Page 52 of Baby I'm Yours

“He’s always hated having his picture taken,” Margaret says, shaking her head. “I never understood it. I mean, if he were homely, it would be different, but he’s always been handsome.”

“He’s a weird one,” I agree.

“Takes one to know one,” Hunter says, nudging my knee with his.

In midtown, the theater district is already bustling, despite the early hour. Sunday brunch crowds mix with tourists and theatergoers, creating a crush of humanity as we head towardSeventh Avenue. As we exit the car, a street performer plays saxophone on one corner, the music floating above the traffic noise, as two people in gorilla suits amble toward Times Square and a man in overalls shouts something about union-busters from the shadows of a nearby loading dock.

Ah, New York…

So chaotic, so wild, so exactly what I didn’t know I needed after a lifetime in a sleepy small town.

“I used to bring Hunter to shows when we first moved to the city,” Margaret says as we slide into the line heading into the theater. She leans heavily on Hunter’s arm, but seems to be doing okay so far without the wheelchair she insisted on leaving behind. “We didn’t have much money. But back then, they’d let you in to see the second act for free if they had room. We saw the endings of so many shows. Remember?”

“I blame that for my lack of skill with story structure,” Hunter says, handing our tickets to the usher at the door. “I have no idea how stories start, only how they end.”

I hum low in my throat at that but hold my tongue as we follow the usher’s directions to go to the right, toward the middle of the orchestra.

He has no idea how stories start, only how they end…

ButIknow how they start.

So maybe together…

I push the thought away, smiling as I accept a program from another usher and Hunter leads us to incredible seats, just a few rows back from the stage.

Staying in the now.

I am stayingin the now.

The show is magical, even better than I’d imagined a Broadway musical would be. From the moment the overture starts, I’m transported. The sets are gorgeous, the actors are fantastic—both real and over-the-top at the same time—and the energy of the crowd is infectious.

I find myself laughing out loud more than once. And then, suddenly I’m tearing up during “Till There Was You.” Not just because of the beautiful performance, but because Hunter is holding my hand, and I can’t stop thinking about how much more beautiful the world seems now that I get to share it with him.

There is no longer any doubt about it.

I’m not falling in love with this man, I’ve already fallen.

At intermission, Hunter goes to fetch us drinks, while Margaret and I relax in our seats.

“I confess, I’m feeling a little smug about not drinking anything during the first act, so I don’t have to pee,” I confide. “That line for the ladies’ looks horrific.”

She nods. “It’s always awful. Seems they would have added more stalls by now.”

“Or taken over the men’s room,” I agree. “We should make the boys pee in the alley outside and claim their territory as our own.”

Her eyes crinkle at the edges. “That’s the spirit.” Her smile fades as she adds in a softer voice, “And in the spirit of doing bold things, I wanted to share something with you, Elaina. Just between us.”

“Of course,” I say, sobering. “What’s on your mind?”

“First, promise you won’t tell Hunter.” Once I’ve assured her, she continues, “I just received word from Mount Sinai that I’ve been selected as one of their trial patients for an experimental new surgery.” She speaks quickly, as if afraid of losing her nerve. “It’s risky, very risky for someone my age, who’s already so fardown this road…but there’s a chance they’ll be able to help.” A smile trembles across her lips. “There’s also a chance that I won’t make it through the procedure.”

I exhale, but it does nothing to ease the tension fisting around my ribs.

Instantly, I doubt the wisdom of promising to keep this to myself…

“Wow.” I blink faster. “Okay. And when is this?”

“Two weeks,” she says, making my eyes fly wide. “I know, dear. It’s fast. And I’m so sorry to burden you with this, but I wanted someone to know…just in case. But I can’t tell Hunter.” She grips my forearm with surprising strength. “He’s finally made peace with all this after all those months of calling in every specialist in the world. I don’t want to disturb that peace, and I don’t want him to know about the risk until it’s over, one way or another.”

---