I guided him backstage, weaving through the other dancers and cast members until I saw Catalina sitting at her vanity, her hair already down and her outfit changed. She spoke to Tracy, sharing a few laughs about something that had happened backstage that the audience had no idea about.
When Clint saw her, he dropped my hand and ran forward. “Mommy!” With his hands in the air, he ignored all the people around him and just did what he wanted.
I’d give him shit for taking off, but Catalina looked so happy to see him that I didn’t think twice about it.
She turned around on the bench and picked up our son, pulling him close and smothering him with kisses. “Honey, I didn’t know you were coming.”
“We asked Daddy, and he said yes.”
“Aww, how sweet.” She kissed him on the cheek then hugged him tightly before putting him on the ground.
Marie came next. “When are you going to teach me how to dance?” She hopped into her lap to hug her.
“Let’s get you some slippers tomorrow, and we’ll start,” she said. “How about that?”
“Okay,” Marie said, her dark hair and green eyes making her the spitting image of her mother.
I was the last one she addressed because her love always went to the kids first. They were always the priority, and I was pushed to the bottom of the barrel. But at night when they were asleep, I was at the top of the list.
She got to her feet and embraced her father. “I’m so glad you came. The kids love you.”
“Of course they do,” he said. “I’m the best grandpa.” He saw Marie grab her mother’s makeup and start to plaster it on her face. “Marie, put that down.” He walked to the vanity and pulled the things from her hands.
Now my wife finally came to me. “What a nice surprise.” She moved into me, her arms circling my waist, and she rose on her tiptoes to kiss me.
“I missed you.” My hand slid into her hair, and I spoke against her lips.
She closed her eyes and gave a gentle moan. “I missed you too…”
“Clint.” Richard grabbed the lipstick out of his hand. “These are not crayons.”
Clint had already permanently marked her vanity, because when Richard tried to wipe it off, it was stuck in the wood.
I ignored it because I was used to it by now. “Want to go out to dinner?”
“If my father will take the kids home…”
I kissed the corner of her mouth then looked into her face. “I wish he would take them out to dinner so we could go home…”
“Well, I’m sure there’s a dark alleyway somewhere.”
I smiled as I looked at her. “That’s my baby.”