Chapter 6
The Diary, June 27
The whiney voice belonged to Camille Peterson, the daughter of the Broadway director Joel Peterson, who has done numerous plays on the stage. He is directing his first film as I write this and it is so far untitled.
Camille was given a small part in the show, mostly because of who she was. Not that she had any talent, far from it. Johnny seems to think that she wanted to join the cast to get involved with him.
They had gone on a few dates together, but nothing developed. In fact, she was seeing other dancers as well. Johnny considered Camille as an acquaintance and that the relationship wasn’t going anywhere. Maybe she wanted more, but he could care less. Or at least that was what he told me.
Johnny and I had been meeting ever since that night in Penny’s dressing room. Yes, we did all go out for burgers and I mean all, Camille, of course, tagged along, but Johnny paid little or no attention to her.
He managed to find Rochelle and I small jobs working behind the scenes at the show. We were mainly go-fors and we weren’t paid much, but at least it was something to do for the summer.
And I got close to Johnny.
I didn’t discuss my fiancé with him, though. I didn’t think I was ready. Besides, Paul Silver and I weren’t officially engaged yet. Not that he didn’t want to or hadn’t asked me over and over. For some reason, I just kept putting him off.
Paul was Rochelle’s older brother, though they hardly looked alike. He was twenty-three, just about Johnny’s age. Paul had just graduated University of Maryland with a Liberal Arts degree. This way, he said, he could do just about anything and wait for me to finish Mount Holyoke.
He was taking an summer course in mathematics and accounting that would give him a certificate in Certified Public Accounting. He was going to work for a prestigious firm in the fall. He was excellent in math and wanted to be a mathematician all his life. This would give him the chance to be one. Once he was established, he said, after we were married, he would open up his own firm. His clients would be his and his alone and he knew he would be successful.
Paul Silver was very ambitious and a credit to any woman. I just wasn’t sure if I was the right one.
Well, I must stop writing now and get ready for the rehearsal. It is nearing three thirty.
Chapter 7
The Diary, June 27
So this is St. Pat’s. Built in 1858 by architect James Renwick, it stands tall and proud in the middle of New York. It is opposite Radio City Music Hall, another great landmark. Gothic architecture combined with Renaissance. According to the pamphlet I picked up, it seats 2,200 people. The exterior length is about 10 ft and the width is 274 feet. The spires on either side rise 330 feet from street level.
I have included the pamphlet and invitation to the wedding in this diary for safekeeping.
Johnny and I were miraculously paired up together. Penny looked absolutely radiant with Philip as she walked down the center aisle. I had to keep reminding myself it was only rehearsal.
Of course, Camille tagged after Johnny. She just stood there watching him all night; Rochelle couldn’t get two words out of her.
After we all went to Little Italy at a restaurant called Vincent’s. They had great food and pizza. Penny had heard a little about Robbie Gould from a friend of hers. He had finished medical school at Yale and was now interning at one of the hospitals in Connecticut. He was in a lot of trouble already as he was caught fooling around with most of the nurses.
Rochelle asked the obvious question, who would use that jerk for a doctor?
Penny laughed, but I knew it hurt. Penny had become pregnant by him and had to go through a horrible abortion. She still talks about how grateful she is to my father for saving her life.
We all shared different memories in our life, and despite Camille’s presence, Johnny put his arm around me. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
Johnny talked about his early dancing days with Penny. Seems that they had been a couple, but it hadn’t worked out, so they had become close friends.
Philip talked about his rise to Broadway producer and how he and Penny met.
We talked until two in the morning. Penny was willing to put us up in her apartment and the two of us stayed there. I called my parents in the morning and promised to go home straight from work.
I am getting excited. I can’t wait until the beautiful wedding two days from now.