Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore. For a second time she begged off on the house hunt with Lu. She stayed home and washed her hair, rinsing it in lemon juice to bring out the red-gold highlights. She thought about calling a beauty salon for a manicure and a pedicure, but she knew she couldn't sit still that long. She ordered a steak dinner with all the trimmings from the ‘21’ Club, dressed in a skirt that showed off her long legs and a sweater that clung to all the right places, and applied an extra layer of mascara. She grabbed a bottle of her mother's best red Bordeaux, hailed a taxi, picked up the steak—nestled on a china plate with the famous ‘21’ Club insignia—and told the cabbie to take her to Christopher Street.

Bobby's apartment building was a decrepit brick structure in serious need of paint and mortar. His apartment number was on the mailbox in the dirty little vestibule. Rose rang the buzzer under it, until she realized that the front door of the lobby was open and she could just walk in. The elevator wasn't working and she had to climb seven flights of stairs—none too clean—to get to his floor. Panting, she rehearsed what she was going to say when Bobby opened the door. I'm not staying. I only have steak for one, see? I just thought you might need sustenance.

Then, if he didn't seem too upset to see her, she'd make a crack about his not picking up the phone. She tried to ignore the voice inside her head that said she shouldn't have to go through all of this. That he should be on his knees to her.

I can't be angry. If he sees that I'm angry, I'll lose him.

When she found Bobby's apartment, she took a deep breath and made sure she was completely calm before she rang his bell. There was no answer. She knocked on the door. No answer. She tried the doorbell and knocked again. And again. And then she called his name, softly at first. Then louder. Before she knew it she was screaming, “Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!” and pounding on his door. Like a girl who had never learned that you got what you wanted in life by being sweet and smiling. Like a girl who wasn't beautiful and rich and the daughter of one of the most famous women in the city.