Free Leaving by Karen Kingsbury Page A

picture him. And one thing I know …” She looked straight at Bailey, her eyes shining. “When you sing, he won’t be able to leave the room. He’ll barely remember to breathe. Because your song will resonate in the depths of his soul.”
    Bailey could’ve cried. Wasn’t that exactly what she was believing for … praying for? That a guy would love her so completely someday that her song would resonate in the depths of his soul? She released a slow sigh, and willed herself to be patient. God knew all these things. He would help her through this time of singleness, of going after her dream to perform.
    She held onto that truth as they finished dinner and headed back to their room for an early night. Bailey ran through her audition material several times before falling asleep. But as she did, she wondered what seeing Tim with his girlfriend would be like, whether she would have feelings for him or regrets over their breakup. The next morning at breakfast, the answer was as clear as the morning sky.
    Tim and Adrienne arrived just as Bailey and her mom were being seated. The group exchanged hugs, and Bailey was careful to note how she felt — being in Tim’s arms again, even for only a few seconds. The feeling brought great relief and allowed Bailey to focus on Adrienne and her wisdom as a Broadway professional.
    Because her feelings for Tim Reed were absolutely nothing but friendship.
    They settled in around the table, and Tim helped Adrienne with her chair and then introduced her to Bailey and her mom. He seemed attentive and charming around her, and no questionthat his eyes sparkled when he looked at her. The reality hurt, but Bailey kept her voice and expression upbeat and happy. Tim had never looked at her the way he now looked at Adrienne. One of the reasons they hadn’t worked out was that he never seemed truly captivated by her. Like her mom had pointed out, he could leave the room when she was singing. Bailey had a feeling he stayed glued to his chair when Adrienne sang.
    Oh well,
she told herself. Further proof that Tim wasn’t the one. And better to know that much now — while she was still young — rather than follow after a guy that was wrong for her and waste these years. They helped themselves to plates from the breakfast buffet, and then gathered back at the table. The waitress served coffee, and Bailey had a cup. But no cream. She wanted her voice clear, her tone right on this morning.
    “Tell Bailey about Francesca.” Tim turned his body so he faced his girlfriend. “The stuff you were telling me the other night. Before our date.”
    Adrienne grinned, and a slight blush colored her cheeks. She ran her hand over her hair and seemed to work to find her focus. Whatever the date had been, it must’ve meant a lot to both of them. Bailey tried to ignore the fact.
    “Francesca is intense.” Adrienne looked at Bailey and her smile fell off. “You have to come to the audition with thick skin, not worried about what she says. If she gives you direction it’s because she likes you.”
    “You’ve worked with her?” Bailey focused her attention on the blond dancer. This information was priceless.
    “I was in
Hairspray
before
Wicked
.” She shot a quick grin at Tim, as if the best part of being in the cast of
Wicked
was her relationship with Tim Reed. Then she seemed to remember that she was in the middle of telling a story. “Francesca has no barriers, no reservations about what she’ll say. She’ll walk up in the middle of an audition or rehearsal and adjust your posture or tell youexactly what she thinks of your singing. Don’t let it bother you. She demands excellence, and she gets it.”
    Gratitude spread through Bailey. This was crucial. The fact that Francesca was hard on everyone — especially dancers she felt were talented — could help Bailey push through the audition later this morning if she felt she was failing. The hour was over almost as soon as it began, and Bailey felt like