Chapter 4 A New Life

(Lydia)

It had been difficult for me to afford a life in Denver so I had packed my bags and moved to Welby. 

Ruby marched beside me in the hospital corridor. We had spent the last few weeks discussing how we would raise the children. Ruby wanted to chip in but, thankfully, I could put my alimony to good use.

I had been saving it all this time. I would spend it lavishly on my children.

Children, yes. The ultrasound from three months ago had told us that I was having twins: a little girl and a little boy.

“I’m going to spoil them,” Ruby had shrugged as she knitted their rompers and mittens.

“For the baby girl, I’ve made them all in pink and lilac,” she told me, “And for the baby boy, everything is blue and yellow.”

I had looked on adoringly at her.

“You’re so warm and full of love,” I whispered.

Her presence inspired so much gratitude: my sister had been a steady pillar throughout my pregnancy as she accompanied me to routine check-ups, fed me bread and bone broth, and signed me up for yoga classes. I had no idea how I would have handled this alone.

“I want you to be strong!” she had said when I had expressed my appreciation, “I want you to remember who you are on the inside!”

I had thought of Thomas a lot during the months leading up to the birth but I had, thankfully, never dialed him. When Ruby became the voice of reason, it became clear to me that perhaps Thomas truly did not want anything to do with me ever again. He had made that abundantly clear. I needed to stop reading into every single one of his words and actions and, instead, take what he had done for face value: divorced me and proposed to my best friend.

***

When Miles and Mabel graced this world with their golden warm laughter and bright blue eyes, I felt happy for the first time since my divorce. 

And then, of course, Adam showed up. Adam had been my friend in highschool. We had become estranged since I moved to Illinois for college but I had reconnected with him on F******k again and was surprised to learn that he was in the city.

“Have coffee with me!” his message had read, “You’re only two blocks down from me!”

Adam was a pediatrician in the local hospital so I thought it would be a good idea to stay in touch with him … of course, for Mabel and Miles.

But, at coffee, when I had told him everything, I had – once more – broken down.

He had not said a single word and instead moved up to sit beside me. He had held my shoulder and hand and waited patiently as I cried.

“It’s okay,” he said quietly to me. Later, he walked me home.

“Gorgeous smile,” Ruby had commented when she had briefly met him then. I had only half-smiled. Adam was a wonderful man and his presence brought me calm and peace but, for some reason, I could not allow myself to give in to … whatever it was that he was offering.

Time only went on to show, however, that Adam’s sole agenda was to show up for me. He helped Ruby feed and clothe the children as I rested in the first month after the delivery.

And then, he brought them baby books and toys.

I had always been very protective of the twins and cared deeply about the environment that they were raised in. But Adam had only ever extended a helping hand to Ruby and I for three years.

“Wonderful!” he had cheered when Miles first recited the alphabet song in full.

“That’s amazing!” he had exclaimed when Mabel learned to walk.

Over time, he had become an uncle to my children.

In the meantime, I had started going to therapy. That had put a long overdue trammel to the listlessness, helplessness, and tears. That had also been the last of my reminiscences of my marriage.

One morning, as I returned home from a run, several pounds lighter than before both in my physique as well as in my mind, my phone chimed. It was Adam.

MS. DAPHNE’S SCHOOL FOR THEATRE

JOB OPPORTUNITY: ACTING TEACHER FOR YOUNG ADULTS

TIMINGS: 12 P.M. to 3 P.M. MONDAY TO THURSDAY

207 NORTH AVENUE, PERK LANE, WELBY

***

I loved returning to theater and playing Meisner, Stanislavski, and Chekhov to young adults. It was starting to seem that my life was returning to purpose again.

Miles pounced on me when I returned home. The twins had only just begun to walk and battled each other over a teddy bear I had bought them.

“Cannie!” Mabel exclaimed, extending her palms in a demanding gesture.

“You’ve already had enough candy!” said Ruby, darting towards Mabel and swooping her up in arms.

“More cannie!” Mabel exclaimed and Ruby burst out laughing.

“How was your day?” Ruby asked as I hung my keys up by the door.

“Pretty good,” I told her, “What’s for lunch?”

“There’s pot roast in the oven,” she said, and darted into her bedroom to grab her purse. “I’m late for work. Lock the door behind me?”

Adam showed up a couple of hours later … with a bag full of chocolate for the kids.

“Stop spoiling them!” I exclaimed with exasperated laughter.

“I’m not!” he held his palms up, “I’m just helpless when it comes to those two.”

He nuzzled his nose against Miles, who in turn held up a chocolate bar for Adam to unwrap.

“You should start auditioning again,” said Adam. The plastic wrap crinkled in his hands.

“Me? Really?” I asked.

“Of course!” he replied, “In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s some traveling theater company coming to Welby next week. Wait, let me get the details.”

He fished his phone out of his pocket and swiped until he reached the page.

“Here, see. Giovanni’s theater is coming to Welby. Apparently, they’re very well-renowned.”

“But then, why would they ever want to come to Welby?” I asked.

“Maybe the Gods want you to perform again!”

I shook my head, “I gave that dream up a long time ago.”

Adam got up and crossed over the living room to sit down next to me, “Might I ask why, Lydia?” he asked, his voice resounding with genuine concern.

I stared deep into his green eyes and realized, for the first time, that he truly cared for me. The epiphany startled me. I broke away from his gaze and instead turned towards the floor. The rug was a tapestry of vivid colors woven into one another. He allowed the quiet to settle.

Twenty minutes later, Adam still watched and I had not yet come up with a single reason for why I should not pursue my long-lost dream.

It made no sense to throw away the person who I had wanted to become simply because my self-esteem had suffered a blow from a failed marriage.

When I finally found my voice again, I returned into his emerald eyes and confirmed that I would audition.

***

I had enjoyed working at Ms. Daphne’s but Giovanni’s was far more fun. Rather than just simply teaching acting to young adults, I was now playing out characters. 

The only downside was that it wasn’t full-time work. Once every three or four weeks, I would participate in a play. Adam and Ruby would have front row seats. Pride and admiration shone from their eyes and radiated from their smiles. I was starting to feel happy again. 

The gigs that I was getting were small but fulfilling. I had not gotten a lead role yet but secretly longed for a chance. I could do a much better job than the other actors. I was just hoping the producers would realize that soon.

Then, one day, I was pacing around the living room memorizing my dialogues for an upcoming play. 

“Here is the scroll of every man's name which is thought fit …” I mumbled, trying to recall the next few words. “Athens … Athens …” I murmured now, remembering that it had something to do with the city. 

The phone rang. I jerked and glanced at the wall-clock. It was 5pm, Adam would still be at work and Ruby had taken the children to the park. 

The caller ID showed an unknown number.

“Hello!” chirped a man’s voice when I picked up, “Is this Lydia Lombardi?” 

I still hadn’t changed my last name.

“Yes …” I replied, hesitantly.

“Well, here’s the thing …” he said. The man, Ronald Pike, was a producer at the theater and he was calling to let me know that the lead actress on one of their main plays had dropped out due to some unfortunate incident and they were hoping that I could replace her.

“Of course I’d replace her!,” I thought smugly to myself. And then, to him, I replied with barely restrained joy, “I’d be very pleased to accept the position.”

“That’s absolutely wonderful,” he said. I could hear some stage set up noises in the background and I imagined that the setup staff must be running around. 

“There’s one thing that you should know, though,” Ronald continued, “This is going to be a traveling theater event, so–”

“I don’t have any reservations against that!” I said quickly. I did not want to let this opportunity go. 

“Great!” said Ronald, “The first stop’s at Denver.” 

Denver? I thought. And, suddenly, memories came flooding back.