“African-American history?” She pursed her lips together. “I know I’m old, but history?”
“I apologize, Ms. Smith. I just find it hard not to admire a rose when I see a rose.” Julian genuflected in a way I’d never ever seen him do for me.
“Manners and charm…I like this one, Troy.” Nana Rue allowed him to kiss her hand. “Especially if he’s the reason you look so marvelous!” Nana Rue snapped her fingers and winked at me. “Turn around—let me look at you.”
“It’s just a new look,” I said, turning around. “The preview was great.”
“Yes, it was Ms. Smith,” Julian chimed in.
“Well, I guess I’ll have to make sure Troy brings you out to see the entire thing.”
“I’d love that. And my parents are members of the theater, so I’m sure they’ll see it, too,” Julian said just as his pager went off. He slipped it from his hip with both of our eyes on him.
“Everything okay, son?” Nana Rue asked.
“Yes, it’s work,” he said. He looked at me. “I have to call in. Just one second.” He quickly excused himself, stepping out of the dressing room to make the call in the hallway.
Nana Rue turned back to her mirror, begging me to ask for her thoughts with a huge grin splashed across her face.
“Stop it,” I said.
“What?” She smiled at me in the mirror and went to dapping off her makeup.
“You know you have something to say. You always do.”
“Dr. Feeeeeelgood,” she sang. “Looks good…sounds good…wonder if he tastes good!”
“Stop it!” I scoffed, praying Julian couldn’t hear her.
“You asked my opinion, baby.” She turned to me and reached for my hands. “Just calm down. I was just playing with you. I know you young folks don’t like to think about us grown people making love—”
“Nana Rue!” I protested. We both laughed.
“Look, he seems like a nice young man. Just make sure Dr. Feelgood actually makes you feel good.” She stood up and kissed me on the forehead. “And if he doesn’t,” she said, looking into my eyes, “you may need to go someplace else to get that good feeling.” She took a quick dramatic step, snapped her fingers and laughed.
“Nana Rue!”
When Julian and I walked out of the theater, he was smiling at me, leading me down the steps with a confident hand placed protectively in the small of my back. We were laughing and going over the parts of the preview we liked most. It felt like old times. We’d always been active together, enjoying each other’s company as we watched plays and went to the opera, roller skating, even strawberry-picking in the Spring when he had a few days off. We joked and jived in a way that made people walking by look at us if we’d been together for years. Older women nodded their heads at me with a look of approval as they seemed to be reminiscing about some great love in their past.
“I might’ve gone for her back in the day,” Julian said as we joked about how Nana Rue still managed to be a beautiful leading lady.
“Don’t talk about getting with my Nana!” I laughed, standing beside Julian in front of the theater.
“She’s fine, though. She has that cool old lady strut.” He took a few steps to show off his rendition of Nana Rue’s hip-pounding walk. It was kind of fly.
“Stop it,” I grabbed his arm. “She might see you.” I let go and turned to look at the building to be sure neither Nana Rue nor my parents were walking out. My mother would show out even more if she realized I’d been there and hadn’t said hello.
“You didn’t have to let go,” Julian whispered in my ear.
“What?” I asked startled.
“Of my arm.” He kissed me on the lips slowly and softly. It was mesmerizing, like pouring hot chocolate on a cube of ice. I was melting fast.
“Please, I’m sure the physical isn’t a good idea right now,” I said flustered. “Besides, I was just joking.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Julian, let’s not go there. We’re just supposed to be hanging out.” I couldn’t believe what I was saying, but once again, I had to stick to the plan.