“Clearly,” said Brooks under his breath, finishing his drink. “So? What’s her story? What does she do? Where’s she from?”
These weren’t easy questions, because Elise Klassan was very different from the girls that the Winslow brothers generally dated. She wasn’t a debutante, or a sailor, or a D.C. intern. She wasn’t part of the uppercrust of Main Line society, into which the Winslows were born, or model or a businesswoman in Philly. Preston wasn’t lying when he said she was different, and he found it was hard to describe Elise in a nutshell.
He started with: “She’s an actress.”
“What?” blurted out Brooks. “An actress?”
Preston nodded. “Yep. She’s in a show at Lincoln Center right now. I’m headed there after dinner.”
“I didn’t even know you were into the arts, Pres.”
“Beth took me to see a show she was in a few weeks back…I-I don’t know…” He shook his head. “There was something about her.”
“Beth Atwell? I didn’t realize you two were still a thing.”
“We’re not anymore. She noticed I was into Elise and told me to fuck off.”
“Felicity, Hope, and Constance will be delighted to know that you slighted their cousin,” said Brooks.
“Like I care,” mumbled Preston, thinking about the annoying trio of sisters he and his brothers had grown up with in Haverford.
“So, you’re dating this Elise.”
“She’s not ‘this Elise,’ first of all. She’s Elise, and yeah, we’re dating. In fact, she’s kind of…living with me.”
“She moved in? Already?” snapped Brooks, eyes wide and disapproving. “How long have you two been together?”
“Over a month,” said Preston defensively.
Brooks sighed. “You’ve got it bad.”
“You have no idea,” said Preston, finishing his drink.
“Okay,” said Brooks, like he was heading into a gauntlet. “When do I get to meet her?”
“You don’t,” said Preston. “Tonight’s her opening night on Broadway, and she’s got two shows tomorrow, and another two on Sunday.”
“Sounds like a busy schedule.”
“It is,” said Preston, suddenly wishing they could talk about something else. He heard the skepticism in Brooks’ voice and it bothered him. He wanted Brooks’ approval, not his advice to move slow and be cautious.
“Does she have time for you?”
“She lives with me,” said Preston, signaling the waiter for another drink.
“I bet her career is really important to her.”
“It is. She gave up a lot to make it here.”
“I guess we know how it feels to be that ambitious, huh?”
Preston nodded. Although only one of them had actually made it to the Olympics, yes, they’d both had the dream, the determination, and the drive.
“Not a whole lot we wouldn’t have given up when we were in the thick of it,” said Brooks carefully, looking at Preston with worried eyes.
Preston understood his brother’s meaning precisely. It was at the heart of Preston’s concerns for a possible future with Elise. When push came to shove, he had a feeling she’d always choose the stage first. And although he admired and respected her ambition, he wanted to know that eventually his place in her life would be a priority, too.
“It’s not an issue yet.”
Yet. The word sat thick and heavy between them as Brooks nodded once before picking up his menu.
“Brooks, can you just be happy for me?” asked Preston, feeling very much the little brother to his big brother, and wishing, as he had countless times before, that his father was still alive for conversations like this one.
Brooks, who’d come through for his siblings their entire lives, looked up from his menu and forced his lips into a neutral smile.
“Of course.” He lifted his glass. “Good luck, brother. May she break a leg tonight, but never break your heart.”
They clinked their glasses together and segued easily into a conversation about Christopher’s recent conquests at the Capitol and Jessica’s upcoming graduation from college, but there was a vague melancholy that had taken up residence in Preston’s heart, near the spot that belonged to Elise.
Not a whole lot we wouldn’t have given up…
Turning his head to the business of their siblings, Preston said a quick and fleeting prayer that the day never came when the thing Elise needed to give up was him.
***
So this is how it feels!
On the cab ride home, Elise clutched Preston’s hand, staring out the window and beaming as she recalled the first standing ovation she’d ever received. It had been an almost-unreal joy to hear the roar of applause when she, Garrett, and Maggie had taken their bows together, watching as the audience leapt to their feet before them.
Afterward, she’d attended a backstage reception, comforted by the light pressure of Preston’s hand in the small of her back as various theater critics, fellow actors, and other theater bigwigs complimented Elise on her portrayal of Mattie Silver. Her heart had swelled with pride, and it had been all the sweeter for having Preston by her side and knowing that she didn’t celebrate her success alone, that he was proud of her, too.