“She thinks she does.”
Nor said good night to Marissa and smiled ruefully as she snapped the phone closed and handed it to Billy. She looked at O’Brien. “I can’t help wondering if that poor guy who was begging for more time to pay off a loan is supporting a family.”
Billy put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “You look tired, Mom, so I hate to say it, but your public awaits…”
“I know. We’ve got to get out there. Give me a minute to do my face.”
O’Brien reached in his pocket. “Here’s my card. If you get a brainstorm, call me at any time. I’ll give one to Dennis too.”
By 9:30, when Nor and Billy began to perform, every table in the restaurant was filled. They did two half-hour shows, one at 9:30, then another at 11, for the late-night crowd.
They’re troupers, Sterling thought. You’d never know they have a care in the world. The minute Nor finished the first show she slipped into her office, carrying the reservations books for the last two years under her arm. Sterling sat with her as she went through them, saying each name aloud as she went down the list.
Several times she stopped and repeated a name, then shook her head and continued to read. She’s trying to see if the name of the guy whose voice they heard jumps out at her, Sterling thought.
The concern in Nor’s face deepened as she spoke name after name. But then she glanced at her watch and jumped up, opened her bag and pulled out her compact. In seconds she had lightly powdered her face, touched up her eyes and lips. She pulled the jeweled comb out of her hair and shook her head. Sterling was amazed at how deftly she twisted the long tresses in her fingers, swept them up, and anchored them once again.
“I feel like Minnie off the pickle boat,” she said aloud, “but I guess the show must go on.”
You look wonderful, Sterling wanted to protest. You’re a really beautiful woman. And who the heck is Minnie off the pickle boat?
At the door of the office, Nor let out a quick sigh, but a moment later she was wreathed in smiles as she stopped at table after table to exchange a few words with her patrons.
This place is full, Sterling noticed, and it’s obvious from the way Nor talks to everyone that they’re all regulars. They seem so glad to have a word with her. Well, she’s good. He listened as she inquired about someone’s mother, someone’s son, another’s planned vacation, then congratulated a couple who had just become engaged.
The Heavenly Council will never tell her that she didn’t pay attention to other people, Sterling thought. That’s for sure. Too bad I wasn’t more like her.
Billy was deep in conversation with a man and woman at a corner table. Sterling decided to tune in. I hope nobody else joins us, he thought as he took the one empty chair. Then as he caught the gist of the conversation, he raised his eyebrows. These people were executives from Empire Recording Company, and they wanted to sign Billy to a contract.
The man was saying, “I don’t have to tell you the kind of people we’ve launched. We’ve been scouting you for a while, and you’ve got it, Billy. We’re offering you a two-album contract.”
“I’m very flattered and it sounds great, but you’ll have to talk to my agent,” Billy said, smiling.
He’s trying to hide that he’s thrilled, Sterling realized. It’s every young singer’s dream to be signed up by a record company. What a crazy day.
The last stragglers left the restaurant at 12:30. Nor and Billy sat at the bar with Dennis as he finished cleaning up. Nor held up a glass. “I’ve heard it’s bad luck to toast with water, but I’m going to take a chance. Here’s to Billy and the new contract.”
“Your dad would be so proud,” Dennis said.
“You bet he would.” Nor looked up. “Here’s to you, Bill, wherever you are up there. Your kid’s done good.”
I definitely have to meet him, Sterling told himself. He saw the suspicious touch of moisture in the eyes of all three. Billy was just about the age Marissa is now when he lost his dad. It must have been awfully tough on him and Nor.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it all goes through,” Billy told them. “I don’t want to get too excited yet. That’ll wait until I have the offer in writing.”
“You will,” Nor assured him. “But you’re still singing with me here at Christmastime next year.”
“I know, Mom, and for free,” Billy laughed.
“You’ll have to hire a bouncer for crowd control,” Dennis declared. He folded a towel. “Okay, that’s it. Nor, you look awfully tired. Let me drive you home.”
“Listen, if I lived fifteen minutes away, the way I feel now, I’d take you up on it. But for the three minutes it’ll take me to get there, I’d rather have the car at the door in the morning. You can carry those reservations books out for me. I’m going to keep at them for a while.”
She kissed Billy lightly on the cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’m heading upstairs. Don’t try to go over those books tonight, Mom. Leave it for the morning.”
They looked at each other. “I know,” Billy said. “By then it may be too late.”
So that’s where Billy lives, Sterling thought. He must have an apartment up there. It would be interesting to see what Nor’s home is like. She said it’s only a three-minute drive away. That can’t be too far for me to walk back. Once again he found himself hurrying across the parking lot, this time following Nor and Dennis.
The temperature has really dropped in these few hours, he thought. He looked up. Clouds were forming and beginning to obscure the moon and stars. He sniffed. There was a hint of snow in the air. I was one of those people who preferred winter to summer, he thought. Annie thought I was crazy. If there was anything she loved, it was a day at the seashore. I remember her family had a place in Spring Lake.
Nor’s car was a handsome Mercedes sedan. I used to drive one of these, Sterling thought, and in a lot of ways this one doesn’t look that much different from the one I had. As Dennis laid the reservations books on the floor in the back and held the driver’s door open for Nor, Sterling got in the front seat. I never liked to ride in the back of the car, he thought. My legs always felt cramped.
Nor locked the door and fastened her seat belt. Everybody does that these days, Sterling mused. I wonder if there’s a law about it.
He readjusted his homburg, smiling as he remembered that next year Marissa would poke fun at it.
As they pulled out of the driveway, he jumped when Nor muttered aloud, “Mama Heddy- Anna. God help us!”
Sterling felt a little guilty. Nor thinks she’s alone, and she’s one of those people who talks to herself. I used to do that too, and I’d have died if I learned that someone was eavesdropping on me.
But it’s okay because I’m here to help them, he comforted himself. Fortunately she turned on the radio and listened to the news the rest of the way.
Nor’s house was at the end of a cul-de-sac, situated on a generous piece of property. The minute he saw it he sensed that it was the perfect home for her. It looked to him like a renovated farmhouse. The exterior was white clapboard with black shutters. The porch light was on, casting a warm glow around the front door.
“Thank God to be home,” Nor sighed.
I know what you mean, Sterling said aloud, then rolled his eyes. Thank God she can’t hear me. I might have given her a heart attack.
I’m not going to stay long, he promised himself as Nor fished through her purse for her house
