CHAPTER TEN

The auditorium for the church talent show was filled to capacity as Iris peeked through the curtain. In the front row, she spied Jim sitting with every member of the graveyard CSI team from Grissom to Greg. Catherine was present too as her daughter Lindsey had recently started going to the youth group and was in a skit tonight as well. She felt butterflies going in her stomach and wondered if it was nerves or the babies doing gymnastics. Kids, settle down, she said silently to herself.

Pastor Mel came up beside Iris and also peered through the curtain. "So far, we stand to really come out ahead from the box office and probably more so with the concessions during intermission. By the way, you've been moved to the last act."

"Gee, thanks, I guess?" Iris remarked wryly.

Pastor Mel glanced at her with a quirky smile. "Iris, I have every confidence you'll do splendidly out there. Who knows this could lead to more solos for you." She saw Iris expression of mixed emotions at that. "Just kidding, dear, that would be only if you wanted to of course."

"Pastor Mel, I will give it all I got as I always do…making a joyful noise and all." Iris declared.

The evening flew along to Iris as the talent show progressed. The skit with Lindsey in it drew especially loud cheers and applause from the CSI group much to Lindsey's delight as she came offstage into the wings. "You were hilarious, chiclet," Iris told her as she hugged her.

"Aw, thanks Iris, it was a blast out there!" Lindsey replied with a shy grin. The teenager was proving to be popular in the youth group and felt more and more at ease the youth leader had told Iris recently.

"Iris, you're on next!" Pastor Mel, who was acting as emcee, relayed to her as she walked back out onstage.

"Well, it's hard to believe but we are now to our last act of tonight's talent show. Would you please welcome our own Iris Brass who will be singing "Someone to Watch Over Me" accompanied by Mr. Warrick Brown on piano." Pastor Mel told the audience.

Warrick got up to make his way to the stage as his CSI teammates looked and gave him comments of encouragement and surprise. While they all knew Iris was singing, they had no clue that Warrick was going to play for her. The curtains also opened as Iris came out in a black sequined dress that flattered her figure in spite of her now-evident pregnancy. She wore a headset microphone and blinked when flashes went off from the front row. Jim was taking pictures along with Nick and Greg. Jim also had whipped out his digital video camcorder to record with as well. My techno-hubby, Iris thought.

As Warrick was sitting down at the grand piano, she flashed him a smile that he returned with his patented half-smile with deep dimples. Iris took the moment to speak to audience. "Uh, this is my first solo and I have to confess to being a tad nervous but I would like to dedicate this song to my husband, Jim. Thanks also to my co-worker Mr. Warrick Brown for his accompanying on piano. We hope you all enjoy this."

Standing at the stage center and taking a deep breath as Warrick began to play the first notes of the song, Iris' gaze swept the audience to finally fix upon Jim and where she aimed to keep her focus of attention. In her clear alto voice, she began to sing:

"There's a saying old, says that love is blind
Still we're often told, seek and ye shall find
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
He's the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
There's a somebody I'm longin' to see
I hope that he, turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could, always be good
To one who'll watch over me
Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need Someone to watch over me
Someone to watch over me."

She walked back and forth on the stage as she sang with every fiber of her being and in her mind's eye it was only Jim seated before her. She poured her heart into the song to reflect its hope and passion and longing. Warrick was playing flawlessly on the piano and their eyes met periodically as Iris continued to sing.

At the end of the song, Iris looked directly to Jim with glistening eyes that spoke everything to him as he silently blew a kiss her way. She modestly bowed her head as the last notes of Warrick's playing faded. To her astonishment, applause that grew in volume along with shouts and whistles came reverberating from the audience that now stood to its feet and the loudest coming from her cheerleading section of co-workers. Warrick came to stand beside her and whispered in her ear, "You go, girl, most definitely." He took her hand as they both bowed. Jim took the opportunity to toss a rose on the stage that Warrick caught and presented to Iris. She blushed as only she could much to the delight of the audience as Warrick escorted her offstage.

The entire talent show cast now came out to take their respective bows, as did Warrick with Iris, to the continued applause from the audience. Backstage it was mass confusion as the talent show participants were inundated with friends and/or relatives. Jim found her quickly to take her face in his hands as the rest of the CSI team came behind him. "Can my girl sing or what?!"

"I couldn't have done it without my piano man here who has my eternal thanks," Iris said snagging Warrick's hand as she batted her eyelashes in mock flirtation. Warrick leaned down to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"You got some voice there, girl, so use it, don't lose it," Warrick advised.

"Pastor Mel loved your playing and said you're welcome here anytime be it to play or not," Iris commented.

"Thanks, you may see me again." Warrick responded as Catherine came beside him to put her arm about him.

"Hey, girl, you done good and made us proud!" Catherine exclaimed.

"Thanks but be proud of Lindsey. I knew you passed on your dance genes to her," Iris said in regard to the dance skit Cat's daughter had been in. Catherine beamed in pride at that.

Grissom and Sara came next to congratulate her; Sara simply hugging her while Grissom ever the gentleman gave Iris a fast peck on the cheek. "Ever think of trying opera?" He said with a wink as Sara just rolled her eyes at him.

"Nope, unless you're referring to me as being the proverbial fat lady as I am in the family way," Iris joked back.

"Wow, you rocked, Iris!" Greg told her as he patted her on the back and then on the tummy he added for good luck.

"Can I book you to sing at my wedding which isn't for a long, long time?" Nick wisecracked as Iris merely gave him a calculating look as she thought you never know when Cupid's arrow will strike.

Nick and Greg went on to comment on the amount of apparently unattached young ladies present in the audience and backstage, much to Jim and Iris' amusement. They were always ready to make new female acquaintances.