Chapter 16

I sat in one of the front seats of the circular theatre, working on my laptop as I watched the boys out of the corner of my eye. They stood on a huge circular stage that would spin slowly during the concert, a strange idea that I regarded with certain distaste. Because of the unusual nature of this Canadian theatre, the boys had to figure out how to arrange their show in the best possible manner, and Michele directed them and tried to calm their silliness. Ignazio was especially the instigator of their shenanigans, as he sang funny music and got Piero to dance with him, making Gianluca laugh and join in.

I raised my eyebrows and then rolled my eyes when Ignazio turned to me for approval, and then I returned to the laptop, propping up my red high-topped shoes on the speaker in front of me. I scrolled through the Il Volo website, making sure the new photos I had uploaded had come out nicely as I sipped the root beer a stagehand had gotten me.

Intent on my screen, I jumped when Ignazio dropped into the theatre seat beside me. I turned my head to him, taking in his bright smile, and then returned to the laptop.

"Good morning, Tamzin," he said, still smiling at me, and I looked up at him and then at Piero and Gianluca trying to figure out where to stand. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling animosity toward the stage," I remarked, and he laughed.

"The stage? It's different isn't it?"

"No, it's impractical! If I'm paying for a concert, I don't want the singers to be rotating in circles! I want to see all of you the whole time! If I'm watching you, I don't want to see the back of you, even if there is another singer who's facing me! It's a very off-putting arrangement, and I think Il Volo should have picked another theatre to sing in! And another thing, what about the singers!? What if they get dizzy!? It's ridiculous!"

I noticed Ignazio watching me in amusement, with raised eyebrows and a suppressed smile.

"What?" I demanded, and he smiled.

"Hmm…Feisty. Not feeling like working today, huh Tamzin?"

I settled back in my chair and raised my eyebrows at him, and he mirrored me playfully.

"I'm just sick of Canada," I sighed, moving my feet as Gianluca jumped down from the stage and took hold of the speaker.

"Me too, Tamzin," Gianluca remarked, nodding in agreement before he lugged away the speaker.

"Then I have some good news for you," Ignazio said to me, and I realized what he was referring to before he said it.

"Oh, right!" I exclaimed, brightening and sitting up straight. "We're going back to the U.S. soon, aren't we!?"

He nodded eagerly at my brightened demeanor.

"Yes, to promote and then begin the American Christmas concerts!"

"Brilliant!" I said, sharing his smile. "I can't wait! I miss the U.S."

"Soon, Tamzin…We still have a few more Canadian concerts to do, and then we'll be able to go to the U.S. We'll start on the Christmas concerts after some promotions, and after the dinner party at the Record Company, of course."

"Dinner party? What dinner party?"

"Michele didn't mention it yet? The banquet celebrating the release of the Christmas CD?"

"He might have. I probably wasn't listening. Who's going to this banquet?"

"Everyone who helped to make the album possible. Our producers, teachers, people we've sung with, etcetera…basically everyone included in the thank-you credits on the Christmas CD."

"Do I have to take pictures?"

"Michele says no. It's just a private celebration. Our cell phone pics will suffice," he said, smiling playfully.

"Sounds fun," I said absentmindedly, watching the activity on the stage, and he nodded.

"It will be! I can't wait!"

"Christmas concerts will be fun too…" I mused, as I watched Piero playing with the microphone stand, and he nodded. "I can take some festive photos, I guess. That'll be interesting."

"I love Christmas music," Ignazio said. "Americans do also. Do you know how many Christmas albums have been successful? For CDs that most people only listen to one time a year, the sales numbers are sky-high!"

"Good!" I said, "That means the album might help you get nominated for an award, won't it?"

"It might," he said, shrugging.

"I'm serious, think about it," I said, closing the laptop and adjusting my position in the chair so I was facing him, "People love the Christmas album and buy millions of copies, which is the gateway for all these people into the other Il Volo albums. Just as all these people are making their journeys into the realm of Il Volo, February, the month of the Grammies rolls around, and the American population has the collective idea that Il Volo should receive one!"

Ignazio smiled at me.

"Sure, Tamzin."

"It could happen! Wouldn't that be brilliant!?"

"It could. It'd be great."

I studied his face and decided that he looked hopeful, but also doubtful at the same time. I re-opened the laptop balanced on my thighs and waited for the Il Volo webpage to come up.

"What are you doing?" Ignazio asked, leaning toward me and looking at the page.

I rested my chin on my fist on the arm of the theatre seat and peered up at him, my face close to his.

"Checking the pictures I uploaded. What do you think?"

I went to the new gallery I had established and scrolled through the pictures for him.

"Excellent!" he said, nodding in approval. "They're great, Tamzin! I love it!"

I looked up at him and met his admiring gaze, picking up my head from my fist.

"You're so good, Tamzin," he observed, and I smiled and turned back to the laptop.

"You know," I said, "Il Volo only has one T-shirt for sale, and no posters or bracelets."

"Okay…Should we have those?"

"I think yes. Especially T-shirts. People love T-shirts, and it's free advertising! And hey, with the Il Volo boom that's about to go down, you need to get some more merch out there!"

"Merch?"

"Merchandise! Come on, follow me here, Ignazio!"

He laughed and leaned back in his chair, just as Piero approached us.

"Come on, Ignazio," he called, hopping down from the stage, "We're going to practice some."

Ignazio nodded and stood, turning to me and reaching down his hand as Piero turned and jumped back onto the stage.

"What?" I asked, eyeing his outstretched hand.

"Come on stage with me?"

"What? No."

"Please? It'll be fun!"

"Go practice," I sighed, waving him away, and he laughed softly and came closer, bending down close to me.

I looked up in surprise and then froze as he leaned forward and kissed my cheek before I could react. Then he turned and went to the stage, and I watched him go as I felt the remaining touch of his lips on my skin.

A few days later, as I lay on my belly on the couch of the hotel room I was staying in, there was a knock on the door and Barbara called my name.

"I think it's open, Barbara!" I called, and she came in, smiling eagerly at me.

"Hi, Tamzin! So…I know it's getting close to the Christmas CD banquet and you probably already have a dress, but…"

"What?" I asked, looking up from the laptop. "Why would I have a dress?"

"Didn't you go shopping yet?"

I laughed.

"Right, Barbara, like I go shopping."

"So…you don't have an outfit yet?"

"Outfit for what!? What are you talking about!? What is this mysterious outfit you're talking about! Please enlighten me!"

She rolled her eyes at my sarcasm, but then her expression shifted to confusion when I continued to stare blankly at her.

"Didn't anyone tell you about the banquet?"

"The banquet? Yeah, Ignazio told me."

"Okay, good. So do you know what you're wearing to it yet?"

"Oh! Barbara, Michele says I don't have to take pictures."

"I know."

"Okay…" I looked confusedly at her for a moment, then returned my attention to the screen in front of me.

"But you're still going, aren't you?"

"What? No I'm not."

"Yes you are, Tamzin! Why wouldn't you be going?"

"Why would I be going!?"

"Because it's celebrating the release of the Il Volo Christmas album and you're part of the Il Volo team."

"I'm just the photographer, Barbara! I'll just stay in the hotel and organize my newest landscapes or something."

I returned my attention to the laptop screen, and Barbara stood in front of the door, watching me curiously.

"Okay, well… before you officially say no…"

"I already said no!"

"…I saw this amazing dress-"

"No!"

I looked indignantly up at her, eyebrows raised at her inability to comprehend my declaration, and locked my gaze with hers for a moment before shaking my head dismissively and returning to the laptop.

"Tamzin, you're going."

"What?"

"As your honorary aunt while we're on the road, I'm telling you that you have to go to the banquet."

"What!? Hey!"

I sat up indignantly on the sofa, and she held up her hands.

"It's not just me, Tamzin. Michele expects you to go, and he's in charge here! And the boys all think you're going, too. You don't want to disappoint them, do you?"

"Barbara!" I whined.

"Tamzin!" she whined back teasingly, and I frowned and crossed my arms.

"If I'm not taking pictures, then what am I going to do?"

"Enjoy yourself! Dance with the boys! Meet new people! Enjoy the food! Come on, Tamzin, it'll be fun."

I sighed and shot her a glare before flopping down onto my stomach and glaring fiercely at the laptop.

"So are you going now?"

"Well, I don't seem to have a choice, do I!?"

She laughed, and I looked up and shot her a glare that she quickly dismissed with her approving smile.

"So, I saw this beautiful dress in a shop just a few streets away…I think it'll be perfect on you!"

"I have to wear a dress?"

"Of course!"

"Where am I going to get a dress?"

She sighed.

"Tamzin…that's what I came to tell you. I found you a dress. Why don't you come with me and we'll go see it."

I groaned.

"I am not going dress shopping!"

"Fine. I'll go buy this one for you."

"What if I don't like it?"

"You will."

"What if it's not my style?"

"It will be."

"What makes you so sure?"

"I just know."

We were quiet, and I waited for her to leave.

"If I buy it, will you try it on?"

"Fine! Whatever! Just go!"

The door closed, and then opened again a moment later.

"I wear a FIVE!" I called in exasperation, and the door closed again.

"Tamzin! I'm back."

I got up from the table and went to the door, opening it and letting Barbara in, stepping aside as she carried in the long cloth covering on a hanger.

I shut the door behind her and watched as she went to the table and laid it on top.

She turned to me eagerly and clasped her hands together.

"Come and see."

I moved forward and went to stand beside her at the table, looking down at the dark cloth concealing the dress.

"Open it."

I looked up at her, and the content gentleness of her voice kept me quiet and obedient. I looked down and reached out to the zipper, taking the cold metal in my fingers and pulling it down.

The fabric separated and immediately revealed a bold red fabric, bright and rich in its color. It demanded my attention and captured my breath in its effortless brilliance.

"Oh…" I said softly, quickly pulling the zipper down the rest of the way and taking in the magnificence of the dress.

It was a strapless gown with a wrapped middle that flowed into a long cascade of shining red fabric.

I reached out and touched it, and the material felt like soft, perfect silk in my fingers.

"Oh my gosh…" I sighed, "It's…brilliant."

I looked up from it and saw her eyeing me in satisfaction.

"See? I told you you'd like it. Go and try it on."

"Now?"

"Of course!"

I took up the dress and went to the bedroom, shutting the door and laying it out carefully on the bed.

I pulled off my T-shirt and shorts and tossed them aside, trading them for the lavishness of the gown.

I slipped into it and felt the silk against my skin, turning around quickly to feel it move with me.

I wondered if I would be lost in the grandeur of the gown, and looked down critically at the dress. I left the bedroom and strode to the mirror on the wall, doubtful and determined to rid myself of it if it so much as stole from the color in my cheeks.

Instead, I was left staring in astonishment at myself. I looked myself up and down and turned to see the gentle curve of the fabric over my hips. My hair looked more golden, my eyes a richer blue, my skin more fair. It was as if the gown was tailored with the intention of fitting only me, and I stared in evident surprise that I actually liked the dress Barbara had forced me to put on.

Barbara appeared beside me and looked me up and down in approval.

"See Tamzin, I told you it'd be perfect on you."

I nodded, still absorbed in my reflection, and she looked down at my bare foot poking out from under the brilliant red cascade.

"Do you have shoes?"

I smiled.

"Yes. I have shoes."

"Great! Tamzin, I can't wait to see you wear this at the banquet!"

I smiled sheepishly at Barbara.

"Thank you, Barbara."

She nodded in satisfaction.