into here seems to
think my pants are just weird. Trust someone dealing with costumes
to spot a new look and approve. Speaking of which, I like your hair
bob.”
“Merci, beaucoup.”
I smiled at her. “How long have y’all been in
New York?”
“Six months. We have been most fortunate.
Briley has found for me the post as wardrobe mistress here at zee
Follies. Eet is tres bon.”
Briley was smiling with sincere fondness at
the pair. “As well as being an excellent seamstress, Denise happens
to also be a superb chef. In fact, she’s helping with the party
Lloyd and Lili Ellingsford are throwing tonight. She makes a mean
veal dish I can’t pronounce and a mousse de chocolate that haunts
one’s dreams.”
I couldn’t help wonder if this gorgeous woman
would end up as my ghost. She definitely qualified as exotic
looking. I hoped not. My ghost had exhibited signs of terror I
wouldn’t wish on anyone. I liked Denise and her little boy. Good
news - she wasn’t a Follies chorine and Fiona Belle seemed pretty
adamant about that little detail so I felt a sudden assurance that
she was not the lady haunting Apartment 413.
I grinned. “I can whip up a peach cobbler and
fry a chicken, but other than that, I’m a failure in the
kitchen.”
A snort from Briley. “Not surprised. Excuse
me, ladies, I need a break and I'm taking it now."
Denise smiled at me as we watched Briley’s
tall form stalk towards the exit, then she tried to pull her child
away. He seemed permanently attached to my leg.
“Let’s leave la belle Melodee to her
business. Come help Maman, oui?”
The child shook his head. “Non. Wanna stay
with Mel.”
Denise looked at me with desperate hope. “I
am so sorree. Nevin ees a stubborn one. Especial when ee meets
someone ee, how you say? Takes to?”
I smiled. I couldn’t imagine learning a new
language while trying to raise a son and work backstage with a
bunch of egocentric chorines. “It’s fine. I was about to go outside
and rest in the alley until the next onslaught from Mr. Ziegfeld.
If Nevin wants to come, I’d love the company.”
If lighted halos were given out for relieving
tired mothers of their harridan-like offspring, I’d be glowing like
Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Denise acted as though she was
going to volunteer to be my slave for the rest of my life. As it
was, she scooped up my scattered belongings and was polite enough
not to ask embarrassing questions about the strange objects that
had tumbled from my bag.
As I gently disengaged the little boy from my
chest, placed his feet on the ground, and took him by his tiny
hand, I wondered how in blazes the little urchin had known my name
when he’d first come running down the hall. Nevin tugged at my hand
the entire way to the alley. He’d probably grow up to marry Fiona
Belle Donovan and they’d plot my life together.
Chapter 8
Briley McShan was sitting on the back stoop
sipping a cup of coffee. Nevin Dupre marched right up to him and
poked a tiny finger into his broad chest.
“Briley! Licorice, si vous plait?”
Briley smiled wickedly. It was apparent he
and little Dupre were well acquainted. Sure enough, a hand reached
into a pocket and licorice twists magically appeared. He held them
out to Nevin who crammed them into his mouth. Briley then
graciously offered me half a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich. I
accepted. Hours of dancing and posing make a girl hungry.
Briley pointed toward Nevin. “I see you found
a friend.”
“Actually, he found me. Attached himself to
me after trying to knock me down. Feisty little imp, isn’t he?”
Briley offered Nevin another licorice stick
then turned to me.and grinned. “He’s a parasite, but ultimately
lovable.” He moved over to give me space to sit next to him. I
did.
Nevin chewed his licorice and danced over and
around the various boxes that littered back stage alley. He ignored
both of us.
“So, Melody. How’s rehearsal going? From a
new dancer’s
think my pants are just weird. Trust someone dealing with costumes
to spot a new look and approve. Speaking of which, I like your hair
bob.”
“Merci, beaucoup.”
I smiled at her. “How long have y’all been in
New York?”
“Six months. We have been most fortunate.
Briley has found for me the post as wardrobe mistress here at zee
Follies. Eet is tres bon.”
Briley was smiling with sincere fondness at
the pair. “As well as being an excellent seamstress, Denise happens
to also be a superb chef. In fact, she’s helping with the party
Lloyd and Lili Ellingsford are throwing tonight. She makes a mean
veal dish I can’t pronounce and a mousse de chocolate that haunts
one’s dreams.”
I couldn’t help wonder if this gorgeous woman
would end up as my ghost. She definitely qualified as exotic
looking. I hoped not. My ghost had exhibited signs of terror I
wouldn’t wish on anyone. I liked Denise and her little boy. Good
news - she wasn’t a Follies chorine and Fiona Belle seemed pretty
adamant about that little detail so I felt a sudden assurance that
she was not the lady haunting Apartment 413.
I grinned. “I can whip up a peach cobbler and
fry a chicken, but other than that, I’m a failure in the
kitchen.”
A snort from Briley. “Not surprised. Excuse
me, ladies, I need a break and I'm taking it now."
Denise smiled at me as we watched Briley’s
tall form stalk towards the exit, then she tried to pull her child
away. He seemed permanently attached to my leg.
“Let’s leave la belle Melodee to her
business. Come help Maman, oui?”
The child shook his head. “Non. Wanna stay
with Mel.”
Denise looked at me with desperate hope. “I
am so sorree. Nevin ees a stubborn one. Especial when ee meets
someone ee, how you say? Takes to?”
I smiled. I couldn’t imagine learning a new
language while trying to raise a son and work backstage with a
bunch of egocentric chorines. “It’s fine. I was about to go outside
and rest in the alley until the next onslaught from Mr. Ziegfeld.
If Nevin wants to come, I’d love the company.”
If lighted halos were given out for relieving
tired mothers of their harridan-like offspring, I’d be glowing like
Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Denise acted as though she was
going to volunteer to be my slave for the rest of my life. As it
was, she scooped up my scattered belongings and was polite enough
not to ask embarrassing questions about the strange objects that
had tumbled from my bag.
As I gently disengaged the little boy from my
chest, placed his feet on the ground, and took him by his tiny
hand, I wondered how in blazes the little urchin had known my name
when he’d first come running down the hall. Nevin tugged at my hand
the entire way to the alley. He’d probably grow up to marry Fiona
Belle Donovan and they’d plot my life together.
Chapter 8
Briley McShan was sitting on the back stoop
sipping a cup of coffee. Nevin Dupre marched right up to him and
poked a tiny finger into his broad chest.
“Briley! Licorice, si vous plait?”
Briley smiled wickedly. It was apparent he
and little Dupre were well acquainted. Sure enough, a hand reached
into a pocket and licorice twists magically appeared. He held them
out to Nevin who crammed them into his mouth. Briley then
graciously offered me half a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich. I
accepted. Hours of dancing and posing make a girl hungry.
Briley pointed toward Nevin. “I see you found
a friend.”
“Actually, he found me. Attached himself to
me after trying to knock me down. Feisty little imp, isn’t he?”
Briley offered Nevin another licorice stick
then turned to me.and grinned. “He’s a parasite, but ultimately
lovable.” He moved over to give me space to sit next to him. I
did.
Nevin chewed his licorice and danced over and
around the various boxes that littered back stage alley. He ignored
both of us.
“So, Melody. How’s rehearsal going? From a
new dancer’s
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