Rosa also wanted to see about buying a pair of Riviera sunglasses. She had recently spied a pair in a catalogue that featured rhinestones and gilded charms on the frames. Besides, one pair of sunglasses for California wasn’t nearly enough.
“By the way,” Gloria said as she pushed a half-empty plate away. “There’s a variety show playing at the American Legion Hall tonight. Mick and The Beat Boys are playing a set.” When Rosa failed to register the group’s name, Gloria explained. “That’s Detective Belmonte’s group. You saw them last night. Wouldn’t it be fun to see them playing some rock and roll instead of that Sinatra stuff they played at the polio event?”
Gloria misunderstood Rosa’s hesitation. Their age difference meant that Gloria hadn’t been privy to Rosa and Miguel’s intense, but short-lived relationship. The thought of seeing Miguel again, especially with his band, filled her with a mixture of emotions she couldn’t even put a name to, but Gloria’s enthusiastic insistence was unstoppable.
“Come on, Rosa. It’ll be fun. I can introduce you around.”
“Won’t Detective Belmonte be busy? With the . . . er . . . case?”
“I don’t think a drowning will keep him from playing his guitar. He’s an excellent musician, you know? If he weren’t taken, I’d make a move on him myself.”
Rosa suddenly found it hard to swallow. She sipped on her glass of iced tea, then, as nonchalantly as possible, asked, “You’ve met his girlfriend?”
“I’ve seen her on TV.”
Rosa hated the heavy pit that formed in her stomach. She didn’t even want to examine what had caused it. Was it because Miguel had a girlfriend, or that he had a pretty girlfriend on television?
“She’s in one of those Clairol commercials, you know?” Gloria continued. “ Does she?...Or doesn’t she?” She laughed at the innuendo. “Charlene Winters is stunning blond, even in black and white.” She smirked and arched a brow in Rosa’s direction. “And I think she does.”
Oh dear! The thought of what that might mean made Rosa feel sick to her stomach. Now she wished lunch had been plain English food and not spicy foreign fare.
Impervious to Rosa’s discomfort, Gloria said, “It’s just a fantasy. Mom would kill me if I actually brought a man like Detective Belmonte home.”
Rosa didn’t doubt that.
“But—” Gloria poked Rosa in the arm. “You know what? I could be an actress on TV! I’m just as glamorous as Charlene Winters.” Gloria patted the curls of her short and trendy hair do. “Don’t you think? Though I know, I’m not as pretty.”
Rosa had a feeling her attractive cousin was fishing for compliments. She allowed her one.
“You’re just as pretty, and you know it. But it’s not that easy, I don’t think, to become a TV actress. I’m sure there’s training you have to take.” Rosa didn’t know, but she was reasonably sure that Aunt Louisa wouldn’t be in favor. Social propriety wasn’t exclusive to the British, and in the minds of many upper-class people, an actress was only a step above a lady of the night.
“Maybe you’re right,” Gloria finally said. “I’m going to look into it. Anyway, you’ll come with me? Tonight? To hear the band?”
Rosa couldn’t think of a plausible reason to say no. “Sure.”
Later, Julie was unceremoniously dropped off at the front door into the care of Bledsoe, the butler, who took her by the hand and brought her to the kitchen where Gloria and Rosa were socializing.
Rosa looked at Gloria with raised eyebrows.
“Not an amicable relationship between Clarence and Vanessa, unfortunately,” Gloria said in a hushed voice.
Soon after, the three drove into town in the Forresters’ yellow and white, two-toned, automatic, Chevrolet Bel Air sedan. Rosa admired the vehicle’s glamorous long body and exaggerated tail fins.
Gloria cackled as they sped into town. “This car is Clarence’s favorite. He’ll fume when he sees it’s gone, but serves him right for—” She tilted her head towards the backseat where little Julie played with a View Master toy. “—dodging his responsibilities.”
Rosa held on to the hand strap attached to the car’s ceiling and cast a concerned look at little Julie in the back seat. The small girl with neatly-styled blond ringlets tied with blue ribbons and wearing a sweet little sailor dress seemed unperturbed at her aunt’s carefree driving and flashed her a chubby-faced smile.
In town, Gloria parked in front of an establishment Rosa hadn’t seen before. A diamond-shaped, white-and-red checker sign had a white banner with the words “Tastee Freeze” written in blue. It was instantly cooler as they stepped into the air-conditioned shop where a small lineup of smiling people waited to order. Some were sitting on vinyl-covered bar stools eating their treats.
Over the counter, a large menu hung on the wall, depicting various treats that could be bought there. Some Rosa had never heard of before, such as the Banana Royale or the Dip Top Cone.
The Dip Top Cone turned out to be soft ice cream dipped into melted chocolate that dried to a shell as it cooled. Rosa and Julie both ordered one of those while Gloria ordered a hot caramel sundae. Rosa practically inhaled her soft cone. She’d never experienced ice cream like it before.
“Why don’t you go on ahead,” Gloria said after a while. “The stores are just down the street. Julie and I will catch up.”
Rather than watch Julie’s face become increasingly covered in melted ice cream, Rosa took Gloria up on her offer. A couple of blocks down Main Street, she came across a shop called Pacific Trends with some lovely designs for beach and casual wear. Rosa picked out a daring black two-piece bathing suit and the exact pair of sunglasses she had wanted.
Just as she was leaving the store, she spotted Shirley Philpott walking down the opposite sidewalk.
“Mrs. Philpott!”
Mrs. Philpott jerked toward Rosa’s voice, then waved back, a quick, furtive gesture.
“Stay right there, I’ll come over,” Rosa called out, but
