Take Three (31 page)

With that, the pulsing music began and one row of dancers after another burst into action, performing as if their lives depended on their next move. Sebastian seemed to know exactly what he was looking for. He walked the rows tapping on the shoulder of nearly every girl he passed by. Bailey wanted to pray or hold her breath, but all she could do was dance.

Finally it was her turn, and she could picture it, feel him walking past her, avoiding her shoulder, giving her the privilege of making it to the next round. They sort of knew each other, really. So maybe he’d have pity on her and…

She kept dancing, pushing herself, but just then Sebastian hesitated near her and gave her a sad look and a quick raise of his brow, as if to say she should’ve worked harder. Then without giving her another few seconds to prove herself, he tapped her shoulder.

And that was that.

When the music stopped, Bailey did everything she could not to cry. She walked with the group of girls who were being let go, and she found her bag along the wall.
God…why? The prayer came instantly, silently. I asked for Your will, and this is what happens?

But even as her ungrateful words overflowed into the most selfish of prayers, she had a realization. She wasn’t the only one who had prayed for God’s will here at this Broadway audition. Also praying were her parents and brothers, and Cody. Every one of them had asked God for His perfect will, which could only mean one thing.

It wasn’t God’s will that she get a job on Broadway. Not now anyway.

The realization grew into more of a tremendous relief, and very quickly her silent prayer changed to one of gratitude. What had she told Cody at their Lake Monroe retreat? She wasn’t sure if she wanted to live in the city, right? Wasn’t that how she’d been feeling? And now here she was, after being given a fair shot at a legitimate role, and God had closed the door.

Which meant she would return home for the rest of the summer and see Cody as often as she wanted. She would be home for college another year, and there for every fall football game at Clear Creek High. The longer she thought about the gift she’d been given, the more it felt like one.

She could hardly wait to call Cody.

But first she wanted to watch Tim, this last and final stage of his audition. She slid to the floor and sat next to her bag. The other girls were gone, and she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to stay. But she wanted to be there, because what if…what if Tim was chosen? How weird would that be? Him living here and performing without her? Her heart pounded in her chest, Tim’s next year being decided in the next few minutes by strangers in an oversized New York City dance hall. She dragged the towel over her forehead again and opened another water bottle.
Your will, God…let Tim receive Your will…

Sebastian paired up the eight remaining girls with the eight remaining guys. This time Bailey had no doubt where the dance came from. It was the ensemble number from “Dancing through
Life,” one of the biggest numbers in the musical
Wicked.
The dance was one any musical theater kid would’ve loved to learn.

Again Sebastian wasted no time. He taught them half the dance, and then counted down as the music began. Tim was paired up with a small Asian girl, a beautiful dancer whose stage presence made up for what she lacked in height. Bailey watched them, and she couldn’t blink, couldn’t look away. When had Tim gotten so strong, so good at commanding the stage?

The decision was made quickly that four pairs would remain. They wouldn’t be cast as pairs unless the directors made that call, but altogether they were only looking for eight dancers. “If I call your number, you may sit down. If not, please get your things and leave. Again, thank you for your time.” He read from a list without fanfare or build-up. A minute later, half the dancers were leaving, and the other half—including Tim—were sitting down on the floor, their eyes on Sebastian.

“Congratulations. We saw more than twelve hundred dancers today, and you eight have won the jobs. You’ll each be given a minimum six-month contract and connected with a housing director. Your minimum pay will be two thousand dollars a week,” he grinned at them, “which should be plenty—especially if some of you share apartments, the way our housing director will suggest.”

Bailey put her hand over her mouth. Two thousand dollars a week? For a minimum of twenty-six weeks? That was over fifty thousand dollars! Bailey had no idea ensemble Broadway actors made that kind of money. Tim didn’t dare turn around until Sebastian released them, but then he dashed across the floor to Bailey and swung her around in two full circles. “I did it! I can’t believe it, Bailey, it’s really happening.”

He seemed to remember that she hadn’t made it, and he brought his excitement down several notches. “They should’ve picked you, Bailey. You were amazing.”

She blinked back tears, her smile firmly in place. “It wasn’t God’s will.” She squeezed his shoulder. “But, hey…congratulations. I’m so proud of you. When will you know what show you’re in?”

“Didn’t you hear him? At the end there he pointed to each of us and told us where we’d be working.” His face was all lit up again. “I’ll be part of
Wicked.
I can’t even believe this is happening.”

Wicked
? The top show on Broadway? She was suddenly nothing but thrilled for Tim. If he could win a role in the ensemble for that show, this first six-month contract would only be the beginning. She was grateful they’d broken up nearly two months ago. Otherwise they might’ve been confused by this good-bye—since the separation here was out of their hands. But Bailey had long since let Tim go—long before their breakup. Now she was truly happy for him and his future here in New York City.

Bailey phoned her mom, and five minutes later the car pulled up. Jenny gave each of them a quick hug. “Okay, I’m dying. What happened?”

Bailey took the lead. She smiled, even as another layer of tears built in her eyes. “Tim got a job with
Wicked.
He was one of four guys chosen. You should’ve seen him. He was easily the best out there.”

Her mom’s immediate response was to congratulate Tim, but at the same time she reached out and took hold of Bailey’s knee, squeezing it as a way of saying she hadn’t missed the obvious. If the news was about Tim, then that meant Bailey hadn’t been chosen. But she also knew Bailey well enough to know this wasn’t the time or place for sympathy. It was Tim’s shining moment, and he deserved their excitement. Not until later in their hotel room, when the door was finally shut and they were alone, did Bailey explain how she was feeling. “I’m okay. Really. I asked for God’s will.”

“I know, honey. I did too.” Her mom hugged her. “You can try out again next summer. Don’t forget that.”

Bailey still wanted to act, and she had a feeling God was about to open doors for her in film. Just something that had been on her heart lately. She had talked with Cody about it just before her trip to Manhattan. As for New York, she felt pretty sure that her feelings had changed. And that by next year at this time, she might not want to audition at all.

Now, in her mother’s arms, Bailey didn’t say anything. Ever since the audition ended, she’d found herself practically desperate to get back to Bloomington. To her friendship with Andi and her classes at IU, to her family and the coming football season, and to her role as a leader with Campus Crusade. Back to a guy who had finally told her how he felt.

And to a future the two of them just might have together.

Take One

Karen Kingsbury,

New York Times
Bestselling Author

Could they change the world—before the world changes them?

Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison left the mission field of Indonesia for the mission field of Hollywood with a dream bigger than both of them. Now they have done the impossible: raised enough money to produce a feature film with a message that could change the world.

But as Chase and Keith begin shooting, their well-laid plans begin to unravel. With millions of dollars on the line, they make a desperate attempt to keep the film from falling apart – even as a temperamental actress, a botched production schedule, and their own insecurities leave little room for the creative and spiritual passion that once motivated them. Was God really behind this movie after all? A chance meeting and friendship with John Baxter could bring the encouragement they need to stay on mission and produce a movie that will actually change people’s lives.

In the midst of the questions and the cameras, is it possible to keep things above the line and make a movie unlike anything done before – or is the risk too great for everyone?

Available in stores and online!

ABOVE THE LINE SERIES

Take Two

Karen Kingsbury,

New York Times
Bestselling Author

Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison have completed their first feature film, and Hollywood is buzzing with the news. In the wake of that excitement, the producers acquire rights to a novel that has all the ingredients they want for their next project. At the same time they cross paths with a well-connected player who introduces them to the right people, and suddenly every studio in town wants to talk to Chase and Keith. The producers’ dreams are on the verge of coming true, but Chase’s marriage is strained and Keith’s daughter—Andi Ellison – is making questionable choices in her quest for stardom. The producers are gaining respect and are on the verge of truly changing culture through the power of film—but is the change worth the cost?

Available in stores and online!

One Tuesday Morning

Karen Kingsbury