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“I was hoping you could come in around noon, because I have an appointment at two.”
The appointment is a lie, but Maisie will be gone to lunch at noon, and with Sista Bessie and her band having the day off, the auditorium will be empty. There was a delivery scheduled, but he canceled it. He also told Margaret, the kitchen lady, and Jerry, the janitor, to take the day off.
“Would that be possible?” He gives an embarrassed little laugh. “I don’t mean to be a pain in the butt, but no signature means no insurance, and no insurance means no lecture. I’m kind of out on a limb here, Ms. Anderson, because if Kate McKay gets canceled, who is going to get blamed?”
“Me, actually,” Corrie says, and laughs. “But I guess you would, too. Am I allowed to sign? Because if you need Kate’s signature, I better come over right now and bring her the—”
“No, no, your signature will be fine,” Trig says smoothly. Actually, as the Mingo’s Program Director, he can sign most insurance papers himself, and in this case thereareno papers.
“I can do noon,” Corrie says.
“I suggest you park behind the auditorium. I can meet you there and take you in through the service entrance.”
“I’ll be Ubering. Not risking Kate’s new truck in a city I don’t know.”
“Thanks,” Trig says. “It’s a load off my mind.”
And if she brings McKay’s bodyguard along, so much the better.
Chapter 18
1
Holly watches the video Jerome has sent three times, and can’t stop smiling. Because it was recorded on his iPhone, the sound is blurry and echoey, overwhelming the voices of Sista Bessie singing lead and the Dixie Crystals singing backup, but the images are crisp and clear. Betty Brady is wearing a headwrap, a shapeless muumuu-type dress, and red canvas hightops, but the Crystals—Barbara included—are trying out what Holly assumes are their show clothes: black high-waisted pants and silk-shimmery white shirts. Although she guesses the three original Crystals are three times Barbara’s age (or close to it), Barbara is in perfect step with them, doing the call-and-response to Betty’s lead, adding an in-harmonyOooooto eachShake it up, baby. Barbara looks like she’s having the time of her life, and Holly—who hated the few press conferences she was forced to attend and could never in her wildest dreams muster the courage to get up onstage herself—is delighted for her.
There’s a knock on her door as she’s starting a fourth viewing of the video. She expects Corrie or Kate, but it’s Jerome, with his man-bag (which Holly gave him last Christmas) slung over one shoulder. She didn’t realize how homesick she was until she sees him, and she’s also still overwhelmed with happiness for Barbara. The two things combine and Holly, ordinarily the least demonstrative of women, throws her arms around Jerome and hugs him tight-tight-tight.
“Whoa, girl, I love you, too.” But he hugs her back, lifting her hundred and fifteen pounds and swinging her from side to side before setting her back on her feet. “You saw the vid, I take it.”
“Yes! It’s wonderful! She looks so… I don’t know… so… sosomething.”
“Natural? Happy?”
“Yes!”
Jerome grins. “Just hope she doesn’t get stage fright once she’s in front of an audience.”
“Will she?”
“I don’t think so,” Jerome says. “She wants to do this at least once, and she and Betty have really bonded. I mean, they’re tight.”
“Is Barb going on the rest of the tour?”
“Hasn’t said, and she’s drawn to the idea, but I’d guess in the end she’ll probably stay home and stick to writing.”
“Shoemaker, stick to thy last,” Holly murmurs.
“What?”
“Never mind. But it’s exciting, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ll be taking care of Ms…. Sista… when she sings the National Anthem at Dingley Park?”
“Yep. That’s exciting, too. I don’t expect problems, because people are crazy about her coming out of retirement.” He lowers his voice. “Speaking of problems, where’s yours?”
Holly hastily assures Jerome that Ms. McKay is no problem (although she guesses Jerome might know better). “Kate’s next door, on the right. She’s got the suite. Corrie Anderson—her assistant—is on the left. Kate likes to swim, and I’ll have to go down to the pool with her pretty soon. Did you have any luck with what I asked you about?”