been friends.”
Bailey looked forward to learning more about Betty and Bob, about their family and their lives together, and about their adventures on Broadway. After she’d looked around her new room and noted the large empty closet space and the small attached bathroom and shower, they moved back to the living room. Along the way, Betty explained that she and Francesca had performed in the same cast of Forty-Second Street back in the day. “Not a person on Broadway would’ve figured Francesca would be a director one day,” Betty said. “She was the least serious person in the cast. But something happened to her back then. It’s a long story.” Betty looked back at Bailey. “I’m sure we’ll have lots of time to talk later, when you get in your routine.”
They all agreed, and for the next hour they shared lunch and talked about how Bob was the cook between the two of them. “I got tired of eating crunchy pasta and microwave dinners.” He chuckled, a fond look on his face. “Bless my Betty’s heart. She’s a much better singer than she is a cook.”
Bailey flashed a nervous grin at her mother. The same could be said for her, she was sure. She might have to spend a little time with Bob … learn a little about cooking. Now, before she was really on her own. The meal ended, and Betty and Bob encouraged them to have a look at the city, take a walk to the park. Like old friends, Betty and Bob seemed to understand how important the time between Bailey and her mother was. Bailey appreciated their consideration, and she told her mom so when they were back outside on the street. “I’m going to like Bob and Betty.” She walked with a spring in her step. The sun warmed her shoulders and the air was a perfect temperature. “They already seem like family.”
“Exactly.” She looked at Bailey, her expression curious. “Didn’t you think Betty was a little like — “ “Elizabeth Baxter?” Bailey laughed.
“Really? Did you see it too?” Her mom stopped, taken by the fact.
“Mom, seriously … she was just like her. I thought it the moment we walked off the elevator.” Bailey loved this, the way she and her mom saw so much of life the same way, how they had similar viewpoints and revelations throughout the day. It was one of the many things she was going to miss when they were living a thousand miles away from each other.
The rest of the day went quickly, and after a fun night at the Kellers', Bailey and her mom spent the next afternoon shopping.
“Have you thought about how much money you’ll make?” Her mom looked through a rack of sweaters and stopped to meet Bailey’s eyes. They were at H&M, a discount clothing store on Fifth Avenue. “We haven’t really talked about it.”
Bailey knew the answer. She would make as much in a month as some people made in a year. It was an amount that didn’t make sense to her, since she would’ve gladly performed on Broadway for free. And the Kellers had already made it clear they wouldn’t take rent. She had a year-long contract, so truly she would be able to give and save a significant amount — depending on how long the producers kept her on the show.
“I know. I guess it hasn’t really sunk in.” Bailey looked through a rack of exercise pants — perfect for rehearsals.
That night Bailey and her mom took the Kellers out to dinner, to one of their favorite restaurants — the R Lounge at Two Times Square on the second floor of the Renaissance Hotel on West Forty-eighth Street and Seventh Avenue. The place was quiet, and the views of Times Square were the best in the city. There they learned a little more about Betty and Bob. They had three children — two who lived in upstate New York with their families, and a third who was making his way. That’s how the Kellers described him. He was making his way. Bailey wasn’t sure what that meant, but she guessed she would find out in time.
Bailey and her mom turned in early that night, since she had rehearsal at nine the next morning. Originally Bailey had been told she’d start rehearsing a few weeks after her arrival, but Francesca changed that. The director wanted her to join the production as soon as possible. As for tomorrow’s rehearsal, her mom had been invited