The Calling by Barbara Steiner Read Free Book Online Page A

embarrassed or had second thoughts? “I like a lot of time alone. I want to think about the routines, go over them in my head so I remember them.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea. You did well. I’m glad you’ve joined the show.” He turned and disappeared into the shadows.
    She swallowed her disappointment and hurried to gather her bag. She’d worn her rubber boots again since it had been raining outside earlier in the evening. And they were easy. It took only a few seconds to tug them on over her bare feet, to slip into a yellow plastic poncho, loop her bag and umbrella over her arm, and head for the stage door.
    The door was open, and it puzzled her that she saw no one on the way out. Where had they disappeared to in such a hurry?
    A steady drizzle greeted her at the alley. She raised her huge black umbrella and hurried through the wet darkness toward the slick, milky reflections of the corner street light. Her bus pulled into a slot near the curb almost a block away. She ran.
    Her boots clumped, echoing into the rainy night. She collapsed the umbrella and swung onto the bus just before the doors swooshed closed. “Thanks.”
    She didn’t know if the smiling driver had seen her and waited or if her timing had been lucky. But she was glad not to have to wait on the corner for half an hour.
    She shook water onto the floor and sunk into a seat, more exhausted than she realized. She willed herself not to think as the bus wound its way through the dark glistening streets and into her neighborhood. She willed her mother not to be home. She craved time alone to think the rehearsal through over and over. To try to figure out what had happened to her.
    The apartment loft was two blocks from the bus stop. The streets were strangely empty. What time was it anyway? It couldn’t be later than seven or seven-thirty. She’d gone to rehearsal right after her classes at five. She dug in her small purse for her watch, pulling it into the palm of her hand. Midnight? That couldn’t be right. She shook the watch, held it, watching the minute hand flit from number to number. It was running.
    Hearing a soft rustle behind her, she glanced around quickly. She never came home alone this late. She quickened her pace, pulling out her key from the open purse.
    Did a shadow across the street move parallel to her? She watched the row of small shops as she practically ran, but she saw no one.
    She heard footsteps behind her again. Matching hers. She glanced behind her. No one.
    She was breathless when she got to her doorway. She fumbled with the key. Feeling the lock click open and the doorknob turn in her cold hand, she gathered some courage.
    â€œWho’s there?” For some reason she said, “Davin?”
    There was no answer, of course. And Davin hadn’t followed her home. She was being a silly goose. A scared, silly goose, she added. She spun into the apartment and closed the door behind her firmly, clicking the lock, then the dead bolt. She leaned against the door for a second or two to breathe.
    The room before her was terribly dark. Her mother wasn’t there. She’d gotten her wish to be alone tonight. And now she’d like to change her mind.

Eight
    M IKI HAD JUST slipped into her bed and realized how tired and emotionally drained she was when she heard her mother come in. Immediately her mother’s soft footsteps stopped, the door creaked, and she peeked into Miki’s room. Even though she was curious, Miki didn’t want to talk. She pretended to be asleep. Mom must have had a good time, she thought. She’s keeping late enough hours. But Miki was glad to know she was home, to have someone else in the apartment with her tonight.
    Miki hoped her mother had met someone wonderful. She deserved some happiness. She pushed her own evening out of her mind and, thinking of her mother, went to sleep with a smile on her face.
    To her surprise, when Miki got up and staggered