broadway bound

twenty eight

     The rest of the night was magical. We answered more questions from the interviewers, got to meet some famous broadway stars and had a fun time goofing off at the party with my cast mates.

It was a long and exhausting night. Seth took me home and walked me up to my apartment holding each other's hand. Before I could tell Seth thank you or goodnight Derek rushed out of the apartment and ran over to us in a panic.

"You okay Der?" I asked. "I need to warn you before you come inside." He answered sort of out of breath. I raised my eyebrow. "About what?"

"About..about.. look I can't particularly say but you need to be prepared." Derek said pulling me towards the apartment. "Thanks Seth for bringing her home safely, wonderful performance tonight. Bye!"

Seth looked completely confused as did I. He mouthed 'I'll call you' and I nodded. He watched Derek pull me into the apartment.

"Derek would you like to explain what the heck that was all about?" I asked once we were inside.

"Shh" Derek said "I need you to calm down."

"Calm down?" I repeated while taking off my heals. "Why do you always have to act so childish when he brings me home. I know you're naturally goofy but he's being polite and you always act weird."

I started to walk to my room. "Hadley" Derek said but I wouldn't listen. I just kept ranting.

"And you know what else-" I started to say but came to a dead stop when I reached my room.

"Dad?" I managed to say. Sure enough, sitting on my bed was my father. He had a Les Miserables playbill in his hand. As soon as he saw me he stood up.

"Hadley" he said. "I'll let you two talk alone." Derek said. "Shout if you need me." Then he left.

Part of me wanted to ask Derek not to leave. The last time I spoke to my parents was when they came for Thanksgiving. I can't remember the last time I had a private conversation with one of them. I guess it was time for us to.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "You really think I'd miss my daughters opening night on broadway?" He replied.

"Well you haven't showed that much of an interest before" I said setting my bag on the floor.

"Listen Hadley," he began "I know I've been an awful father. I haven't been there for you when you needed me most, I've let your mom say such terrible things and worst of all I've stopped doing my job as your father." Tears were forming into his eyes. "Seeing you up on that stage tonight made me realize how stupid I was being. You're doing what you love and you're doing a beautiful job."

Hearing those come from his mouth after such a long time of just wishing he'd text me "Hello" made me feel a sense of relief. Though, it's still hard to forget the pain they both put me through.

"I guess mom didn't want to come" I said. He sighed. "Your mother is many things. Open minded is not one of them. She'll come around eventually"

"Yeah right" I said tossing my shoes in front of my closet door and sitting on the bed.

"She misses you" He said. My heart started to ache. "Then why doesn't she answer my calls or acknowledge my existence?" I asked.

"Like I said. She isn't open minded. When something happens that she doesn't one hundred percent agree with, she pouts. I was dumb enough to listen to her and not be there when all along I should've been supporting you" he sat down next to me. "I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now after, what a terrible father I've been to you. I came here tonight to tell you how proud I am of you."

My eyes started watering. "You're proud of me?" He nodded. "Hadley, how could I not be? You're following your heart and pursuing a career you love. To top it all off you're only eighteen. You've made your old man very proud"

"Then why wouldn't you support me?" I asked.

A tear ran down my face. I tried as hard as I could to keep the tears in but I couldn't. Before I knew it was crying and so was my dad.

"Because I was foolish. I never realized how influential the theatre is and how important it is in this day and age. I let your mother's hatred for it lead me blindly me to believe the same. Now I realize I'm wrong. You deserve all the support in the world." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "I know it's hard to see me after what I've done. I was wondering if you could find it somewhere in your heart to forgive me?"

I looked up at him. I didn't say anything, I just stared. I could tell he truly meant everything he was saying. He came to see me on broadway, knowing my mother wouldn't approve. Maybe he really does care for me and he's changed.

So many thoughts were going through my mind at once. All I've wanted since I got the role in Les Miserables was my parents support. I was finally getting the opportunity to have it. Granted, one of them still disowns me. At least my dad wanted me to feel loved again. He wanted to be back in my life.

I sat there, still staring at him and not speaking. I pulled him into a hug. That's all I really needed was a hug from my dad. He hugged me tight, making me feel safe. We didn't speak, we just hugged. All we both needed was to know was we still had each other.

For the first time in a really long time I felt loved by one of my parents. This feeling made me feel more whole, like a piece of my life was no longer missing.

"I've missed you" I said still not releasing him from the hug. "I missed you too" He answered

"I love you dad." He pulled me even tighter. "I love you too"