Chapter 24
“It will be fun, Frannie,� Johnny said, smiling. “Your mother and I have been practicing all year for this. We were upset you hadn’t even asked us.�
One of the students ran up to her. “Frannie?� she asked. “Please come quick. Chrissy wants you to look at this,�
“I will be there soon, Allie,� she answered. “Right now I must see to…�
“Go Frannie,� Baby said, “I will check on Lynn for you and give you a report. Work on your show.� She walked over to her daughter and gave her a quick hug. “I will speak to you later,� she whispered in her ear. “We have a lot to catch up on.�
Baby released her and stroked her short, curly brown hair, just like she did when she was a little girl. “Yes,� she answered, “I would like that. Looking forward to it.�
“Good,� Baby said, “now go and don’t worry about anything. Everything will be just fine.�
Frannie followed Allie outside into the ballroom. Her mother told her Johnny set it up exactly how it had been back in 1963. She surveyed the room. The folding chairs were in place and everything looked exactly how it did in the movie.
“Frannie,� a voice called. “Can you watch me? I need someone to watch me dance.�
She looked up and recognized her little sister, Suzanne Penelope. What little, she thought, she was twenty-seven years old. She was engaged to David Jonas, one of her best students. The ceremony was in two months and was booked at Kellerman’s.
Now, Suzy,� Frannie smiled, “if you intend to be in the show, you have to dance like a professional. Where is Jonathan? We need him for this scene.�
“Right here, sis,� Jonathan Castle said walking over to hug his sister. He was thirty one and had not married. Nor was he intending to.
He had been living the last five years with his girlfriend, Ashley, in New York City.
Johnny and Baby hated the arrangement, but they were getting used to it.
“Alright then, where is the rest of the crew. “Get up there, chorus line, go on,� she said, motioning the rest of the cast. “ I want this scene done perfectly. Then I’ll come over and hug the two of you.�
She looked around, “Have any of you seen Kev and little Cody?� she asked of her husband and two year girl.