be doing all right now, though.
“Please come on Sunday. I think it would mean the world to him. Even if you never see him again, just come on Sunday.”
I rub my eyebrow, thinking about what to do. I have so much anger bubbling under the surface.
Livvie comes through the doors, and I wave. She makes her way through the sea of girls, and I lift her into my arms and kiss her cheek. “Lollipop, you were amazing.”
She wipes her cheek and kicks her legs. “Da—ad,” she whines.
I let her feet hit the ground, but she’ll never be too big for a hug from me. I glance at Danni. “I’ll see you Sunday.”
Her bright smile widens, and I salute her as I leave, wrapping my arm around Liv’s shoulders.