But if he’d wanted to dwell on those sad thoughts, he would’ve stayed in the house, trying to keep his eyes from straying to Georgia’s musical roller organ. He would’ve spent the evening trying to forget how she would chatter happily as she installed a new cylinder, and how she would sway and hum along with the music until she knew every note.
Quickly, before that dark blot in the pit of his stomach could grow, Maxfield picked up Stella and swung her in the air, producing peals of laughter and startling the matron walking next to him.
“I beg your pardon,” he said as he shifted Stella to one arm. “I was overcome.” But with what? Joy? That’s how he acted. It was the only way he could act to push away the despair.
The woman looked into Stella’s impossibly blue eyes, then again at Maxfield’s debonair smile. “I wish all fathers were as enthusiastic as you.” She adjusted her shawl, then proceeded to the staircase.
Ruby threaded her arm through his and leaned against him. “Must you wrap all the ladies around your little finger?” She poked Stella’s round belly. “Every lady from two years old to one hundred?”
Had they not been in public, Maxfield would have kissed Ruby on the cheek for her sweetness. Instead, he tried to convey his gratitude with a look to inform her of how much he appreciated her rescuing him from a night of brooding.
“Leo, we shouldn’t keep Miss Ruby waiting. Let’s find our seats,” Maxfield said. “Follow me.”
Being among the joyous raised his spirits. Compared to sitting alone in his library after the children went to sleep, this was life, it was oxygen to him. After showing his tickets to the usher, Maxfield and Ruby were directed down the sloped auditorium toward the front. While Maxfield was excited to have the children near the front, it occurred to him that he only had two tickets. Stella would fit on his lap, but Leo might be less comfortable.
They came to their row and Maxfield stepped aside to allow Ruby and the children to enter before him. As luck would have it, they were situated in the middle of the row. Mr. and Mrs. Landauer, who owned several successful mines, had to stand so they could pass.
“Bringing young children to the theater? They must be very well behaved,” Mrs. Landauer said.
“Not particularly,” Maxfield said, “but they’re young. They have time to learn.”
“Before the first act begins?” Mr. Landauer raised his eyebrows at his wife. With a small shake of her head, she shushed him and smiled at Leo as he passed.
Once they were seated, Ruby lifted Stella to her lap. “Can you see from here?”
Stella pointed as the curtain rose and clapped her hands.
Maxfield beamed and shifted Leo back so he was leaning against his chest. Being harder to impress than his little sister, Leo’s questions began as soon as the drama did.
“What did he say? Why is she crying? Is that man a villain?”
He really was a clever boy to understand everything that was going on, but what would Ruby think? Would Leo’s constant questions annoy her? Maxfield looked at his companion, who held his daughter on her knee, bouncing her a little too exuberantly as she watched the play.
Leave it to Ruby to have fun no matter the situation. Judging by the intensity of the audience, the play was very compelling, but Maxfield had trouble following it. He was there because it was the place to be, not because of the story. In fact, he looked forward to the intermission when he could visit with the friends he was spotting from his seat.
“Father, I’m hungry. Mrs. Wester made me oatmeal.”
“We’ll eat after the show,” Maxfield whispered. “Just watch the play.”
Leo leaned forward, then flopped backwards against Maxfield. “I’m hungry now.”
Ruby didn’t act like she’d noticed, but the Geddeses in front of them did. The man turned his head just enough to catch sight of them with his peripheral vision and let them know that they were disturbing him.
“Want food.” Stella’s voice had never reached those clear tones before, but now it carried as only sound in a perfectly designed acoustic theater could. “Want food, Dada.”
Ruby patted her leg. “Here, play with my bracelet.” She slid the thick silver band off her wrist and held it until Stella had it in her soft hands. Stella put it in her mouth.
“I want it.” Before Maxfield could stop him, Leo had snatched it from Stella.
Stella squealed in protest. Now several in the row in front of them turned to stare. A man behind them cleared his throat.
“Give it back to her.” Maxfield took the bracelet from Leo. At the same time, Ruby leaned over and set Stella on the floor. Maxfield’s brow lowered. What was Ruby doing? Leaning forward in her seat, Ruby was one hundred percent engaged in the story and oblivious to Stella, who was trying to push her way past the Landauers and into the aisle.
“I’m hun . . . gry!” Leo tilted his head and fell against Maxfield again.
Mrs. Landauer had trapped Stella and wasn’t letting her pass, but Stella wasn’t giving up. Her little hands were full of Mrs. Landauer’s skirt. Her whining grew louder with her frustration as she tried to squeeze between Mrs. Landauer and the seat in front of her. Ruby’s eyes were moist as the actress on the stage comforted her dying father, but she showed no concern for Mrs. Landauer, who was trying to politely get Ruby’s attention. Maxfield handed the bracelet to Leo. He’d have to reach over Ruby and . . .
Stella buried her face into Mrs. Landauer’s knee. The next thing Maxfield knew, Mrs. Landauer bolted out of her seat with a scream.
“That child . . . she bit me!” Her powdered chin quivered in outrage. Mr. Landauer stood, ready to defend her against the two-year-old attacker. The dying father on the stage lifted his head to see what was happening in the audience. Only Ruby seemed unaffected. Without a word, she took the bracelet out of Maxfield’s hand and passed it to Stella, who promptly threw it behind them.
“C’mon.” Maxfield set Leo on his feet and stood. “My apologies. This was a bad idea. I’m sorry.” There were people aplenty who needed apologizing to, but it’d be better to save the apology for another time. Stella was pounding on the back of the chair in front of her, bouncing Mrs. Geddes’ earrings.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ruby stood, but instead of gathering her things, she smiled sweetly. “I’ll meet you at the east doors when it’s over. You all have fun.” Then she flattened herself against her seat so Maxfield could slide past her.
He picked up Stella, then with a final apology to the Landauers as he passed, he dragged his errant children through the now-silent theater. Maxfield usually enjoyed every eye on him, but not tonight. Was he expected to wait on Ruby while she finished the play? What could he do to entertain the children?
Leo answered that question. “I’m hungry.”
Maxfield got the door to the theater closed behind them just as Stella joined in the chorus. “Hungwy, hungwy.”
“Food. Of course.” He had failed. It was his fault, and he knew that. He should’ve known not to take them to the theater. A better father wouldn’t have made that mistake. Maxfield knew just the restaurant for their wait. If he got a table by the window, he’d be able to see when the performance was over.