Free Broadway Baby by Alexandra James Page A

twenty minutes thanks to one of NYC’s finest cab drivers. Getting past the doorman was easy since he had met Steve and Cally before. The doorman had even remarked on the resemblance Lily had to Shelby. Also, the fact that he had just let Lily in not ten minutes ago made Shelby’s heart finally stop beating so quickly in her chest.
    They had reached the elevator and Steve was just about to push the button when the doors opened to reveal a crying Lily. “She told me to come back tomorrow. That only an ungrateful brat would bother their mother this late at night.”
    Pulling Lily into her arms Shelby fought all instincts to go and give Cora Prescott a piece of her mind. “Let’s go home, baby.”
    “Shelby?”
    “Go home, you two. We will be talking though.”
    “Night then,” Steve and Cally waved their goodbyes before heading into the night.
    “Could you hail us a cab please?” Shelby addressed the elderly doorman and the man gave her a toothy grin.
    “Anything for you, doll,” he returned shortly and tipped his cap at Shelby. “I managed to flag down a cab for you. Not as easy as it was in the old days, but I still have the magic touch.”
    “Thanks so much.”
    “For that smile, anytime,” he flirted as he walked to the cab and opened the door for Shelby and Lily. “Have a good night ladies, and stay safe.”
     
    * * *
     
    Lily had been too quiet on the drive home and hadn’t protested one bit when Shelby got her into their apartment and helped her into a clean pair of pajamas. Leaving Lily in her bedroom, Shelby had gone to hers to quickly change and returned to find her curled up on the bed holding Albie.
    “Come sit with me, baby.” Shelby’s voice was gentle and Lily moved to curl into the woman’s lap when she sat in the rocker.
    “Am I in trouble, Mama?” Lily asked after tucking her head under Shelby’s chin and snuggling into the woman.
    “A little bit,” Shelby admitted. “I do want to talk about what happened tonight, Lily.”
    “I got mad.”
    “And?”
    “And I decided that I wanted to go and see Cora. Ask her why she hasn’t called or asked to get together or anything since getting back.”
    “How did you know she was back?”
    “One of the stage hands saw her on the subway a few days ago.” Lily sighed. “Not one word, Mama. Nothing. Then I get there tonight and she was mad to see me because I interrupted something she was doing and hadn’t called ahead to see if she was available. I shouldn’t have to make an appointment to see my own mother!”
    The anguish in Lily’s voice caused Shelby to hold her even tighter and rock her slowly. “You’re right, Lily. You shouldn’t have to make an appointment to see your mother, but for some reason she wants your relationship that way.”
    “It’s not fair and it’s not the way I want it,” Lily sniffed.
    “You’re right, it’s not fair, but it’s the way it is for now.” Shelby began to hum as she rocked allowing Lily her tears. Hearing silence Shelby looked down to find the young teen asleep.
    Standing Shelby carried the teen to the bed in the room and laid her down. Managing to pull the covers out from under Lily, Shelby tucked her in and watched as Lily slept. Her heart broke for Lily and the sadness Lily felt at not having the mother she wanted growing up or even now. Shelby couldn’t imagine growing up without the supportive parents she’d had and hoped that the relationship she and Lily were developing could help the woman in front of her experience the joys of feeling loved unconditionally.
     
    * * *
     
    Opening her eyes Lily frowned at finding herself alone in bed. Turning over she noticed the clock on her nightstand flashing two-thirty a.m. “Let’s go find Mama, Albie.” Tucking the bear under her arm Lily slid from the bed and made her way to Mama’s bedroom. Smiling when she saw the woman asleep in the middle of the large bed Lily crawled next to the woman. Bending down near Shelby’s ear Lily