The paramedics wheeled him away, and Violet continued to sob. Lindsey held her close and rocked her. There were no words of comfort that she could give. All she could do was give her friend a comforting circle of arms in which to weep.

Emma left with the paramedics. While she was gone, Nancy came running onto the stage from the back room with Mary right behind her.

“We snuck out of the green room and were eavesdropping,” she cried. “Oh, Violet, oh, I’m so sorry.”

Violet raised her head, and Lindsey moved so that Nancy could sit and take her post as chief comforter.

Mary looked closely at Lindsey and asked, “Are you all right?”

“Yeah,” Lindsey lied. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying, but her eyes stung and her throat burned from the effort.

“Lindsey!” Sully came tearing onto the stage from the loading dock at the back with Ian right behind him. “Are you all right? What happened?”

He grabbed her by the arms and held her so that he could get a good look at her face. His blue eyes missed nothing, and he said, “Oh, damn.”

He pulled her close and held her tight. It was the kindness in his eyes and the secure feeling in his arms that were her undoing.

Lindsey began to cry. She didn’t mean to, but once the floodgates burst, there was no holding back and she was hiccupping into Sully’s shoulder while he ran a hand up and down her back, soothing her while she cried it out.

“Sorry,” she said. She pulled away and sniffed. “I just . . . it was . . . I can’t believe it.”

Sully cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. His voice was tender when he said, “I know.”

Emma Plewicki came back into the theater. Her face was set in hard lines as she strode toward the stage.

“Violet, are you all right?” she asked.

Violet was sitting on the edge of the stage with Nancy beside her. One look at her tear-ravaged face and Emma rephrased her question.

“What I mean by that is are you up to talking about what happened or do you need more time?”

“No, I can talk about it,” she said. She looked shaky, and she fretted a tissue between her fingers.

“If you’ll excuse us,” Emma said. “I’d like to talk to everyone one at a time.” Her voice was gentle but firm.

Nancy looked at Violet. “Do you want me to stay with you?”

“No, I’ll be all right,” Violet said. She patted her friend’s hand.

Nancy looked reluctant but she left the stage and joined the others. As they started to walk up the aisle, Emma turned and called after them, “Don’t go too far, Lindsey. I want to talk to you next.”

Lindsey stumbled but Sully steadied her. “I gotcha.”

“Thanks,” she said.