CHAPTER 10
CENTER STAGE MEETS CENTER CRUSH
OWEN
Iam rarely at the job site on a Sunday afternoon, but when the investor who is paying for the entirety of renovation expenses says he is in town and would love to see the site, you do whatever you can to get there. So I’m at The Shadowridge, walking through the mezzanine and the balcony boxes with Giovanni Vitale.
Usually, visits like these are stressful. I always want to show my investors, donors, and owners that their money is being well spent and that I’m being a great steward over what’s been entrusted to me. I understand what it takes to trust someone with a project that you care about.
I’m glad I was able to arrive before Giovanni so I could review all of my schedules and have them fresh in my mind, because he asks so many in-depthquestions about materials, timelines, and restoration techniques. He seems to really care about the bones of this place.
Some investors only want to see the flashy parts. Some panic when they see things in the demolition stage, all torn apart, looking its worst. Some just want to be reassured with schedules and cost allocations. Sometimes, all they really want is to see that you have lots of data and seem confident in it.
But everything with Giovanni has been amazing. I’ve taken him on an extensive tour of the entire place, even showing him little nooks and storage areas, and he’s been interested in all of it. The entire time as we’ve been walking through The Shadowridge, I’ve been feeling energized and proud. Not nervous or stressed. I can’t believe someone from across an ocean is willing to fund my vision for this restoration. I’m lucky to have him as an investor.
We’re back in the main part of the theater, where the seats will go again once we get them restored, chatting, when Charlie walks in. My smile spreads wide at this unexpected surprise. Any clouds must’ve drifted away just at that moment because I swear the room is brighter.
“I was driving by, saw your truck out front, and since I told you I’d come and check out the place…Oh, but I see you’re busy.”
“No, please, stay,” I say as I beckon her the rest ofthe way to us. “Charlie, I’d like to introduce you to the man financing The Shadowridge’s restoration, Giovanni Vitale. Giovanni, this is Charlie Lancaster. She lives in the townhome next to me—we, uh, share a wall.” And I can’t help but share a smile with Charlie.
“I am charmed to meet you,” Giovanni says. “Owen has been showing me all the ways in which he’s going to bring this place back to life.”
“And I’m happy to meet the man who is making it possible. I love your accent. Did you grow up in Italy?”
“I did. I still live there, in fact.”
“And this project drew you all the way here?” Charlie asks. “You must have incredible historic theaters back home.”
“We do. But my wife grew up in D.C. She loves the stage, loves historic buildings, and loves a good surprise.”
“What does she think of the restoration?”
“She hasn’t seen it yet. I want to unveil it when it’s complete.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet. Do you have a picture of her? It must be so hard to keep a secret so exciting from her!”
I love that Charlie and Giovanni are chatting so much. He gets to see how great Charlie is, and she gets to see how excited he is about this place. I’m not sure I’ve ever had someone I’ve datedcome to a site I’m working at before. At least not to come check out what I do. And they definitely haven’t ever made such an effort to make a client or investor feel welcome.
As they talk, I look at Charlie. The light coming in from the high windows shines down on her, making coppery strands in her brown hair and her cheeks glow with her smile.
Giovanni pulls up a picture on his phone and turns it to show us both. “This is Margot. The love of my life.” The picture of Margot is of her on stage, performing in what looks like a play. She’s got long brown hair and a face that’s somehow both sweet and mischievous.
“Oh,” I say, “I can see that she’s definitely a huge fan of the theater. You didn’t tell me that she’s also a stage actor.”
“It has always been her passion.”
I suddenly want to know more about Charlie’s passions. What does she love that I know nothing about? What else don’t I know about her yet?
Charlie asks, “What has been her favorite role?”
As the man is slipping the phone back into his pocket, he says, “Oh, I’m sure I couldn’t guess.”
“She probably has many,” Charlie says. “You’re here alone? No assistant?”
“I told him to go check out the town so I could pester Owen with questions in peace.”
“Did you fly in just for this visit? Or are you traveling in the area?”
