Chapter 47

The next morning as soon as I opened my eyes I was wide awake, getting dressed and ready to go to the N.G. Headquarters. My mind was racing and I couldn't relax, knowing that by the end of the day I would either be with Ignazio or I would have missed him. I had my plane ticket already, and I kept pacing throughout the hotel room worrying and waiting until it was time leave for the Headquarters.

Time was ticking by, unrelenting. My flight was leaving at two-thirty, and it would arrive in Los Angeles at exactly seven, the same time as the start of the concert. I wondered what the boys were doing now, if they were still at their hotel or if they were at an interview or rehearsal in the theatre.

I was dressed in my Il Volo T-shirt, the one I had designed, with my red coat over it and jeans. I put on the diamond necklace Ignazio had given me before the AMAs as a sort of good-luck charm, and I pulled on my red high-tops before I left the hotel.

I took a cab to the Headquarters, and much too long after my arrival I was sitting across the desk from an executive of N.G.

"Well, Ms. Montgomery," he said, sliding a contract and pen across the table. "We are sure that you will want to continue with us, with the way we've heard how you feel about our organization. Monica has reported that you are a very passionate worker, and I've personally looked through your photos. We'd be very pleased to have you with us for the next year."

"Thank you very much, but I'm sorry," I said, sliding the contract back across the table to his surprise, "There's somewhere else I need to be. But if you send me some flash drives, I'll duplicate all of the landscapes I've ever taken and send them to National Geographic to use how you see fit." Taking a piece of paper from my pocket and handing it to him, I said, "Here's a list of all the places I've photographed. I hope you'll take advantage of my offer."

He was surprised and bewildered that I was leaving, but he tried to be understanding, though he seemed very disappointed. He did take me up on my offer, and I agreed to contact the company when I could.

I left the Headquarters and paused before hailing a taxi, turning and looking for the last time at what I had thought was the entryway to my dreams. And maybe it was, because it was through this company that I learned where I truly wanted to be. I smiled at the huge white curving building reaching into the March sky and smiled, offering the place a good-bye wave.

Then I turned away and got my taxi, reviewing my plan yet again in my mind and counting down the hours I had until the concert.

I sat in the airplane concourse with my suitcase and camera bag, trying and failing to relax as I waited until I could board the plane. I could feel the silent rush of the race as the time hurried forward and I sat idly in the airport, checking the clock again and again. People bustled all around me and it was noisy, and I sat quietly reviewing my plan. It was almost two, and I jiggled my leg impatiently and thought about arriving at the concert over and over again, my mind racing with worry. As soon as I landed in Los Angeles, I would take a cab straight to the theatre and bring my luggage with me, not wasting any time finding Il Volo. The tour schedule was in my pocket, and I kept feeling it as if reassuring myself that I knew where they were going to be, and that everything would be okay.

I was trying to keep reminding myself that everything was going to work out. I'd arrive in Los Angeles at seven, seven-thirty at the latest, and then I'd have an hour or hopefully even two to get to the theatre. I remained positive and hopeful, until the airport announced something that struck me to the core and chilled me with horror.

Due to an airline glitch, the flight was going to be delayed for a while, a few hours maximum.

I couldn't move. Everyone around me groaned and started complaining, but I was frozen still. I felt my heart breaking inside my chest and my mind going numb with shock, the race momentarily freezing. A delay? There was a delay. It was as if I couldn't comprehend the information, and then all at once I just wanted to scream and burst into tears. I could feel the plan beginning to crumble around me, the hope of the reunion beginning to fall away and shatter. So this was it? Il Volo was gone?

No! I couldn't give up now! I was sitting in the airport waiting to board a flight to Los Angeles. I was not giving up now, no matter how impossible it seemed! I could still make it! Even if I caught them leaving the theatre, it would be okay! I just had to find them in Los Angeles before tomorrow morning, when they left for Latin America! I clenched my fists together and glared fiercely at the clock, determined to win.

I tried to force myself to start breathing again, and my mind resuming its racing, my thoughts becoming more frantic as I sat idly in the airport as time passed by, unrelenting in its taunting. I shook my head slowly at the clock, glaring fiercely. I would go to every hotel in Los Angeles if I had to! I would do everything I could to find the boys, and only until tomorrow would I have to accept that I missed them. I just had to do the best I could!

After an agonizing wait in the airport, we were finally allowed to board the plane at about five, and I was doing my best not to start panicking. I kept my hand on the tour schedule in my pocket and kept repeating to myself that everything was going to be okay. We took to the air at five-thirty, and I calculated that with the delay we'd arrive at about ten. The concert would be over by then, but I clung to the hope that they'd stick around long enough at the theatre for me to get there.

The whole flight I wasn't able to relax, and I spent the entire time trying to calm myself down. I attempted to take a nap at one point, because the days of worrying had me very tired, but I was wide awake. I tried to watch a movie, but I couldn't focus on anything. I just stared out the window and prayed that the plane would go faster, arrive there sooner, and Il Volo would wait at the theatre a little longer.

The second the plane had landed and I was free to leave, I sprinted like a maniac through the airport, grabbed my luggage as quickly as I could, and evacuated the building as fast as I could go with my suitcase and camera equipment. I dashed to the street and hailed a taxi, leaping inside it and yanking my things in with me.

I yelled the name of the theatre and told him to step on it, and while he took off, startled, I tried to catch my breath from all the running.

"When we get there," I panted, pulling money from out of my suitcase, "I want you to wait with the luggage while I go in and find the people I'm looking for."

I clasped my hands over my heart and jiggled my legs as the taxi drove through the brilliantly illuminated streets of Los Angeles. It was dark outside and chilly, and I was anxious and trembling as I watched the building pass outside the window.

"Stay there. Stay there," I quietly willed the boys, shaking and sitting up close to the door, ready to burst forth when the car came to a stop. I sat up straight, craning to catch a glimpse of the theatre, and as the time approached ten-thirty, I finally saw it.

"That's it!" I screamed, making the driver jump, and he continued toward the street at the frustratingly normal pace. "Park there and wait!" I instructed impatiently, pointing at a spot along the side of the street, and the second he stopped I threw open the door and took off sprinting toward the theatre. I flew past signs advertising the concert, and I ran as fast as I could toward the bright lights of the theatre. The cars and the security guards outside of the theatre let me know that they were still there, and I willed myself to run faster, knowing they were just within reach. I ran up to the building and around to the back, where I remembered the dressing rooms and backstage being, and I found the entrance doors blocked by a burly security guard.

I sprinted up to him, panting and struggling to speak.

"Hi, I'm Tamzin Montgomery! I was Il Volo's photographer, and I need to get in, excuse me!"

I stepped forward and reached for the door, and he stepped in front of me and blocked my way.

"I'm sorry, miss, I can't let anyone in unless they have a pass."

"No, but I know them! I was their photographer. I need to see them before they leave!"

"I'm sorry. I can't let anyone past."

"Then go inside and tell them Tamzin Montgomery is here!"

"I'm not authorized to move from this spot."

"NO!" I screamed in fury, and he raised his eyebrows. "I have to get in there! I've been racing for too long to lose now! You don't understand! I'm going to lose them!"

"I'm sorry. You'll have to leave now, or I'll have to have you removed. You're not getting inside."

The door opened then and another guard stepped out, and I flung myself at the door, reaching out toward my opportunity as the guard grabbed me around the waist and lifted me over his shoulder. I screamed and thrashed as he held tightly to me. As my opportunity began to swing shut in front of me and the other guard helped to pull me backward, I thought I saw a familiar figure at the far end of the hallway.

"BARBARA!" I screamed as loud as I could, "BARBARA, HELP!"

The door closed, and I was yanked away from it, desperately screaming her name. The men set me on the ground and dragged me away from it, telling me over and over to get off of the premises and threatening to call the police. I was sobbing, and I kept yelling frantically that they didn't understand as they pulled me away.

Then the door was flung open, and someone yelled over me.

"STOP! It's okay, she's with us!"

The guards released me immediately, and I raced into the open arms of Barbara.