As she laughed and talked, the thought kept coming back to her, but she ignored it. Nick was right; tonight was a good night to party. She could worry about London, auditions, and big choices that might change her life tomorrow.
As the night went on, Lily stopped by the bar to catch her breath. Nick showed up next to her with two new drinks in his hands.
Someone raised a glass and said, ‘To Eliza and Freddy!’
‘To Lily and Nick!’ Jasper added, and everyone in the crowd cheered.
Lily felt a sour pang as she looked around at all the happy faces. Now this was her home and these were her people. It hurt her heart to think about leaving them, even for a short time.
However, when Nick squeezed her hand, she too felt excited. London was calling, giving her the chance to make a dream come true. She felt like she could do anything with Nick by her side but did she really want that dream anymore? Just because it was offered didn't mean she had to take it, she reminded herself.
Tomorrow would bring choices and plans, as well as endings and starts. But tonight, when she was with people she loved and who made her laugh, Lily let herself enjoy the moment, enjoying her victory and the bright, unknown future that lay ahead.
37
Lily was in the solitude of Pippin Cottage, her shaky fingers hovering over her phone, and the last curtain call ofMy Fair Ladyhad finally faded. She had been avoiding what she was about to do. Most people would have been on the phone the next day but Lily couldn’t do it. She knew she had to but couldn’t make the call. Finally, she took three deep breaths, straightening her shoulders, then dialled Paul Meadows’s number.
‘Paul Meadows,’ she heard him answer.
‘It’s Lily Baxter,’ she said.
‘Oh how wonderful, I’m so glad you called. I thought we might have lost you to the am dram world.’ He laughed, somewhat meanly she thought, but maybe she was imagining it. ‘Now tell me you are heading to London.’
Lily looked at Mr Mistoffelees sitting on the windowsill. ‘Yes, I would like to audition. If that’s okay?’
She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous but she was.
‘Oh that’s the best news I’ve had since Nicole Scherzinger pivoted and took onSunset Boulevard.’ He laughed loudly. ‘Although that’s gone a bit south now. I will be truthful with you and tell you I already havePhantompencilled in for you. Still, listen; while I have you, we should investigate a few more possibilities. How’s your belt? Any issues?’
Her brain whirled by the time Lily hung up. Apart fromPhantom of the Opera, she now had scheduled auditions forLes Misérables,An American in Paris, and a workshop for a fresh musical creating buzz on the West End.
‘Right,’ she said to herself, ‘then no pressure.’
She would have to be in London for a week and she still had subletters in the flat. Nigel’s things hadn’t been cleaned out and Lily would have to deal with that also when the tenants left. She felt like her head was spinning when she heard a soft knock at the door and Nick, in his work uniform, peered around the corner with a bag of pastries.
‘Sweet treats and a cup of tea?’ he asked.
‘Oh yes please. I just got off the phone with Paul. It’s too much to take in,’ she said.
‘Let me make some tea and then tell me everything,’ he said.
Soon Lily was sitting with a mug of tea and she inhaled the reassuring scent of Earl Grey. ‘I have to go to London next week.’
‘Okay,’ he said. ‘That’s great.’
‘And not only am I auditioning forPhantom, but I’m also trying out for three other shows.’
Nick’s eyebrows shot higher. ‘That’s amazing, four auditions in a week. You will get something for sure, probably all of them and then you’ll have to choose. What will you sing?’
‘Well, naturally, there isPhantom. For that “Think of Me” and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again”.Les Misthen is searching for a new Éponine, hence “On My Own” is good. Oh, and “The Man I Love” forAn American in Paris, but I don’t think that one is really me, as Lise is supposed to be able to do ballet and I am not really ballet trained.’
Nick whistled. ‘That’s a lot to prepare for in a week,’ he said.
‘I know,’ she said and sighed.
Her phone buzzed with a flurry of alerts before Lily could reply. She looked down to watch the am dram society WhatsApp group come alive.
‘Oh no. How do they already know?’ she let out.
