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Why not? Holly thought. Might as well have a look around inside. “Why thank you; that would be very nice.”
He beamed. “Good! Do you mind if I take your arm? I’m a little lame.”
“Please do,” she said.
He took her arm, and they walked slowly into the building. “I had a knee replacement four months ago, and it’s taking hell’s own time to get over it,” he said.
“I’m sorry.”
“I swear, if my doctor had told me about the recovery, I don’t think I’d have done it. I couldn’t play tennis anymore, you see. By the way, my name is Hyman Baum.”
“I’m Holly Barker.”
They made their way into the huge auditorium, and Holly was delighted to find their seats in row H, on the aisle. “What wonderful seats,” she said.
“Oh, yes, it took me a long time to get them. I’ve been coming to the Met since the late sixties; I started in the second balcony, and each year I improved my seats a little. I’ve had these for four years,” he said, “every Friday night.”
“You’re a lucky man, Mr. Baum.”
“Please call me Hy,” he said. “Everybody does.”
They settled into their seats and put their coats in their laps.
“I never check my coat,” Hy said. “Takes too long to get it back.”
Holly was checking everyone within sight for someone who fit Teddy’s description.
“What sort of work do you do, Holly?”
“I’m sort of retired,” Holly said. “I was widowed a couple of years ago, and I sold my little shop and decided to travel.”
“Is that what brings you to New York?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you staying?”
“With friends. What do you do, Hy?”
“I’m retired from the dress business. My father had the business before me, and now my son is running it.”
The lights dimmed, and the curtain came up. La Boheme was beginning. In moments, Holly was entranced.
THE FIRST ACT WAS ENDING when Holly’s cell phone began vibrating. As the curtain came down she turned to Hy. “I’ve got to run ”to the ladies‘,“ she said, and she raced up the aisle ahead of the crowd.
She stood in a quiet corner of the lobby and opened the phone. “Yes?”
“It’s Ty, where are you?”
“I’m inside the Met.”
“You bought a ticket?”
“I got an invitation.”
“You got picked up?”
“Sort of. An elderly gentleman.”
